Groom your beard the right way!
Whether you’re a seasoned beard buff or someone who has taken a liking to grow a statement scruff during the lockdown, your beard needs some TLC too, just like your significant other or your skin. If you’re new to the ‘beard club’, you must have recently said hello to some unwelcome guests—itchiness, beard dandruff (yes, it’s a real menace), dry hair, and patchy growth. So, instead of spending all your hard-earned (or not) money on clothes and haircuts, get yourself some good-quality grooming products. These will not only help fix the itch on your facial hair/skin but also get you brownie points for a beard that looks, smells, and feels great and healthy.
The quality of your skin will have a direct impact on the quality of your scruff! As you’re growing out your beard, the skin underneath will become dry, itchy, or flaky because your beard will absorb its natural oils needed to keep the skin supple. Instead of reaching out for your razor, do yourself and your beard a favour by gifting yourself a good beard oil! Chemical-free beard oil will help keep both your scruff and your skin hydrated and healthy. If you get dry skin or red patches, you’ll need an oil that prevents flakes/beard dandruff.
A beard hair strand is usually super thick. As you grow out your perfect ‘five-o-clock shadow’, you will need a leave-in balm or conditioner to tame those unruly flyaways. If you have a full beard, a beard shampoo will help a great deal—as it will not only make it smell good (and not like something you ate at lunch), but also cleanse it without robbing your skin of its natural oils.
If your beard grows at warp speed, you probably won’t be able to get to a salon each time you have some uneven growth. This is where a pair of scissors will come in handy. A compact and pointed grooming scissors will help you keep it looking reasonably even and catch those pesky stray hair as well.
Serious about beard maintenance? Treat yourself to a top-notch wooden beard comb or one with boar bristles, which won’t pull, cause breakage or irritate your skin, unlike a cheap, plastic comb. Combing your beard will help spread the oils (skin’s natural oils or products) from the roots to the ends, keeping it healthy. It also helps in exfoliating the skin, so you can save the embarrassment of itching your scruff in public with flakes falling off. Yikes!
Whether you’re shaving your neck or cheeks or planning to shave it all off, investing in a solid razor that will do a neat job swiftly is an absolute essential. Choose shaving creams formulated to prevent razor burn, and shaving gels that reduce the itch and soothe the skin.
So, hit reset and charge up your beard-grooming game!
[Image Credits: Shutterstock]
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle