Think about the last time you drank craft beer or the last time you sat in a lecture hall. Chances are, you were within 10 feet of a bearded dude. Hell, you might have been the one rocking the face sweater.
Even as Hollywood jumps on the trend, there is a right and wrong way to embrace this wannabe-Brooklyn-hipster-chic. Having a beard is almost more work than shaving every day, and well maintained facial hair can help you look more like Bradley Cooper and less like the guy bumming smokes outside the Beer Store.
Pick a style for your lifestyle
Beards are acceptable for all guys, from the bassist in your favourite bar band to Leader of the Opposition. Figure out how a beard will fit into your work, school, and personal life. Also, if you have a significant other, now is a good time to ask how they feel about facial hair. They may or may not approve.
The key to rocking a beard on Parliament Hill or Thirsty Thursday is the same: keep it groomed. Well-kept beards can be long or short, just make sure the hair is healthy and even.
Buy a trimmer
Rocking a badass beard doesn’t mean throwing away your razor and refusing to groom yourself. You have to keep your cheeks clean and your neck free of excess hair. Pick up a trimmer for a few bucks at a drugstore. It might be an investment for some, but if you want to wear a beard, you should be prepared to maintain it. Remember, just like cars, maintenance always costs more than ownership.
Keep it neat
Most guys have experienced the look of horror on a relative’s face after arriving home with a beard at Thanksgiving. Come Sunday, you’ve probably shaved for grandma or aunt so-and-so. You wouldn’t have had to kill your crop if you’d kept everything clean and tidy!
First thing to do is decide if you want to keep hair on your neck. Look in the mirror and draw an imaginary line under your chin. Then, shave it off every day with a regular razor. Yes, you’re adding work to your morning routine, but nobody said facial hair was for wussies. Defining your neckline will save you from a double chin and show people you’re put together, not down on your luck.
Also, keep an eye out for cheek creep, as in how high the beard begins on your face. You can choose to shave it off or let your cheek hair grow; it depends on the thickness of your facial hair. Keep the beginning of your beard in-line with your nostrils, though. Otherwise you make your face look shorter and hide your cheekbones.
Run your trimmer across your entire beard about once a week. You can put a guard on the blades to keep a certain length, or cut it down to reach a day-old stubble look. If you’re concerned about how you’ll look at work or on campus, do this on Saturday morning to ensure a decent amount of regrowth come Monday morning.
Don’t forget your skin
The first thing most guys notice with facial hair growth is itchiness and breakouts. You can get around this discomfort with beard oil and a good moisturizer.
Beard oil is like shampoo for your beard. It keeps hair soft, smelling nice, and free of grease. You just work a dime-sized amount into your beard hair after you get out of the shower. Pick a product that smells good to you and go nuts.
Moisturizer is the single most important thing for a young man to use in the morning. If you take care of your skin when you’re young, you’ll be the envy of a high school reunion 20 years from now. Choose one for sensitive skin with a low SPF and apply the product every morning. The SPF-laced moisturizers do double duty: they keep your face feeling soft and free of sun damage. Proper skincare is like soil fertilizer for your beard, it keeps the foundation healthy and encourages proper growth.
Shaving it off
If you decide to shave off your hair, it’s not as simple as diving in with a razor.
First, take a shower. Let the hair soften and your pores open. Then, pat your face dry with a clean towel. You should moisten the towel with hot water to keep your pores open.
Then, trim your beard down to a more manageable length. If you’ve let the hair grow several inches, you may have to do a pass with the guard on and then another with just the trimmer blades.
Once you’ve approached a day-old stubble look, fill the sink with hot water. Apply a quality shaving cream evenly across your face. Start with the cheeks and side of your face, and then do your mustache area. Save your chin and neck for last. The hair on your chin is wirier than the rest of your face, so it needs more time to soften with shaving cream.
Always shave with the grain on the first go. Use a sharp, new razorblade to minimize cuts and skin damage. You’re shaving virgin territory. Treat the situation like your first few shaves, the skin isn’t used to being pulled by metal blades. If you want to get a closer shave, reapply shaving cream and shave against the grain.
Once you’re hair-free, use a high-quality aftershave and facial moisturizer. It’s good to splurge on your first post-beard aftershave, because your skin will be sensitive for a while. You might experience a few bumps and marks, especially along your neckline, but that’s normal. In a few days, your face will rebound to its pre-beard strength.
If you choose to shave it all off, don’t stop moisturizing and investing in quality facial care products. Your face will thank you later.
