Small Beard Guide – How to Easily Grow a Handsome Beard

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Somewhat with tongue in cheek, one can say that the beard trend we see now has hardly been greater since the human race came down from the trees.

This is despite a myriad of methods the modern man has to remove just hair and beard. Yet, to this day, through the ages from ancient Greeks and Romans, beards have been a symbol of respect, wisdom, and ultimately – manhood.

Not everyone can grow a strong & handsome full beard, but if you are one of those with the right genes, you may at some point have considered putting on a beard. This guide is at least meant as a little help for you who have some stubble and wonder: What now?

Wondering if you can get more beard growth? See our small guide on this topic here!

We all have individual preferences, so for some, it may be good enough just to have some facial hair, but most men prefer to do it in style. Then it’s good to be aware that having a good-looking beard at all times requires a bit of work from you.

Getting Started

First of all, it is patience that is put to the test. Beyond that, you should do completely different things, then stand in front of the mirror and watch the beard grow. It is of course very individual how quickly the individual gets some length to brag about, but you can set yourself sub-goals.

The Norse king Harald Fairhair set out to unite Norway into one kingdom before he was to cut his hair and beard. But for most of us who are not so keen on laying land under us, it can be said that a beard is not measured in length, but in beard terminology you spend months. Those you associate with will also rather ask how long you have had it, rather than how long the beard is (obviously people can see this).

When the beard has grown for a while, usually a couple of weeks, you will feel scratching and itchy. This is because your last shave (and everyone else’s) cut the hair strands at an angle, and when this is long enough it will bend and stick to your skin. This is temporary and within two to four weeks you will not notice this again. This can be a little annoying and we recommend using some beard oil or beard balm to soften the beard.

At the same time, the product moisturizes the skin and you avoid dandruff. A beard brush can also be good to have from now on. It massages the skin and hair follicles and will stimulate increased growth (but do not expect that using a brush will lead to a huge increase in growth, it is more like a tiny bonus). First and foremost, the brush also helps to straighten out the incipient “chaos” of facial hair.

Another thing to mention is that scratching your face all the time is not the best treatment, for neither skin nor hair. Also, a good brush is much more comfortable to use than dirty fingers which can contribute to skin irritation and inflammation.

If you are serious about making your beard outline curved or straight, you should consider buying a shaping tool. Why is a beard shaping tool important? Well, for one, it will get you closer to beard shaping perfection. You will no longer have to worry about leaving the house with a crooked beard.

The beauty of this tool is that it’s designed for beginners. It’s easy to use and cuts down on the expertise and time required to create symmetrical beards. The Manecode beard shaping tool is by far, one of the best in the industry. It has a long list of accessories that include mustache scissors, a wooden comb, and a carrying case.

The Manecode shaving tool has a transparent body. This allows you to see the progress you are making on your beard. However, you can also use it on the sideburns, mustache, and goatee. The wooden comb comes in handy in detangling as well as grooming the hairs of your beard and mustache. Last but not least, the comb also massages the skin on the face without making static electricity.

Trimming

The beard gradually begins to look a bit messy and unkempt, and when your surroundings start making comments about this, or your girlfriend threatens to break up, you can and should trim and edge the beard neckline.

Now it may be good to stand with the razor or beard trimmer in hand and clear a little in the “forest”. It’s been so long since last, but be careful. Or you have suddenly shaved a little too much, and then it can be very quick to just take the rest.

It is at this stage that most men give up. Negative thoughts start to come and you suddenly think that all the other bearded men out there were born with perfect beards. Genetic, then. That’s rarely true. Most people have spent a lot of time growing and not least trimming and forming their beards.

• As a beginner, it is recommended to trim the hair gradually. This is achieved by cutting the longest strands of hair little by little until you get a shape that follows the lines of your face.
• Comb your beard from the inside out until you get an idea of what your natural shape is, before trimming.
• Keep your head straight and look directly in the mirror and trim from ear to ear. Otherwise, it will quickly become crooked.
• We suggest that you make a line where the neck meets the head. Look at it this way: Keep the beard that hangs parallel to the floor, and shave off what’s on the neck.

