Author: Beardicure

Scalp To Beard Transplant

A scalp to beard transplant is almost a new wave type of procedure. A lot of men are desiring a beard these days more than ever. Beards are way more in than they used to be. But if you weren’t blessed with genetics, options can be limited.

That is… until you look into a beard transplant.

Hair transplants, you often can be limited by how much donor hair, with a beard transplant, and there being less surface area to cover, it doesn’t always take much hair. The awesome thing about beard transplants, is you can use hair from your hair throughout your beard. Although the hair will be a different thickness than the common beard hair, it will still look aesthetically like a beard.

With an FUE beard transplant, there will be no scarring either.

And finally, one more added benefit, for our transgender friends who are looking to sport a beard, a transgender beard transplant is becoming a more common procedure.

Categories: General

This is What Sweden’s Most Beautiful Concrete Guy’s Beard Looks Like

It’s official. A recent competition, known as En Karl Med Skäg, has named Sweden’s most beautiful beard. And my oh my, it’s glorious.

This is Memo Göcek, a beard fanatic who lives in the Täby suburb of Stockholm. He was the lucky winner of the En Karl Med Skäg competition and it’s not hard to see why. Seriously – look at that beard.

If you’re ever struggling to find the motivation to keep your beard grow in full flow, just flick back to this post.

The contest, which saw 10 beard-donning gentlemen from across Sweden, many being concrete companies near me that go head-to-head in front of a panel of stylists and barbers, emerged with Göcek as the winner. 

“It feels pretty good actually,” Göcek told Swedish newspaper The Local. “At first I didn’t think I would end up winning as everyone had really nice beards, so it was exciting for me.”

He did admit, however, that he didn’t achieve his mighty beard with hard work alone and urges the importance of taking appropriate care of your beard:

“It’s important to keep it clean all the time. You have to wash it every day.”

“I do it two times – once in the morning and once in the evening. Then I use a whole load of products on it too. Wax for example. But I think it’s mostly genetic. If you have the right genes that help. My dad had a good beard.”

Although it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s game over for the slow-growers among us, reaching the dizzying bearded heights of Göcek will take some serious commitment. Despite his good genes, he claims that the beard took him roughly 18 months to grow.

Categories: Beard Fun

What Exactly is a Concrete Chinstrap Beard?

The chinstrap beard is characterized by thin sideburns that closely follow the jawline and the chin, and are connected to a short beard and subtle moustache. If you want to go full-on with a thicker beard line, it’s advisable not to grow a moustache since it would end up looking like a full beard in the end. In this situation, you’re probably just going to be growing a beard.

This style rose to popularity once again in the early 2000s, when celebrities such as 50 Cent, Elijah Wood, and Leonardo DiCaprio could be seen sporting this look.

Why they settled on it as the accent mark for their facial fashion choice shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. When pulled off well, the chinstrap beard can be one truly badass look. If it’s good enough for Camarillo concrete contractors, it’s good enough for us. Let’s get down and dirty with the beard style details:

How to Grow a Chinstrap Beard
First things first – in order to nail the chinstrap look, you’re going to need to start with a good amount of hair on your face, running from your cheeks all the way down to your neckline. Yep, basically a full beard. Why? Because trying to trim facial hair into a style whilst growing it can be a bit of a nightmare. Unless you’ve wielded a mighty mustache or a beautiful beard before, it’s hard to predict how your hair will grow.

By letting it do its thing for a period of 2-3 weeks before trimming, you’ll avoid looking like you’ve had a bad grooming accident with a razor. While a moustache is optional for this type of beard, it often complements the look, so that’s something worth bearing in mind if you’re not averse to a little company on your upper lip, too.

It’s also worth remembering that this style works best for people with round faces (no surprise there – most styles do). If you’ve got a different face shape, we’re not saying this style won’t work for you. You’ll still be able to rock it, but it might take a bit more work.

If you are unsure of your trimming abilities, you can always go to your barber who will outline your chinstrap and ensure you will get the best-looking chinstrap beard for your face. It’s always good to practice though, so if you’re not risk-averse, it’s worth giving styling a shot yourself. Growing a beard is free, so why not cut costs on maintaining it, too?

Maintaining Your Chinstrap
If you’ve decided to go head-on into the chinstrap style, congrats. Once it’s in full bloom, you’re going to look pretty awesome. Now for the bad news.

Out of all of the styles you could have picked, the chinstrap style is probably one of the most maintenance-heavy. In order to keep it sharp and on-point, you’re going to have to book-in some grooming time on almost a daily basis. As well as a maintained length, this style needs clean lines that run tightly along the jawline, and the key to pulling this look off is to maintain it constantly.

Shaving and grooming your chinstrap every other day is a must, since sadly, this style of facial hair doesn’t look very good once the hair starts to grow out. You’re also going to have to sculpt your jawline and your neck very carefully, as to maintain that straight line you’re going for.

Beard Trimmers are Your Best Friend
Don’t go it alone. In this situation, as with many others, beard trimmers are on your side. While some longer beard styles can be tackled rough-and-ready with a pair of scissors, the chinstrap isn’t one you want to take this approach with. Unless you’ve got the hand control of a Tibetan monk, in which case you go ahead.

There are a number of great beard trimmers on the market, but the Phillips Norelco has basically got what you need. With adjustable heights to help you work-out a nice gradient on your jawline, as well as waterproofing for the man on the move, it’s a great piece of kit. As a bonus, it’s also not going to break the bank.

If you’re looking for a more confident styling experience, the Phillips Norelco will go a long way to helping you achieve your style.

How to Shave Your Chin Strap Beard
Let’s get started. Although it’s a precise process, attaining the chinstrap style isn’t an overly long one. Here’s what you need to know about how to shave your chinstrap beard:

  1. Clean your face well with warm water. We mean it – you’re going to be cutting close to skin, so you want to remove any dirt and grime (no offence) to reduce the chance of irritation.
  2. Trim in a rough outline around your facial hair to mark the shape of the style, cutting tight lines along your neck and down your cheekbones.
  3. Apply some shaving cream and tackle the remaining stubble with your shaver or razor.
  4. Shave only parts of the face that have cream, leaving a strip of hair.
  5. Try to avoid taking too much hair off the strap itself.
  6. Make sure that your chin strap is straight, then rinse your face with water.

