There is a sexy new trend emerging from the quarantine life… men and their beards.
Whether intentional or not, the beard movement has been here for quite a while but this Spring it gained a whole new set of brethren who are loving their new facial hair. Men everywhere have felt less pressure to keep up a daily shave look and are embracing the scruff. And we couldn’t be happier!
The beard culture movement is here, and like curls, we’re thrilled that natural beauty is not only welcome, it’s celebrated. Men, and their partners, are loving their men in their natural state. Sure, boys look to their dads for shaving tips but beards haven’t been a part of the Black and Brown culture for a few generations, mainly due to fear-mongering and the portrayal of men with beards as villains—a topic and conversation for another time. There’s an amount of self-care that goes into keeping your beard clean and healthy. Growing up, boys often aren’t taught beard grooming lessons from their father to help men care for their bristling manes, so in honor of World Beard Day, we spoke to three grooming experts to get a few quick tips on how you can manage your mane.
First things first, start with regularly trimming your hair. Whether you are ready to return to the barber shops or planning to go the D.I.Y. route, trimming removes the damaged ends and allows hair to grow with less breakage and thinning. If you’re looking to grow it out, plan to get a trim every 6-8 weeks and invest in beard-trimming essentials to get the job done.
“Investing in a good beard trimmer is a must,” says Lesley “The Lady Clipper” Bryant, a barber-stylist and founder of Lady Clipper Barbershop in Washington D.C. “Longer beard wearers should purchase small shears and comb to trim the rogue hairs. For maintaining a shorter ‘stubbly’ beard, attach a #1 guard on your beard trimmer and use downward strokes. Also, men should get into the practice of running the clippers/beard trimmer from the bottom of the earlobe to the jawline and repeat as you move closer to the mustache.”
Quinn Gordon, founder of Black Men with Beards and a popular destination on Instagram featuring everyday men and their gorgeous beards, adds, “Make sure to dampen your beard first using a spray bottle, and comb through your beard using a wooden comb before trimming.”
Shaping It Up
Can’t forget about the shape up with regular brushing and trimming. The Lady Clipper recommends getting the right tools for the trade:
courtesy of brand
Andis T-Outliner® T-Blade Trimmer
$63.50 (Shop Now)
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Neter Gold Detangling Beard Comb
$12.00 (Shop Now)
If you’re not sure what kind of length you want, no problem. No one can see what’s happening behind those N95 masks, just remember you can’t hide behind it forever. Once you take off those masks, you need to make sure that hair isn’t too prickly, scratchy, or downright itchy. Rance John, co-founder of TCM Lifestyle advises, “One myth is that your beard requires a lot of products to have a healthy full look. Beard products can serve two purposes: help repair damaged beard hair and the skin underneath, or enhance the appearance of your beard. The key is to find the right product regimen for your needs. That’s a qualitative approach, not a quantity approach.”
“When you don’t apply the right product or any at all, beards aren’t nourished. Beards grow from the face so naturally, beards attract and hold dirt, dust, dead skin, and food particles. Using great products is important. It’s a great idea to establish a good regimen. This will assist in loosening really tight curl patterns.”
“There are a few ways to maintain your beard between visits to your barber,” agrees Quinn Gordon, “but we recommend a consistent and effective skin and beard regime using high-quality products. If you find your beard dries out, utilize a beard oil that is not going to clog your pores like ICNC 38 3-in-1 Elixir, which establishes the foundation of healthy skin while promoting hair growth by cleansing, hydrating & moisturizing.”
Establish a Beard Care Routine
Yep, taming this new beast requires creating daily habits for its care. Rance John breaks it down:
1. Washing: Regular washing not only keeps it clean but helps to prevent breakage.
2. Conditioning: Use a dime-size amount of beard balm or a few drops of oil after cleansing to add moisture and sheen, 3-4 times a week. Bonus, it also assists in growth.
courtesy of brand
TCM Lifestyle Beard Wash
$14.99 (Shop Now)
courtesy of brand
TCM Lifestyle Beard Oil
$19.99 (Shop Now)
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TCM Lifestyle Beard Balm
$17.99 (Shop Now)
courtesy of brand
The Well Groomed Life ICNC 38 3-in-1 Skin + Beard Elixir
$38.00 (Shop Now)
The Lady Clipper agrees, “stay away from using shampoo and body soap to clean your beard. Instead, invest in a 100% natural Beard wash and beard oil to keep beards soft and itch-free. Also, brushing your beard daily removes dead skin cells that may cause itching.”
Brush, trim, wash, condition repeat. As you see, caring for bristling manes is about more than just regular visits to the barber shop and shampooing with whatever you are using for your hair on top of your head.
The right care can mean the difference between being called zaddy or disheveled caveman.
