Author: Beardicure

How to Use a Beard Trimmer – Learn the Correct Techniques

So you’ve started on your beard-growing journey and have collated enough facial hair to require a beard trimmer. Welcome to the club.

Beard trimmers are a must-have tool for any hairy gentleman and some can even double-up for full-body grooming convenience. Pretty handy. They aren’t, however, always as simple to use as you might at first think. Read on to find out everything you need to know about how to use a beard trimmer.

Why Should You Use a Beard Trimmer?

When growing a beard, we always advise that people set their sights to 4-6 weeks of continuous, uninterrupted growth. Within this time, you should have a decent amount of facial hair, although it might take you more/less time depending on your genetics.

Once you’ve passed through this period resisting the urge to tinker and trim, it’s time to get that face mane under control. Although you can do this with scissors, it’s best to tackle the trim head-on with a high-quality beard trimmer. Beard trimmers will help you to craft every detail of your desired beard style with a great deal of accuracy. They’re an essential tool for any bearded gentleman looking to refine and perfect his look.

Trimming Beard With Scissors

How to Use a Beard Trimmer

Once you’ve got hang of the process, trimming a beard will be second nature to you. Here’s what you need to know:

1) Acquire a Beard Trimmer

This step might seem obvious, but it’s important you buy a high-quality beard trimmer. They’ll deliver a much more precise shave and will be far more comfortable to use than cheaper ones, which can cause bleeding and pull out hairs completely.

If you’re not sure which one is going to be best for you, we’ve reviewed the internet’s best beard trimmers and summarized them in an article. Take a look and find the one that works best for you. We’ll also be mentioning our favorite in a little more detail at the end of this article – the Philips Norelco 5100.

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer

2) Wash and Dry Your Beard

It might seem contradictory to get a beard wet before cutting it, but if you’re wondering how to properly trim a beard, this is the best way to go.

Wash your beard with a well-known beard shampoo. This will help to remove any dirt or trapped skin cells which could create knots – and a pretty unpleasant shaving experience.

Clean beards are much easier to trim, as the beard trimmer will be able to navigate your face with less difficulty. In turn, this will lead to a better end style.

Once your beard has been washed, dry it carefully with a towel. Ensure all of the hairs are pointing flat, as this will also make for a smoother trim. This part is particularly important for men with thicker, fuller and longer beards.

3) Start With the Neck Area

Once you’ve washed and dried your beard, it’s time to fire up your trimmer. Before doing this, it’s advisable to set your beard trimmer to the longest length setting.

This, if anything, is a safety precaution, as the last thing you want after weeks of growing is to take a huge chunk off and have to start over. If you need to, you can always adjust the length later on to suit a shorter look.

The best place to start when trimming the beard is the neck area. Keeping a tidy neckline is key to a tidy, well-styled beard. Hairs typically grow down your face and neck, so start by shaving up against the grain. Remove the height adjustment tool from your beard trimmer and shave a tight, clean neck line where you want your main beard to begin.

Neckline Example

The key to this step is moderation – shave a little bit at a time, then take a step back and have a look. It’s easy to get carried away when trimming a beard and take too much off. If this does happen, however, don’t worry. The hair on most men’s necks grows quickly, so just wait it out until you can try again.

4) Set a Clear Line on Your Cheeks

After you’ve taken care of the neck and created a tight, clean-cut neckline, it’s time to move onto the sides of your face. Your cheek line is the next most important point of your beard, as it’ll define your overall style and help to frame your face.

At this point, you need to make a choice. Do you want to keep a full beard that extends right up to the top of your cheeks, or do you want to trim in a cheek line that’s slightly lower?

If you’re looking to define a cheek line, now’s the time to set it out. Remove the height adjustment tool and trim downwards, gradually removing sections of hair. As with the neckline, take your time with this. The hair on your cheeks typically won’t grow as quickly, so you need to make sure you’re careful to avoid catastrophe.

After trimming a section, step back and review. Remember – make sure both sides of your beard match. Symmetry is essential for any beard style and a lack of it will throw the overall look and make you look untidy.Achieving a Proper Cheek Line

Example of a Proper Cheek Line for Liev Schreiber

5) Define Set Lengths For Your Cheek Hair

Although full beards can look great, I always think beards look tidier and better when the cheeks are trimmed down into a set line. Once you’ve done this, you’ll want to maintain a few different lengths for the rest of your cheek hair to create a styled, contoured effect.

I usually set a length difference of 2mm between my cheek hair and jawline. It’s not a huge difference, but it has a significant impact on your overall appearance. Start by moving your beard trimmer to the higher of your two settings and trimming the whole of your jawline and cheek hair. Do this for both sides. Then, you need to reduce that length setting by around 2mm, and shave the upper section of your beard, closer to your cheeks.

6) Trimming the Chin

This is a matter of personal preference, but I always like trimming my chin hair at a slightly longer length than my jaw, neck and cheek hair. I usually set my beard trimmer to 2mm longer than my jawline, which is 4mm longer than my cheek line.

​By doing this, you’ll be able to create added definition. You don’t have to do it this way, though. There are several different beard styles you can adopt that accentuate different sections of your face. Take a look at our beard styles guide and pick the one that works best for you.

​After completing this, you should comb your way through the beard to make sure there are no loose hairs left over by using a high-quality beard brush. This will ensure that you’re able to get the tidiest style possible.

7) Tackle Your Mustache

The importance of a mustache when trimming a beard is often undervalued. A good mustache, however, can really bring your overall style to life.

