How to Grow a Long Beard
Growing a long beard takes more than just letting the beard grow out; you have to put in some effort to make sure it grows properly. If you neglect your beard, it will be dry, dull, and unruly. This will only make you look neglected instead of distinguished. Men who want to grow a beard that is longer than the norm often find it to be more difficult than they had originally anticipated, but don’t let that discourage you as it can be achieved with just a little dedication.
A great looking beard can help define or compliment your style, and our team of experts at 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon in Palm Beach Gardens have put together a helpful guide on how to perfectly grow, trim and properly take care of a long beard. There is no one answer that works for everyone when it comes to growing a long beard, but following some simple guidelines will help you get started on the right track. With a little bit of dedication and patience, you can achieve an impressive beard that will take your look to the next level.
Brush Your Beard Daily
Brushing your beard regularly will help keep it in good condition and aligned in the direction you want it to go. You should brush your beard two or three times each day as it grows, guiding the hairs and pushing them in one direction. This process may not seem to make much of a difference at first, but over time, brushing will help to maintain the shape and style of your beard without relying on unnatural beard products.
Trim Your Beard Regularly
Get A Professional Beard Trim
A common misconception about growing a beard is that you can just stop shaving altogether. If you do this, you’ll end up with split ends that will make your beard look out of control in addition to slowing down the growth rate of your beard. Trimming your beard regularly will keep it growing at a healthy rate and get rid of those pesky split ends. Before you can begin grooming your beard, it is important to understand what type of beard you have. Some beards are coarse, fine, straight or curly; all of which will determine the types of styles that are possible and look good on you. As you commit to the beard style that best fits you, you will need to trim it accordingly. Long beards, for instance, are most frequently trimmed on the sides of the face and lower neck while the chin region is trimmed less frequently. It is also important to pick the right tools for the job since different trimming techniques require different tools. While you can trim your beard at home, we recommend you get the service done by a professional barber to make sure your beard is kept in top shape. Book an expert beard trim and styling at 18|8 Palm Beach Gardens and let one of our professional barbers take care of your beard.
Best Way To Trim A Beard At Home
We know it’s not always possible to get a professional beard trim done, so sometimes it may be necessary to trim your beard at home to prevent it from looking unruly. Using the right trimmer and/or guard will ensure that your beard is kept in good condition. For a proper trim at home, we recommend purchasing a quality trimmer that has both guard and hair length settings, as well as a wide-tooth blade. When selecting the guard size for your trimmer, make sure to pick one that closely matches your beard’s thickness. You may also want to keep the color of your facial hair in mind, as darker-colored beards will appear more full at shorter lengths than lighter-colored beards will. This may be applicable when knowing when to trim your beard, since you will usually wait to start shaping your beard until it is considered full everywhere you intend to keep facial hair. If you are unsure about the size of guard you need, consult with a barber or look for one that has measurements on it.
How To Trim Your Beard Using A Trimmer
To start trimming your beard, select the right size guard base for your trimmer, depending on what length you want your beard to be. Make sure to shave with the grain as you trim your beard to the desired size. When you get to the neck, you can pick a shorter guard and trim about an inch around your beard line. Remove the guard and use the trimmer to go halfway up to that shorter hairline. For additional contrast, you can choose to shave from your neckline instead. Marking the beard base and shaving down from that line to expose a clean-shaven neck. Keep in mind many men shave their beards too high on their neck, resulting in more of an unintentional chin-strap look. To combat that risk, a safe rule of thumb would be not to shave higher than the top of your adam’s apple.
How To Trim Your Beard With Scissors
Prep your beard by using a comb to separate the hair and then comb it towards the neck. Trim your beard in sections so that it is easier for you to see what you are doing. For example, start by trimming the hair on one side of your face before moving to the other side of your face. Start the trimming on one side of your face, and then move back to where you began to trim from so it’s easier to keep the length even on both sides. Trim any stray hairs that are too long or too short for your liking on both sides of your face and neckline, as well as in front of and behind your ears and on either side of the mouth area. Scissor trimming can also be a helpful technique to use when finely shaping or fading your beard from one length into another.
Beard Trimming Tips
When trimming your beard at home, keep these tips in mind:
– Use gentle strokes when shaving. Over-shaving can cause irritation and lead to beard growth.
