5 At-Home Beard Care Tips Every Guy Should Know

5 At-Home Beard Care Tips Every Guy Should Know

May 19, 2020

At-home beard care isn’t one size fits all. Your specific beard care needs are probably becoming more apparent to you while you’re spending more time at home than usual. There are plenty of at-home solutions that will help you freshen up your beard and treat common issues without giving up on growth and just shaving it all off. Check out the answers to commonly asked beard care questions below and look fresh for your next Zoom call. 

How often should I wash my beard?

Washing your beard is essential to removing irritating oils and impurities, preventing acne on the skin under your beard, and helping with healthy beard growth. The frequency that you should wash your beard depends on your skin type, although most grooming experts recommend washing your beard 2-3 times per week. If you think you may be overwashing, scale back to once a week to avoid stripping your beards natural oils. Natural dry skin and beard hair could be helped by co-washing. You can increase the frequency of washes without worrying about drying out your skin. 

Unlike traditional soaps or shampoos, beard shampoo is formulated to cleanse without stripping. The Verbena Lime Beard Shampoo and Conditioner by Zeus are formulated with Dragon’s Blood, a natural plant extract that reduces inflammation in the skin and has natural antibacterial properties. ProVitamin B5 prevents moisture loss while nourishing the hair and skin. 

From Left: Verbena Lime Beard Shampoo by Zeus, $16.95; Verbena Lime Beard Conditioner by Zeus, $16.95

What’s the best way to soften a beard?

No one likes rough and scratchy facial hair, but softening your beard doesn’t have to be complicated. Facial hair can become easily dehydrated for lots of different reasons like the environment or diet. Making the switch from using regular shampoo or soap on your beard could do the trick, but if you need more help, a reparative conditioner could make all the difference. If you’re in need of deep hydration, consider a hot oil treatment. You’ll get barbershop quality softness at home. 

We love Bluebeards Original Wonder Beard Intensive Repair. It’s a three-minute deep conditioner made specifically for facial hair. Even the most coarse beard hair will be softened and shiny after use. This can be used up to three times a week. For a weekly dose of self-care and relaxing, we recommend the Proraso Hot Beard Oil Treatment. This treatment comes with four single-dose vials. All you have to do is immerse one vial into hot water for about two minutes, apply the oil to your beard and massage it in. After a few minutes, rinse it out with cold water. 

From Left: Wonderbeard Intensive Repair by Bluebeards Original, $20; Hot Beard Oil Treatment by Proraso, $18

How can I trim my beard at home?

The more time you spend at home the more you may notice your beard looking unruly. An at-home trim just requires a few great tools. The Q Brothers Q Kit Facial Grooming Set is a handcrafted kit that has everything you need for a great at-home trim. 

Once your beard is clean and dry, using the Kent Beard and Mustache Comb, comb in the direction of hair growth to get a full picture of the shape you’re working with. Then comb your beard upwards and outwards against the direction of hair growth. Stray hairs and fuller areas will become much more obvious. Trim the strays using the Credo Stainless Steel Scissors all around. Then start on one side, using a comb as your guide to even it all out. Comb through and snip off the hair that sticks out of the comb's teeth. Start with cutting off the tips and take off more later if needed. Repeat the process on the other side, making sure to replicate the desired length you created on the first side. 

For an overgrown mustache, use the Kent Comb to brush all hairs down, then use the Credo Scissors to trim any hairs that fall over the lip line. Once you’re done, wash your beard again, add a few drops of your favorite oil and brush through with the Q Brothers Beard Brush. 

Q Brothers QKit Facial Hair Grooming Kit

From Left: QKit Facial Hair Grooming Kit by Q Brothers, $39.95

How can I treat beard dandruff?

Indoor temperatures can make dry, flaky skin much worse than usual. Keeping your beard fresh and flake-free at home is easy. Start with an exfoliating facial scrub. Our favorite from Proraso has a fresh, rosemary and mint scent. Finely ground almond and hazelnut shells are gentle enough to remove dry patches, impurities, and dead skin cells without causing irritation. You can even use it daily. Follow that up with our signature Q Brothers Beard Oil. This blend of argan, grapeseed, jojoba, and almond oils will nourish your skin and beard, preventing itchy, dry patches. Apply a drop or two daily and brush it through to treat the skin underneath too.  

From Left: Exfoliating Beard Paste by Proraso, $18; Q Brothers Beard Oil by Q Brothers, $18

How can I make my beard look fuller?

Patchy spots are just part of the challenge of growing a beard, but there are a few tricks you can use to make your beard look fuller. Start with a beard brush. Patchy or not, this tool is your friend. It’ll distribute natural oils and promote softness. You can also use one to make your beard look fuller by brushing the longer hairs over so that they cover any patchy spots. Doing this daily will train the hair to sit in that direction more naturally. Follow that with a heavy balm or styling cream to add texture and help your facial hair stay in place throughout the day. 

The Q Brothers Beard Brush is a German-made option featuring boar bristles and a sturdy pearwood handle. The bristles add shine while getting to the root of facial hair. For styling, we’re into the Beard Balm by O’Douds Apothecary. It provides a medium hold without leaving beard hair feeling greasy.

From Left: Q Brothers Beard Brush by Q Brothers, $10.95; Beard Balm by O’Douds Apothecary, $16

Shop All Beard Care at Smallflower.com

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