Maintenance

When a couple of months approaches, there is usually a good chance that you have enough beard to choose the shape you like best. Now it’s nice to have mustache scissors available in addition to the trimmer. It is still a good idea to just take off a little at a time to have better control when you need to find the right lines. Feel free to use the scissors when shaping the mustache and under the lip. It will give you better precision. And the trimmer is good to use on the sideburns and neck. Take your time now in the beginning until you gain experience. It will go faster eventually when you get to practice a little more and you become more confident in the use of the equipment. Remember to rinse your beard every time you shower and use a beard shampoo two to three times a week.

You have probably felt the difference between the beard and scalp hair. Beard hair is thicker and stiffer. Many people would still like to use regular hair shampoo, but we recommend that you find a beard shampoo, which is specially designed for beard hair. Hair shampoo will most likely dry out the skin under the beard so your skin starts flaking. This is because the scalp is more oily than the face, and hair shampoo is made to clean the scalp and remove styling products.

A beard shampoo, on the other hand, is made to be milder and thus not dry out the skin under the beard. Some men also use beard conditioner or beard balm. You massage this into the beard after washing the beard with beard shampoo. Let the conditioner work in the beard for a few minutes before rinsing.

You will find that beard oil becomes your best friend. This is because your skin is unable to produce enough Sebum, which is the name of the natural blend of oils that the skin produces. This oil disappears from the beard when you shower or wash. You can of course decide to not wash, but it is rather doubtful that your loved ones are sitting next to you and picking fleas and banana pieces out of your beard. Therefore, wash with good beard shampoo. You can then massage the beard oil and comb in well. An alternative to beard oil can be beard pomade, also known as a beard wax. This is somewhat easier to apply on long beards, but will not necessarily give better results than beard oil. What you use is mostly up to your taste and preference.

Many people also report that using Coconut oil helps beard growth lots of beard products contain Coconut oil.

Styling

While you and the surroundings get used to your new look, the beard also gets its personality. It can curl and twist in different directions. If you find it difficult to control, it may be a good idea to visit one of the many new barbershops that have appeared in recent years. A barber will be able to help you find your style and give you advice on how to style it.

If you use a trimmer for a natural style, or scissors for a sharper “businessman look”, you must bring out your new toys at least every 2 weeks. Now you have had time to see how your beard behaves and grows. This makes it easier to find the shape that suits you. Depending on the style you are going to have, you will need to shave in some places maybe even daily.

Another thing to be aware of is how much effect a blow dryer has on the beard. If you blow-dry your beard after a shower and use a beard comb or brush at the same time, this will have far more effect on the appearance than any other product will have. That being said, blow-drying your beard might cause beard split ends. So a good beard oil might come in handy. Beard oil is very good for caring for the beard and skin, but will not make it better. This is what you use the dryer for. If you have a hairdryer lying around, try it next time!

The mustache is something many people want to shape, and then you can not get away without a mustache wax. The harder (the wax) it is, the more hold it will give. And if you need the latter, it should be warmed to body temperature so it becomes a little softer and easier to shape. However, mustache wax is not recommended to use on the beard itself – only on your mustache.

If you have forgotten an important meeting or a date and you are short on time, you can use hair wax for beard shaping. But make sure to keep the beard away from the person as you can easily get stuck. It may not be the best pick-up trick. In other words, hair wax is quite messy, because then you have to use a lot of wax to keep the shape of the straight beard hairs. This should preferably be an emergency solution and we recommend drying it instead.

Equipment

There is a lot of equipment to buy today. And some might need quite a bit of “tools”, because of the style you choose, others manage with less, for the same reason.

• Good beard care requires that you have a good beard comb. These will straighten and unwind the hair strands, as well as help to get the beard oil evenly distributed unless you have a short beard.
• For shorter beards, a good beard brush is all you need. It will massage the skin underneath and stimulate good hair growth. The brush will also remove skin cells and distribute any beard oil or beard balm you use. At the same time, it will make sure to lift the beard so you get oxygen into the skin. If you are not going to have a long beard, the brush is preferable to a comb. But, remember that the beard brush is just as nice when you have a longer beard for the final finish.
• Beard scissors are a precision instrument. And with a steady hand, you can pick one stray strand of hair out of the bouquet under your nose. It’s a chore, but not something you need to do more than once a week.
• Some prefer an electric beard trimmer. You can set it to keep a certain beard length and as such, it is easier to use.

We hope and believe that you will like yourself as a bearded man and that your surroundings will also like you in the new edition. If you do it right, it will give you positive attention. With these tips, the chances of success are also high. The beard will be the new hobby that is with you everywhere and be both contact-creating and a source of new experiences!