When you’re new to the beard game, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to making sure your beard looks its best. However, grooming your beard properly doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing—in fact, it can be quite fun! As someone who was once also in the beginner stage of beard ownership, I’ve learned some tips and tricks for proper beard grooming that I’d like to share with you today in this ultimate guide to beard grooming for beginners.
WHY GROOM YOUR BEARD?
Although beard grooming might seem like a daunting task, its actually very simple and easy. The most important part of your beard is how you groom it and take care of it.
Not only does it make you look better, but if done correctly can make your beard grow much faster and in a healthier way.
In order to have a great looking beard you will need to learn how to style your beard, wash your beard with good products, trim your facial hair properly and more!
All of these tips will help keep your skin healthy while growing out that epic mane!
In addition, knowing what not to do will also help grow a great looking, healthy beard.
If you want a long lasting beautiful mane then be sure not to pick up these habits early on in your journey.
PRODUCTS YOU WILL NEED AND WHY?
Below we will go through each product you will need and why in order to grow an exceptional beard!
BEARD WASH
If you’re interested in beard grooming, one of your first steps is going to be picking out a good beard wash. When it comes to washing your beard, most men use their regular shampoo—and that’s your choice (we personally don't recommend it). If you a a new beard grower and are asking yourself what is beard wash? It is simply a shampoo designed for facial hair. You see, most shampoos contain sulfates and other chemicals that can dry out and irritate your facial hair and the skin beneath your beard. If you have sensitive skin or just want a better beard wash, we recommend getting a sulfate-free gentle cleanser made specifically for facial hair. These are very popular among men with beards since they clean your beard, help reduce dandruff and beard itch as well as other irritations caused by buildup on your face, without stripping out your beards natural oils. They also smell great too!
BEARD OIL
If you want your beard to be soft and shiny, there are a few products you can use. One is beard oil. This kind of product is basically like hair oil, only it’s specifically made for beards. One common question i get asked about beard oil is "is beard oil necessary?" and the answer to that is simply, yes! The main purpose of beard oil is to keep your facial hair feeling and looking healthy and reduce irritations like itchiness associated with having a beard. One of beard oil’s biggest benefits is its ability to condition your skin underneath your beard. It moisturises, soothes, and nourishes—the key ingredients in most oils are carrier oils like jojoba or argan oils. Carrier oils nourish skin cells by facilitating absorption into them without clogging pores, which makes them perfect for beards because they need moisture just as much as other parts of your body do. Beard oil can even improve the overall health by strengthening hair follicles, nourishing hair roots, and improving circulation in your face. Just make sure not to apply too much! A little bit goes a long way when reaping the benefits of using beard oil. As far as tips on using beard oil go, you should always apply it after showering while your face is still slightly damp.
Why?
It helps distribute oil throughout your beard more evenly so that each strand gets an even amount of hydration. A unique antioxidant blend of Grape Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil, and Vitamin E is included in the Beard Beasts Classic Beaard Oil for hydration and healthy beard growth.
BEARD BALM
Beard balm is simply a leave-in conditioner that helps promote softer, smoother facial hair. So if you want to know how to make your beard soft you should certainly have a look at how to use beard balm. If you've never used beard balm on your beard before, don't fret! Beard balms are thicker than beard oils, meaning they’re better at protecting your skin and facial hair from drying out—especially if you have coarse facial hair or live in a cold climate. A balm usually contains beeswax also helps you look sharp by keeping stray hairs in place. A balm contains carrier oils like beard oils, but they also contain some form of wax and butters. These butters are perfect for conditioning your facial hair and supply the hair strands with healthy fats, proteins as well as vitamins/minerals, which is one of the best beard balm benefits. It is these nutrients that will create a healthy beard and encourage more growth. Be careful when applying it though, since too much can make your beard look greasy.
