Beard care and beard styles: Your questions answered

Beards have never been more hip. Fashionable people sport new trends and 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, as many people discover, growing facial hair is often accompanied by skin changes that can be uncomfortable.

Don't let that deter you. This guide will walk you through the details of beard growth and maintenance to help you get the stylish look you want.

En este artículo:

• Understanding your beard
• Beard growth
• Beard grooming products
• Beard care routine
• Beard styles
• Beard dandruff
• Beard rash, dry skin under beard and itchy beard
• Seasonal beard care

Understanding your beard

Before styling your beard, it's important to know the type of beard you're dealing with. That means your first step should be letting your facial hair grow out. Then, you'll 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.¹ “You will be able to see how the beard is going to shape itself — for example, is it going to be full on your cheeks or full on your chin?” he says.

Understanding your beard growth patterns can then help you choose a beard style that works for you. 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.²

Beard growth

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

Focusing on your diet and eating specific foods may also improve beard growth. Scientists agree that simply eating a balanced diet that provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals is the way to go for a healthy-looking beard.³

Beard grooming products

Your 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.

Conozca más sobre beard care tools and get a breakdown of the products you need to keep your beard looking its best.

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 is the founder of Kerry Spindler Bespoke Aesthetics Spa in the Greater Boston area. Spindler does beard treatments and facials for men.⁴

Steps people can follow for proper beard care might include:

1. Warm up. Apply a warm, damp washcloth to your beard. The heat softens the hairs, making them easier to clean, explains Spindler. It also helps release ingrown hairs, which can cause razor bumps.
2. Wash up. Clean your beard and face every day - but try not to use regular soap or hair shampoo, which are too harsh, explains Spindler. Instead, use a gentle beard cleanser or beard shampoo. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends matching the beard cleanser you choose to your skin type. If you have oily skin or acne, look for a cleanser that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These products should also say "non-comedogenic" on the label, meaning they won't clog pores. If your skin is dry, use a hydrating, fragrance-free cleanser.⁵
3. Exfoliate (occasionally). Exfoliating helps eliminate dead skin cells.⁶ Spindler recommends doing it at least every two weeks.
4. Moisturize. Dry skin under a beard can cause havoc. For his bearded customers, Christopher applies conditioner, which has a moisturizing effect, as well as beard oil, which comes in several forms. Spindler favors beard balm, which contains moisturizing agents.
5. Trim as needed. Christopher's mantra for beard maintenance is simple: "Keep it neat and trim." Regular visits to a salon can help keep your beard looking sharp, but, with a little practice, anyone can whittle their whiskers.

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,⁷ which is a patch of beard on the chin and chinstrap with a tightly cropped strip of facial hair running down the sideburns and along the jawline.⁸
• 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.⁹ Beard dandruff can be managed with a hydrocortisone 1% solution (available over the counter) and using a dandruff shampoo on your facial and scalp hair at least once a week. If the problem persists, see a dermatologist.¹⁰

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.¹¹

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 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.¹²

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.

When the weather warms up, you will likely spend more time outdoors. While a beard offers some protection against sun exposure, rays can sneak through and damage skin, so you still need to apply protector solar under your beard.¹³

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.