Whether you sport an epic beard that looks like a professional at the top of his game, or it’s your first facial hair and you’re still working on sculpting it into shape, there are some things the best beards men do (or –don’t–) to keep their beard looking as fresh as ever. Let’s take a look at the must-dos for shaping your beard and how to make styling simple with proper maintenance.
Do: Wash Your Beard
Have you ever heard of this? It has caused a massive uproar in the media with people panicking over this unsavory “beard bacteria”. Fortunately, grooming your beard regularly will keep it healthy and clean, which means that it is not likely to be host to any harmful bacteria. To care for your beard best, make sure you are using the proper product for all three steps of beard grooming – cleaning (using a beard shampoo or cleanser), conditioning (using a conditioner after washing), and maintaining (making sure to use an oil or balm daily).
Recently, a study was published that found fecal bacteria in swabs taken from bearded men’s hair. Some news outlets picked up this story who tried to demonize beards even more than they already are for no apparent reason. There are double standards at play here, however. Beards are unfairly stigmatized before anyone even attempts to examine the facts – it’s almost as if big corporations like big corporations which produce the razor blades that pay their bills.
Don’t: Use Hair Products
When choosing a cleanser that will keep your beard conditioned and soft, you have options. You can decide to use a cleaner formulated specifically for beards using ingredients such as oils and collagen. If you have a lot of curls in your beard, there are also shampoos formulated especially for curly hair too! Though if your beard is thinning or balding, you may want to think twice before choosing a facial cleansing product that has been specifically designed to treat one or the other. The reason? These products tend to be very harsh and might even ruin your skin and hair condition altogether.
Do: Trim, trim, trim
Growing a beard can be tricky because everyone has an opinion as to how to do it. The best way to make sure you don’t look homeless is by keeping up a daily grooming regiment that will let you maintain a certain level of cleanliness.
For a close, smooth shave, every time, you need to find a beard trimmer that is well built and sturdy. If you’re looking to have a professional take care of that smooth shave, we are here to offer the best shave services in Sarasota!
To speed up your morning routine, trim your beard the night before and wash it before work in the shower. Before you attempt to trim your beard, make sure that it’s brushed in a forward direction. This will help determine the same line on both sides of your face for when you are ready to shave. When finished, you’ll want to clean up all areas around the face evenly to create an even contrast between where the beard ends & your skin begins so there is no confusion about where one begins and the other leaves off! After many years & many beards, we’ve found that using a cutthroat or safety razor blade works best, ensuring straight lines by having only one blade versus multiple blades, which can be misleading when shaving.
Don’t: Pick At Ingrown Hairs
While it may be tempting to tweezer an ingrown hair in your beard or around the trimmed line of neck and cheeks, picking it will only lead to infection. By removing the hair, you expose the follicle to bacteria, which can become quickly infected and even potentially lead to scarring on the face. The temptation might be accurate, but an ingrown hair will usually resolve itself if left alone for twelve hours.
Do: Brush, brush, brush
Brushing your beard regularly is a necessity. Especially if you have a long beard – they can get rather flyaway. Brushing helps keep your style orderly and tidy and makes it easier to care for your facial hair by spreading oils evenly throughout the hair of your beard. Other kinds of hair will require different types of brushes. You’ll have to read the instructions first before deciding on what kind of brush to use – but generally speaking, combs made with boar-bristle tend to work best on beards because they are typically very gentle and don’t cause tears or breakage.
At The Barber Chair, we are dedicated to providing all of our clients with exemplary service. From haircuts and hot towel straight razor shaves associated with men’s grooming to eyebrow waxing and styling amongst other services for women, our professional barbershop is here to treat you to a top-quality haircut or hair styling experience. Visit us today at 5340 Clark Road in Sarasota!