The best beard care guide to keep yours healthy

Time for some instructions you can’t chuck in the bin.

Saves you having to get them back out, anyway.

Growing a beard isn’t difficult - it physically sprouts from your face - but it does require a lot of patience and dedication to achieve the beard of your dreams.

Today, you are going to read the best beard care guide you have ever read. By the end of it, you are going to know everything there is to know about growing a beard, grooming a beard and maintaining your efforts.

You’re also going to know exactly which tools you need to do all of this with maximum efficiency in order to get the best beard results.

Here are the 3 main steps  to having the healthiest beard:

Well-known facts about beards include that beard hairs grow from the face and that genetics play a huge role in whether you can grow a beard or not.

Lesser known facts include one very important one, and that’s that there are things you can do that have proven to assist with the growth of the beard hairs that your genetics have allowed you to grow.

As well as beard growth products, which we’ll get onto, there are many healthy lifestyle choices you can make that will help your beard grow thicker and faster.

Eating a balanced diet, as you already know, means getting all of the nutrients and minerals your body and mind need to thrive.

Hair growth requires specific nutrients in order for it to work at full capacity.

Vitamin D may assist to awaken dormant hair follicles, according to some research. B vitamins including B-12, biotin, and niacin may serve to reinforce and maintain hair.

Where to get these? Veg, obviously. Green ones. Can’t go wrong.

Once you get all the vitamins and nutrients you need through your food and drink, your body then needs to move it all around your body, which it does via your bloodstream.

Keeping hydrated keeps the blood flowing, allowing nutrients to get to the areas that need them, such as your beard follicles as just a random example.

Peak hydration also means healthier skin on your face and fewer dead skin cells that cause itchiness, which in turn can lead to beard hair loss.

Exercise also gets the blood pumping, which speeds up the distribution of nutrients around your body and up to your facial hair where it is required.

In addition, more exercise means more, better sleep, and when we’re asleep our DHT is at an all-time high, which is proven to have a positive effect on hair growth.

Haters will always say beard growth is 100% genetics, and while its ability to flourish in the first place is, there are also things that can be done to aid and speed up the process.

There are several products that can be bought to assist the growth of your facial hair so if you’re willing to spend a bit more money on top of your standard grooming product prices, you can grow your beard as fast as physically possible.

So, on top of eating a balanced diet, keeping hydrated and getting regular exercise, you could try using one or more of the following:

Ingredients that are used in beard growth serums, such as biotin and capilia longa, have been proven to wake up the dormant follicles that have been causing that patchy beard growth you hate.

Beard serum won’t work overnight, of course, so be prepared to commit to this product for up to 8 weeks before seeing any side effects. Some experts even recommend using it for up to 150 days to realise your beard’s full potential.

In the UK? Take a look at the Copenhagen Grooming Activator.

In the US? Try out the Scotch Porter Beard Serum.

Beard rollers encourage hair follicle development by adopting a process known as "Micro-needling", with results backed by science. They fool your body into producing more collagen underneath your skin, which enhances the pace at which your beard grows.

Micro-needling also aids in the exfoliation of dead skin cells, leaving the skin feeling healthier, softer and younger-looking.

Simply roll your beard back and forth in a criss-cross fashion over a region that is lacking in thickness. After a few months of consistent use, perhaps twice a week, your beard will grow thicker and fuller than before.

For best results, use a beard roller in conjunction with a beard growth serum - or even just your regular beard oil.

If you struggle to consume what would be considered a balanced diet, you could always turn to supplements in order to satisfy your beard’s craving for particular nutrients.

While we will always recommend getting your vitamins and minerals through your regular diet - from vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean meats or meat substitutes - supplements are certainly better than nothing.

Biotin, a B vitamin, is one of the most well-known vitamins for hair development. Human hair loss has been linked to biotin deficiency in studies.

Vitamin C is another great supplement that can be taken if you’re struggling to get your 5-a-day. It protects against free radicals, creates collagen, and helps your body absorb iron which is essential for hair growth.

With the growth element of growing a beard covered, it’s time to look into how to groom and pamper your new facial hair.

Grooming your facial hair includes tidying it, treating it, and ensuring it is always in tip-top condition. This can all be achieved using particular tools - tools which you’ve likely heard of before but perhaps been a little sceptical of their capabilities.

Rumour has it that you’re sceptical of beard grooming products and their capabilities?

Well, lucky for you, we’re experts in this field, and we’re going to let you know exactly what each beard grooming product is capable of and why you should be using each of them.

We know you’re not stupid. We know you know the purpose of a brush.

You may not know all of the benefits of using a beard brush, though, which is where we come in.

As well as training your beard hairs to grow in a specific direction and give an overall tidier appearance, a good quality beard brush will also exfoliate the pores on your face beneath the beard.

Dead skin cells are also cleared, giving your beard hairs more freedom to grow, and alleviating any beard itch that may be disrupting your facial hair growth.

Beards brushes come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and materials. In terms of shape and size, it should just be comfortable to use.

But when it comes to the material of your beard brush, you need to pay attention.

