Happy New Beard!

The new year is a great time to make changes. More exercise, a better diet, travelling more… It can also be a great time to change up your look. Beard popularity isn’t expected to change in 2019, so why not give growing a beard a go in the new year? We have some top tips on growing your facial hair this January. New year beard Growing a beard does require patience; a full and luscious beard doesn’t happen overnight but there are some steps to make growing it that bit easier. We have all the top tools to help you get it right including electric beard trimmers and our guide on how to use beard trimmers!   To ensure your beard grows well, you have to perform some basic ongoing care.  

1. Keep it Clean

Keeping both your face and facial hair clean as it grows will help your new beard to grow comfortably. If dead skin cells, sweat and dirt build up against your skin, it can lead to infections in your hair follicles, damaging the growth. It can also cause you to develop spots. Use a beard wash, rather than regular soap, to keep your skin and hair from drying out when you wash it.  

2. Trim

It might seem counterproductive to trim your beard while you’re trying to grow it, but trimming is the best way to ensure that your beard looks good throughout the growing process. You’ll find that your beard hairs grow at different rates so trimming ensures that your beard looks tidy. However, it’s often a good idea to leave it completely for a few weeks before your first trim as this allows the hairs time to establish a thick and full base.  

3. Comb

Combing or brushing your beard encourages the hairs to grow in the right direction, keeping your beard looking great. When it first starts growing the hairs will curl up (which is why beards are often itchy at first!), but as it gets longer they’ll lengthen and grow in a more uniform direction. Combing can also help to keep your beard healthy by removing loose hairs and keeps your beard feeling soft.  

4. Use beard oil

Beard oil is a must for all beard-owners. The oil helps to keep your beard hairs moisturised so they don’t become brittle and so allows them to grow without snapping or breaking. Beards often itch as they grow, but keeping the hair soft with beard oil can help to minimise the itchiness as the hairs are less irritating against your skin. Oil also helps to keep your skin healthy. When you grow a beard it can be easy to forget about the skin underneath but oil helps to keep it moisturised and prevents dry skin that can lead to beard-druff! Growing a beard is a waiting game. Following these steps can help you get the best beard possible.  

Other Beard Growing Tips

 

Avoiding the Beard Itch

When you first start growing a beard, you will probably notice that it’s a bit itchy but that doesn’t mean you should give up. The itchiness occurs because the hairs at first grow into a curl. The sharp tip then touches and irritates your skin. Once the hairs become longer, the tips are no longer in contact with your skin and therefore it becomes a lot less itchy! While it’s not easy to get rid of beard itch completely, you can minimise it by softening the hairs using beard shampoo and beard oil.  

Shaping

Initially, you won’t need to do much shaping, just the very occasional trim with scissors to keep the hair growing evenly. After around 4 weeks you can begin to shape your beard. This will look different for everyone according to the style you want to create, but every man will need to maintain his neckline to create a clean and tidy look.  

People’s Reactions

Don’t be afraid of other people’s reactions when you start growing a beard. In the first few weeks, it’s hard to know how it will end up looking, so don’t let other people convince you to give up. Having a beard can make a big difference to your face, so it can take family and friends a little while to get used to the new look! If you like your new beard, then stick with it! If you’re not sure after a few months whether it’s a look that suits you, you can always then seek second opinions.   If you’re going to grow a beard in the new year, let us know in the comments. We would love to hear how you’re getting on! What more? Read our blog on how to get your look on point this Christmas or explore more of our blogs!
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