Beards come in all forms – some look great, some not much, and others can literally drive you excruciatingly crazy with itchiness. A great beard is not all about growing your facial hair wild. It is about finding a style that suits you and going with it fearlessly.
It cannot be denied that beard grooming has become a bit confusing. There are tons of tutorials, each explaining a distinct routine. Therefore, it’s quite easy to get confused.
However, with the help of experts who have been at it for decades, you can learn to take care of your beard by yourself. This article gives the must-knows of beard grooming from Jackson, NJ’s Top Barbers.
The Basics: Cleaning and Moisturizing
The skin under the beard is like soil for a plant. When the soil dries out and is neglected, the plant wilts.
Grooming Your Beard Is Not A Luxury In Jackson, NJ
The same principle works with your beard. First, avoid using the same bar of soap or shampoo that you put on your head. The reason behind this is that these soaps are too abrasive and can strip your face and your beard of their natural oils. This leaves you with a dry, crusty feeling called beard ruff.
Instead, consider a beard shampoo to wash it twice or three times a week. Warm water wash is ideal on other days because it cleans the beard without causing it to dry.
After washing and blotting your beard, the first big piece of equipment you need to splurge on is beard oil. This shouldn’t be an afterthought, but actually a necessity. A few drops on the skin under your beard will condition, calm itchiness, and leave hair smooth and aligned. It delivers a healthy glow and a pleasant scent as well. Silky complexion is as good as a happy beard, and that is what you desire.
Taming the Wild: Trimming and Shaping
This is where most men begin to sweat. Fear of destroying weeks’ worth of growth is legitimate. Our tip number one? Get to know your tools and take your time. For control of length, a good beard trimmer with an adjustable guard is your best asset. Always begin with a larger guard than you anticipate. This is because you can always cut it down further, but you can never cut it back up.
For finishing details like clearing out your cheek lines and your neckline, a razor or precision trimmer is what you want. The neckline rule is easy: don’t shave it up too high! Visualize a line from behind one ear, down to around an inch or so above your Adam’s apple, and up to the other ear. Shave everything down below that line for a neat, natural look. Shaving under the jawline is not advisable because it makes a beard look unnaturally symmetrical.
For the best possible transformation with this, you need to actually visit professionals. A good shape-up from top barbers will help you see the full potential of your beard and give you a defined line to follow at home.
The Finishing Touches: Styling and Day-to-Day Care
A beard that is clean, hydrated, and defined will need some day-to-day care. This is the only way to keep it in its optimal state. For beards of short length, use a light quantity of beard balm to tame annoying hairs and help with minimal conditioning. For fuller, longer beards, beard butter will condition even further down. A beard wax provides more hold on bothersome, pesky hairs.
As you take these actions, don’t forget the brush. This is because it performs wonders, especially the boar bristle brush. It does three things at once, which are to exfoliate skin underneath, distribute oils evenly, and tells your beard hairs to grow downward. A morning brush maintains a neat beard that feels clean all day.
Maintaining and growing an amazing beard is quite a process. There is a bit of patience involved and a good regimen. All in all, the confidence that it gives you at the end of the day is worth it. At Gentz Barber Shop, we are not just here for a quick cut. Instead, we are your grooming partners. We love discussing beards, providing tips, and helping you with product advice.
So, if you are a beard veteran in need of a new style or just starting out and have the itch, visit our Jackson, NJ barbershop. Let us assist you with keeping your beard well-taken care of at all times.
