Guest post from Modern Mane.
A beard requires care and maintenance if you want it to look good. Much like a sports car, your beard needs frequent upkeep if you want it to stay at its best. Here are some tips for putting together a beard routine that will keep your mane bushy and thick, instead of scraggly and itchy.
Your beard can and will attract bacteria. Food particles, sweat, and so on can cause your beard to become smelly and disgusting. To avoid that unpleasant outcome, use a light shampoo to thoroughly rinse your beard. Frequent shampooing can strip out the natural oils in your beard and will cause your beard to dry out, so we recommend adding beard oil to your routine.
Beard oil conditions your beard and the underlying skin to prevent dryness and flakes. The best beard oils contain jojoba oil which moisturises at the deepest level of your skin. Olive oil is another super ingredient for its antibacterial and moisturising properties. Modern Mane all-natural beard oil contains both olive and jojoba oil, along with a convenient dropper for easy application.
When you’ve grown out your beard, you’ll probably feel an urge to stroke and feel its bushy awesomeness. Even though it’s fun to do, be aware that playing with your beard too frequently can cause it to thin out. But don’t despair: A diet high in protein can help strengthen your hair follicles so that less falls out. The high protein diet will also promote healthier and quicker beard growth when you start growing out your mane.
Depending on your desired beard length, you may want to do some trimming. But if you want a sizeable beard, don’t start trimming until you’ve let your scruff grow out reasonably. Premature trimming can cause your beard to look thin and patchy instead of bushy and thick. When you do start trimming, the best bet is an electric trimmer. If you trim your neck, be aware that you should leave an inch or so of facial hair below the neck line. Any less and your beard will look off due to the stark contrast. Unless you’re going for the George Lucas look, this is to be avoided.
If you want to style your beard, you’ll need a quality comb. There are a number of great hand-made combs but to find the best comb for you, you’ll have to consider your beard length and type. As a rule of thumb, longer beards require wider teethed combs. Stay away from plastic combs if you can and invest in horn or wood based product instead. Your follicles will thank you and you won’t have to endure your beard hair painfully being caught on the teeth of a shoddy comb.
For optimal beard aesthetics, a beard wax is a must. You can apply beard wax by hand and style as necessary. For longer beards, you’re going to want a medium-hold product. Beard wax doesn’t just keep your hair from looking scraggly; it also acts as a conditioner to keep your hair from drying out. Dry beards are bad.