Growing a beard isn’t easy, but grooming it is. I started my beard journey when I was just 16 years old. Yeah, that might sound young, but that was back in the day when skateboards and mullets were cool.
Although I couldn’t grow much of a beard back then, I did have a cheesy mustache which made me look old enough to buy beer without getting carded. Ah, the days when you could tell the cashier that you were any age over 21 and they believed you.
When I was 19 I moved away from the "stache" and started growing a goatee, not because I didn’t want to have a full beard, but because my upper lip and chin were the only places on my face that hair would grow.
However, it wasn’t until I was 37 that I retired the goatee and really started growing the full beard. Today it’s on point and I can’t imagine not having it.
Grooming Your Beard
If you’re going to have a beard, you’ll need to take care of it. Don’t just grow one and forget about it. It’s not difficult to take care of it as long as you follow a few simple steps.
Unless, of course, you live in the mountains and you don’t have contact with the outside world. Then, who cares?
1. Wash
Keeping your beard clean is essential for your chin sweater and face. If you currently have a beard, then you already know what it’s like to eat corn on the cob or chicken wings.
Food inevitably gets trapped in the hairs and invites bacteria to grow and could draw unwanted animals toward your face.
The best wash you can use is any one of Dapper Yankee’s shampoo bars which are specifically designed for head and beard hair.
2. Comb or Brush
As your beard grows, it’s important to comb or brush it daily to help promote hair growth. This also helps to remove any dry skin, so it doesn’t look like “Dan Ruff” stopped by with a bag full of snow for your chest. It’s just kind of gross to see dudes with white flakes on black tee shirts.
3. Trim
Regardless of the length you want to achieve, you still need to trim it. Facial hair tends to get a little crazy and can grow in any direction it wants. Have a good electric trimmer with a guard so you can shape your beard the way you want. It’s also a good idea to have a pair of scissors to snip the stragglers.
4. Moisturize
This is one step that a lot of beard wearers forget to do, but it is an essential step for caring for it and making it softer. Use a good beard oil (like Dapper Yankee’s) every day.
Just a few drops (or more depending on the length) is all it takes. Just be sure to get the oil down to your skin. This will help make it less itchy and so much softer. No one ever complains about a guy’s beard that is too soft.
5. Tame
This step isn’t necessary for everyone, but it also doesn’t hurt to do it daily.
At times those whiskers can become unruly, so it’s good to have a nice smelling beard balm on hand. Using the balm helps to lock in the beard oil that you applied. And helps control those odd straggler hairs that tend to pop up every now and then. This stuff smells so good, you can skip the cologne!
Grooming your beard is simple if you have the right tools and products for your routine.
If you are going to have face fur, you need to wear it like you care. There is nothing sexier than a man who knows what the hell he is doing and does it well, at least that’s what my wife says.