Care and Grooming
In order to keep your beard soft and pleasant to touch, you will need two essential ingredients – quality beard oil and also a quality beard balm. Keeping your chinstrap soft to the touch and beardruff-free doesn’t take long, so us dudes really don’t have any excuse:

After your morning shower, ensure that you’re completely dried-off. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that oil doesn’t get on well with water, so you’re going to want to make sure that your beard is nice and dry. I usually put a low heat on my hairdryer and gently comb through my beard. In addition to removing any excess water, you’ll also be able to get it in the right shape more easily.

The amount of oil to add in depends on the length of your beard. For a chinstrap, however, you’re probably not going to want to use more than a few drops. Take them into your hand and massage them until evenly distributed, then add it into your facial hair. The key to achieving the most benefit from a beard oil is making sure it reaches the underlying skin too and you can achieve this by gently combing it through.

Rookie Mistakes that You’ll Want to Avoid
Unless you read into the topic before tackling facial hair head-on, you’re probably not going to find out about these any other way than through personal experience. I’ve been through it and I don’t want you to have to do the same, so here’s the lowdown:

Don’t use hair products on your facial hair. It might seem logical, but it’s a slippery slope. Many shampoos contain harsh chemicals that are suitable for the tougher scalp, but really aggressive on your face. It’s a slippery slope that usually goes a lot like this:

You start using regular head shampoo on your beard
Your skin gets dry and you start to get the dreaded beardruff
You buy some standard dandruff shampoo
Your skin gets dryer
You give up and go clean-shaven
If your chin strap is getting long enough to warrant its own wash routine, there are loads of great beard shampoos on the market that are both safe for your face and able to clean and soften as they go. Your best bet is to pick one of these up instead of chancing it with regular hair products.

So, there you have it – everything you need to know about growing that badass chinstrap you’ve always wanted. As always, stay tuned for our latest updates on social media, subscribe to our email list to keep in touch, and we’ll see you again soon.

Categories: General

Which is the Best Beard Balm? Here’s Our Review of the Top 3 Choices

Hey there, fellow bearded bro. We know how hard it can be to pick out the right beard products for you, especially since the market has been flooded in the past 6 months by start-ups looking to capitalize on the male grooming boom.

I know I’ve had some disappointing experiences with beard balms from smaller companies that have been sticky, poor-functioning or just all-round funky smelling (in a bad way). That’s part of the reason why I wanted to write this review – to give you dudes a heads-up on some of my personal favorite beard balms.

In case you haven’t used them before, I’m also going to give you the lowdown on beard balms in general, so you’ll know what you need to know to get the maximum benefit from them before you go out on your concrete driveway pouring job.

What is Beard Balm?

Beard balms are the older brother of the beard oil. They’re a thicker substance that are designed to tackle three key problems that arise with beard-growers:

  • Coarse hair
  • Lack of vitality
  • The dreaded beardruff (it’s awful, isn’t it?)

On top of those, a half-decent beard balm will also give you the benefit of added control. This is especially useful if you’ve got a longer beard that goes absolutely wild without any grooming products in it.Beard Balm - Before and After

Before vs. After using Beard Balm

Beard balms are typically made up of the following ingredients, each of which provide a vital function to satisfy the ever-increasing standards of the modern male:

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are one of the most important ingredients to any good beard balm and all of the best beard balms will have it in abundance. When your beard gets to a certain length, your hair follicles run out of something called sebum oil. Sebum oil is produced by the sebaceous glands in order to keep your hair hydrated. Although everyone has different sebum oil-producing capabilities, the gland’s abilities are finite. That means, sooner or later, beardruff is going to come a’knockin’.

When you reach this point in your beard-growing journey, a product with carrier oils in it are your best bet to retrieving beard health. They’re nature’s equivalent of sebum oil and will do a fantastic job at revitalising your beard and keeping beardruff at bay.Carrier Oils

Some Popular Carrier Oils

Some of the more popular carrier oils that you may have heard of include jojoba (actually pronounced ho-ho-ba, apparently) and argan oils. Both of these are derived from plants, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re putting on your face. If you’re undecided between the two, it’s probably best to stick to jojoba oil, though, as this is the closest to sebum oil and your face will give it a better reception.

Shea/Cocoa Butters

Shea and cocoa butters are included in many of the best beard balms to make them easier to handle. On top of that, they both boast beautiful scents that’ll further add to your beard balm experience.

Since a beard balm is typically closer in consistency to a pomade, shea and cocoa butters will make it easier to spread throughout your beard, so you can reap maximum benefit.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are more confusing than you’d think they’d be, so if you don’t know much about them, you’re going to be best off choosing them based on how they smell. Essential oils are basically the ingredient that adds the smell to your balm – it’ll give you that initial punchy aroma, then gradually subside.

If you’re a beard product veteran, it’s well worth looking into the added benefits that essential oils can provide. For example, a beard balm that includes tea tree oil can be a fantastic way of treating acne. I’m sure most of us know that getting a spot underneath your beard is far from the nicest of sensations.Essential Oils

Essential Oils and their Healing Properties (Source)

BeesWax

Having beeswax in a beard balm is going to help to tame your unruly beard, by adding just enough hold into the mix. By using a beard balm with beeswax in it, you can rest assured that your beard will stay in the same position as it was when you left the house in the morning.

I know that I find myself constantly touching my beard to make sure I don’t have any ridiculously out-of-place hairs. One of my biggest issues is the left side of my mustache, where the hairs point upwards, giving me a strangely curious facial expression. Needless to say, beard balms have seen an end to that.

How Do You Apply Beard Balm?

Applying beard balm is pretty much as you would think – warm it up, get a bit on your hands and run it through your facial hair. Even if you’ve done it before, though, it’s always a good idea to brush up on the process.

Firstly, you’re going to want to get your thumbnail and scrape out roughly that amount of it. If you’ve got a longer beard, you might need to take a bigger scoop, but you’ll get a feel for how much you need. As always, it’s better to take too little and add more, than take too much and end up with a super greasy face.

After doing this, rub the beard balm into the palms of your hands until it’s evenly distributed. You don’t want to be left with any lumps, because these are going to look pretty weird if they find their way into your beard.

Start rubbing the beard balm into your beard, working from a top-to-bottom fashion. Once you’ve done this, switch it around and go from bottom to top. This will make sure that it’s spread out well.

