Beard Health Tips and Tricks

It's the age of beards! Men are growing out their facial hair and sporting full beards, trimmed beards, highly styled beards…you name it, they're wearing it. But how do they keep them looking and feeling good?

Whether you're considering growing your beard for the first time or your friends have no idea what your chin looks like, this page is for you. Read on to learn about the top 10 beard health tips according to professional barbers.

Find our top 10 beard health tips from well-known barbers to get your beard started off on the right foot and looking great as it grows.

10 Tips for Growing and Maintaining Your Beard

1. Give it time!

You can't rush a good beard. Mike Malbon of Frank’s Chop Shop advises having a good, clean shave—then letting your beard grow for at least 30 days. Don't trim, don't shave. Just leave it alone! This way, you can truly see what kind of facial hair you have and how long it can easily grow.

2. Get your hands on the right tools

Having the right beard care tools is half the battle. While going to a licensed barber is highly recommended, you invest in high-quality beard clippers and scissors, a straight razor, and a beard comb for regular at-home maintenance.

3. Fill up on amino acids and protein

While your diet can't help your beard grow faster, it can affect how healthy it is. If your diet is deficient in amino acids and proteins, you may find that your hair is a little bit straggly and unkempt. Both of these essentials can be found in eggs, cottage cheese, meats, legumes, and more.

4. Don’t forget about your neck

Even men who meticulously keep up their facial hair can forget that their neck hair also needs maintenance. After letting your beard grow for those recommended 30 days, you should have a good feel for how much hair grows on your neck. Then, you can decide how—or if—you want to shave or trim your neck hair. Don't forget to fix it up every time you trim or shave the rest of your beard!

5. Get some mustache wax

If a mustache is going to be part of your look, you should definitely get your hands on some mustache wax. Mustache wax can hold a style in place, which is essential if you want a handlebar mustache, curly ends, or another fun look.

6. Care for your skin

This is probably one of the hardest steps for men who have never given much thought to their skin care routine. However, even if your beard is covering up your skin, you have to keep your skin healthy if you wanted to create a good foundation for beard growth. Find a face wash that suits your skin type and use it religiously. If you're not sure what kind of skin you have or what its needs are, your barber can help you out.

7. Keep your beard clean

Don't be that guy: Wash your beard! Dirty beards carry germs, hold crumbs…and stink. Since your nose spends all its time in your beard, you may not even know how it smells. But anyone who gets up close, from your dentist to your significant other, absolutely does! stubble + stash recommends washing your beard a couple of times per week or any time you get particularly dirty with a shampoo made specifically for beards. Moisturizing is also essential.

8. Use the right beard products

People have different skin and hair needs. If you're acne-prone or have oily skin, coconut oil may not be right for you—but if your skin doesn’t have those issues, coconut oil can keep your beard soft. And if you have sensitive skin, be sure to read the boxes for beard shampoos or conditioners to make sure they're usable for you. Unless you have an allergy, don't be afraid to experiment with different products until you find your favorites.

9. Don’t leave strays

Keep your stray hairs under control. Maintaining a beard requires frequent work, and one or two strays can quickly make you look a bit messy. Use a straight razor for clean edges and tweezers for stray hairs.

10.Go to the barber

Whether you see a barber regularly or treat yourself to a straight razor shave from time to time, you know that at-home maintenance doesn't hold a candle to what the pros can do. A barber is an expert in keeping your facial hair looking great while providing in-depth cleansing and additional maintenance tips.

If you find that you really love styling and maintaining your beard, perhaps barber school is right for you!