We are now on step 4 for your guide to becoming superman and this week it’s all about the beard (with a little mention of shaving). We have covered the body, face and hair; you have come this far so don’t give up now on your quest to become the best version of yourself.
Our beard grooming guide will show you how to avoid looking like wolverine and show you how to get the perfect trimmed beard every guy wants.
THE SUPER BEARD
Grow it better
– Let it grow. Wait a few months before trying to shape your beard (that’s if you plan to keep it short and close to your face in the long run).
– Fight through the itch. This is usually the point where the faint-hearted give up. If you stick with it, it gets better after a few weeks and will not itch as much.
– Let your beard get a little wild first. Once you have about an inch or an inch and a half, then you can start to shape it.
Groom your beard
Now that you have got your beard, how do you take care of it?
Shampoo your beard
Lots of guys don’t wash their beards, or if they do, they use soap, which would then be used on their underarms too. Bad idea! This will not only dry out your beard but it will dry your skin out underneath too.
Instead shampoo at least a few times a week. Use a moisturising shampoo to prevent your hair from getting brittle.
RECOMMENDED: Irritated Scalp Shampoo from Green People
Condition your beard
Use a thick, heavy-duty conditioner to keep your beard from becoming wiry. Let the conditioner sit there. Consider the leave in kind that you don’t have to rinse out.
Trim it
Even if you are growing your beard long, we recommend that you give it a trim every two months. It’s like getting rid of split ends in your hair. If you are keeping it short, trim your beard every few weeks or so.
Have the right tools
An electric trimmer is fine for the edge of your beard on your face. A quality trimmer is the key to a well-groomed beard. Choose a trimmer with an adjustable trimming guide for mistake proof trimming.
For shaping the bulk of your beard, it’s best to use scissors and a comb. Using scissors means that you are less likely to cut off too much by accident.
Use a shaving oil
Use clear shaving oil, as it will allow you to see what you are shaving and will help ensure a clean line around your beard.
Find a good barber
To give your beard the best shape possible, find a good barber and have it trimmed professionally. Finding a good barber can be tough but they are out there, so don’t give up! After your barber has professionally shaped your beard, it will allow you to maintain it easier at home.
Comb it out
Using a fine-toothed comb, keep your beard smooth and free from tangles by running the comb through the beard in the direction of your hair growth.
Use a mirror
Invest in a wall-mounted mirror with a telescoping arm. This will prevent you from having to lean across the bathroom sink and will ensure that you get a close up when grooming your beard.
Colour carefully
If your beard is greying or is a dramatically different colour from the hair on your head, there are dyes specifically formulated for facial hair that is safe to use at home. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package carefully to ensure good, even coverage and never use beard colour immediately after you have showered. The essential oils produced by your skin will help prevent staining on your face, but these oils are stripped away by showering.
Avoid using colour treatments designed for your hair, as these are not formulated to handle the tougher hair on your face.
Keep your beard healthy
Now this part may have you thinking ‘what are they talking about?’ but in actual fact you need to keep yourself healthy in order to maintain a beard that looks and feels good.
Eat a healthy diet
There are no special foods that will improve your beard growth (we would love to see a ‘beard diet’ named specifically for beard growers), but a balanced and healthy diet is good in general for your hair and skin.
Look for a supplement called biotin, which is a B complex vitamin as it helps to strengthen your hair.
Get plenty of sleep
One study found that losing sleep could slow down beard growth (we aren’t joking). So if you want a healthy, full beard, take care to get you ZZZs.
SEE ALSO: Are you getting enough sleep?
Eat with care
How do you keep your lunch of your beard?
Take small bites, wiping your face after each one and always ask for extra napkins if you are sat at a restaurant.
It’s important to take care of your beard as beards have a strong presence.
They are usually the first thing any person you meet will see, which makes grooming and keeping your beard healthy worth the effort.
The Dos and Don’ts when it comes to shaving
Now that we have taken you through grooming and maintaining your beard we wanted to touch on the subject of shaving. Even if you are growing a beard or have stubble, there are some rules that will help you shave the right way.
DO: Sculpt properly
If you want to sculpt super-close, there is no alternative to a straight razor. A number of regular razors come with a single blade on the back for sculpting.
DON’T: Shave too quickly
So many guys treat shaving like a race and end up with nicks and cuts. Take an extra few moments to add water to your shaving cream for an extra-smooth shave, and always go with the grain.
DO: Open your pores
Use a hot towel to open the pores before you sculpt and a cold towel (or a cold rinse) to close your pores after. This keeps ingrown hairs, redness, and nicks/cuts in check.
DON’T: Tamper with ingrown hairs like they are pimples
Never squeeze ingrown hairs like they are spots. Dirt in your nails can lead to infection (not a good look!)
DO: Get rid of ingrown hairs with care and attention
When you have an ingrown hair, put a hot towel on your face, disinfect the spot with some alcohol, take a tweezer and pull at the ingrown hair. Grab the hair as close to the base as possible to pull the bulb out. If you try to grab the hair from the top, you will just split the hair in half and this will not get rid of the ingrown hair.
Your super groomed beard is now ready to be showcased!
