For many men, the beard is more than a fashion statement: it’s a way of life. If you choose to walk down this path, you should know that regular maintenance is required to keep your beard neat so you don’t start looking like a hobo. There are, essentially, two different things you will need to maintain your beard: a good trimmer and a beard wash. Here is a small selection of each for you to consider.
Beard Washes
A beard wash is a specially formulated product designed to clean and moisturize a man’s facial hair. You can get away with using a mild shampoo and conditioner, but if you use one of these babies you’ll get much better results for both your beard, and the skin underneath.
Bluebeards Original ($14)
This popular beard wash is made in the USA and won Best Beard Product at the 2014 Grooming Lounge Handsome Awards. Bluebeards Original contains lime to break down dirt and oil, and aloe to act as a moisturizer. Wash with this stuff and what you get is a clean and soft beard that will be the envy of all your friends. Maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s Bluebeards.
Wild Man Beard Wash ($20)
This all-natural beard wash contains a complex blend of essential oils that promote a lustrous and robust beard that will turn heads. Just three to five drops is all it takes. It will also give your beard a pleasing herbaceous scent, making it double as an aromatherapy product. The lavender contained in the mix acts as a natural aphrodisiac. Watch out, ladies!
Beardsley Beard Shampoo and Conditioner ($15)
The Beardsley product line contains a promising array of beard washes. Choose from cantaloupe and wild berry for the shampoo, and then pick a conditioner. There are also lotions and oils to add to your beard wash package. Mix and match different items at the online order desk, or if your want to go all out order twelve packs of shampoo and conditioner. Your beard will be the talk of the town for years to come.
Beard Trimmers
The hair on your face is coarser than the hair on your head, so beard shavers are different from head shavers. When shaving your beard, go against the grain and keep your neck line an inch above your Adam’s apple. There are dozens of beard trimmers out there, but here are a few you might want to look at.
Philips Norelco QG3360/42 Multigroom Plus ($40)
This water resistant model lasts fifty minutes on an hour charge, and comes with a turbo setting to handle even the most unruly beards. Get any look you want with the eighteen length settings (1-18mm). It even comes with a nose hair trimmer.
Remington MG4040 Lithium Ion ($30)
This lithium ion powered model has some serious battery life with 160 minutes of run time. The titanium-coated blades are self-sharpening and self lubricating for a smooth shave every time. Also comes with a three-year warrantee.
Conair GMT900R iStubble ($65)
For the enduring five-o’clock shadow look the iStubble is the way to go. Its floating head technology tracks the curve of your face guaranteeing an even shave, and the electronic length control trims your beard to anywhere from 0.4mm to 5mm.
There are many more trimmers out there to choose from, but the variety of beard washes isn’t as large. Trimmers are easy to find at retail stores, but for the beard washes you’ll probably have better luck shopping online. Don’t let that beard get out of control. Tame it with a trim and wash before it gets it out hand.
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Chris Riddell is a freelance writer from Toronto who covers art, business, and urban life for various fine publications. Also a poet and aspiring novelist, he’s busting his butt trying to get his name into a few literary magazines these days. He encourages you to check out his website for a look at what he’s been working on lately.
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Photo courtesy of rcpromike.
