10 Beard Grooming Tips That’ll Keep Your Beard Looking and Smelling Great

by Garrick Dee | Last Updated: June 15th, 2020

Now that you’ve just successfully grown a full beard, the next step in the process is to keep it well-groomed.

There are a lot of reasons why you need to do these beard grooming tips.

The best reason I can give you is hygiene, the last thing you want is an ungroomed, unkempt, itchy and smelly beard that’s all over the place.

This will turn off any woman – a good enough reason why you should groom the beard regularly.

Having a beard is a symbol of masculinity, and not everyone is genetically blessed to grow one, but if you are beard, grooming is essential if you want to look great and stand out.

A lot of celebrities who have once sported the clean look now have full beards. Leonardo Dicaprio, Pierce Brosnan, and Keannu Reeves are just a few of them.

Growing a full beard can be challenging, but grooming it also brings in another set of challenges, but the results are all worth an extra 10 to 15 minutes of your time.

Without further ado, here are 8 tips on how to groom your beard and stand out among the heard of men.

1. Keep it Clean and Moisturized

Keeping the beard clean prevents itchiness and keeps it soft. This is an essential step, especially when you’re in the process of growing one. If you don’t wash and condition it, chances are it will get dry and wiry – this leads to the feeling of itchiness, which leads to men giving up and shaving it all off.

Some experts suggest using a beard wash and conditioner, but a good shampoo and conditioner should do the trick, but if you still feel that your beard is a bit wiry, try using a beard balm to add a little bit more moisture.

After washing, dry using a clean towel, if possible, use a clean cloth because an old towel can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Avoid blow-drying it since the heat from a dryer can dry out facial hair, making it frizzy and wiry.

Lastly, comb the beard with a wide-tooth comb – this will remove any tangles and set things in order.

2. Have a Style in Mind

Let’s be honest; not everybody can grow a full beard. Facial hair will vary depending on the shape of your face and genetics – whether you’re naturally hairy or not.

Remember that, in essence, growing a beard is a fashion statement. The last thing you want is a beard style that will not fit the shape of your face.

Here’s what Men’s Journal has to say about beard styles.

For rounded faces with double chins, try growing a beard with “strong lines and borders,” this does an excellent job in “hiding the curves.”

Angular faces do well with long beards because it “adds girth.” For men with long faces, grow a full beard with thicker sides and trim up the areas around the mouth and chin to “bring your mug in proportion.”

David Ryan, from the Beard Pros, has another perspective. He says to “let your beard define itself” because “your beard knows best.”

3. Have a Workable Routine

Having a well-groomed beard takes time and effort, the time in which some men do not have. So before growing a one, make sure to commit yourself to a specific time frame each day or weekend for proper beard maintenance.

Try it out for a few weeks and see how it fits into your busy schedule. If it works, then good for you, but if not, consider a different beard style that won’t take as much time and effort to take care of.

4. Invest in the Proper Tools

Going to a professional can be costly over time, so it makes sense to invest in these essential tools to keep your beard looking sharp.

The most basic of these tools is a beard trimmer if you can purchase a cordless that would be a better investment, so you don’t have to deal with any wires. Beard trimmers work best of you have a busy schedule, and if you don’t have a thick beard – great for maintaining that faded look.

If you prefer to go the manual route, have a look at professional scissors and a comb to trim and sculpt. Remember that going in this direction takes a lot more time, so weigh your options carefully.

Scissors are more suitable for men with long beards who look for more precision when trimming though some beard trimmers with longer length settings can do the job as well.

It’s all a matter of personal preference.

Here’s how the professionals do it for people with long or short beards – you’ll notice that the tools they use are different.

5. Learn How to Use a Beard Trimmer

A beard trimmer is an excellent tool for sculpting your beard, but you have to use it properly to maximize it. Before running the trimmer, make sure to comb the beard in a downward motion.

Celebrity stylist Diana Schmidtke has a different take, she says that when trimming, go in an upward motion then out when you reach the sideburn area.

After trimming, make sure to comb down again to keep it neat.

6. Avoid Trimming a Wet Beard

A wet beard is typically longer, and if you try to trim it wet, you may end up cutting more off than you would like. Before trimming, make sure the beard is dry so you’ll be accurate in terms of how much facial hair you need to cut off.

7. Know the Proper Beard Line

A proper beard line can be the difference between looking fatter or looking sharper. Cut it too close to the neck, and the slightest weight gain is amplified and makes “you look like you have a double chin” – GQ magazine.

So how do you define the proper beard line (or neckline)? I found a blog called Rugged Fellows Guide and have a handy nifty tool that will help us “design” the beard neckline.

Check this out…

Here’s another guide on beard lines…

8. Healthy Diet = Healthy Skin = Great Looking Beard

Nutrition plays a vital role in how fast your beard grows and how great it looks. Experts say that healthy skin will translate to healthy hair, so a diet rich in Omega-3 and vitamins (particularly vitamin A) is a great step in the right direction. Also, avoid drinking too much alcohol as this causes dehydration.

Two-time world beard champion Jack Passion (photo above) says that to grow and maintain a great looking beard focus on your health because if you are healthy on the inside, you’ll grow beautiful hair. That means eating foods rich in protein and saturated fat to reach your maximum potential. Read the full article here.

9. Comb It Well

For guys with a full beard, comb that beautiful piece of facial hair before you go out. You will need a wide-tooth comb, a narrow tooth comb, and finally a beard brush.

The same reason why you comb the hair on your head, you want to remove any tangles and make sure you don’t look like you just got out of bed.

Do this after showering or washing your beard that way, it still has some moisture, and you can style it better.

Jeff Buoncristiano from Beard Brand shows you how to do it…

Oh, don’t forget the beard oil.

10. Don’t Forget the Beard Oil

One of the biggest complaints of men growing a full-on beard is that it’s itchy as heck. That’s because your beard is sucking all the nutrients from your face making it very dry and flaky. A consequence of this dryness is a “beardruff” – yes, you thought right, it’s dandruff on your beard.

Beard oil does two things. First, it hydrates, providing your beard the nutrients it desperately needs.

Second, it helps keep the beard in order. A comb and beard oil is the secret to any tidy looking beard. This guy said it takes him 15 minutes to style his.

Source

It’s basically like wax that will help you style the beard.

Shawn has written a great article about the benefits of beard oil, make sure to check it out.

Wrapping it up

Grooming a beard does take time, but when you see the results, it is well worth it. These are just some general guidelines for beard grooming to help get you started. As with everything in life, there will be nuances depending on how long your beard is and other factors like if you have dry facial hair that will influence that product, you will choose. If you think I missed a tip, please do tell me in the comment section, I’d love to hear from you.