Growing a beard should not be difficult. Any guy can do it. It just takes some time and a lot of patience to get to the desired length and style. But you can’t take the Tom Hanks Castaway route and just let it grow wild in all kinds of directions.
Growing your beard properly and taking care of it is something that can’t be rushed. You have to have a plan and double down on a style that you are aiming for. If you are disciplined enough, you will get the desired effects in no time.
But the fun doesn’t stop once your beard is done. The harder part begins with beard maintenance. Maintaining it is the part where men have the most trouble with it. To keep everything nice and tight, you have to stick to the same level of discipline, or an even higher one, to keep the beard adequately groomed.
Tips About How to Take Care of Your Beard Properly
Taking care of your beard can somewhat be compared to taking care of your hair. However, the hair on your face does differ significantly from the hair on the top of your head. For that reason, you can’t take the same approach in taking care of both.
Some men have longer and stronger beards, while others have receding or thinner ones. No matter the situation, maintenance is needed. Depending on your facial hair style or how fast your beard grows, you may have to take care of it daily or at least twice a week.
1. Trim Your Beard
Whether you are growing your beard long or short, a trim is needed from time to time. When it comes to longer beards, you don’t want to get that unsightly split ends. A long beard does look good, except it doesn’t when it gets all bushy and you start looking like an unkempt Zach Galifianakis.
Having a thin beard also requires a trim from time to time. If you are sporting a French cut with a chinstrap, for instance, it will not look good if you let loose and start growing hair on your cheeks or beneath your chin.
We suggest using scissors to trim down the excess hair or a simple trimmer. Fading everything properly will ensure that you maintain the top-notch look of your beard. You can trim down the beard as necessary, meaning that you don’t really have to do it every day but do it as often as you need.
2. Wash Your Beard Regularly
We can’t stress enough how important it is to wash your beard. The same as with trimming, you don’t have to do it every day. But your beard deserves a wash at least 2-3 times a week.
Let’s face it; unwashed beards can get pretty gross. People with really long beards can get food crumbs stuck inside and probably house all kinds of germs. These could significantly damage your skin which might cause you to revert to using organic castor oil. But all of the damages can be prevented with a few good washes.
Be sure to choose a proper shampoo for your beard. You can find one which is the most suitable for your beard type. But even your regular shampoo will do the trick. It also doesn’t hurt to use beard wax regularly or some beard oils.
3. Keep Your Beard Hydrated
Keeping your beard conditioned and hydrated comes with a two-fold effect. It does not only take care of your beard but also moisturizes the skin underneath. Properly hydrating your beard regularly will keep it soft and shiny.
To properly hydrate your beard, you need to:
- Pour some oil (a few drops is enough) into your palm and spread it evenly.
- Be sure that your beard is either dry or damp (never completely wet).
- Gently massage the oil into the base of your beard.
- Spread the oil evenly and gently massage it until you reach the bottom of your tips and cover the entire bear.
If you have dry skin, you can do this every day. But if you live in a damp environment or have oily skin, applying oil and hydrating should be done 2-3 times a week.
To Wrap Things Up
Your beard can represent your inner health. Taking care of it also means that you are correctly taking care of yourself. If you look healthy, you will feel healthy and your beard will disclose your inner feelings to the world around you.
Beard maintenance shouldn’t be regarded as being merely done for aesthetic purposes. It also has health benefits that will affect your skin as well as your entire body.