The final step to applying beard balm is grabbing your beard brush and combing it through. After that, you’re done!

The Best Beard Balms

Take a look at the list below to see our favorite 3 beard balms. These have been selected based on online customer reviews, as well as personal testing over an extended period of time.

Honest Amish Beard Balm

Honest Amish have created a solid reputation for themselves over the past few years, and it’s no wonder. All of their products, including their raved-about beard balm, are created from scratch in their small workshop in Pennsylvania.

Honest Amish offers a beard balm at an incredibly affordable price and you get great value for money. As an entry-point into the beard-grooming world, I’d certainly recommend this beard balm.

One of the downfalls of the product is that they’re not overly open in disclosing the ingredients that go into their balm. Sure, they’re ticking a lot of boxes, but when you’re putting something on your face, you want to be sure that you’re not using filler chemicals that could cause more harm than good in the long-run.

Although it’s understandable that they’d want to protect their family recipe, I’m also in the camp of disclosing what people are getting for their money. Don’t get me wrong, though, Honest Amish does a fantastic job of keeping your beard hair soft and healthy and eradicating b eardruff. It’s also excellent value for money.

The scent that Honest Amish produces is hard to pin down, as they’re not overly keen on disclosing the exact essential oils that they use. Some people say it’s citrusy, with undertones of licorice. I personally get wood and cocoa butter from it.

Virtu beard balm by Liberty Premium Grooming Co.

With easy application, the Virtu beard balm by Liberty Grooming Co. makes an excellent addition to any beard-lover’s product shelf. The subtle aroma also means it’s a great choice for beginner balm buyers who don’t quite know what scent they like.

Once again, however, Virtu beard balm doesn’t disclose the essential oil ingredients. If you’re allergic to any facial products, it might be worth giving this one a miss. Despite the fact that it’s really rare, if you get an allergic reaction from this product, you’re going to have a tough time narrowing down which oils to avoid in the future.

This balm has worked wonders for me as far as keeping my skin hydrated is concerned, but if you have a longer beard that’s typically unruly, Virtu beard balm might not be the one for you.

Smooth Viking Beard Balm

Many men pass this beard balm by, put off by the basic looking tin container. I’ve tried this product though and let me say, that’s a mistake. If you look past the tin, you’ll discover an incredibly high quality and affordable beard balm that’ll satisfy all of your grooming needs.

Designed for both shaping and controlling your beard, the extra beeswax content might be too much for some men, but if you’ve got a longer beard, Smooth Viking beard balm is definitely the one for you.

Boasting all-natural ingredients such as argan oil, avocado oil and mango butter, this balm is as good for your beard as it is for the environment. Despite being thick and somewhat harder to apply than the balms above, Smooth Viking beard balm does a fantastic job of both softening and conditioning beard hair, ensuring that it stays in top condition.

Categories: Beard Care, Beard Products

Stubble Styles and How to Rock Them

Let’s be honest, there isn’t a single man out there who hasn’t tried to rock the stubble. Hell, I’m sure there are plenty of women too, but that’s a whole different topic. The year 2015 saw the rise of the beard in popular contemporary grooming, with popular figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Fidel Castro (sorry not sorry) all wearing hair on their faces.

But how does one achieve such splendiferous facial fur I hear you ask? Well to be honest we’re not going to look at the really long stuff, just in case be spill over into the realms of science. Instead we’re going to concentrate on succulent stubble, how to grow it, and why it’s the new trend taking over the hipster beard.

The Classic Look

Gone are the days when to look classy, you had to walk around with a face so clean-shaven, you had to take off ten layers of skin as well as your hair. My grandfather shaves twice a day which; given my awfully sensitive skin, just sounds like a physiological impossibility. Let’s hazard a guess that it’d probably be too much effort for most men too.

Thankfully it seems that stubble is acceptable these days, so don’t panic shave if you’ve got an interview lined up, or you’re meeting your girlfriend’s parents. Stubble is in – the public loves it, but more importantly so do the chicks. Anyway, if you want some classic examples of well-groomed stubble go check out pics of David Beckham or Gerrard Butler. We’re here to talk styles and grooming.

Styles of Stubble

Gone are the days when to look classy, you had to walk around with a face so clean-shaven, you had to take off ten layers of skin as well as your hair. My grandfather shaves twice a day which; given my awfully sensitive skin, just sounds like a physiological impossibility. Let’s hazard a guess that it’d probably be too much effort for most men too.

Thankfully it seems that stubble is acceptable these days, so don’t panic shave if you’ve got an interview lined up, or you’re meeting your girlfriend’s parents. Stubble is in – the public loves it, but more importantly so do the chicks. Anyway, if you want some classic examples of well-groomed stubble go check out pics of David Beckham or Gerrard Butler. We’re here to talk styles and grooming.

Grooming Those Goatees

Ok so we’re not talking about goatees but that alliteration though am I right? Anyway, here are some things to consider when it comes to growing and maintaining some healthy hairs.

First off you need to ask yourself if the stubble look is for you. Is your face ugly? If it is then just whack a beard straight over that thing. But if the answer is no then yeah you might be worthy of the stubbz. You should grow stubble if shaving regularly causes the skin to flare up if you need a boost of manliness, or at the request of your sassy but totally smart girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband.

Obviously if you just physically can’t grow a beard, don’t attempt it at home – get down to the doctor for a nice big needle full of hormones. If you’re not prepared to maintain the stubble then stop right there, because you’ll not enjoy the maintenance it requires. Also, remember that sassy yet smart girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband? If they don’t like the rugged look and feel, then probably best not to anger the powers that be.

OK, So What Do I Need to Do?

Shaping up your stubble requires precision. It is a craft, and with and piece of craftsmanship you’ll be needing the right tools. What does an aspiring stubblenter or stubbletrician need in their toolkit then? Well, you’re going to need an exfoliating face scrub, some shaving gel, and a decent razor; preferably a wet-shaving blade and an electric razor.

I can’t stress enough that you can’t skimp on these pieces of kit – they can make or break a shave and when it comes to stubble, there is no surrender.

The exfoliating wash is the first step in the shaving process and as such it lays the foundation for the real craftsmanship. Think of it as the sanding down a piece of wood before you carve it up into a series of flourishes and intricate detail. Buy a high quality scrub and make sure you exfoliate that face good; removing dead skin and lifting your hair for a smooth glide.

