Let’s talk about hand hygiene. 

Aside from the fact that this is a current hot topic, proper hand hygiene is crucial at all times. If you read our last blog on this topic, we discussed the steps for proper hand washing with soap and water. Since these sources aren’t always readily available, hand sanitizer is the next best option. 

But what’s the difference? 

According to the CDC, soap and water are more effective when it comes to killing certain types of germs, like norovirus (stomach bug) and C. Diff (a very violent stomach bug). Aside from the difference in effectiveness, hand sanitizer isn’t always used properly. 

If your hands are especially greasy or dirty, alcohol based sanitizers may not get the job done because they can’t penetrate, break apart, and remove the grime like soap and water. The process is also fairly specific if you want maximum effectiveness. It’s essential to cover all surfaces of the hands and rub them together until they are completely dry. If done correctly, hand sanitizers provide a similar enough effectiveness to using soap and water. 

So, if the essential soap and water aren’t readily available, be sure to have some alcohol based hand sanitizer on hand… preferably both. See what we did there? 

Now, let’s talk about Mountaineer Brand Hand Sanitizer… 

We are all about all-natural products and fully encourage using them, but we also felt the need to step up and assist the community during a time of need. COVID-19 has caused a shortage of hand sanitizer across the globe, so we decided to make one that meets FDA requirements. Check out the details: 

• INGREDIENTS: 80% Ethanol Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Water
• Antiseptic formula 
• 80% Ethanol Alcohol
• FDA recommended formula for effective use

We have chosen to meet these requirements for maximum effectiveness in order to keep you and your family safe during these difficult times. While it may not be our typical product formulated with the all-natural ingredients you’ve come to love, it’s a necessary addition to our product line. You’ll find that it’s very reasonably priced, so go ahead and grab one for your office, job site, bag, or vehicle. Just remember, if you have soap and water as an option, we suggest using that first! 

Are you learning how to grow a full beard? Maybe you're already in the process of doing so? 

In either case, there are some ways you can start to grow it quickly!

In this article, we will cover the stages of beard growth, and how beard care approaches can help improve your beard. 

Keep reading to learn how to grow a beard effectively.

The Stages of Beard Growth 

Before you start to work on beard maintenance and growth, it's important to understand the stages of beard growth and how they correlate to your overall ability to grow a full beard. Here are the different stages your beard will be in as it grows into a full beard.

Clean Shave

This phase might not apply to all, but in some cases, people recommend starting your new full beard with a clean shave. Regardless of what you choose, you should start to keep your skin clear and exfoliate regularly in the beard area.

Clean skin encourages hair growth, so use a cleanser and moisturizer as well to help make the skin healthier.

Stubble

The stubble is a stage in which many men reside because of the appeal, but it's quite far from a beard. If you're going for a full beard, don't get sucked into the trap!

At this phase, you should exfoliate regularly, but think about using some sort of stubble cream to bring back moisture to the beard cuticles.

Itch

This is the early beard that might grow in phases and look odd. Not to mention, it might be itchy on some people! In that case, you should hydrate a lot every day with water and use a scruff cream on the beard itself. 

Do not shave or trim - let it grow as it will and you can continue moving forward.

Subtle Beard

The beard is finally coming through and the patches are beginning to fill as the length increases. If you've been moisturizing, the beard should look vibrant.

You can begin trimming and shaping the beard by yourself or with your local barber.

Moderate Beard

At this point, the beard has taken the shape that you have given it. You should consider a beard balm that helps protect and nourish the beard.

Depending on the density, it might be a bit early for that, but if you have a thick beard, it can handle it. 

The Full Beard

Now the beard is formed completely. People will compliment and speak upon its distinguished look. Nonetheless, the routine is still important!

Hydrate as much as possible. Use a comb and brush to help with cleaning, styling, and detangling the beard. Do this all while using comprehensive beard oil for health and growth.

Routine Beard Care

Beard growth is a natural process and the best beards often come from long true dedication.

You will be faced with overwhelming draughts and considerations, but if you leave your beard to grow, it shall! Here are some routine beard care products you should consider.

Beard Cream

This type of product is perfect for those with two or more week stubble and they should help with dryness or itchiness. It will also help your beard grow at a natural rate while making it look and smell great. 

Beard Balm and Medication

A beard balm with hydrocortisone will help in reducing inflammation, redness, and itchiness of your beard. Even routine beard care can't stop all of the flare-ups, but that shouldn't stop you from growing a full beard.

Beard Oil

For beards that are on the older side, you can use any type of beard oil that helps soften it and reduce any sort of itch. Also, don't forget about the moisturizing properties.

Beard Brush

A beard brush should be used in conjunction with all other products, as it helps in styling your beard while grooming it for a better look. 

You can also use it to apply cream or oil evenly across your beard when trying to detangle the tough knots on your beard hairs.

Seven Tips for Improved Beard Growth

And finally, as promised, the seven tips that will help you improve your beard growth.

1. Don't Trim Early

If you start to trim out your beard too early, you are losing out on the potential of the neckline, as that is the part of the beard that is responsible for the majority of the bulk and length.

2. Brush Real Well

If you forget to brush your beard, even at the earlier stages, you are missing out on the capabilities of improved blood flow, a cleaner beard, and stylized looks.

3. Oil More Than You Think

If you think you should oil just a little bit, that's wrong. You should oil up the beard whenever possible because they are known to dry out and that decreases their ability to grow.

4. Consider Supplementation

If you do some research upon supplementation and beard growth, you might see some correlation between minerals that increase your DHT and testosterone response.

Why is that important? You should know about this because those two transmitters are responsible for beard growth in the first place.

5. Sleep More

If you don't sleep enough, that's bad for a host of things in the body, but it's also bad for your beard. So, if you want a thicker beard, get the rest you need.

6. Exercise

Exercise improves circulation, activates DHT and testosterone, and makes your beard grow significantly better. If you're not exercising, your beard is not getting a boost of anything!

7. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a chemical solution to your beard problems with decades of research and proven effects on beard growth. However, it's not without downsides, so involve yourself deeply with research before choosing to use it.

How to Grow a Beard Simply

Now that you know how to grow a beard properly, you can finally start to reap the reward of actively waiting it out. It takes time, but it's worth it in the end to get the looked you've been wanting for years!  

If you're interested in checking out our beard growth products, go through our catalog and see what we have to offer.

Thanks for checking back with us to look at A Beginner’s Guide to Serious Shaving - Part 2. This is the part that seals the deal to a serious shave routine. 

If you missed Part 1, we discussed pre-shave oil and the benefits it provides the skin, then dove into the process of how to use it properly. There’s a lot of really good information in there, so it’s definitely worth a quick read! If you’re a returning reader, let’s get started... 

Folks who take their grooming game seriously know that an established routine with a line of quality products is essential, whether bearded or unbearded. Serious grooming isn’t a “one and done” product kind of deal. If you’re looking to step up your game, you should take the time to do some research, especially when it comes to shaving. 

Mustaches are the new in thing; if you don't have one, you'd better start questioning why not!? But if you do have one, you'd better believe in 2020 that you should be maintaining it properly.

We don't just mean washing your mustache regularly, you should be doing that normally when you shower! We're talking about using specially produced mustache wax.

What is mustache wax you ask? Well, its a wax that you put on your mustache. Fairly self-explanatory, right? 

It's used primarily to keep your mustache design in place as well as to protect it from the elements. After all, mustache maintenance is just as important as full beard maintenance. Now that you know what it is, read on to find out 7 tips to using mustache wax today!

1. Mustache Wax: Choose Your Wax (Strength and Type)

Mustaches are more popular than ever, but you need to make sure yours looks as good as it can be. First things first, you need to know how to choose the right mustache wax for you. Two main things need to be considered here.

The first, and arguably most important, is the strength of your wax. You can purchase mustache wax in different holding strengths, typically light/medium, medium, strong and extra strong variations. 

The difference between them is that light/medium mustache wax isn't gonna hold as well as extra strong. The strength you'll need depends on how long your mustache is as well as how elaborate your styling is.

In addition to strength, the other main determiner between mustache wax brands is the type of wax it is. There are many different kinds with different properties, from organic mustache wax to tinted and vegan variants. 

Do some research on different brands to decide which of these you'd prefer to go with.

2. Think About Scent and Color

As well as strength and type, when deciding your mustache wax don't forget to consider the scent and color.

These factors won't change how the wax works on your mustache (too much) but will affect the smell and look of it. Many different mustache wax scents are on the market today, including citrus, timber, and mountain fresh.

When it comes to color, the decision is much easier. You should get a wax color that matches your hair color, so the wax blends in with your design. 

3. Don't Use Oil

The main mistake that first-time mustache waxers make is that they oil their mustache first. 

Wax isn't water-soluble, which is what helps it protect your mustache from rain and other elements. But it is oil-soluble; this means that if you apply wax to a well-oiled beard, the wax is likely to break down as you try to use it.

This is the exact opposite effect of what you want the wax to do. It should hold your mustache in place, not disintegrate on impact. To avoid this happening, simply don't use oil before using your mustache wax. 

Instead, apply it after you've showered and dried your face, so your mustache is clean and ready to be groomed.

4. Take Your Time

Another problem for mustache waxers is being impatient with the process. We know you often have a busy morning schedule and need to get your grooming done quickly so you can be out the door.

But if you take just a few minutes longer on your waxing, the results will show. Think about it as if you were sculpting a work of art, which you sort of are in a way. If you rush the process, it's going to look shoddily done or a bit messy in places.

But if you take your time, go from hair to hair, then the result will be something to marvel at. Once you've gotten more patient with mustache care, you can consider other habits to become a fully well-groomed man.

5. Be Gentle

Back to that work of art point; your mustache hair isn't the strongest material in the world. If you start pulling at it from every angle, you're going to hurt yourself and be left with a patchy mustache in the process.

Waxing isn't a rough, quick process, its a gentle and slow routine. This is particularly true for the ends of your mustache. The last thing you want to do is be twizzling your second end to have several hairs get pulled out.

You'd be left in pain with a lopsided mustache on your face. A little bit of caution goes a long way when it comes to mustache waxing. Perhaps if everyone adopts this approach then one-day mustaches will become more popular than beards.

6. Start From The Centre

It can be tempting to go straight for the ends of your mustache, but this isn't the best way of applying wax. The optimum approach is to start from the center and work outwards.

This is because much of your hair is found in the center of your mustache. This outward stroke can help you create a more cohesive design overall for your mustache.

7. Practice It

The best thing you can do when it comes to applying mustache wax is to keep practicing. You aren't going to get it perfect first time, but who does!?

The more you keep at it, the better your result will be. Think about practicing on days where you don't have to go outside, or as you get home in the evening if you're worried about people seeing your early attempts.

The more you work at it, the closer you'll come to the best mustache a man can have.

Where Can I Buy Mustache Wax?

You can buy quality mustache wax right here at Mountaineer Brand!

We specialize in beard and mustache care products and have a huge line of mustache wax to suit every need. If you want a timber scented mustache wax, or an extra firm option, we've got you covered.

Take a look at our full range of beard and mustache care products today. Or if you can't find what you're looking for on our website, please do contact us directly.