Beard Maintenance 101
What You Need
First and foremost, Marco let us know what you’ll need to keep your beard on point. Some of these basic items include a razor or razor blade, clippers, hair scissors, soap or shaving foam, and a comb.
Beard Maintenance for Short or Medium Lengths
Start with the cheekbones.
With short or medium beards, Marco suggests to start with the cheekbones. “Shave the area of the cheekbones in a semicircular shape from the temple to the lateral line of the mouth, this will make your beard look clean and neat. After, clean up the lower part from the Adam’s apple.”
Whip out the comb.
Next, use the comb to untangle the beard. If your beard is wavy make sure to stretch it to see which parts of hair need to be cut. This can be done with the clippers to create a fade: short next to the sideburns and longer on the chin.
Don’t be afraid to use scissors.
Use the scissors for the places where the clippers don’t work. If you don’t have clippers, you can cut your beard with the comb and scissors. Comb the hair and trim to the length you want. “Hydrating the beard is very important, washing it with hot water helps the pores to dilate and makes working easier,” Marco explains. In the cheek area apply a shaving gel or foam, stretch the skin upwards and shave.
Wash it off.
Finally, wash with hot water and apply a moisturizing gel and beard oil. We have been loving SheaMoisture’s beard care products, particularly SheaMoisture Men Maracuja Oil & Shea Butter Beard Balm and Conditioning Oil to keep facial hair hydrated and soft. For those who don’t have beard products or want a multitasker, Marco recommends using some TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum. “It leaves my beard soft and hydrated.”
Beard Maintenance for Longer Lengths
Use a comb and scissors to shape.
For men with a longer beard, Marco recommends using a comb and scissors for shaping. “Detangle and comb the beard down, then trim the longer hairs to achieve uniformity and a polished look,” says Marco.
Remember, jaw to chin.
Next, cut from the jaw to the chin, from shortest to longest, respectively. “The trick to making a long beard look clean and groomed is removing all those excessively long hairs and shaving the cheek area.” Those are the basics of beard maintenance! Keep those scraggly ends trimmed and neat and don’t forget to moisturize your skin and facial hair.