BEARD BRUSH
A good beard brush is one of your best tools when it comes to grooming a beard. In fact, it's more important than you may think! The goal of using a beard brush is to distribute your hair's natural oils from your roots all through its length. It also helps get rid of loose hair that falls from your face into a sink. A proper beard brush will help tame even some of most unruly beards out there while promoting healthy facial hair growth and preventing ingrown hairs. Here are a few tips on how to pick a right one: keep in mind that brushes can come in different materials, but pure boar bristle remains one of the favorites because it lasts longer and comes at an affordable price point. You want something soft enough to handle beard prickles easily but tough enough not to lose shape after regular usage. Also, pay attention whether bristles are flexible or stiffer—the latter work better on short beard styles as they can penetrate the whiskers better, but if you have long facial hair, go for something softer. Finally, always dry your brush thoroughly after each use by hanging it upside down or leaning against a wall—this will extend its life expectancy significantly.
BEARD COMB
A beard comb is a good tool for any man with facial hair. You'll want one with strong enough teeth that it can catch any tangles, but fine enough that it won't pull out your facial hair. We recommend that you use wooden combs and not plastic beard combs. The reason for this, is that plastic beard combs tend to damage facial hair and the teeth can cause damage to the skin beneath your beard which can cause you all sorts of problems. Wooden beard combs come in different sizes. Depending on how long you'd like your beard; choose one appropriate for your goal length before starting out. A great starter comb is our Wooden Comb—it's affordable, high quality, and will last quite some time before needing replacing.
BEARD TRIMMER
Every bearded man invests into a quality beard trimmer. Whether you are looking to sport stubble or a full-blown beard, a beard trimmer is a must have! A quality beard trimmer will help you keep your beard in check when it starts to grow out, which can be quite a few times the first year of growing a beard. Our biggest tip when it comes to beard trimmers is invest in a high quality one and keep it well-sharpened, this way it will last you for years. It can be tempting to buy one that is cheap, but trust us, you will regret it down the road. The blades on cheaper beard trimmers are not sharp nor a good quality, meaning it can cause big damage to your facial hair which you want to avoid at all costs if you plan on growing an exceptional man mane. We suggest you find a beard trimmer that is of a high quality but not a bank breaker. You don't need anything fancy when you start out!
PUTTING THEM ALL TOGETHER
So now we know which beard care products you should invest in. It is time to put them together into an awesome beard grooming routine which will benefit your man mane the best.
Below is a step-by-step guide for you to follow:
STEP 1: WASH YOUR BEARD
The first step is to wash your beard using your chosen beard wash. Whilst in the shower, wet your beard and apply a small amount of beard wash to your beard, making sure you cleanse it thoroughly. After, wash all the soap out of our beard.
STEP 2: COMB/BRUSH YOUR BEARD
Now your beard is washed, it is time to comb/brush it to get any tangles out. It is important that you comb your beard slowly and gently so that you don't damage your beard hairs or pull any out.
STEP 3: TOWEL DRY YOUR BEARD
Now you have washed your beard and combed it, it is now time to jump out the shower and dry your beard. Using a towel, pat your beard dry until it is slightly damp. The reason you want your beard slightly damp is because the beard oil will spread easier and absorb better.
STEP 4: APPLY YOUR BEARD OIL
So your beard is slightly damp and you are ready to apply your beard oil. Rub a few drops of beard oil between your palms and apply the oil to your facial hair. You want to make sure that you apply the beard oil throughout your beard and make sure to apply some oil on the skin beneath your beard. This will provide moisture to the skin and prevent dry skin under your beard.
STEP 5: BRUSH YOUR BEARD
Now the beard oil is applied, use your brush, preferable your boar's brush and brush your beard, this will help to make sure the whole beard is covered evenly and help tame some spray hairs.
STEP 6: APPLY THE BEARD BALM (OPTIONAL)
Apply a fingernails worth of beard balm and rub it between your palms, this will help melt the balm so it will apply and absorb better. Once the balm is melted, apply the balm to your beard, making sure you cover your whole beard. Balm is best for facial hairs and helping to style your beard. If you don't wish to style your beard then beard oil should be sufficient enough.
STEP 7: STYLE YOUR BEARD
Using your boar's brush, start brushing your beard again, this will help the balm spread evenly. After 30 seconds of brushing the balm into your beard, you can then brush your beard to your desired style.
And you are finished...