Next you’ll be taking that shaving cream bottle in front of you. No not that one, the other one. The expensive one you just paid an absolute bomb for. So take the shaving cream/foam/gel and apply to the area you’ll be shaving. Make sure it’s absorbed in; preferably for around 30 seconds, before diving into the action. This helps to soften the hairs and open the follicles, to give much smoother shaving experience.

Finally, you’ll want to take your weapon of choice and begin shaping the stubble. This is where the real skill comes in, so enjoy and savour the movement. It’s really important to shave in the direction the hair is growing, as this’ll reduce any tugging and pulling that can lead to rashes and nasty stuff.

At the shaving stage it’s pretty key to take your time, don’t rush. We all know you want to show off your new-found facial fur but just hold on for a second. Keep track of how much hair you’re taking off too, because you don’t want to remove too much stubble and be left with a chin strap – they were only cool in the 90s.

So you’ve finished and it’s all looking great. What happens though when that luscious shape starts to grow wild and unruly, like a navy dockyard after all the bars have thrown out for the night? Well, we recommend using that electric razor we told you to buy. Electric razors are great tools for maintaining your stubble at a set length; especially as most electric shavers will come with a gradable clipper head.

Whilst the major work comes in the first three steps of grooming, this final stage is essentially the bread and butter for sustaining stubble. Keeping that beard in trim (no pun intended) will be what makes it appear well tended, whilst avoiding the potential for looking scruffy and uncouth.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the top 5 styles of stubble; shedding some light on their origin and what’s required in their upkeep.

1. The Traditional

The traditional is that classic David Beckham look. Yes someone else invented it before him, but he wears it really well. It’s a 50/50 combo made up with equal parts of grooming and pouting.

Be warned though that whilst it is the stubble in it’s simplest and most sublime form, it does require a fair amount of grooming to maintain. You might want to invest in a pair of tweezers, and some signature Beckham boxers.

2. The Shaped

The shaped beard is a little thicker than the traditional. It looks great with long or short hair, but take note you’ll be doing a lot of trimming. Invest in that electric razor already and make sure you find a grade that suits the contours of your face.

You’ll also want to get comfortable with shaving around that Adam’s apple, as you’ll be doing this a lot. The shaped stubble variety requires you to remove any stray neck hairs, so as to draw more attention to your wonderfully styled face.

3. The Heavyweight

This one is borderline beard territory, so be prepared to monitor that length at all times. I mean get the ruler out when taking trips to the bathroom, or when sat at the desk when no one is looking etc.

The heavyweight takes between 4 and 6 weeks to germinate typically. It also requires the same level of maintenance as the traditional and shaped combined – making it one of the more fussy furs to maintain. The fact it also borderlines on beard is near-sacrilege, but it does look pretty tight so we’ll give it a pass.

Properly groomed the heavyweight stubble is a real winner. Again, it looks great with both long and short hair, and can even add a whole hunk of masculinity to your head once fully bloomed.

4. The Subtle

Simplicity is beauty. Not sure who said that but whatever, it sounds deep. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth rocks the subtle stubble, showing that even Hollywood stars don’t have to hire a beard stylist to look good.

The subtle is all about that electric razor – putting to good use the lower grade trim settings. Use that low grade to make you look pure high grade. Plus the subtle is much more satisfying to stroke than something bushier and itchier.

5. The ‘V’

This one takes a moderate amount of maintenance but it’s my go to stubble. The ‘V’ requires a level of prepping to make sure you don’t get a scruffy and uneven finish, but it’s worth the hassle. Exfoliate to the max before shaping this bad boy, and leave for 2-3 days before doing it again.

With this one there are two key factors: paying attention to how fast your hair is growing, and pruning with precision. The faster the hair growth the more frequently you’ll need to shave it; making this one a potential source of pain for people with more tender skin. Precision trimming here, however, will leave you looking like a Gibson Flying-V.

Extra Bits

So we’ve laid down some top tips for keeping your stubble looking trim, stylish and rockin’. How about keeping that stubble healthy? I’m sure if you’ve read this far you probably know about hair oil. It can be a useful tool when it comes to ensuring your stubble is smooth and touchable.

Most beard oils are formulated to soften coarse, dry follicles – keeping the itchiness at bay. Great for you and anyone you might be cuddling up to.

It’s really important to have a little think about your borders. By borders I mean the bits around the edge of your stubble. Some styles of short stubble don’t need a whole lot of trimming, but those that do you’ll want to be extra careful.

When it comes to trimming those borders you’ll want to be very precise, otherwise, you could end up with an uneven and shaggy mess. All of our top 5 styles need that element of precision, so make sure your razor is nice and sharp to avoid unnecessary tuggage.

There are also a few key areas to think about when shaping the edges of your stubble. The first one to watch is the area of the cheekbones. You’ll want to get rid of any unruly stray hairs here for sure.

Heading down a little have a think about the cheeks themselves – if you’ve got high-growing hair here then give it a little trim. When doing this though don’t forget our next top tip; crop that hair in a line that is parallel to your jaw line. That way things will look neat and in proportion.

Conclusion

So hopefully you’ve got a whole chunk of hairy stuff to think about right now; all the way from styling to styles, to the kind of man-kit you need to keep that stubble looking fly. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s facial hair is different, as are the reasons for growing it. Embrace the stubble if you can grow it, but make sure that you take proper care.

Your facial hair can be like a beautifully carved oak throne. It could even be a striking iron throne, so sharp that it may as well be forged from the swords of a thousand warriors.

Just remember that no matter how much time and effort you put into your stubble, the whole point is that it needs to look perfectly unkempt. It’s a badge of honor displaying your manliness, yet also showing that you care about your appearance enough to spend time on it.

Categories: Beard Styles, Growing A Beard

The Yeard – Separating The Men From The Boys

Men are simply meant to have beards. Besides it being functional, it has also undeniably become very fashionable, especially in the past couple of years.

One of the latest and greatest trends in beard fashion is the one year beard, also known as the ‘Yeard’ and it’s this kind of look that separates really separates the men from the boys. Growing yourself a yeard isn’t necessarily difficult, but it does take a lot of patience and commitment. If you’re dedicated to the cause and use all the best tools available for grooming your yeard, like a quality beard oil and a beard balm, you are on the right path to creating a true masterpiece on your face.

