No “good beard” is an accident. If you see a guy whose whiskers are well groomed and look healthy, it’s because he’s putting in the time to make it that way. Growing a beard is one thing, but how he cares for it determines how great it looks—even if his beard is patchier or thinner than others.
Guys with good beards don’t have dry or irritated skin either. Their partners don’t suffer from beard burn, and the men themselves aren’t scratching at an itch all day. Their necklines are shaped just right—and yes, their facial hair looks styled in the best way possible, too.
Achieving this on your own comes down to three main things: minding the edges, trimming as needed, and nourishing both your skin and hair. To learn the best ways to do this, we asked a couple experts for help: Garrett Pike, founder and head barber at No Club Barbershop, and Robert McMillen, founder and head barber at Mildred Barbershop. Below is the beard maintenance advice they think every guy should put into practice, guaranteed to result in soft, satisfying scruff.
5 Beard Maintenance Tips:
1. YOUR BEARD NECKLINE SHOULD RESEMBLE A “U”
2. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FADE YOUR OWN BEARD NECKLINE, TOO
3. RELAX YOUR FACE WHILE TRIMMING THE MUSTACHE
4. REMEMBER THAT “BEARD MAINTENANCE” ALSO MEANS “SKINCARE”
5. KNOW WHEN TO USE BEARD OIL AND WHEN TO USE BEARD BALM