How to Care for a Beard

Co-authored by Timmy Yanchun

Last Updated: September 7, 2022 References Approved

Having a beard is a popular style these days - and for good reason. With the right care and style, a good beard can look really good. However, it's also really easy for your beard to become unkempt and unclean. Even if you're going for that kind of look, nobody wants to look like you don't take care of yourself. Take care to keep your beard looking the way you want it to by following some easy instructions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Growing Your Beard

1
Maintain a healthy diet. ^{[1]
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Research source} Hair grows when you’re receiving enough essential vitamins. You don’t need to eat anything special if you aren’t in a rush to grow your beard, just make sure it is a balanced, healthy diet. Fish is great for your hair. If you want to take a supplement some recommend Biotin, a b complex vitamin.
2
Decide what kind of style you are going for. Try to pick a style that matches the hair you grow on your face. Some people find that their moustache doesn't connect to their beard. Others grow hair more heavily on the side of the face than on their neck. Address what type of facial hair you can grow and choose your beard style accordingly.

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3
Get some sleep. Studies show that a lack of sleep can actually slow down your beard growth. ^{[2]
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Research source} If you want a good beard make sure you’re getting the appropriate amount of rest.
4
Ignore the itch. When you’re first growing a beard, it will itch pretty heavily at times. Your skin has to get used to having all this hair on there, but it will get better after a few weeks. Don’t give up and shave just because it starts to get itchy. It can feel relieving to do so, but you won't be any closer to achieving your goal of growing a beard. ^{[3]
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Research source}
5
Don’t try to groom it while it’s growing. Wait a few months until it has developed a shape before you try to make it look different. You need to have at least an inch and a half of hair before you start shaping it. ^{[4]
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Research source}
- Once your beard has grown in, consider visiting a barber so they can help you figure out what shape will look best. Then, you can use scissors to maintain that shape.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Timmy Yanchun
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 22 January 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Grooming Your Beard

1
Trim your beard to the length that you desire. It is helpful to trim in multiple different directions to make sure you've gotten all of those stray hairs. Even if you want your beard to be very long, it's still a good idea to trim it every few months and get rid of split ends. ^{[6]
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Research source}
2
Decide which parts of your face you want hair on. Completely unshaven, untrimmed, and unwashed is one look. Being nicely shaved, trimmed, and washed is another completely different look. If you fall somewhere in between, you might end up looking a little sloppy, so try to decide on a style. ^{[7]
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Research source} Shave the places you don't want hair to grow accordingly. For example, some people don't like growing a bear that reaches to their neck.
- Make sure you comb your beard down so that the hairline you shave is consistent no matter which way the wind may blow.
3
Keep it clean. Washing your beard is critical. Wash your face thoroughly with regular face wash and water every morning and night. You don't need anything too strong, but just something to cut through the oils that have built up. Make sure you also dry your face thoroughly. Have a clean towel and get as much of the water rung out of that mane as possible.
4
Use shampoo and conditioner on your beard. Just like the hair on top of your head, beards need to be maintained and kept healthy. You can use the same shampoo that you use for your hair. If your beard is pretty short, you probably can just stick to washing your face with soap and water. If your beard is a few inches long you should shampoo it, but only use conditioner if it's very long.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Your Beard Healthy

1
Apply aftershave to freshly shaven areas. Get something nice, but don't go for overpowering scents. Stick with smells such as cedar, juniper, orange, sandalwood, tobacco, and birch. Odds are, the fewer the ingredients the better. Stay away from weird chemicals. If you can't pronounce it, you probably don't want it. You want something that will sterilize, something that is astringent (which means it will tighten your pores), and something that will moisturize. Razor burn lining a nice beard is a turn off, so aftershave is a good idea. ^{[8]
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Research source}
2
Apply a few drops of beard oil to the skin. Work it slowly into the rest of your beard with your fingers. A good beard oil will keep your whisker ends from becoming tiny razor wires and will condition them to continue growing strong.
- A good beard oil will also keep you from getting a blizzard of beard dandruff. ^{[9]
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  Research source} There's nothing that will kill your vibe more than looking down and seeing your chest covered in a million white flakes.
- Good beard oil will also keep your beard and face from getting as oily.
3
Use wax. This doesn't mean use wax as a means of hair removal. Wax is especially helpful for men who want longer mustache hair, but don't want it to curl under their lip. A small bit of wax will keep that hair going in the right direction and add shape to longer, wilder beards. Buy beard wax at a local pharmacy and take a very small amount with your finger. Use it on your beard to get it to run in one direction more smoothly.
4
Establish a healthy routine. Applying beard oil, using wax, using aftershave, and cleaning your face are activities that you should be doing multiple times a week, along with maintaining a healthy diet. ^{[10]
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Research source} If you want your beard to feel healthy and smell good you should make a habit of following these steps.

Community Q&A

Question

My beard grows long, but it doesn't get thick. In the end and after weeks of effort, I am left with long hairs on my face, not a proper beard. I am 18 years old. Is this the proper time for me grow a beard?

Community Answer

Seriously, 18 is not the best age to grow a beard. You should wait until your hair growth rate increases in your 20's.
Question

I'm 16 but I have a decent size goatee, do I leave it alone, or can I wash it and oil it?

Community Answer

There's nothing wrong with keeping it clean. It will make it feel and look better.
Question

I am 13 years old and want to grow a beard. I have never trimmed or shaved my facial hair. Do I need to trim or shave a few times before growing it out?

Community Answer

No. You just have to wait until your body is ready to grow a full beard. Shaving before you have any hair will not do anything to stimulate faster growth.