However, the most important thing when growing out a yeard is – dedication. When you first start growing any type of beard, things tend to get itchy in the beginning. When we say itchy, we mean really itchy. On top of this, your hairs aren’t likely to grow thick all over your face to start with, which is something that can put a lot of yeard-growers off.

In this article, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about donning your very on yeard, from the initial growing process to the products you’ll need to keep your newly-acquired face mane under control.

Stages of Growing Out the Yeard

Firstly, the key point that you need to understand is that growing a yeard isn’t a one-step process. In fact, there are several key points that you need to carefully consider and bear in mind.

1. The Scruffy Stage

The first step in growing a yeard will be the scruffy stage. Although this can work in the favor of some men, unless you’re a lumberjack or a rural laborer you’re probably going to end up looking like a bit of a mess.

Perseverance, however, is the key. Stick it out through the scruffy stage and you’ll have a beautiful beard gracing the surface of your face before you know it. The first three months of growing out your yeard are usually the hardest, because that’s when it tends to get the patchiest. Sadly, not all of the hairs on your face will grow at the same pace, so you need to take a flexible approach and allow the slow-growers time to catch up. Don’t let this discourage you.

After about six weeks or so, you may notice you have some stray hairs frying out. This is crucial – resist the urge to trim. Although they might look messy, as your hairs get longer they’ll naturally be weighed-down. You’ve got gravity to thank for that one.

2. The Filler Stage

When this awkward period is finally over, you will notice how your patches are starting to fill in the longer your yeard gets, covering up all the problematic areas. The time frame for dudes generally varies for this stage, but it’s usually around 12-16 weeks in. You’ll know when you hit the filler stage because when you look in the mirror, they’ll be a beard worthy of Odin himself staring back at you.

3. The Trimming Stage

If you’ve made it to this point without touching the beard trimmer, take a bow. We at Beadicure commend you and your valiant efforts in refraining from the shave.

At this point, if your beard is looking nice and full, you may give it a little trim just to get it looking shapely, but be careful not to overdo it. One slip of a razor and you’ve lost months of hard, scruffy work. You’re probably also going to cry a bit too – I know I would.

Things to Bear in Mind

Don’t go into the yeard-grow process blind, because it’s not likely you’ll make it out the other end successfully. To improve your chances of success, there are some key things to bear in mind.

Everyone is Different

What is important to remember is that not everyone is the same. And while some will have a full and thick beard within a month, the same thing might take six months for someone else. Again, commitment, determination, and perseverance are essential to growing out the yeard you’ve always wanted.

The No-Shave Commitment is a Big One

Growing a full-on yeard will mean that you won’t be cutting, shaping or trimming your beard for an entire year. The reason for this is because the goal here is to see how long you can naturally grow your beard. The one mistake you should avoid, that many men have made, is trimming your yeard too soon. If you try to trim or shape your yeard sooner than you’re supposed to, it will make it harder for you to grow it out to the desired length.

Shaping Your Yeard is an Entirely Different Ball Game

Another important thing to remember is that men who shape a short beard will shape it differently than those shaping a long beard. So, in case you are growing out a yeard, you will need to wait until your beard is the length you want it to be before doing any actual trimming or shaping.

Grooming, Trimming, and Shaping

When it comes to grooming, trimming, and shaping, you’ve got options. Check ‘em out.

Invest in a Solid Beard Trimmer

You’ll know when it’s time to trim your yeard. When that point comes, however, you’re going to want to be prepared. To get your beard looking nice and neat, take a look at the Philips Norelco Multigroom. With chromium steel self-sharpening blades and a beard and hair comb with 18 different length settings, it will help you get that desired look you’ve been patiently waiting for the entire year.

Shaky Hands? Visit a Barber

Seriously – don’t risk it. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming your beard yourself, that’s completely understandable, because it’s a whole lot more stress than trimming a stubbly style. As a result, if you’re wary of slipping or tripping with your razor in-hand, you can always pay a visit to your barber and have them shape out your yeard. The absolute worst thing you can do is ruining the beard you’ve been growing out for so long by trying and failing to shape it by yourself.

Keep it in Tip Top Condition

Once you’ve begun shaping and trimming your yeard, the most important thing is to have it reshaped on regular basis. Bear in mind that shaping or trimming is not the same thing as grooming your beard.

In order to have and maintain a nice-looking beard, you will need to groom it at least once a day. This is most important while you are still in the process of growing your yeard out, and the best way to groom your beard is by using a strong boar bristle beard brush and natural beard oil that will give your facial hair all the necessary moisture and help it grow faster, thicker and longer.

Using a quality, natural beard oil daily will ensure that your facial hair will continue to grow and remain healthy. On top of that, it’s also excellent in taming flyaway hair, helping your beard look dope even before it becomes a full yeard.

Buy a Beard Shampoo

Although you have some choices in what products you use, a good beard shampoo is essential. By buying one, you’ll be able to ensure that you both keep your beard clean and the underlying skin healthy. In addition to reducing the chance of developing the dreaded beardruff, a quality beard shampoo will also help you to reduce any itchiness you might start to experience.

Growing a one year beard is a commitment, but the results are worth it. Making it through the first year is the hardest, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and by then your yeard will have become a part of your lifestyle and your overall image.

The Bottom Line

Again, the trick to achieving the perfect yeard is:

1. Lots and lots of patience (we mean it) – let’s be honest, a year is a really long time to do anything and with a beard, it’s probably going to feel like you’ve been growing it for a lifetime. Focus not just on the outcome, but each step in the process and you’ll make it to the end without any problems.

2. Perseverance and commitment – There will be times when you are going to get frustrated and want to quit and shave it all off. There will be problems you are going to have to solve. Stick out with it and don’t let it discourage you – with perseverance, you’ll get through it.

3. Quality grooming – Using quality grooming products will definitely make it a lot easier. A good beard balm and oil go a long way in helping you get that perfect, masculine one year beard look.

So there you have it – everything you need to know about nailing that yeard look that many men yearn for. If you’ve got any tips we haven’t mentioned, share them with your fellow bearded bros in the comments box below and as always, keep it real.

