Here, at Men’s Grooming Ireland, we respect all aspects of the male grooming experience, and we understand that for many men, a well-groomed beard is as important as the style of the hair on their head.
In fact, for many men, a beard, whether neatly trimmed or well established and bushy, is an accomplishment they are proud of, and it forms an integral part of their self-image. Many such clients frequent Men’s Grooming Ireland for a trim every three to four weeks in our Stillorgan and Terenure salons. For such gentlemen, their style must remain neat.
By frequenting the salon chair this often, we can ensure that your beard retains the style and shape that helps define your’ look.’ The barber will pay attention to detail and trim stray hairs that can mar an otherwise flawless look.
Whether you’re a dapper older gentleman with a lifelong beard or a newcomer to facial hair, we have a few handy hints to help initiates enter the world of the well-groomed gent. It can be a slow process, as regular trimming to keep it neat increases the growing time, but there are no shortcuts when it comes to style.
Let’s dive in and look at our barber’s top 5 tips for growing the perfect beard:
1. It is time to commit
If you’ve always dreamed of growing the perfect beard for yourself, you’ve no doubt started growing your facial hair out, only to shave it off for one of many reasons. Maybe it got itchy, or you didn’t like how it was forming. Whatever the reason, it’s time to commit.
Like the hair on the top of your head, your beard hair will benefit from a healthier lifestyle. Avoid smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and other unhealthy habits. Getting plenty of sleep and eating a balanced diet with all the vitamins your body needs will make you look and feel healthier.
You may also be prone to ingrown hairs – if so, get into the habit of exfoliating your skin several times a week to prevent ingrown hairs.
2. Buy the right grooming products
You use different products for various parts of your body, which is also true for your facial hair. Pick up the following to ensure that you’re ready to rock the perfect beard:
- Skin Cleanser or shampoo that suits your skin type.
- A beard moisturiser, such as our Sandalwood Men’s Grooming Ireland beard moisturiser.
- Beard conditioner, moisturiser, or oil. Beard oil is particularly popular, but it depends on your skin type as to which is most suitable for you.
- A good quality comb and brush.
3. Wash your beard
To cleanse or shampoo your beard, we recommend using lukewarm water for the best finish. If you’re finding that you have some dandruff in your beard, use a medicated shampoo and massage it gently into your beard and skin. Allow it to sit for a minute or two before rinsing so that the active ingredients can get to work.
If you’re unsure of what shampoo to use to deal with dandruff, anything that contains around 1% ketoconazole will do the trick.
By washing your beard frequently, you will remove dirt, oil, germs and bacteria, pollution, and dead skin.
4. Moisturise
After you have gently towel dried your beard, apply moisturiser. Your skin and beard should still be slightly damp when applying your chosen product. If you have sensitive skin, we’d recommend a fragrance-free moisturiser. Alternatively, the use of beard oil instead will help to soften your skin and prickly whiskers.
Premium beard oil is also a great moisturiser for your skin, so don’t be afraid to rub any excess onto your face rather than wipe it off with a towel. It does not clog your pores, and the Vitamin E that you’ll find in most high-quality beard oils will do wonders for your skin.
5. Grooming time
This final step comes in three parts. First, you need to brush through your beard. It’s no challenge to do so for an early beard, but this can become a bigger problem for clients who have been actively growing something impressive but unkempt. To avoid discovering that you’ve let it go so wild you cannot pass a comb through it, we recommend brushing through your beard every day.
Next, visit a barber to trim and tidy away unruly hairs that interfere with the style you are going for. This will ensure your beard doesn’t morph into a neckbeard, joining up with stray hairs from elsewhere.
Finally, apply a styling product of your choice. If you’re trying to add a little shape to your style and your beard isn’t keen, we recommend trying our Beard Wax Balm, which provides a soft hold for fuller beards.