When trimming your beard, you should be extra careful of your mustache. Although slight mistakes and patches can be disguised in your beard with relative ease, a bad mustache can cost you your whole look. No pressure.

Firstly, comb your mustache downwards and use your beard trimmer to get any hairs that tangle over your lip. If you’ve got a love interest in your life, they’ll thank you for getting rid of those.

Trimming Your Mustache

For most people, mustache hair needs to be longer to remain flat against your face, so set your height guard to a longer length before trimming. Once again, a prickly mustache isn’t going to be nice for anyone.

Suggested Items

So there you have it – everything you need to know about how to use a beard trimmer. Here are a couple of items I’ve used which have both helped me trim my beard and kept it in top condition.

1) Philips Norelco 5100 Beard Trimmer kit

The Philips Norelco 5100 is everything you’ll need from a beard trimmer. It’s accurate, has decent battery life and can even be used in the shower for maximum convenience. It comes with several accessories including attachments for nose, ear and head hair. This beard trimmer is an all-in-one package that’s great value for money. Click here to check it out on Amazon!

2) Smooth Viking Beard Oil

If you suffer from an itchy beard before or after a trim, a good beard oil will sort this out. Beard oils such as Smooth Viking soften your beard hair and moisturize the underlying skin. Not only will this make your beard more comfortable, it’ll also prevent the dreaded beardruff which plagues many bearded men.

3) Spartan’s Den Beard Shampoo

Despite their rugged appearance, beards need just as much care as the hair on your head. By using a high-quality beard shampoo such as the one by Spartan’s Den, you’ll be able to keep your beard clean and healthy.

Categories: Growing A Beard

Style Guide: The Infamous Chinstrap Beard

When you walk down the street, you’re likely going to notice one standout feature on a man’s face – his beard. With everything from full-on hipster bears to nicely-waxed and trimmed mustaches, the modern man is increasingly taking care of his appearance.

Man’s ability to grow a beard is not closely related to testosterone, but numerous studies have shown that both males and females perceive those with a beard as older, stronger and more aggressive than others. And unsurprisingly, a dominant male can get more opportunities compared to his rivals.

A study conducted by the conveniently-named Nigel Barber found a relationship between how fashionable beards were and the number of men and women getting married. Surprisingly, it was found that when there were more men to compete for the eligible females, beards began to crop up on faces.

One of the most popular beard styles, at the end of 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, was the chinstrap beard. This trend started in Europe but continued to spread across the globe, gaining a lot of popularity in Russia and Japan. With the amount of beards cropping up in today’s fashion scene, it’s no shock that the chinstrap is surging in popularity.

What Exactly is a 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 them, 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: Beard Styles

Vitabeard Review – An Accelerated Beard Growth Multivitamin

I have luckily always been graced with the ability to grow facial hair with relative ease, but I know that, for some of you, it’s not always that simple.

For this reason, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time scouring the deepest and darkest corners of the internet to find you a solution to your facial hair growing issues and we’ve got it. It’s a facial hair growing supplement called Vitabeard and it could be the answer to your woes.

Why Vitabeard Might Be Suitable For You

If you struggle with growing facial hair at a fast pace, it might be worth considering a supplement like Vitabeard. In addition to boosting the growth-speed of your facial hair, you’ll also be able to improve the overall quality of your beard, thanks to its unique concoction of B-vitamins.

If you already have a strong beard ready to be styled, we understand why you would think that this product might not be right for you. It could, however, still help to improve the overall health of your beard and prevent the dreaded beardruff.

This product could be a great match for you if you’re typically one of the slower-growers, who needs that added boost to keep up with the competition.

Before buying this product, you need to think:

  • What am I looking to get from it?
  • Do I need help growing a strong beard?
  • Will I benefit from healthier hair?

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If you’re serious about growing a beard, then Vitabeard is what you’ve been looking for! Finally grow that beard you’ve always wanted!Learn More…

What is Vitabeard?

Vitabeard Supplements

Vitabeard presents itself as the original facial hair growth and maintenance supplement. Through a unique combination of vitamins, the supplement enhances and accelerates the beard growing process. If you struggle with growing healthy hair quickly, this product could be for you.

It claims to be the first of its kind and is specially formulated to support the growth of healthy facial hair. Due to its nutrient-dense profile, it can also be taken as a daily multivitamin. What more do you need?

It’s important to not be under any illusions as to what this product does. Although it won’t actually generate facial hair growth itself, it’s definitely a great fertilizer to help your body with the process. If you’re looking to support facial hair growth, then Vitabeard is worth a go.

Be aware, however, that it won’t spark growth in areas that previously haven’t had hair. If you’ve got a patchy beard with bald spots, you’re not going to get much from Vitabeard. If you’ve got areas, however, with hair that are growing less quickly than others, Vitabeard will be able to help you.

Finally Grow a Beard

Vitabeard’s Key Features and Benefits

So, does Vitabeard work? Although the core principal of Vitabeard is accelerated beard growth, there’s more to it than you might initially see. I’ve read over a great many of online Vitabeard reviews to sum up the key advantages of taking this supplement. Read on to learn more about Vitabeard’s key features and benefits.

Accelerated Beard Growth

One of the primary ingredients in Vitabeard is Biotin, also known as vitamin H. It’s a key-player in promoting the accelerated growth of beard hair in males and can seriously help you to up your facial hair game.

Biotin is responsible for several metabolic reactions in the body and it’s essential for boosting hair growth. Research has even shown that high quantities of biotin can assist in preventing hair loss in older males.What is Biotin

Biotin Chemical Compound

Strong Facial Hair

If you suffer from damaged or dry hair, Vitabeard is here to help. With a unique combination of vitamin C, Vitabeard will help to promote good beard health. Working to increase your body’s collagen production, vitamin C will help to repair and prevent split hairs and dry skin.