The bristles are the key area of concern here, which instead of being made from harsh plastics and synthetic materials, should always be made of natural, responsibly sourced animal hair, like boar hair.

If you can’t get your hands on one of our beard brush and comb kits, here’s another option that’s well worth your money:

Buy in US   Buy in UK

Beard combs, on the other hand, are simply all about completing your overall appearance.

A beard comb can be used to untangle any knots that have managed to form within your beard, tidy up your overall appearance, and even style your beard and moustache after using beard oil or beard balm.

While a beard comb is a simple tool, it should still be made of the correct materials. We recommend nothing other than a smooth wood, as plastics and metals are not quite as smooth as they seem at a microscopic level, and the rigidness can cause damage and hair loss.

Whether you prefer to use a fine-tooth comb, a broad-tooth comb, or a double-sided big boy, just make sure it’s made of pearwood, cherrywood, or wood of similar (or even better) quality.

Beard oil - you’ve gotta love it.

Once people discover the wonderful effects it can have on their beard, they seldom return to their oil-less ways.

Beard oil is a product that's coveted for conditioning beards because of its ability to nourish and soften hair. . It's also great for keeping the skin underneath your beard moisturised.

Beard oil is used to keep beards thicker, softer, and more manageable. It's also occasionally used to encourage beard development, but if growth is your primary concern, you should go for a beard serum as mentioned earlier.

You may be wondering why some beard oils cost a lot more than others. This is due to the ingredients used within them.

Premium oils we'd recommend contain ingredients like sweet almond oil, Inca Inchi oil, argan oil and more, which all provide their own individual benefits for your facial hair.

For example, argan oil is an excellent moisturiser and is great at reducing breakages and split ends. It’s also anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.

Looking for a beard oil? If you're not tempted by ours, we can fully recommend Captain Fawcett's Booze & Baccy Beard Oil.

Buy in US  Buy in UK

So if beard oil is so great, why is beard balm a thing?

This completely comes down to your style preference.

Beard balm has a stronger hold than beard oil, which is ideal for individuals with misbehaving, untidy facial hair. For example, our Underdog beard balm has beeswax and shea butter, as well as the majority of the beard oil's wonderful components.

If your beard needs calming and shaping, beard balm will do a fantastic job of giving enough hold to keep it looking great while yet maintaining that natural appearance.

Like beard oils, beard balms can be scented, and often have such a good fragrance that they can be used in place of aftershave, saving money while leaving you smelling incredible.

If you’re in the UK, our Smoke-Spiced Bourbon Beard Balm is well worth trying (yes, we’re biased). If you’re in the US, GRAVE BEFORE SHAVE do a solid job.

Buy in UK

Even those who want their beards to grow as long as they humanly can need to trim them from time to time.

Facial hair rarely grows out evenly, thus wild castaways will always need to be trimmed.

Beard trimming is required for all other beard styles. Shaving around your neckline and the top line of your beard to keep it in shape is also necessary.

The final beard grooming essentials you will need in your arsenal of beard grooming tools are those that can trim, shave and tidy once the growing and grooming processes have done everything they can.

A beard trimmer is an obvious addition, but there are a few more tools you may not expect or have really put much consideration into.

Buying a beard trimmer isn't a luxury; it's a must. Finally, having the appropriate equipment is critical if you want a task done well.

So if you want to keep your facial hair neat, grow a macho moustache, or grow a full-grown viking beard, there are specialised trimmers for the task.

If you do just seek the stubble look, then a stubble trimmer may be all you need as opposed to a complete beard trimmer. However, the longer your beard style, the bigger blade attachments you’re going to need.

The handles and the blades on your beard trimmer should be made from stainless steel and carbon, with the least amount of plastic possible for a sturdy performance. A rubber grip is always preferential, too.

Beard trimmers can also come with a variety of additional attachments that can help you look after and groom other areas of your face.

The best beard trimmer for you is the one that comes with all of the relevant attachments that you need to keep your beard looking fresh and in shape, made from the finest value for money materials.

Our recommendation? You can’t go wrong with the Philips Norelco:

Buy in UK

If you’re going for ultimate length with your beard, you could always use beard scissors instead of a beard trimmer.

Beard scissors can allow you to be more precise with your trimming and even get a little more creative. They allow you to be much more accurate with your overall shape.

Beard scissors are also much cheaper than decent beard trimmers, so you’d be saving money here, too.

Just be careful when trimming your moustache - we can’t stress enough how much of a pain shock it is when you accidentally prod yourself in the lip with a stainless steel beard scissor.

Our recommendation? The ONTAKI 5.5” Japanese Steel beard scissors:

Buy in US   Buy in UK

What may seem like a simple tool can actually require a lot more thought than you’d anticipated.

Don’t worry compadre, we haven’t just done a full 180 and decided we don’t like beards anymore. Razors are an important beard tool for achieving your final distinguished look.

Trimming your neckline and topline (along the cheeks) is essential for maintaining a tidy look. If you leave these areas to grow out, the entire shape of your beard is thrown off.

