Ahoy, Mateys!

Let’s go back to beard basics today. It’s easy to get caught up in the nitty-gritty of yer best asset; after all, the beard is an endlessly fascinatin’ topic to yours truly. But sometimes ye just have to make sure all of us buccaneers are on the same boat, right?

Below is the Cap’n’s (ye, that’d be me and I like talkin’ about meself in the third person, thank you very much) advice on best beard practices. How to grow yer beard or mustache and how to maintain it.

How to grow your beard!

When you’re first starting out on your beard journey, let your best asset grow… and don’t touch it! One would think that’s the easy part, because all you have to do is… nothing. But it seems to be the hardest part for a lot of men. You should have at least an inch of growth before attempting to shape it. That may mean waiting 4 – 6 weeks. If you try to shape your beard before then, you could end up with a mess. Because you can’t yet tell how your beard grows naturally, how full it is, or if there are any problems like patchy spots.

When you’re ready to shape your beardnificence, consider the best beard shape for your face. For example, if you’ve got patchy, thin beard hair, you might not want to go for the lumberjack look, but stick with a Van Dyke instead. If you have a round face, a full beard will accentuate that, while something more geometric like a goatee might be the better choice.

If your beard is patchy in places or you have some gray you want to get rid of, Blackbeard for Men can help. Blackbeard for Men fills in patchy spots as well as takes care of the gray for you while giving you a totally natural look. And if you’re happy with the drugstore beard dye, Blackbeard for Men can touch up roots and extend time between dyeing.

How to maintain your beard and get a handle on possible hurdles!

Beard Dandruff: It’s the result of too dry skin and yeast growth. Make sure you clean your beard on a regular basis, but not with harsh chemicals. Use baby shampoo (it’s gentle and a heck of a lot cheaper than so-called “beard shampoos”). Combing your beard on a regular basis is also helpful – it aids with circulation. And the best-kept secret? Oats! They will soften and moisturize your beard. Cover your beard with oatmeal and put a hot towel over it. Wait a few minutes, remove, and clean. Beard dandruff will be a thing of the past.

Ingrown Facial Hair: Clean your beard every day. Ingrown hairs are more likely if your skin is dirty or oily. Exfoliate your beard (and the skin underneath it) use some baking soda and mix it with liquid soap for that purpose. Afterwards rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer. Dry skin is more likely to get ingrown hairs. When you shave, it’s better if your facial hair is a bit wet. Wet facial hair cuts easier and creates less irritation, hence, it’s less likely to give you ingrown hairs.

Beard Split Ends: Don’t let them happen in the first place. Don’t wash your beard with soap. All that does is dry it out. Use baby shampoo and conditioner on your beard. You also don’t need to buy expensive beard shampoo. The gentlest shampoo/conditioner you can find is in the baby aisle. If you already have split ends, grab some olive oil and slather your beard with it. Then put foil around it. Wait a few minutes. Remove. Wash out. Voila! No more split ends.

Razor Bumps: Splash cold water on your face right after a shave. If razor bumps are a continuous problem for you, then go one step further: put a cold compress on your face after a shave. (Just put ice cubes into a bag and press it against your chin.) Should a razor bump appear anyway, grab a teabag (black tea is preferable,) briefly wet it in hot water and then let it cool in the fridge. Once it has cooled, press it against the offending bump and let the tannic acid do the rest.

Thin, Scraggly Beard: Don’t forget that your DNA has a lot to do with your amount of facial hair. In other words, it’s not completely in your control. However, there are some things you can do to help beard growth and thickness. First of all, good news, the amount of your facial hair actually increases as you get older (unlike the hair on your head). Pay close attention to what you eat and make sure you include leafy greens (kale, spinach, etc.) in your diet because they actually help your body metabolize estrogen -- which means that you’ll have higher levels of testosterone, which aids your beard growth. You can also take supplements. Biotin aids hair growth. Exercise is good for circulation, which carries vitamins and nutrients through your bloodstream and into your skin. It also stimulates testosterone creation. Both of these things will help you grow your best asset. Lastly, don’t forget that Blackbeard for Men fills gaps, and can make even the scraggliest beard look thick and full!

Mateys, hope this back to basics rundown was helpful for ye. If ye have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us. As always, the Cap’n and his crew like to hear from you.

May fair winds fill yer sails.

Cap’n Jim