The difference between a well groomed beard and an unkempt one is huge. Unfortunately, guys don’t always realize just how big a difference some care and attention can make to their facial hair’s visual and tactile appeal. Many girls like a good beard on a guy, but a bad one is always a turn-off.
Step 1: Let it Grow
The first step to having a good beard involves making sure it’s long enough to be shaped properly. The rookie mistake is in getting impatient and trying to shape it while it’s still growing, which can lead to uneven and sparse patches that are hard to recover from.
After a few weeks you’ll get past the “itchy peak,” and then it’s easier to let it grow to the 1-1.5 inches that is usually best for shaping it properly.
Step 2: Cleaning
Many guys treat their beards like body hair, using whatever body or bar soap they use for their chests or armpits to wash it. But that leaves your beard and the skin under it dried out and brittle. Use a moisturizing shampoo to keep your beard soft.
On top of that, conditioner is a huge benefit to stop beards from getting wiry. A leave-in conditioner that you don’t have to rinse out can work very well. Whatever you use, make sure they’re non-comedogenic, since you don’t want the stuff to clog your pores.
Step 3: Shaping
If it’s your first time trying a new style, going to a professional barber and getting the one you want has a number of benefits. For one thing, you ensure that you get what you want and don’t risk wasting all those weeks of patient waiting and itching.
For another, you can watch what they do so you can do it yourself in the future. Don’t be afraid to ask for tips on maintaining the shape as your beard grows.
Step 4: Maintenance
You can get a beard trimmer, which have adjustable guide to help you control how precisely you cut. If you want to use a comb and trimmers, remember to comb through the beard and cut on the outside of it. It takes some practice, but that makes it much easier to control how much you cut.
When trimming, make sure your hair is dry. When it’s wet it gets longer, and you might realize after it dries that you cut too much. To trim a mustache, comb it down first, then start in the middle and trim toward one side of the mouth, and then go back to the middle and trim toward the other.
Everyday activities can become a bit more complicated when you have a beard. For one thing, when you eat, be sure to have some extra napkins. Always check your beard after you eat to make sure there are no crumbs or sauces in it. Learning to eat through a beard without getting it messy is a skill that you’ll develop over time, and you might end up doing some trimming around the lips to make it easier.
Beards aren’t for everyone, and you might grow a few different ones before deciding you look better without one. But if you’re going to try it, make sure you do it right!