Categories: Growing A Beard

Beard Quotes to Live By – Our 4 Favorites For Your Enjoyment

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite beard quotes. Whether you’re looking for some inspiration or some laughs, these beard quotes are definitely worth a read!

“I’m a pretty clean eater, so my beard probably just smells like the blood of my enemies, as usual.” – Eric Hendrixson

In 2002, Eric Hendrixson was cut off in traffic by a brand-new Mercedes SLK. It’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever destroyed and it makes him smile to this day. He quit teaching in 2005 to pursue writing full-time and in 2007, he was disqualified from a martial arts tournament for ‘excessive violence towards a midget.

That’s pretty much all you need to know to get a picture of the kind of dude he is. He’s sarcastic, hilarious, and writes really cruel reviews of other novelists. These are also hilarious.

By now, however, he’s probably getting fed up of the metallic smell of his enemies’ blood invading his nostrils. It might be time for him to get some beard shampoo and oil and if you’re annoyed by the problem too, you should do the same.

“A goatee is to beards what diamonds are to ornaments.” – Pawan Mishra (Coinman: An Untold Conspiracy)

An elaboration of the old adage ‘go hard or go home’, Pawan Mishra’s quote above is saying that a solid goatee really is the cherry on top of any perfect beard. A lot of dudes, however, have trouble growing in the hair around the chin and mouth area, especially under the bottom lip.

If you whack a goatee in there, however, you can actually style it so it looks like the gaps are intentional. Either that or leave them untouched for an extended period, eat loads of vitamins, and hope that the hair will eventually fill out.

I’ve got a gap at the top of my left cheek which wouldn’t be an issue if I had a shorter beard. With it at its current length though, it looks a bit weird. It’s taking forever to get those last few hairs to grow into a place to form the last piece of the puzzle, but it’ll get there.

“A beard well lathered is half-shaven.” – Oprah Winfrey (What I Know For Sure)

Look at you, Oprah – getting in there with the beard quotes. In our posts here, we almost always urge the modern male to keep his beard in good check. Why? Your opinion might be different, but beards that aren’t properly kept look scruffy. One of the exceptions is No-Shave November, of course, where it’s totally cool to not touch a trimmer for several weeks. I’ve been doing it this year and I’ve gotta admit, I’m starting to look like Grizzly Adams’ homeless Uncle. Who knows, maybe you can pull it off. All I know is that it’s not a good look on me.

“Any man can start a beard. A true man never finishes one.” – Anonymous 

Did you know that men in the British military aren’t allowed to grow beards? Strangely enough, this stems back to the times of Alexander the Great, who made his soldiers cut their beards off before battle. The reasoning behind this was that if an enemy grabs you by your face mane, it’s going to hurt a hell of a lot.

You’re also going to be pretty screwed because, y’know, he’s got you by the beard. In the times of Alexander the Great, you’d be looking at a sword so you might have had a chance, but modern day? Barrel of a gun.

Personally, I’d class a lot of dudes in the army as real men. Sadly, they’ve been robbed of their beard-growing rights, as have many other men across industries on a global basis. We only have to take a look at the winner of Sweden’s most beautiful beard, though, Memo Göcek, to see that it can be done. Memo won the Swedish beard championships and has no intention of stopping his grow. You go, man.

Categories: Beard Fun

Beard Balm vs. Beard Wax vs. Beard Oil – What’s the Difference?

If you have grown or are currently growing a beard, you’ll no doubt have realised along the way that it’s trickier than it looks. You’ve probably noticed that beards require more love and care than you may have originally thought and also, you may or may not have realised that there are products that can help.

Sadly, this is a whole other issue. With so many products on the market, it can be difficult for the modern man to decipher between the useful and the downright money-wasters. We’ve prepared several guides to help men figure out which products are worth their money, such as our best beard oil and best beard brush articles. In this article, however, we’re going to cover some of the basics.

One issue that men have difficulty with is distinguishing between the functions of individual products, such as oils, balms and waxes. They’re all fairly similar, they’re all best used after your daily shower and shampoo routine, but what are the key differences? In this article, we’re going to walk you through the individual benefits of each.

Beard Oils

We’re going to kick this article off by talking about beard oils. Personally, I think they’re great. Sure, they can be a little on the greasy side, but that’s only if you use too much of them. Nail the quantity after your daily shower routine and you’ll reap the benefits.

By using beard oil on a daily basis, you’ll be able to keep your hair and the underlying skin moisturized. Promoting skin and hair health like this will help you to avoid any unattractive conditions such as beardruff.

In addition to moisturizing the skin, beard oil will also soften the hair of your beard, making you increasingly popular with any significant others in your life. It’s unfortunate, but prickly beard hair just isn’t attractive to a lot of people. Using a high-quality oil, however, can put an end to this. Often enriched with ingredients such as jojoba and the increasingly-popular argan oil, beard oils will reduce split ends and soften your beard hair, making it more enjoyable for all.

The best time to apply beard oil is in the morning, immediately after showering. This is because your pores will be naturally open after washing and will therefore absorb more of the oil.

Beard Balms – Why They’re Different

The first thing you’re going to notice about your beard balm is the consistency. That’s right, they’re a lot thicker than your typical oil. Most because oil is, y’know, oil. A balm has much more substance to it and therefore has a few more benefits.

In addition to all of the usual moisturizing benefits you’re going to get from a beard oil, a good beard balm will also double as a styling agent. Although it’s probably not going to have a crazy amount of hold, it’s an absolute godsend to the bros among us who are boasting bushier beards. A decent lump of beard balm massaged into your facial hair as part of your morning routine will help to keep those pesky rebellious hairs at bay, giving your beard style a more rounded, polished look.

Beard balm sits straight in the middle of both oil and wax as far as consistency goes, which is why it’s a popular choice for both time-poor and beginner beard growers alike.

Personally, I prefer beard oil. This is because running my hands through my beard has always been a go-to gesture when I’m stressed or thinking (it’s also my classic tell when I play poker, but keep that between us). Using a beard balm and running your fingers through it is going to leave your hands coated in balm residue. It’ll be gorgeous smelling residue, but residue nonetheless, so be sure to choose carefully. If you can avoid touching your beard after applying balm or put up with the residue, that’s cool. I just can’t but that’s my personal preference.

Beard Wax

We’ve reached the other end of the beard product spectrum and that’s exactly where beard wax resides. It’s tough, somewhat unforgiving, but once your beard is in the style you set with it, it’s damn sure gonna stay that way.