In addition to this, vitamin C is also instrumental in keeping your immune system in top condition. This is especially handy heading into colder months, as not only will you be able to protect your facial hair from split ends and being dried by the wind, you’ll also be able to keep yourself healthy. There’s nothing worse than catching a winter cold and Vitabeard can indirectly help to reduce your chances of getting one.

Reduce Beard Itchiness

One of the key things I see that makes people drop out of the beard-growing process and go clean-shaven again is an itchy beard. It’s uncomfortable, frustrating and to be completely honest, a damn inconvenience.

Resist the itch

I must admit that I’ve crumbled and drawn the razor from my wash bag more than once over the past 5 years. Had I have known back then, however, that a supplement could help to reduce the never-ending beard itch, I probably would have given it a go.

Vitabeard can help to reduce annoying beard itches with its Beta Carotene (vitamin A) complex. Beta Carotene helps to reduce the amount of oil your face produces, which in turn can help to prevent the clogging of oil glands. It’s this that leads to dry skin, beardruff, and the dreaded accompanying itch.

Give Your Beard A New Shine and Sheen

When scouting out other men’s beards in public (come on, we all do it), it’s easy to pick out ones that are well looked after from the rest of the bunch. Beards that aren’t cared for are often frizzy, overly bushy and look dry and damaged. Unless you’re Grizzly Adams, it’s not a look that many can pull off.

With vitabeard, you can improve the overall health of your facial hair and give it a shine and sheen that’ll make it look brand new. In the winter months, this is absolutely invaluable, as cold winds will really do a number on your beard.

Packed with vitamin E, Vitabeard improves the circulation of oxygen and nutrients in your blood around your body, helping them to reach your hair follicles and work their magic.

Prevent Grey Hair

Some of you will no doubt know the pain of looking in the mirror one day and noticing that first grey hair. I’ve yet to reach this stage, but years of emo-phase hair straightening will have no doubt left me somewhat predisposed for grey hairs. It’s only a matter of time.

Checking For Grey Facial Hair

Strangely, beards seem somewhat susceptible to greying earlier than other bodily hairs. A greying beard can actually look great, especially if you’re going for the archaic Philosopher look. If you’re not a fan of grey hairs, however, your options are either beard dye or supplementing to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Vitabeard can help with this.

Containing Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA), Vitabeard can help to prevent grey hairs from arising in the first place, a true blessing for the stressed modern male. If you’ve already started sprouting grey hairs, it might not be too late. If your grey hairs were caused by a nutritional deficiency or stress, Vitabeard may be able to restore it to its former glory.

Reduce the Chances of Hair Loss

The same as greying hair, some of us are predisposed for hair loss from an early age. I’ve previously suffered from it. In addition to losing head hair, I started to develop patches in my beard where hair would occasionally come out when I ran my hands through it. Fortunately, it was long enough to go unnoticed, but it was still a huge inconvenience.

I later found out that this was largely caused by stress (I quit my job and all was fine), but I started supplementing zinc to promote healthy hair growth. As well as being vital for maintaining strong immune system health, zinc also helps to prevent hair loss. After a month or so of using it, my hair started staying on my head. What a relief.

One of Vitabeard’s main ingredients is zinc, meaning it can help you to avoid hair loss, too. Your body can deplete its zinc sources pretty quickly, so supplementing it can be a good idea. Zinc deficiencies can lead to dry and damaged skin, as well as a slowed growth of facial hair.

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Vitabeard’s Badges

Other Products to Consider

Although Vitabeard is an all-in-one solution for beard health, if you only need a few of the effects it might be worth looking at other products:

Beard Shampoo

If you suffer from damaged and dry-looking hair, a good beard shampoo will produce quick results. It’ll help restore sheen to your beard and work to actively reduce beardruff. A supplement like Vitabeard can take up to a month to kick in, whereas the results from a good beard shampoo, such as that by Mountaineer Brand, will be visible within a few washes.

Beard Oil

Looking to soften your beard hair and reduce beardruff? When used well, beard oil can nail both of these points for you. Best used after a shower following a beard shampoo treatment, beard oils provide benefit that you’ll feel instantly. Say goodbye to those uncomfortable itches.

I absolutely love the beard oil produced by Smooth Viking, so it’s well worth you checking out.

Look after your beard and it’ll look after you. As with anything, this supplement should be taken in moderation. If you overdo it, Vitabeard side effects may start to present themselves. Vitamins and nutrients are good for you, but not in huge quantities. Pay attention to the recommended daily intake and it’ll be nothing but smooth sailing for you.​

Categories: Beard Products, Growing A Beard

Beard Growth Products – The 3 You Should Check Out

Growing awesome facial hair takes a ton of patience and in the modern world, that’s not always easy to come by. On top of that, there are a huge amount of internal and external factors which can easily influence your beard-growing capabilities. To name a few, these include diet, sleep, water consumption as well as the amount you exercise.

Additionally, age can really come into it. While your 20’s are probably among the best times to start a beard grow, if you’re younger than 18 you’re likely going to have a tough time. Although beard growth products might help to some extent, you’re probably not going to see close to the same results you would if you left your hormones a couple of extra years to do their thing. If you’re adamant that you want a beard, however, who are we to stop you – beard products can be well worth a go.

For a lot of men, growing a beard is is one of the many rites of passage that needs to be achieved. If you’ve got some beard-growing capabilities and are looking to give yourself that added boost, a beard growth product could be the right option for you.

