Struggle with beard maintenance?
From short sharp stubble to a ‘ZZ Top’, all beards need maintenance. Most haircuts (skin fades excluded) can last up to four weeks. Beards on the other hand need a trim far more often. Most clients at The Hoi Polloi like to book in every two weeks to keep a clean shape.
Irritation from the beard is the main reason most are driven to shave it clean-off. If you’re starting to feel an itch, it’s down to one of two things: the hairs are coarse and need softening or the skin underneath is too dry. Both causes can be quickly remedied by using a beard balm daily. We recommend a balm over an oil as in many cases using an oil can lead to a greasy ‘build-up’.
Investing in some good beard products will make a huge difference. Avoid the temptation to reach for a regular shampoo to cleanse your beard - the formulation is too harsh. Instead, look for a low PH beard shampoo and conditioner to gently cleanse and nourish the sensitive areas.
For those who already have a beard, it’s all about maintaining the shape and condition. There will be plenty of people who will be using this time away from work to join the 55% of men worldwide that now sport some form of facial hair.
Whilst we don’t recommend you try home haircuts , you can perform some simply beard maintenance to keep that facial fuzz in-check. Whether you’re a veteran or a newly bearded gent, maintenance is vital for keeping a healthy-looking beard so we have included some tips below. You’ll need a comb, a pair of scissors and a hair clipper (preferably one with an adjustable head).
1. Shape
There are many different choices for your beard shape. All have something in common: the sides should be shorter than the main body of the beard. This creates a more prominent jawline and elongates the face, so it appears slimmer. In longer beards this can be done by combing out the sides and trimming the longer hairs down with scissors. For shorter beards, use a clipper to bring the side down to 1/3 of the length of the goatee area. For example, if you are cutting at 9mm around the chin, drop down to around 3mm on the sideburn area. For trimming longer beards through the front section comb the beard out as much as possible and use a scissor to sculp in the shape.
2. Lines
You need to decide whether you are going to keep the lines subtle and natural looking, or you’re going for a crisper look. Much of this comes down to personal preference. Even the most natural of looks needs some upkeep, but all that’s truly required is to shave the stray hairs that are not connected to your beard.
To create a strong sharp line, shave just into where your beard starts to get dense. Avoid going in too deep or the regrowth will come through quickly and be obvious. The easiest way to find the neckline is to go one centimetre above the Adam’s apple. To find symmetry, start in the middle and, shaving each side in turn, work your way out slowly. Edge in the beard from the ear down, until it meets the neckline – taking care, again, not to work into your natural growth too much.
3. Moustache
Unless you are growing your moustache out to a length where it can be styled, we recommend some at-home trimming. Studies show the average moustache will trap a pint and a half of beer every single year. To keep yours in check, comb the moustache down and trim back to just above the lip line with either your scissors or clipper.
This should be all you need to know to keep your beard in shape until we re-open. But if there is anything else, please feel free to contact us.