5 beard care tips

– from the barber

A good beard routine can work wonders with little effort, and it doesn't have to be particularly difficult or time-consuming. Here are five top tips from Gent's own barber on how best to look after your beard.

cleansing

This is a point that is often overlooked or forgotten, even though the beard is actually a breeding ground for all kinds of dirty particles and bacteria, not least from our own fingers. Beard cleaning is therefore essential, and a beard shampoo is invaluable. Unlike a regular hair shampoo, a beard shampoo is gentler on the facial skin and is specially formulated to penetrate the coarse facial hair and reach under the beard. A beard shampoo is meant to be a deep cleanser, that is, to remove coarser layers of dirt and residues from, for example, oils or waxes, so it's not necessarily something that should be used every day - every other day or about three or four times a week is fine depending on how thick your beard is. It's also a thick product that lathers effectively so overdosing is definitely overkill. If you also want your beard to be extra soft, you can also supplement with a softening conditioner that you rinse out.

moisturising

A common side effect of wearing a beard is dryness, which not only gives your facial adornment a dull look but can also be a symptom of deeper problems. Underneath the beard, excess, drying layers of skin are constantly building up, blocking the skin's ability to produce moisture. The result is often dandruff, itching and, in extreme cases, eczema and infections. Moisturising in the form of beard oil or beard balm (a variant of oils in a firmer form and which gives a duller impression) should therefore always be available in the bathroom - take some in your hands, massage the product thoroughly into the beard and then finish by pulling it through thoroughly with a coarse beard brush so that you peel off the dead skin cells under the beard. This way the oils penetrate right into the skin and that's really where they belong, although a nice shine, some styling effect and pleasant scent are a welcome added bonus. Use at least once a day or more and of course after cleansing. Beard oils and beard balms come in all sorts of scents and varieties so just choose one that suits your beard, your skin type and your personal taste.

styling: how to trim your beard

A safe way to keep your beard looking well-groomed is to trim it regularly. Using a beard wax is a handy way to add a little extra edge to the shape, but make it a habit to go over your beard regularly with beard scissors and/or trimmers. Pay particular attention to the sides at the back: try to keep the beard hairs the same length from the sideburns all the way down to avoid the problem of the hairs below sticking out, then gradually build up the thickness of the beard (or higher number on the trimmer) as you go along. A tip is also to trim the moustache so that it stays in line with the upper lip, just such a small detail can do more for the impression than you think.

styling: beard lines

For a more groomed and styled look, keep an eye on your beard lines and decide on your beard style. Study your face shape and think about what you look best in. If you're stumped, a sure-fire tip is to consult a barber who will set the lines and create a ‘haircut’ for you once and for all, which you can then maintain yourself. If you want to do the job yourself, we recommend you get a safety razor or shavette (knife with replaceable blades). Keep your neck clean-shaven and try to get a line along the underside of the jawbone with the holding point under the chin just above the Adam's apple (many people make the mistake of putting the line too high up, which makes the chin look cut and small). If you don't have natural lines on your cheeks, you can use the trimmer (for a smoother result) versus the shavette or safety razor (the modern multi-blade razor won't work here) for more defined edges. Feel free to use a shaving template so that you don't have to do it freehand.

sparse beard

Do you have sparse areas in your beard or areas where it grows really badly that ruin that uniform look? Then you should try a so-called Micro Needle Roller from Power, which in some cases - and if you are armed with a little patience - can give you a fuller beard as the function of the microscopic needles is to activate ‘sleeping’ hair follicles. Roll with gentle light movements in different directions on the relevant areas a few times a week and don't forget the Sanitiser for hygiene. Also try Powers Activator serum, Beard supplements and beard oil to further promote beard hair growth and as an additional supplement.

If you want to temporarily fill in sparse areas or make stronger markings, you can quickly and easily do a ‘touch-up’ with beard fillers in powder form or beard pencils. For those who think that the silver fox is not an option or you may have pale areas that break off from the rest of the beard (for example, the mustache), there is always beard colour as a lifesaver (a hot tip is to be careful with the choice of colour - if the colour is too dark, the result can be hard and unnatural, so choose a lighter shade if you are unsure).