Before Buying A Beard Growth Product

It’s not a problem that I’ve faced personally, as I’ve been blessed with very strong beard-growing genes. I do know, however, how frustrating it can be when your beard isn’t growing at a speed you’d like.

Before investing in a beard growth product, you should have a think about why your beard isn’t growing quickly. Although it could be genetic, it might also be worth taking a look at your typical daily diet and figuring out whether you’re not getting enough of what your body needs.

For example, if you’re missing out on vital proteins, minerals and vitamins, you’re probably going to see a decline in growth speed. For this reason, it might be worth improving your diet first off and buying some inexpensive general supplements – in the long-run, this will save you from spending out on beard growth products, which aren’t always cheap.

Our Top Beard Growth Products

We’ve reviewed several beard growth products, but the ones in the list below stood out from the crowd. This might have been due to a reasonable price, quality of the product or both. If you’re interested in finding the right beard supplement for you, read on to learn more.

Beard Growth by Reborn Labs

We’re kicking this list off with one of the more premium items available on the market. Sure, it isn’t in the price range of men’s beard products such as Beard Czar, but it’s still slightly pricier than some of the other options available.

What you do get for the price, however, is a beard-growth guarantee. Reborn Labs are so confident in their product’s ability to boost beard growth that they offer a money-back guarantee. If you don’t see results in the form of a fuller, thicker and longer beard, you’ll get your hard-earned cash back in your bank.

Beard Growth is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals that are known for their abilities to increase facial hair growth. Including over 25 different key ingredients such as the famed biotin, Beard Growth are confident that their product is an essential addition to any man’s quest to grow the perfect beard.

When using a supplement such as Beard Growth, you can kiss goodbye to those annoying patchy spots in your beard. The vitamin and mineral complex included within will work to fill out your beard. You’ll no longer have to worry about only growing facial hair in certain places and being cornered into choosing certain styles as a result.

In addition to a badass bushy beard, Beard Growth also enhances your overall health. That means that your skin and general complexion are going to improve too. As well as having a newly-grown beard, you’ll also be able to get a refreshed, healthy looking face to compliment it.

Godefroy Thick Beard and Mustache Growth Serum

This product isn’t so much a supplement as it is a cream. Godefroy have produced an excellent serum that has been proven to promote the growth of facial hair and reduce the overall patchiness of your beard.

One immediate bonus of this product is its price. Although the benefits you reap from it might not quite be at the level of Beard Grow, it’s still packed with ingredients which, for the amount they’re asking for, are not to be ignored. One of the primary ingredients in Godefroy’s Thick beard and mustache growth serum is Jamaican castor oil, which is known for its nourishing properties. With this, you’ll be able to grow a thicker, fuller beard using a serum that actively penetrates your beard hair and hydrates, repairs and fortifies the underlying skin.

Godefroy’s serum is applied in the evening before bed, so you don’t have to worry about getting it on your hands during the day or on your phone when making or taking calls. It’s a 4 week intensive treatment – simply apply it each night before going to sleep, wash it off the following morning and repeat. Once the period is up, you should see some promising results.

Beard Grow XL Facial Hair Supplement

As far as beard growth products go, Beard Grow XL is the creme de la creme. It’s top of the market for the best beard growth supplements, with hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon reinforcing the value it’s provided to men across the world.

Millions of men trust Beard Grow XL’s tried and tested formula to provide them with the results they need. Comprised of 100% non-hormonal ingredients, you can rest assured that Beard Grow XL will get you your results without putting your health at risk. In fact, taking this supplement will actually provide you with awesome overall benefits. Packed full of vitamins and nutrients, Beard Grow XL will keep your skin and immune system in great shape, something that’s especially important if you’re heading into the colder winter months.

In contrast to other beard growth supplements, Beard Grow XL actually claims that it can get you fast-acting results. While I can’t testify for the validity of this statement, the hundreds of positive reviews on the Amazon product page should be testament enough themselves.

Alternatives to Beard Growth Products

As an alternative to beard growth products, you might also want to consider a few other options. These are particularly useful if you’re not quite ready to invest in a full-fledged supplement, or if you think you don’t quite need the level of growth enhancement that they claim.

As an immediate plus, the men’s beard products below are also more affordable than beard growth supplements. Take a look to see what you think.

Beard Oils

For those looking to avoid supplements, a good beard oil could be the right option for you. Nourishing your hair and skin, beard oils have been known to increase blood flow around your face, which in turn results in more facial hair growth.

In addition to this, they’ll also soften your beard hair and keep it healthy, meaning it’ll look great all year round.

Beard Shampoos​

Although you might not think it, beard shampoos can actually play a key role in supporting beard growth. As well as keeping your beard clean, washing daily with a beard shampoo will remove dead skin cells and loose hairs, making way for more hairs to grow. If you’re not looking for extensive hair growth, a beard shampoo could be your answer.

Categories: Beard Products

8 Famous Beards That Totally Rocked It

Beards are at the peak of fashion and they have been for a long, long time. Who is it within society that usually leads social trends and brings them into the limelight? The rich and famous.

From Hollywood to Pitchfork’s top recommended musicians, there are a whole host of celebrity beards that the normal facial-haired man would admire. If you look slightly further back into history, however, there are some famous beards that’ll totally blow you away. For the fun of it, we’re going to take you through some of history’s famed and fortunate bearded men.

1. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln’s time in the White House paved the road for change that would last for generations. He also had a pretty sweet beard. Recently, his legacy has lived on in several films, with plotlines stretching from true-to-the-detail to slightly embellished with tales of vampires. Honest Abe certainly set the bar pretty high for the modern gentleman as far as bearded perfection is concerned.

2. Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman has graced the earth with his presence for over 48 years now and in that time, he’s had some pretty impressive facial hair. Working everything from the wolverine mutton chop to full-on beard, Hugh Jackman has definitely got it going on. He has, however, now returned to the smooth-faced look, after kissing his wolverine sideburns goodbye earlier in the year.

3. Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams)

I reference Dan Haggerty (A.K.A. Grizzly Adams) in my articles fairly often, because he truly was a hallmark for the male beard movement. Also, the dude trained grizzly bears – it doesn’t get much more badass than that.

Immortalized through a variety of televisual mediums, Grizzly Adams’ legacy will live on for generations to come. Since his time was the 1800’s, he didn’t have access to a beard trimmer. You, however, do, so if you haven’t got one already, take a look at this article.

4. Charles Darwin

From the man who brought you Origin of Species comes the origin of the beard. Charles Darwin was one of the most intelligent men to grace our planet, but he sure didn’t give a damn about that facial hair. He let that thing grow to lengths that some of us could only dream of achieving. Characterized by its business and generally unkempt appearance, Darwin took the bearded look from societal vagabonds and popularized it within British high society.

5. Karl Marx

Karl Marx’s political ideology sparked the movement of communism and that’s something that made him pretty unpopular with a whole lot of people. Putting this aside for a second, he had one righteous beard and he definitely left his Marx (I’m sorry) on the facial hair world.

6. Castaway-era Tom Hanks

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one thing with you, what would it be? For me, it’d probably be a survival kit, but Tom Hanks’ castaway beard would come in at a close second. Regardless of whether it was fake or not in the movie, the red carpet has graced a bearded Tom Hanks long enough to show that this man has some serious beard-growing genes.

Reeling in at 143 minutes, not a whole lot happens during the film Castaway – Tom Hanks runs around an island, hurts his foot, catches some fish, and shouts at a ball. His beard, however, brings enough thrills on its own. For that alone, it’s definitely worth a watch.

7. George Clooney

Some men fear the greying of their facial hair, but George Clooney has pulled it off to perfection. There’s something about George Clooney that makes him look great no matter his style or facial hair choice. He’s a true inspiration to bearded bros worldwide, especially those of us who are starting to show a little grey here and there.

8. Bradley Cooper

He’s spent a large part of his movie career playing stubble or clean-shaven characters, but Bradley Cooper is rocking a full-on beard right now. Some journalists are hacking his current look to pieces, but he’s dating a Russian supermodel so let’s be honest, he’s doing something right.

Categories: Beard Fun

LovelyBeards Necterine Mint Beard Balm Product Review

For those of us looking to take care of our beards and keep them in good check, but also need to prevent them from flying all over the place in response to the slightest breeze, it can be difficult to find a suitable product.

Beard oil is only going to do half of the job and nobody wants to put hair wax into it. If you’re looking to maintain health and promote growth whilst also being able to hold your beard in a certain shape, beard balm is your guy. I’ve written about a variety of beard balms in the past – some good, some bad – but a few weeks ago, LovelyBeards sent us a pot of their nectarine mint beard balm.

Let me tell you, it’s something else. In this article, we’re going to take you through everything you need to know about LovelyBeards nectarine mint beard balm, so you can make the call on whether it’s the right product for you.

LovelyBeards Beard Balm

A cross between beard oil and wax, beard balm really is the best of both worlds. Although I do enjoy using oil for its overabundant scent and ease of application, beard balm is usually my go-to product when it comes to day-to-day use.

Currently available in 7 different scents, LovelyBeards beard balm makes an excellent addition to the grooming routine of any gentleman looking to up his game.

LovelyBeards Vinella Beard Balm
LovelyBeards Bourbon Beard Balm
LovelyBeards Unscented Beard Balm
LovelyBeards Nectarine Mint Beard Balm
LovelyBeards Mandarin Beard Balm
Black Pepper Beard Balm
LovelyBeards Gingerbread Beard Balm

Quantity: 2fl oz (60ml)

Depending on how regularly you use it and how much you use at a time, one tin of LovelyBeards beard balm is likely to last you well over a month.

I’ve been using this balm every day for 5 days and only applying a small amount each time. It’s a little tougher than other beard balms, so the best method of application is to scrape it using your thumb nail, rub into the palms of your hands until warm, then to evenly distribute it throughout your beard.

Scent: Nectarine Mint

nectarine mint beard balm

As there are less essential oils contained within, it’s understandable that the scent from the beard balms is less prominent than that from LovelyBeard’s range of oils.

  • Related: LovelyBeards Gingerbread Beard Oil Review

The scent, although gentle, is noticeable and enjoyable as a result, however.

Main Ingredients

Shea Butter

  • Moisturizes the skin.

Beeswax

  • Produces the hold for the balm.

Almond Oil

  • Promotes healthy skin. It’s also great for reducing the risk of heart disease if you eat it, but we’d probably recommend you investing in the standalone product as opposed to ingesting the balm itself.

Coconut Oil

  • Naturally-antibacterial and antifungal, which is ideal for skin that’s being pruned regularly.

Aloe Veera Gel

  • Works effectively to reduce inflammation and the classic itchy beard.

Vitamin E

  • An essential ingredient in maintaining healthy hair, as well as promoting future hair growth.

Essential Oils

  • LovelyBeards haven’t disclosed the exact essentail oils they’ve used in this product, which is understandable, as they no doubt want to keep their product’s recipe safe. Standard essential oil, however, is renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory abilities.

The Benefits

As you’ve probably gleamed from the ingredients within LovelyBeards’ beard balm, you’re going benefit from it one way or another. I use products on my beard every day. If you’ve read our review of their gingerbread beard oil, you’ll also know that I’ve been fairly ill for the past 10 days.

During this period, I haven’t been using any products and my beard has reverted to its previously-barren state. Not ideal for me, but a pretty ideal benchmark from which to test out the benefits of the LovelyBeards beard balm. Here’s what I got from it:

Hold, Hold, Hold

Aside from the glorious smell, the first thing I noticed about this beard balm was the great level of hold that it provides.

Typically, companies that make beard balm find it hard to get the mix spot-on – some add way too much beeswax, whereas others don’t add nearly enough. The result? Far too much hold, or no hold at all.

Keep Your Beard in Check

LovelyBeards have absolutely nailed it with this beard balm. The hold you get from the product is pronounced enough to keep your beard in check, but not so much that you can’t still run your hand through it.

Noticeably Softens Hair

As your beard starts to pick up length, you’ll notice that the hair will become prickly, as well as pretty itchy, too. Nobody wants that. After 4 or 5 days of no products, my beard was getting back to that stage, too.

After adding some beard balm into my beard after my shower, however, I immediately felt better. My itch was gone and my hair even felt softer. I’ve continued to use the product for the past couple of days and the the hair has continued to reduce in prickliness.

Beardruff is a Thing of the Past

If there was ever a thing I hated, it’s beardruff. You’re in heated conversation and pause to think of a point. You run a cursory hand through your hair and suddenly, it’s white Christmas. Horrible.

Fortunately, this beard balm solved my beardruff issues, which had sneakily crept back onto the scene after my period of illness, during which I neglected to keep my facial hair moisturized.

Would I Use it Again?

Absolutely. On top of nectarine and mint being two of my favorite smells (hence why I chose them), LovelyBeards beard balm is an excellent product that really adds value to your morning routine.

Although the consistency of the balm is a little strange, it heats up perfectly in your hand and is still easy to apply – it just might take an extra 20 seconds or so over other balms.

In future, I’m definitely going to be trying out their mandarin and cedarwood scented balm, as well as explore their range of beard oils in more detail. I’d be interested to find out if they’re considering launching a range of beard grooming tools and brushes, as I’d be all over that.

Categories: Beard Products

Do Women Actually Like Beards?

What a question. Of course they do. Not only is the beard a recognized sign of masculinity and maturity, it’s straight up beautiful in all its invitingly gorgeous glory.

Would you believe it that in the British military they aren’t allowed beards? Apart from the pioneer that’s. His job was to lead a unit through uncharted territory – and they came to prominence in the colonization of America and Canada, but let’s talk about that later…

A Hairy History

Since the early days of woolly mammoths and even woollier faces, man has worn his facial blanket. It most likely started because Mr. Flintstone noticed one day that these wispy little hairs were sprouting forth from his chin, and decided that they looked pretty rad. The enemy of the beard at the time was the invention of the sharp stone – but much like the cutthroat razor, it takes a lot of practice to shave your facial curtains with a rock…

It’s estimated that beards became somewhat fashionable in the 1850s. Before this a beard meant you were a bit of a renegade – a vagrant and a dirty savage. From the mid 19th century the upstanding gentlemen put down their razors and started to let their faces get all bushy. Thus the gentrification of the beard begun.

So we saw that North America was pioneered and founded by men with beards. Surely that makes it the sexiest thing of all time? I mean if the exploration of a continent doesn’t touch your buttons then I don’t know what will. Unfortunately, the history lesson doesn’t really answer our burning question – do girls like beards?

Do Women Like Beards?

History is cool but you’re here to find out if the ladies really are beholding your bush in high regard right? Well, to find out we went out and asked some members of the fairer sex what they thought. Want to know what they said about your face fur? Read on.

Pros:

So the pros to having a beard are apparently thus: you’re not creepy. Quite a few females from our sample actually used the word ‘creepy’ to describe clean-shaven guys. I’m glad I tossed my razors long ago before going out to ask those ladies. Apparently the reason behind this is that it makes you look baby-faced; and the face of a baby should be left on a baby.

As offensive as it may be to guys with a smooth face, I do see their point. Beards are definitely associated with masculinity and if you’re masculine that makes you a man right? There’s a difference between men and boys – a baby face makes you a boy in the eyes of these women. So slap on some stubble and it’ll make you a man…

Another pro is that, and I quote “beards are sexy as hell”. Whenever Satan suddenly got sexy I have no idea, but he must have done it with a bossed-out burning bush upon his face. According to a number of girls in our survey, beards remind them of all things to do with strength and masculinity. Psst, get these guys, even if you don’t go to the gym a beard can make you seem strong to your lady. Forget spending $40 a month to pretend you hit the heavyweights. Save cash and grow a beard.

Cons:

I have to say there is about a 60/40 split when it comes to opinions on the beard in our survey. 60% in favor and 40% against. Here are some of the cons of having a beard according to our lovely ladies.

Men with beards have been described as ‘disgusting vagrants’. Again, their words not mine. I guess the ‘disgusting’ bit refers to hygiene? I mean I have a beard but I wash so it must be that these ladies don’t like the look of a beard period. Perhaps if had one they’d understand? Ah well no point trying to convince them.

Interestingly when we asked “do girls like facial hair” the responses against furry faces tended to be about grooming. Beards supposedly make us look older as well. Some ladies put a lot of effort into looking young so I guess they found it weird that a guy might want to look a bit older than he is.

