According to a recent survey, 75 percent of American men feel more confident when rocking some facial hair. We know that we do.
Facial hair is a symbol of manliness, strength, and reliability. Think of the great masculine icons from history like lumberjacks, mountain men, special forces soldiers, and Spartan warriors. There's one thing they all have in common: well-cultivated facial hair.
Yet, as any amateur beard-grower will know, you can't leave your hair to grow and expect a magnificent beard to emerge fully formed. Whether this is your first beard or your hundredth, if you don't maintain it, you'll end up with a scraggly, untamable beard. No one needs that kind of knock to their follicular confidence.
Maintaining a beard can seem like a lot of work. The truth is once you've bought a few supplies like our Beard Oil, developing a good beard care routine is easy.
We want you to grow that awesome beard of your dreams. Stick around and we'll show you how!
1. Invest in a Beard Brush and Comb
Keeping your first beard tidy is key if you want to remain confident in your facial locks. To keep it looking neat, you'll need to brush it regularly.
Once you've had your beard for around a month, you need to invest in a boar bristle brush. These are made from boar hair, which is very similar to human hair. This means that as it makes its way through your hair, it doesn't irritate or pull too much.
Brushing regularly removes detritus from your beard and promotes blood circulation. Do you know what good blood circulation does? It promotes good facial hair growth.
You can use the brush across all different beard lengths, but combs are a little more specialized.
You should use a beard comb once you've had your beard for three months or so when it's starting to get noticeably long. A beard comb has two sides, one with thicker teeth and one with thinner teeth. This makes it perfect for detailing and controlling your mane.
2. Beard Oil and Balm Are Essential
No matter if this is your first beard or just your most recent, you need to be using beard oil from the very start. Beard oil moisturizes the skin underneath your beard which keeps your skin and beard at their healthiest.
It also softens your beard hair, which means your partner isn't going to have to deal with scratchy kisses.
Once your beard is long enough to use a comb, you should Beard Balm, too. The balm works wonders on your beard's hair and doubles as a styling agent, almost like a very soft hair wax.
3. Don't Try to Style It Too Soon
Some amateur beard-growers will attempt to style their beard too soon and ruin their progress. You can't take a pair of scissors or a trimmer to your beard too soon. It's like hacking at a bonsai tree and hoping for some world-class topiary.
Your beard needs to be at least an inch to an inch and a half long before you start styling it. Bear with it through the straggly phase. It might not be your dream beard quite yet, but just as every journey begins with a single step, every great beard begins with a bit of wildness.
4. Eat a Good Diet and Exercise
We know what you're thinking: "I came here for beard tips, not lifestyle advice." It may sound trite, but if you want to grow a great beard, you need to take care of yourself.
Exercise helps maintain good circulation and oxygen concentrations in your blood, which leads to healthier hair. Doing resistance training at home or the gym leads to increased testosterone too, which increases facial hair growth.
As for diet, certain foods can give your beard a boost. These include:
- Foods high in iron and zinc like red meat and legumes
- Fruits and vegetables packed with vitamins for hair growth
- Healthy fats
5. Trim a Neckline
If you're growing a short, first beard, you need to trim a neckline into your beard. Don't make the mistake of thinking that nature will take care of this for you: it won't and you'll be left with a messy bit of facial fungus.
To find your neckline, place your fingers above your Adam's apple. Then trace a U shape to your ear on each side. This will be your neckline.
There is one exception to this rule. If your beard is long, you can leave your neckline, as the longer hair on the front will cover it anyway, and it'll contribute to a fuller beard.
6. Wash Your Beard
Washing your beard is like washing the hair on top of your head. It's an essential part of good hygiene and making your beard look its best.
You should shampoo your beard a couple of times a week. This keeps your beard clean, fresh, and looking great. You can use ordinary shampoo on it, but for the best results, we recommend using our Beard Wash or our Beard, Hair, & Body Bars!
7. Forget the Shaving Myth
There's a myth that if you shave your beard, the hair will grow back faster or thicker. This isn't true. This myth springs from the way that shaving leaves sharp ends on your hairs, which can feel coarser, but aren't.
If you want to grow a thicker beard, use the tips that we've given you, eat a good diet, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
How We Can Help You With Your First Beard
Growing your first beard can be a tense experience. It can be fraught with itchiness, worries, and stress.
Here at Mountaineer Brand, we want to help our unbearded brethren embrace the beard that's in their hearts and get a fantastic first beard. Take a look around our site and you'll find a range of oils, balms, washes, and more that can help take your beard to the next level!
If you've got any questions about our products, please get in touch with us! We'd be happy to help you.