A good beard has less to do with the products you own than with three habits: keeping it clean, keeping it soft and getting the shape right. Everything else is optional.
The weekly routine
- Wash it two or three times a week with a beard wash or a mild shampoo. Daily washing with strong shampoo dries the skin underneath.
- Pat it dry with a towel. Rubbing makes it frizzy.
- Work in a few drops of oil, right down to the skin. That’s where dryness and itching start.
- Comb it through, in the direction you want it to sit.
The itch
Most new beards itch somewhere around weeks two to four. It’s usually the shorter, sharper hair and dry skin, and a little oil helps. If you’re getting sore red bumps or heavy flaking, have a pharmacist or GP take a look.
The most common mistakes
The biggest one is setting the neckline too high. Yours should sit about two fingers above your Adam’s apple, curving back towards the ears. Trim any higher and the beard looks like it’s floating on your face. The second is taking the cheek line too low, which is hard to grow back from.
When to see a barber
Let it grow for four to six weeks before a first shape, then come back every two to four weeks. Once the lines are set you can keep them tidy at home between visits, as long as you only follow the lines that are already there.
Leave a Reply