Here’s the one I found weird guys: some women think that men with beards have bad faces. If you have an ugly chin under that thing, then watch out. Apparently it’ll be your fault if you give life to boys with your wife and they’re not good looking until puberty kicks in.

It was also suggested by our female counterparts that full beards can be scratchy and stinky. The consensus is that we should only go for a 3-5 day stubble because it’s masculine, hassle-free, and enough to play with.

Come on Just Tell Us, Do They Dig it or Not?

Honestly I think it’s a harder question to answer than I originally might have unbiasedly presented. The majority opinion seems to be that beards are still sexy, despite the opposition claiming all kinds of hygiene issues.

The reality is it’s more about how long the beard is and if you maintain it appropriately. There are a lot of products out there like beard wax and oils, but all you really need is a bit of conditioner and a comb. I was a poor student for many a year so I know how to save a buck and look good trying.

In the end, it’s all down to personal preference; but our study showed us that girls do like beards still. Just make sure you get together with one of those if you’re planning on growing a fat load of fur on your face.

I can’t think of anything worse than getting trapped in a beardless relationship – imagine being forced to shave every day for love. If this is you then I’ve got to say she just isn’t the one dude.

Categories: Beard Fun

How to Grow A Beard – The 6 Key Steps That Every Man Should Know

If you’re reading this article, it’s probably because you’ve decided to grow a beard. Firstly, congratulations and secondly, welcome to the club.

Although the biggest step is deciding to grow a beard, it isn’t always as cut and dry as you might think.

Don’t worry, though. We’ve compiled this article to show you how to grow a beard the right way. We’re going to take you through a bit of beard background, then give you the tips to grow a beard that’ll blow people away.

Why Should You Grow a Beard?

When the norm is clean-shaven smoothness, why not bend the rules a little? Growing a beard can be a great way of expressing your character and setting yourself apart from the hordes of other males.George Clooney With and Without a Beard

George Clooney With vs. Without a Beard

Like a well-tailored suit, growing a strong beard will be an essential part of your style arsenal and it can really help you to define yourself as a man. Best of all, whereas suits are going to set you back hundreds of dollars, a beard is basically free. All you need is a face.You’ll command masculinity, push yourself into the alpha mindset and also, women absolutely love them.

Read on to uncover the 6 essential steps on how to grow a beard. You’ll be chopping down trees and throwing babes over your shoulder in no time.

The 6 Key Steps to Growing a Beard

1

Set a Start Date

Although most men can start growing a beard whenever, it’s always best to time it well. Why? The first few days of the beard-growing process are probably going to have you looking like an extra from an apocalyptic future movie. It’s an unfortunate truth, but sadly not all men can work stubble like Brad Pitt.

Brad Pitt's Stubble

If you’re particularly self-conscious, or have a boss who commands especially high standards, you might want to time your beard-grow around being out of the office. This doesn’t mean shutting yourself away in a log cabin – starting on a Friday before the weekend will do. By the time Monday rolls around, you’ll hopefully have collected enough facial hair to look tidy.

Another great time to start on your beard-growing quest is right before a vacation. This will hopefully give you at least a week to let your facial hair run wild, without having to worry about work or personal commitments.

You shouldn’t focus too much on other people’s reaction to your beard, either. Once you’ve started the grow, the process has begun and most people are probably going to like the end product anyway.

2

Commit to the Process

If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with the gift of good beard genes, you should embrace it, not hate it. Prior to starting the grow, you need to ensure that you can commit. That means sticking with it no matter how scruffy you might look, no matter how displeased your boss looks, and no matter how itchy your face may be.

The main reason that there aren’t a huge amount of beards on faces isn’t because men can’t grow them – it’s because most crumble within the few days and don’t follow through. Although they know it’ll ultimately end up looking great, it’s very easy to second-guess it and quit.

Because of this, many beards die off before they’re even born. If you see a man with impressive facial hair, you know that he’s sat down, thought about it and committed to the process.

Now, thats a beard that took some commitment!

If you’re wondering how to grow more facial hair, it’s largely down to genetics and sadly, there’s not much you can do to change that. If it takes you longer to grow facial hair than other people, though, there’s nothing preventing you from trying. As long as you’re prepared to commit a bit more time to getting your facial hair to the right length, there’s not much that’s going to stop you.

Everyone should try out a beard at least once in their lifetime and the best time to do it is when you’re young. Believe it or not, those hormones pumping through your veins play a large part in how quickly facial hair grows. By capitalising on them, especially if you have difficulty growing facial hair, you’ll be able to get an added boost.

Puberty Face

How long you grow for and how long you stick at it is completely down to you, so why not give it a go? Who knows, you might even be pleased with the result. Above everything else, you’re making the calls. If you don’t try, you’ll never know whether your beard would have made you look great. At the very worst, you’ll look like Grizzly Adams’ homeless Uncle and can just shave it off.

If you can weather the disapproving glances from colleagues and loved ones during the first week, you’ve got nothing to lose. Dedicate yourself to the cause and stick at it – you’re probably going to look awesome by the end.

3

Stop Shaving

Once you’ve decided on a date to start and have committed to the beard-growing process, the next – and pretty simple – step is to stop shaving. As mentioned, you might feel a little self-conscious during the first few days, as many men struggle with pulling off stubble that’s only a few millimeters long. For that reason, you’ll do well to start your grow before a weekend or vacation.