– Trim your beard a few times a week to keep it in good condition and prevent split-ends.
– Make sure the blade of your trimmer is sharp by checking it against a ruler after each use. If the blade is not sharp, it will not shave cleanly and will cause damage to your beard.
– If you are using a guard, make sure to place it in the correct position before shaving. If it is not in the correct position, the blade could accidentally touch your skin and cause irritation.
– Avoid using hot water when showering or shaving, as this can cause the beard to become greasy and unmanageable. Instead, use cool water or a shaving cream that is specifically designed for beards.
– Be sure to dry your beard completely after showering or shaving, before applying any beard oil or balm.
Rocking a ‘Stache?
If you’ve decided to grow a mustache alongside your beard, don’t forget to give it the attention it deserves as well. Typically, it is advisable to avoid letting your mustache grow too long or style it in a way that covers your lips. Once you have established the length and shape of your mustache, use a comb to remove any strays. To groom your mustache, start by shaving it close to your face. Shave the sides of your mustache in a straight line, and then use a curved blade to shave the top. You can also use stache wax to style it for a professional finish. Be sure to let your mustache grow out for about two weeks before you trim it, then only cut along the bottom, above your lips. By scissor-cutting the bottom of your mustache to prevent it from growing over your lips, it will grow out full from the top down and produce the thick look needed to differentiate it from your beard. If you’re growing a goatee or sideburns, follow the same grooming tips as for a mustache, but shave them closer to the face.
Keep Your Skin Healthy & Hydrated
Remember that your hair gets all the nutrients that it needs to stay healthy, soft, and vibrant from your skin, which is why a consistent skincare routine is necessary if you want a great-looking beard. Your beard is a reflection of your skin, so if your skin is dry, your beard will be too.
First, before growing your beard, be sure to start with a clean slate by shaving off any unwanted hair. This will help to maintain a healthy balance of oils and moisture in your beard, which is crucial for its growth and maintenance. After shaving, you can apply a post-shave skin-calming mist containing aloe, tea tree oil, or witch hazel to help soothe the skin. Secondly, eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. This will give your beard the nutrients it needs to grow in length and thickness. Next, to keep your skin and beard healthy, make sure that you moisturize your skin to give it the hydration it needs. It’s important to clean your face daily with a cleaner recommended for your specific skin type and avoid using harsh soaps and chemicals that can irritate your skin. Exfoliating when you wash your face is also recommended since it will wash away any built-up oil, dirt, and dead skin cells to prevent inflammation, itchiness, clogged pores, and ingrown hairs that can make your beard feel more of a hassle than something stylish.
Invest In Some Beard Care Products
Just like how there are special shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products to make sure your hair stays silky smooth, there are products that are designed just for beard care. There are a lot of beard products available in the market, but not all of them are worth your investment. Some of them might be too expensive for what they offer, while others might not work as well as you need them to. You may need to try a few products before finding one that works for you, or you can also ask your barber next time you’re in for a shave or beard trim as they’d be happy to recommend products that would work well for your hair type and beard style.
As part of your beard care routine, start by washing your beard regularly with a softening beard cleanser to keep it soft and conditioned. If you’re looking for a beard grooming product that will provide both a great look and long-lasting results, a beard balm is a perfect choice. Made with natural ingredients like honey, beeswax, and jojoba oil, a beard balm helps to keep your beard conditioned and manageable. Another great product that would come in handy is beard oil which can be massaged into your beard to give the hair the essential vitamins and nutrients that it needs to look healthy and shiny. Lastly, using beard balms and beard oils can also help soothe the itchiness that is common with new hair growth. Just be sure to let your beard dry if wet before applying beard balm or beard oil to the hair.
Contact Your 18|8 Palm Beach Gardens Salon For Your Beard Growing Questions!
The men’s grooming experts at 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon in Palm Beach Gardens have the know-how to help you grow the perfect beard, so if you have questions or need help with growing or styling your beard, just schedule your appointment with us. Our barbers can give you precise beard trims, and our stylists can set you up with professional skin treatments, so you can have the healthiest, best-looking beard possible. If you want a beard trim and style you can feel confident about, make your appointment by calling us or by using our easy and convenient online booking system. We look forward to guiding you on your long journey of growing your beard!