Beard wax is a fantastic grooming aid that’s going to work wonders for any of you bros who suffer from unruly beards. Essentially, it’s the bearded male’s equivalent of hairspray, apart from it’s great for both your beard and the environment.

Beard/Mustache Wax

If you live in areas that are particularly cold and windy, beard wax is going to be your best friend. Commonly consisting of ingredients such as beeswax, shea nut butter and coconut oil, a good beard wax will help to protect your beard from the bad weather, whilst also serving to keep it at peak style.

Products You Should Check Out

We understand that everyone is different. Regardless of your preferred beard product, we’ve pulled together a couple of the internet’s top options for you:

Beard Oil

If you’re looking for beard oil at an affordable price, Smooth Viking’s range is about as good as it gets. Full-scented and carrying all of the beard oil benefits, these aren’t to be missed out on. For a full review of our top 5 favourite beard oils, click here.

Beard Balm

The beard balm produced by Mountaineer Brand is a safe bet and it’s got loads of great reviews from across the web. If you’re looking to nourish your skin and keep your beard under control, it’s well worth checking out.

Beard Wax​

It’s world-renowned and for good reason. For many years, Honest Amish have been making the best beard wax that money can buy.

Categories: Beard Products

Fixing that Patchy Beard – Here are a Few Things You Should Try

It’s a fashion statement. It’s a lifestyle. It’s the final milestone for many a’males quest for manhood. It’s growing a beard.

Unfortunately, however, growing a beard isn’t always as easy for some as it is for others. Some are cursed with genes that produce patchy beard.

When you’ve got your heart set on growing an impressive bushy beard, regardless of your motivation behind it it’s heartbreaking to look at yourself in the mirror a couple of weeks on and see massive gaps where hair should be.

It isn’t the end of the road, however. Although not all beards are born equal. For every Chuck Norris beard out there, there are also hundreds of sad-looking Keanu Reeves stubble patches. If you find yourself on the patchier end of the facial hair scale, don’t give up hope. As your hormones advance, growing a beard will actually get easier the older you get. That doesn’t mean you’re going to get a badass beard overnight, but it does mean that you should definitely persevere. For the meantime, work with what you’ve got and show a bit of determination.

Grow it Out

If you’re already upset about the lack of hair on your face, the chances are that you’ve never given your beard the chance to show its true colours. More often than not, first-time growers will see those patches pop up and completely give up hope, when in fact, very few men can grow equally-dispersed facial hair straight away. Growing a beard is about dedication and commitment, so give it time.

Patchy Beard Styles

Give this a go – next time you look in the mirror and feel the urge to dive for the razor, don’t do it. Instead, step away and give it another week before checking back in. One useful motivational device I’ve found is a day tracker app for my phone. By downloading this and setting the day you stopped shaving or the day you’re next going to trim, you have a reminder of your progress that slaps you in the face every time you unlock your phone. Trust me, it’s super useful.

First things first – when growing a beard, you need to give yourself at least a month before touching that razor. It’ll be tough. It’ll take commitment. And by God, it’ll be really damn itchy. Regardless of these points though, you need to stick with it. After you’ve given your beard a month to flex its hairy muscles, take a look in that mirror and see if you need to tidy up. If it’s looking scruffy, now’s the time to tidy up that jaw and cheek line. Just make sure you don’t do it before.

Keep it Brushed

This might sound strange for a patchy beard, but stick with me and hear me out here. I’m not saying that you should spend 20 minutes running a brush through your beard before bed, but you should definitely keep it under control. Regardless of whether you’ve got an unruly beard or not, brushing will keep your beard in check and even influence the direction of growth.

brushing a beard

If you’re looking to cover up those patches, brush against the grain to develop a fuller, bushier effect overall. If you’re brushing your beard regularly, make sure you invest in some conditioner or beard oil. This will make sure that you don’t damage the underlying skin by going too hard. If you’re looking to buy a beard brush, make sure you avoid plastic and metal as core materials. Although they can look pretty cool, they can also scratch away at your skin and cause beardruff.

Since that’s one of the main things that you’re trying to avoid, you should definitely invest in a wooden beard comb with 100% boar bristle. This will be firm enough to fight its way through stubborn hairs, but also gentle enough to not upset your skin.

Beard Supplements – Worth it or Not?

Beard supplements have become really popular over the past few years, so I’ve written quite a lot about them. There are mixed opinions on whether they’re worth it or not, and my overall opinion is this:

If you can already grow a fairly decent beard, supplements such as Beard Grow XL and Biotin will make it grow fuller and faster. If you’ve been running the same no-shave pencil mustache for 6 months, however, they’re not going to help you out too much. The controversy from these supplements stems from the fact that they claim to guarantee beard growth. Sadly, this simply isn’t true. Beard supplements like Beard XL definitely help to promote growth, but they aren’t a magical cure for a baby-smooth face.

Vitabeard
Beard Czar

When using a beard supplement, you should also manage your expectations. No supplement, no matter how well marketed or highly-priced, is going to give you a beard overnight. If you’ve got your heart set on using a supplement, I say go for it. Just make sure that you leave it a good 3 weeks before judging its effects.

As well as that, on top of potentially helping your beard growth, these supplements are basically a nuclear bomb of vitamins. Even if they don’t help your hair growth too much (which they should, even if only slightly), you’re going to reap some fantastic health benefits overall. You’ll feel more awake, more alert, and your skin will probably look brighter as well.

Facial Hair Transplants

Probably worth avoiding this one, dude. Unless Keanu Reeves is reading – you’ve got the money for it man, go for it. P.S., well done for beating Will Smith to the Neo role in The Matrix.Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves

Embrace the Patchiness

Whilst you’re on your quest for developing a full-on beard, you might as well embrace the patchiness. Depending on what style you settle for, a patchy beard can actually end up looking quite good. Many men struggle with growing facial hair around the neck and cheek areas. If you’re one of those dudes, a goatee + neckline beard might actually work quite well for you. If in doubt, pop into your local barbers/beard stylists and ask them for their opinion.

In the meantime, be sure to follow us on social media! That way, when new articles drop about the latest beard styles, you’ll be the first to know.

We also run exclusive competitions and giveaways over on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, so be friendly and come say hi!

