6 Top tips for growing a beard

1. Identify your goal, but be realistic

You don’t need to stick to a neatly manicured beard as there are many different beard styles to choose from. Let your growth be influenced by the style you want to achieve. However, we emphasise “want” for one particular reason: You can’t necessarily achieve your ideal beard if your facial hair isn’t destined to grow that way.

If your beard is patchy, or if it has a unique growth pattern (for example, sparse on the cheeks, full on the goatee), then you have to set your expectations accordingly. This goes for all beards – big, small, long and short alike. 

2. Let it grow

The age-old adage "patience is a virtue" has never been more apt than when growing a beard. Not only can a little time help fill in some patchiness, but it’s also requisite for almost any style. A beard transforms into something new every week. 

The most important thing to know about growing a beard is that you need to, well, let your whiskers grow. While this may initially be uncomfortable and somewhat unsightly you need to commit some real time to not shaving

If it feels like you’ll never reach your goal, especially if it’s a long beard, hang in there. You may wake up one morning and discover you’ve arrived at your destination. 

3. Mind the edges

One of the principles of beard maintenance is to keep it defined. In short, shave the neckline and clean up the cheek lines. These keep it more beard-like and less like you've just forgotten to shave. A shave oil makes navigating the lines easier than a shave gel or cream.

We recommend...

Clicks Men's Triple Blade Disposable Razors have 3 blades for an ultra-close shave while the pivot head adjusts to the contours of your skin. The lubricating strip contains aloe vera and vitamin E to help reduce drag and soothe your skin.

Woody's Men Shave Oil is designed for facial hair and skin. It’s packed with grapefruit, lavender, coconut, peppermint and orange oil to protect your skin from irritation and inflammation caused by shaving.

4. Trim it as it grows

It is equally important to sculpt and trim your beard as it grows. This helps direct the hair exactly where it needs to be; fuller in some spots, less so in others. The styling products in the next tip will help influence things, but it’s important to keep hairs in check.

This can mean snipping away strays or simply reducing some bulk. You'll want to add a beard trimmer or a sharp pair of scissors to your beard care arsenal.

We recommend...

- Clicks Essentials Barber Scissor Set With Comb will help you stay well-groomed as you grow your desired beard. 

- Remington Style Series Beard Trimmer B3 MB3000 features an intuitive Zoom Wheel that allows you to choose one of 17 accurate cutting lengths.

- The Rolls Royce of beard trimmers, the Beurer HR 4000 Beard Styler, features an additional precision attachment, LED display, travel lock display, charge display, as well as an oil indicator. 

5. Use a few nourishing products 

If you’re serious about proper care and maintenance, there are a handful of essential products you’ll need. A few drops of beard oil will absorb quickly and give your hair the right nutrients (plus a healthy shine), while also making them more "tameable" in the process. You can also swap in a beard balm or cream, something slightly heftier than an oil, to help style the beard and keep it in place all day. 

We recommend...

- Sorbet Beard Oil contains an almond, avocado and macadamia oil blend, and conditions and softens hair to help untangle and improve your face fur.

- The Body Shop Cedar & Sage Beard Oil has a non-greasy formula that nourishes your beard and the skin beneath it, leaving it soft and pleasantly fragranced.

- Cantu Shea Butter Beard Oil deeply nourishes and softens beard hair with a blend of shea butter and hemp seed oil, and the addition of caffeine encourages hair growth.

- L'Oreal Paris Barber Club Men Expert Beard & Face Moisturiser is enriched with essential oils, including cedar-wood essential oil, to soften rough beards and moisturise the skin beneath them.

6. Keep it smelling fresh and clean

Last but not least, and especially with constant mask-wearing, you'll want to keep your beard clean and smelling fresh. Regular shampoo works fine, but a dedicated beard wash will be gentler on your face. Either way, your skin still needs hydration and a moisturiser will keep it from getting dry and flaky. 

We recommend...

- L'Oreal Paris Men Expert Barber Club Beard Face & Hair Wash is free of harsh soap products yet still manages to soften your beard, washing away flakes, residue and odour, while also gently cleansing your skin.

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com