One of my most popular articles on SearchWarp has been my writeup on coloring facial hair. Go figure--the computer guy is still getting e-mail with questions related to coloring beards and moustaches. In any case, I've also received a number of e-mails from men asking about how to keep their beards "in shape". No, they're not talking round versus squared-off. They're talking about how to treat their facial hair to keep it looking its best. I'm no expert, but I can tell you about my personal grooming habits, and share some insight from others who have experience in that area. So, let's get started!
Brushing/combing. One of the easiest ways to take care of your beard is to brush or comb it regularly. Brushing and combing bring the oils from your skin to the ends of your facial hair, keeping it healthy. Regular brushing and combing also eliminates those pesky snarls in longer beards and helps remove unwanted particles of whatever from your beard (we've all had somebody tease us about what a great place it must be to store your lunch leftovers until snacktime or your next meal!). A wide-tooth brush or comb with soft bristles works best. You don't need to go the 100-strokes route, and you don't want to be overly forceful in your handling of the brush or comb. Gentle brushing for just a minute or two is usually enough.
Shampoo. Just like your "head hair", facial hair needs to be cleaned. And just like your head hair, too much or too little cleaning can damage it. Unless you're in a living/working environment that takes its toll on your beard, you are probably okay with shampooing it once or twice a week. Since your facial hair gets its needed oils from your face, you need to find a shampoo that will clean your beard without drying either it or the skin below. Unless you have very oily skin, I'd recommend a mild shampoo designed for normal or normal-to-dry hair. DO NOT use bar soap as it's too drying! Don't get overzealous in lathering up your beard--a gentle touch with your fingertips will work just fine. And be sure to get down to the root of the facial hair to clean away any unwanted accumulations at the skin level.
Conditioner. You may not think it necessary, but the longer your beard, the more you'll need something to help condition it. It's not necessary to use a deep-conditioning product unless you're constantly exposing your beard to high-heat, low-humidity situations like a blast furnace or the lip of an active volcano. Use a small amout of conditioner and gently massage into your beard, being sure to get all the way down to skin level. In between shampoos you might find your beard drying out a bit; in those cases, recondition. Don't go overboard, though--there is such a thing as too much of a good thing!
Grooming waxes. Unless you're trying to grow out a handlebar moustache or train your newly-growing beard to lay in a certain direction, products such as this may not be necessary. If you do use them, follow the manufacturer's instructions and be prepared to have to shampoo and condition a little more frequently.
Trimming. Guys, inevitably you're going to have to do a little clean-up. Whether it's removing a few stray hairs, taking the length down a bit, or cleaning up the lines between facial hair and face, eventually you'll need to do some cutting. For some it's easier to let the barber do it while getting a haircut. Others would rather go the do-it-yourself route. Some may find scissors and a comb work great, but for me it's worth the expense to get a good quality cordless trimmer. They come with multiple attachments and complete instructions on how to use each one. Pop on an attachment, hit the switch, and start cutting. I recommend going with the next longer setting than what you want, and trimming both with and against the "grain" of your beard (the direction in which it grows). Longer hairs can hide when going in only one direction. When using the trimmer without an attachment to clean up the line between face and beard, be careful. These things can cut and nick if not used properly. And never trim your beard when it's wet. When hair is wet, it straightens out and is longer than when it's dry. If you trim it while wet, you may find you've cut off too much after it dries.
Of course each individual will have to develop his own routine and decide what works best on his beard. But the effort is minimal and the end result is a classy-looking beard. So go clean up your act and start taking care of that facial hair. You'll never get a second chance to make a good first impression!