There are 5 different razor types that you can choose from. Some serve a particular purpose and others are just, well, cheaper - for those that don’t need a razor quite as often.

These 5 different razors comprise:

• disposable razors (don’t)

• cartridge razors (a fair choice)

• safety razors (recommended)

• straight razors (badass)

• electric razors (standard beard trimmer with no attachments)

We always advocate safety razors, which have a fixed metal head with a permanent handle into which replaceable stainless steel blades may be inserted.

These take a little getting used to, but once you've perfected the art of shaving with the lightest of strokes, you'll feel like a pro every time you use them. Here’s a solid option to consider:

With thousands of positive reviews and zero-waste status, it’s clear that Bambaw gets the job done.

Buy in US   Buy in UK

We’re always excited to mention beard bibs, because not many people think about using them at home and because we’re nerds.

It's exactly what it sounds like: a beard bib. It's a long piece of fabric with suction cups on one end that wraps around your neck and sticks to your mirror or tiled bathroom wall.

After you've completed cutting or shaving, remove the suction cups, fold the cloth in half, and toss it into a trash can for the quickest post-shave clean-up you've ever experienced.

If you share your bathroom with a partner or family members, possess a sink that's prone to a blockage, or if you dislike sweeping and hairs that cling to the floor and countertop, the beard bib is for you.

Unless you’re happy to invest a little more for a particular brand, there’s no reason a beard bib should break the bank. This one’s under £10/$10 and will do the job:

Buy in US  Buy in UK

Following the conclusion of the best beard care guide you’ve ever seen in your entire life that you will now take as gospel, it’s time for the best beard care routine you’ve ever seen in your entire life that you will also take as gospel.

When you decided to grow a beard, you made a life-long commitment. We’re sorry if this is news to you. Beards aren’t just for your hipster phase.

So, without further ado, we present thee, with a new addition to your morning (or evening) routine.

Exfoliating your face should be the very first step in your beard care regimen, as this will prepare your lovely canvas for the pampering session that is going to take place.

When you exfoliate your skin, you are removing dead skin cells from the skin's top layers of cells. It may aid in the removal of dry or dull skin, the improvement of blood circulation, and the brightening and improvement of the appearance of your skin.

The method of exfoliation you use is entirely dependent on your skin type. Avoid upsetting any sensitive skin, since this will almost surely have a detrimental influence on the skin's health.

Moreover, exfoliation should be avoided entirely if you have an irritating skin disease such as acne. Fortunately, hydrating using beard oil later on may assist you in this situation.

A variety of methods are available for exfoliating such as an exfoliation brush, sponge, glove, scrub - or even a boar bristle beard brush - Any of these tools should be used to create short, light strokes. After 30 seconds of exfoliation, rinse with warm water to remove the exfoliant.

An important element in the beard care regimen is the cleaning of your face, which is a simple and rather monotonous procedure.

Washing your face removes all of the debris and dead skin cells that have been removed from your pores as a result of the exfoliation process.

It is also a matter of fundamental hygiene, let’s be honest.

Time to pull out that Mission Beard Premium Boar Bristle Beard Brush And Comb Kit or, well, you know, whichever beard brush you have, as it’s time to get to work on that mane.

Brushing your beard regularly as part of your beard care routine helps tame your facial hair and train it to grow in a specific direction. That direction should obviously be downwards. Gravity needs some help, apparently.

It also makes it look much tidier, retains its intended shape and makes it feel that extra little bit smoother.

If you’ve got a double-sided beard comb, you’ll want to use the broad-tooth side first to untangle and clear the bigger knots that remain after the brush has left.

After you’ve brushed your beard, a beard comb will execute the final touches. Any knots that survived the brushing procedure won’t want to see the beard comb come out.

Then, switch to the fine-tooth side of the comb to finish off the job.

Your facial hair will now make the military question why they make their soldiers shave.

Now that all your beard hairs should be heading in the direction they’re supposed to be.

However, you may notice there are some that still absolutely refuse to play ball. It’s time to rid them once and for all.

Get the beard trimmer or beard scissors out, trim off those hairs into your beard bib, empty them into the bin and never speak of them again.

Most beard oils are good for the job when used regularly, but as we mentioned before, the more healthy and beneficial ingredients you have in your choice of beard oil, the better results you’re going to get from your final facial masterpiece.

Take your beard oil out of your beard grooming kit and place it on the shelf in front of you. Stare at it intently. We need to take some of the liquid out of that bottle and transfer it to your beard.

 Here’s how to do that: 

• Remove the pipette from the bottle, squeeze it, and then fully insert it into the vial, making sure it's deep enough to reach the oil. When you let go of the head, the pipette will begin to draw oil into the compartment.
• Now, you may have seen pictures of people applying beard oil to their facial hair from the pipette. WRONG. Empty the pipette into your other hand, place the pipette back into the bottle, and then rub your hands together.
• NOW apply the beard oil to your face. Work it through your beard ensuring every strand of facial hair gets its feed. No beard hair left behind. Don’t forget your moustache.
• Brush or comb your beard again, which will guarantee an even spread of oil and form your beard into the desired style.