A good beard care routine is about more than looks. The hair on your chin and jaw is coarser than the hair on your head, and the skin underneath is still facial skin: it gets dry, flaky and itchy just like your cheeks do, only it’s hidden. Look after both and your beard will feel softer, sit better and stop that maddening itch. Here’s a simple routine that takes a few minutes a day.<\/p>\n
Each beard hair grows out of a follicle that has its own oil gland. On a clean-shaven face, that natural oil (sebum) spreads across a few millimetres of stubble. Once your beard is a few centimetres long, the same amount of oil has to cover far more hair, so the ends dry out first and start to feel wiry. Meanwhile, the skin beneath can be left short of moisture, especially in a European winter of cold wind outside and central heating inside.<\/p>\n
Other common culprits are:<\/p>\n
If the itch comes with redness that spreads, greasy yellowish flakes, small painful bumps or patches of hair loss, it may be a skin condition rather than simple dryness. In that case, see a doctor or pharmacist before trying new products.<\/p>\n
Four simple steps cover nearly everything.<\/p>\n
Most beards are happy with a proper wash every day or every other day, depending on how oily your skin is and how active your day has been. Use lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, and work it right down to the skin with your fingertips rather than just lathering the surface. A 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash for Men<\/a> keeps things simple if you prefer one bottle in the shower; we explain how it works in our post on the 2-in-1 hair and body wash for men<\/a>. If your skin is easily irritated, the Sensitive Skin Face & Body Cleanser<\/a> is a gentle alternative for both face and beard.<\/p>\n Rinse for longer than you think you need to, then pat dry with a towel. Rubbing hard frizzes the hair and roughs up the skin.<\/p>\n This is the step that makes the biggest difference to softness. Warm three to five drops of Beard Oil<\/a> between your palms (use more for a long beard, less for stubble) and massage it into the skin first, then draw it down through the hair to the ends. Damp hair spreads oil more evenly, so just after a shower is ideal.<\/p>\n A wide-toothed comb spreads the oil, removes loose hairs and trains the beard to grow in the direction you want. Comb downwards with the grain, never against it, and be gentle with tangles.<\/p>\n Your cheeks, neck and the skin under a short beard still need a moisturiser. If you get shiny by lunchtime, try the Oil-Free Zinc Face Gel for Men<\/a>, which hydrates without a heavy feel and is easy to work into stubble. For drier or tighter-feeling skin, the Hyaluronic Acid Face Cream for Men<\/a> gives a richer layer of moisture. On sunny days, or when you’re skiing or outdoors for hours, finish with a Mineral Sunscreen SPF30<\/a> on any exposed skin, including the top of your cheeks and your nose.<\/p>\n Beard oil is the core of most routines, so it helps to be realistic about it.<\/p>\n2. Apply beard oil while the beard is slightly damp<\/h3>\n
3. Comb or brush it through<\/h3>\n
4. Moisturise the skin around and under the beard<\/h3>\n
Beard oil benefits: what it does and doesn’t do<\/h2>\n
| What beard oil can do<\/th>\n | What it can’t do<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|
| Make coarse hair feel softer and look neater<\/td>\n | Make your beard grow faster or thicker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Help ease dryness and itch caused by dry skin<\/td>\n | Treat a skin condition or infection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Reduce flyaways and that wiry look at the ends<\/td>\n | Replace washing: oil on a dirty beard just traps dirt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Leave a light, fresh finish<\/td>\n | Fill patchy areas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nHow to stop beard itch<\/h2>\nBeard itch is the number one reason men give up in the first month. To get through it:<\/p>\n
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