From beard dandruff to ingrown hairs, these are the solutions to the problems that happen the most.
Growing a beard sounds simple, just throw the razor in the trash and wait for the hair to grow and cover your face as if you were a movie lumberjack or one of those actors who won the genetic lottery (Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Affleck, etc…), but it’s not the case, many things can go wrong if you just let it grow “au natural” and don’t have the basic care to keep it in good condition.
We don’t know when exactly it was that someone came up with the idea of using a razor, knife or sharp stone to reveal the face of ancient men, or at least cut the beard a bit so they wouldn’t be tangled up with it all the time, but things have come a long way since that moment revealed and now we know that, in order to have a perfect beard, we must have a perfect routine and learn to deal with a few problems that appear along the way.
No matter who it hurts, men always (or almost always) look better with a beard, it makes them look more masculine, mysterious and interesting (and women prefer them, science says so), so it’s a very good idea to make a little effort to have a good one and not a mess that the only thing it does is make people cross to the other side of the street when they see you (thinking you’re the Unabomber or a madman).
Growing a beard is a decision and a lifestyle, it involves an extra commitment to your grooming routine, and it also means you’re going to run into some problems that happen to everyone and can become very annoying, until you discover there’s a solution and all that drama was for nothing (put down that razor, your problem beard can be saved).
When it comes to beards, these are the most common problems you’re going to encounter, and their solutions (because you have to focus on the positive side).
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Itchy beard
And we don’t mean your partner’s face itches, we mean it’s really itchy. Itching is part of the beard growing process and scratching like crazy doesn’t solve anything, itching can go away by keeping your skin moisturized and using products with ingredients like avocado oil, which leave the hair softer.
Dry skin under the beard
Yes, that glorious beard can also leave your skin very dry, dust, humidity and weather can contribute to this, so, to avoid this, it is essential that you use the right beard shampoo and pair it with a sulfate-free conditioner, this prevents the hair from drying out and having a strange texture, and helps to keep moisture in the skin, which is essential to have a good beard.
Dandruff in the beard
No, dandruff doesn’t only appear on your head, you can also get it on your beard and it’s caused by dry skin, weather conditions and even stress (which ruins your hair and skin). To avoid it, experts recommend using eucalyptus oil, grape seed oil or products with essential oils. The first thing you should do is exfoliate your skin with a tool that can penetrate the beard, wash it (and your face) very well, use a conditioner, brush carefully and use a product that helps the follicles stay well hydrated.
Acne
If you have sensitive skin, your beard can also cause an outbreak of acne, which can be painful and uncomfortable, to treat it is essential to keep your face and beard clean, also using an exfoliant and a light moisturizer. It is recommended that you use a product containing tea tree oil to soothe and reduce inflammation.
Ingrown hair
This happens for many reasons, mainly for not shaving in the direction in which the hair grows. To avoid it, it is important that you shave in the right direction, and to treat it you can use hot compresses to relieve inflammation and pain, avoiding shaving for 2 or 3 days while you recover and have a good facial cleansing routine so that they do not reappear.
Tangled beard
Your beard can look sexy or like an unkempt broom and that’s up to you. To keep it from getting tangled or looking too unkempt, you should brush it regularly (when it’s wet) and keep it moisturized, trimming the ends to keep everything under control and keep the hair from getting damaged.
Cutting when shaving
This is more common when you’re learning, but it can happen at any time, especially if you shave in a hurry. To deal with this you should use a good aftershave to help protect and soothe the affected areas (coconut oil helps), You can also use an antibiotic if the wound is deep or put on a tea bag (prepare the tea, put the bag in the refrigerator and put it on the wound) or even a lip balm to stop the bleeding (because nobody wants to have to go to the office with paper stuck to their face).