Beard care and beard styles

Beards have never been more hip as celebrities on the red carpet let their whiskers grow.

But pulling off a stylish beard can require more than skipping the razor and shaving cream — and growing facial hair is often accompanied by skin changes that can be uncomfortable.

This guide will explain the details of beard growth and maintenance to help anyone get the stylish look they want.

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Understanding beards

Before styling a beard, it's important to know the type of beard. That means the first step should be letting facial hair grow out. Then, it'll be easier to see its growth patterns, explains John Christopher, past president of the National Barber Boards Association and owner of Johnny's Barbershop Downunder in Hershey, Pennsylvania. "People will be able to see how the beard is going to shape itself - for example, is it going to be full on their cheeks or full on their chin?" he says.

Understanding beard growth patterns can help people choose a beard style that works for them. For instance, a person whose facial hair tends to grow in round patterns may be best suited to a Garibaldi beard. These are long and full with a cropped and rounded appearance. Meanwhile, a person whose facial hair growth pattern is less structured and more free flowing might opt for a Bandholz beard. These are also long but have a more wild and rugged appearance.

Beard growth

If someone is considering facial hair, there are a few ways they can help optimize growth to achieve a fuller, healthier-looking beard.

Focusing on nutrition and eating a balanced diet may improve beard growth. A balanced diet that includes enough nutrients like iron and protein may help maintain a healthy-looking beard.

Beard grooming products

A toolbox for maintaining a clean and stylish beard should include some or all of the following cuidado de la barba tools:

• Beard shampoo or cleanser
• Beard conditioner
• Beard balm or beard oil
• A beard comb.
• A cortadora de pelo and scissors

Beard care routine

Establishing a daily beard care routine is essential, explains Kerry Spindler, a renowned beauty expert. Spindler has worked in New York City and Paris, and she is the founder of Kerry Spindler Bespoke Aesthetics Spa in the Greater Boston area. Spindler does beard treatments and facials for men.

Steps people can follow for proper beard care might include:

1. Wash face and beard every day. Daily washing removes dirt, oil, germs, pollution, and dead skin cells from the beard and skin. Without regular cleansing, these can clog pores and irritate the skin, potentially leading to skin issues.
2. Use a cleanser based on skin type. Washing a beard with a gentle cleanser suited to the skin type yields the best results. Unlike soap, a cleanser removes dirt and debris without drying the skin, helping prevent dryness beneath the beard. Those with normal, oily or acne-prone skin should use a non-comedogenic cleanser. Dry skin benefits from a hydrating, fragrance-free formula, while sensitive skin requires a creamy cleanser labeled "soap-free" and "fragrance-free."
3. Groom the beard. A small amount of non-comedogenic beard conditioner helps prevent dryness and itchiness beneath the beard. It won't clog pores and supports healthy skin.
4. Brush beard every day before washing face. Gentle exfoliation lifts dead skin from the beard, promoting healthier skin and a cleaner appearance.
5. Shampoo beard and scalp at least once a week with a dandruff shampoo. A dandruff shampoo containing 2 percent zinc pyrithione, 1 percent ketoconazole or 1 percent selenium sulfide is effective for managing beard-related dryness and flaking.

Beard styles

Beard styles run the gamut. There's short and closely cropped, which may be worn with or without a mustache. Then there's long and full, or what Christopher calls the "lumberjack look."

Some styles include:

• The Garibaldi and Bandholz, mentioned earlier, are longer styles that take more time to grow but suit those with prolonged, narrow faces, explains Spindler.
• The goatee, a small beard on the chin.
• The three-day stubble look.

Beard dandruff

Beard dandruff (also known as "beardruff") is a mild version of a condition called seborrheic dermatitis that causes shedding of skin flakes as well as itching and inflammation. If someone has beard dandruff, they should gently brush their beard before washing their face every day to help lift the skin flakes. Then they should treat the patches of skin affect with hydrocortisone 1 percent solution (available over the counter) and use a dandruff shampoo on their facial and scalp hair at least once a week. If the problem persists, they should see a dermatologist.

Beard rash, dry skin under beard and itchy beard

A skin rash under your beard could be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis, so consider following the steps above to deal with it.

If your beard itches, it's likely because the skin underneath it is dry. "You can't moisturize enough," says Spindler.

Razor bumps in areas that you still shave, such as your neck, can be itchy, too. They may also be swollen and inflamed, with a pimple-like appearance. Using a warm compress before shaving or shaving at the end of a shower and shaving in the direction your hair grows may help prevent razor bumps. There are over-the-counter razor bumps products available that can help target them as well.

Seasonal beard care

Your beard care routine may need to be adjusted depending on the season. For example, when cold weather arrives, humidity can drop, which can cause dry skin.

“When temperatures decrease, I tell my clients to follow three rules: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize,” says Spindler.

Explore face moisturizers here.

Remember that someone who is growing a beard will need to use a protector solar with an sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 until their stubbled grows into a full beard.

Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.