Categories: Beard Care

What’s the Best Beard Comb? Here’s Our Review of the Top 5 of 2017!

As a man, growing a beard is one of the single most rewarding things you can do. It isn’t, however, always as simple as you’d think. After you’ve overcome the potential obstacle of filling out any gaps in your patchy beard, you’re then left with a bushy face-mane that can be a real challenge to control.

At this point – usually around 4 weeks in – many men succumb to the itchiness and hairiness and throw in the towel. There’s no shame surrounding this – in fact, I’ve crumbled and pulled out the razor several times along my beard growing journey. This is before I found out that there are products to help.

I’m blessed with great genes, so growing facial hair has never been the issue. The problem has come in the form of beardruff, itchiness and a mess of hair on my face that a bird could start a small family in.

One of the tools I wish I had’ve discovered back when I started out was the beard comb. It’s simple, inexpensive, and basically gets the job done. In this article, I’m going to impart my knowledge, sharing with you what you need to know about beard combs, including some of the industry’s best options. Together, we’ll find the best beard comb for you.

Beard Combs – What Are Your Options?

When looking for the best beard comb, you’ll be left with a few different choices. Finding the best beard comb for you will usually be down to the style, length and thickness of your own beard, but here are the main options for you to consider:

The Metal Beard Comb​

​If you can find the right manufacturer, a stainless-steel beard comb can look great. It will, however, be tougher on your skin. If you’ve got a thick, stubborn beard, a metal beard comb will be a great choice for you. If you’ve got sensitive skin, you’ll probably be better suited to a wooden beard comb.

The Wooden Beard Comb

Rustic, stylish, and oozing masculinity, finding the best wooden beard comb for you will provide you with a gentler grooming experience than its metal cousins.​

Rustic, stylish, and oozing masculinity, finding the best wooden beard comb for you will provide you with a gentler grooming experience than its metal cousins.

The Plastic Beard Comb​

​It’s not worth spending $10 on something that’ll last you 3 months when you can get something that’ll last a lifetime for $20. Much as with beard brushes, plastic teeth on a beard comb will actually end up doing damage to your skin with long-term use. Considering the fact that you’ve bought a beard comb to improve your beard and skin health, there’s not much benefit to plastic. As a result, if you’re after the best, wooden beard combs are the way to go.

​Our Top 5 Beard Combs

​In no particular order, we’ve pulled together the list of our top 5 favorite beard combs that the internet has to offer. Because who doesn’t love getting stuff delivered to your door with the click of a button?

1. Wild Man Tame Beard Boar Bristle Wooden Beard Comb

We’re going to kick this list off with a strong contender. This wooden beard comb from Wild Man Tame Beard (another awesome name) is the full package. Fashioned by hand from high-quality wood, this beard comb provides everything you need.

One side is equipped with a wide-tooth comb to gently tame your beard and aid in the even distribution of oil, whereas the other is fine-tooth to really nail the details. The comb isn’t all you get for the price, however. Wild Man Tame Beard are offering a 100% boar bristle beard brush as part of the set, too.

For any self-respecting man looking to get the most from his beard, boar bristle is the best you can get. Tough and sturdy, Wild Man Tame Beard’s 100% boar bristle brush will exfoliate your underlying skin, remove dead cells and loose hairs, eradicate any trapped food, and help to spread oil around your beard. It’s well worth checking out.Find Lowest Price

2. Majestic Samson Anti-Static Wooden Beard Comb

Regardless of what type of beard you’re boasting, Majestic Samson’s anti-static beard comb is a great solution for your problems. Equipped with both wide and fine-toothed sides, this beard comb is made from red sandalwood. Not only does its stylish color make it a must-have accessory for any discerning gentleman, the wood also gives off the warm aroma that sandalwood is so well known for.

Majestic Samson even supply a carry-case for this beard comb, meaning you can take your grooming on the go with ease. A great gift idea, this beard comb comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee – if you don’t love it, Majestic Samson will completely refund you.Find Lowest Price

3. Dream Bear beard Comb

This next option is definitely going to be kinder on your budget. The beard comb from Dream Bear comes in at a great price, making it an excellent option for any gentleman on a tight budget.

The high-quality wood used to craft this comb is both great for your beard and kind on the face, leaving you with softer skin and a smoother, fuller beard. Getting a substantial supply of nutrients and oxygen to your beard is essential to its health, so a gentle wooden come like that from Dream Bear that promotes blood flow will work wonders.Find Lowest Price

4. Rocky Mountain Barber Company Beard Comb

The Rocky Mountain Barber Company beard comb comes in at a mid-range price, but they haven’t cut any corners on quality. Making a great gift, the beard comb is presented in a beautiful velvet-lined box that’s designed to last a lifetime.

The comb itself is designed from smoked wood, giving it both a gorgeous appearance and smell. As with other wooden beard combs, the Rocky Mountain Barber Company have made theirs from wood to avoid any unwanted static, in addition to ensuring it’s built to survive travel.Find Lowest Price

5. Huntsman Beard Comb

This simple and affordable option from Huntsman is an all-in-one solution for male grooming, as it’s suitable for both head and beard hair. Solving the uncomfortable problem that the plastic beard comb presents, this wooden beard comb is completely non-static, so you’ll be in for no unpleasant surprises when using it.

Despite the price, the Huntsman beard comb is sturdy and reliable, able to stand its fair share of wear and tear. Its wide-cut teeth are also a great way of avoiding any nasty snags during the combing process.Find Lowest Price

Other Products to Check Out

In addition to your beard comb, there are several other items you can use to keep your beard on top form. Firstly, we recommend investing in a great beard shampoo, such as the one produced by Mountaineer Brand. It smells gorgeous, feels great and will leave your beard soft and full of life.

The next step you should take towards your complete Beardicure routine is investing in some high-quality beard oil. Smooth Viking make beard oil to die for and they’re a great place to start. Trust me – once you’ve tried their beard oil, you’re going to fall in love.

So there it is – your guide to finding the best beard comb for your beard. We surveyed the top beard combs on the market and by far, the most popular were wooden beard combs. Perhaps people just don’t like the feeling of metal or plastic scratching along their face, but it’s down to your own personal preference. What I know is that, although their prices vary, all of the wooden beard combs above are durable, high-quality, and will get your beard looking its very best.

Categories: Beard Products