A properly groomed and well-cared-for beard can be as flattering as any accessory or clothing item, acting as an extension of your own personal style. However, growing a great beard comes with great responsibility, as you'll need to choose a style that is suited to you as well as work with your beard's natural growth pattern. Some men are blessed with fast-growing dense beards, whereas others have facial hair that grows patchy. Establishing a beard care routine that is catered to your facial hair pattern can help you to achieve a well-maintained look.
If you're not sure where to start or what products you will need to create a custom beard care routine, keep reading as we guide you through the process and suggest some of our favourite beard grooming products.
Why do you need a beard care routine?
Just like the hair on your head, facial hair needs to be cared for to avoid any issues such as dry skin or dandruff, build up of oils, tangles or strays. Additionally, without a proper routine, your beard may look unkempt, which, unless that is the style you're going for, may not be desirable.
Scheduling some time into a daily or weekly routine for beard care can offer many benefits including:
- A tidier and more refined look
- Improved hygiene, especially for those with fuller beards
- Reduced itchiness by allowing the skin to breathe
- Reduced patchy growth
- Improved manageability and softness
- Hairs can be 'trained' to grow the way you like
The great thing about establishing a routine is that it can take as little or as much time as you want to put in, and with just a few simple products you'll soon start to see a huge difference. Keeping a well-maintained beard isn't difficult, it just requires a little patience and TLC.
What should be in your beard grooming kit?
Before you get started designing your personalised routine, there are a few beard care products that you'll need to have to hand aside from your trimmer or shaver. Below we'll talk you through some of our favourite items and how they help you care for your facial hair.
1) Beard Oil
As you grow out your beard, you're likely to experience some discomfort or itchiness. Beard oil becomes a necessity at this stage and it works to reduce irritation by softening the hair whilst moisturising the skin. We recommend using the Bad Norwegian Beard Oil as it contains almond, hemp, and argan oil to soothe and provide antibacterial properties and it keeps your beard smelling great. For best use, make sure that you massage the oil into your beard as well as the skin underneath.
Bad Norwegian Beard Oil 30ml £29.99 (RRP £39.00 saving £9.01)
2) Beard Balm
A beard balm is a necessity for styling and shaping. Not only does this product help to create your desired look, but it also doubles as a leave-in conditioner of sorts, providing hydration and softening your beard. Additionally, the ingredients used in beard balm usually promote healthy growth which is perfect for those who want more volume or are struggling with patchiness. We suggest using the American Crew balm as a little goes a long way, and the shea butter and sweet almond oil provide a healthy shine and long-lasting scent.
American Crew Beard Balm 60g Tame Condition Styler £9.49 (RRP £13.00 Save £3.51)
3) Shaving Kit
To have a well-shaped and maintained beard, shaving and trimming will be essential and without a good set of shaving products, you're likely to irritate your skin. The Acqua Di Parma Men's Shaving & Grooming Kit is a fantastic option, containing non-irritant soft shaving cream alongside a refreshing aftershave emulsion to settle any aggravated areas and a cologne to keep you smelling fresh.
Acqua Di Parma Men's Shaving Grooming Kit Gift Set £108.99 (RRP £137.00 Saving £28.01)
4) Shaving Brush
A shaving brush shouldn't just be reserved for the barbers. An often overlooked part of an at-home beard care routine, a shaving brush creates a luxurious lather that preps the skin ready to be shaved. Using a good shaving brush reduces dragging or nipping at the skin, resulting in a cleaner shave. It also acts as an exfoliator to help remove any dead skin or dirt that may be trapped underneath your beard. For a brush you can rely on to deliver quality shaving results every time, we recommend the Acqua Di Parma Travel Shaving Brush which has been expertly handcrafted in Italy and uses soft bristles in a 24mm diameter to ensure easy shaving.
Acqua Di Parma Travel Shaving Brush - Yellow £245.00 (RRP £258.00 Save £13.00)
5) Beard Care Travel Set
Properly caring for your beard takes time and patience, and if you want to maintain a healthy beard as well as a refined look you'll need a travel set for when you're on the road. To accompany your travel shaving brush, we recommend taking the Biotherm Homme Trio. The set contains three identical shaving foams with each bottle containing 50ml. This means it can be taken on a plane or can be tucked away neatly in your backpack if you're travelling by other means. We'd suggest keeping one in your car, one at home, and one in your travel bag if you're on the road often. The shaving foam is anti-irritant and reduces redness, making it suitable for sensitive skin types so you don't have to worry about blemishes while you're away.
Biotherm Homme Shaving Foam Close Shave Power Trio Set 3 x 50ml £14.99 (£19.95 Save £4.96)
How to create a beard care routine
Creating a beard care routine will be a bit of trial and error until you find an exact method that works for you, what you're trying to achieve, and your skin and hair type. You'll probably experiment with different products and techniques until you get it right. However, it's important not to give up after just a few days as it can take up to 1-2 weeks before you start to see results. Follow the guide below to get started on creating your routine, adding or removing steps to suit you.
1) Wash your beard
Using a beard shampoo, you should wash your beard at least once a week to keep it clean and tidy. Some men prefer to wash 2-3 times a week, and some every day. No matter how often you choose to wash your beard, make sure you do it thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. You can then choose to towel dry your beard or use a hair dryer on a cool setting. Additionally, you can condition your beard if you want extra softness, but this step is not necessary and may cause fluffiness depending on your hair type.
2) Trim or shave your beard
The next step is to trim your beard to maintain a well-kept look. Avoiding trimming can result in a scruffy beard and stray hairs, or in the worst case scenario you may also find yourself with some knots or tangles. You only need to trim enough so that you can keep your facial hair tidy, so make sure you have a good pair of scissors or a trimmer with adjustable length settings (don't forget to trim the neckline). How often you trim depends on the look you're going for and how quickly your hair grows - once a week is sufficient for men keeping a longer beard whereas every couple of days may be necessary for those keeping a shorter style.
Don't forget to shave the areas that aren't part of your desired look, but make sure to use quality shaving products so that your skin does not become irritated or red.
3) Apply your beard oil and balm
At this stage it's time to use products that will promote a healthy shine, encourage growth, and keep your beard manageable, as well as provide some moisturising properties to the skin and facial hair. You should always apply your beard oil before you apply your balm to avoid the oil being repelled by the balm. Make sure to work the product thoroughly through your beard and onto your skin. We recommend doing this every day if you want to keep your beard in pristine condition.
4) Comb or brush your beard
Once you've applied your products, you should comb through your beard to ensure you're untangling any knots whilst also maintaining a neat appearance. This should be done daily if you have a particularly high-maintenance beard or if you want to encourage healthy growth. For those who desire a more casual or '_x0098_shaggy' look, you will likely only need to complete this step every 2-3 days to maintain beard condition and hygiene.
Discover discounted beard care products at Hogies
Maintaining a healthy and kempt beard can sometimes be an expensive feat, but with our selection of discounted men's grooming products, it doesn't have to break the bank. Even better, you can double down on savings with our men's clearance skincare collection which features a range of shaving products, beard serums, and cleansers. Alternatively, for more product choices you can view our collection of men's skincare products.