Keep Calm and Don't Shave Your Beard

When you stop shaving, stop for good. No matter how tempting it may be to tinker and play around with your facial hair, at this stage you’ll probably do more harm than anything. It might look simple, but styling a beard whilst it’s still growing to its intended length is a challenge that most can’t pull off.

Instead, leave the styling until your beard has been growing for at least 4 weeks. By this time you’ll probably look like Tom Hanks in Castaway, so not only will you have a good idea of what you want to do with it, you’ll also be aching to get styling.

4

Resist the itch

When growing a beard, especially if you’re used to a regular clean-shave routine, your face is going to be pretty confused about having so much excess hair.

Ordinarily, this can lead to itching and discomfort for a lot of men. Don’t be disheartened and resist the itch.

Resist the itch

If you experience it, you can often get rid of itchiness altogether by shampooing your beard once every other day. Just work it into your daily shower routine, but be sure to only use sensitive shampoo. If you go for a heavy-duty strengthening one, you could end up making things worse.

Whilst your beard is still growing, don’t worry about specialist products too much. We’ll get to those later on. As long as they’re suitable for sensitive skin, a sensitive hair shampoo and moisturizer will help to keep your face happy.

5

Set a Target Date

When men lose faith in the beard-growing process, it’s usually because they haven’t created any goals. For that reason, once you’ve got used to the sensation of having excess hair on your face, set a target date for when you’ll stop growing your beard out.

This can be anywhere from 3-6 weeks after your start date, but usually 4 weeks on will give you a good canvas to work with. Once again, regardless of the temptations, commit to not shaving before that date.

Setting a date for grooming your beard also gives you a long period of time to plan what products you’re going to require. Spend some time researching around and settle on the best products for your needs. We’ll talk a bit about these products below.

Once you’ve reached that point in time, you’ll probably have an idea of what you want to do with your facial hair. Whether it’s shave it off or style it to perfection, that’s where the next step comes in.

6

Shave Time

After weeks of dedicated beard-growing, you’re now ready to shave.

The first step, if you haven’t already done it, is to invest in a beard trimmer. This doesn’t have to be overly expensive, as you can usually pick up one that’ll do the job for around $40. Although some people choose to keep their beards in shape using scissors, with a beard trimmer you’ll be able to maintain precise lengths all over and craft your facial hair to perfection. 

When starting styling your beard, you’ll usually want to craft a strong neckline at the base. Although you can do it yourself, the first time around it’s best to go to a barber or stylist. Cutting your own hair in a mirror isn’t easy and all it takes is one slip.

Give your beard a border

Generally speaking, you’re going to be best off leaving the upper part of your beard around your cheeks alone. Most men have a natural hairline that stops around their cheek bones and it’ll look great as it is.

Although they’ve got the tools that they need, a lot of men destroy would-be strong beards by shaving strange shapes into their cheek lines the first time they style them. After that, the easiest option is to shave the beard completely, so it’s easy to get disheartened. If you do need to trim it, do it slowly and be careful to maintain clear lines on both sides of your face.

Many beard trimmers come with adjustable heads that allow you to select the length you want to trim to. These are the trimmers that you want to look out for and purchase. You can easily make your beard look well-kept by picking a length you’re comfortable with, then picking another length that’s a few millimeters shorter.

Shave your whole beard with the trimmer set at the longer length, then go over the outer portions of your neck and cheek line with the shorter length. It’ll give you a professional-looking, graded effect which can help to take the weight out of the beard.

If you’ve got weaker features, you can also use this technique to accentuate them. For example, maintaining slightly longer hair around your jaw will give you the appearance of having a stronger jaw. Strong jawlines are typically associated with alpha masculinity, so this might be something you want to try out.

Key Products to Step up Your Beard Game

Once you’ve got your beard, the next step is looking after it. Although standard shampoos and moisturizers will work, why settle for second-best? Take it to the next level with some of these products.

Beard Shampoos and Conditioners

If you’re not careful, regular hair shampoos can actually worsen any discomfort you’re experiencing, as the chemicals in them aren’t intended for use on your face. Splash out on some purpose-made beard shampoo and conditioner to get the job done.

For those persistent itches that just won’t go away, beard shampoos and conditioners are an excellent choice. Washing your beard with these will help to clear up dead skin cells whilst restoring the natural oil balance.

Beard Washing Technique

A cleansing beard conditioner will help to restore the underlying skin’s PH balance, which will work to prevent itching from reoccurring in future.

Beard Oils and Balms

If you’re prone to chronic cases of ‘beardruff’ that shampoo simply won’t remove, beard oils are your best friend. They’ll get beneath your beard, providing intense moisturization for your face, whilst also softening your beard hair. It’s a win-win.

Much like your hair, beards can suffer from bed-head too. Balms are a top way to avoid this. By rubbing a small amount onto your palm and running it through your beard, you’ll be able to keep your hairs in check and pointing in the same direction. In addition to giving you a fuller beard, they also smell fantastic.

So there you have it – your guide to growing your own beard. Follow these steps above and you’ll have blossoming facial hair in no time.

Categories: Growing A Beard

The Amazing History of Beards (INFOGRAPHIC)

Did you know that 98% of the Forbes’ 100 list of the world’s richest men are clean-shaven? It seems to be working out pretty well for them, but don’t worry. 98% of the world’s lumberjacks, warriors and general badasses had full-on beards like you wouldn’t believe.

A little while ago, Huffington Post produced an infographic on the history of beards. We’ve just come across it and to be honest, we think it’s pretty awesome. That’s why we want to share it – and a couple of its weirdest facts – with you guys.

Regardless of the point in time that beards have been donned, they’ve always stood as a rite of passage for men. Interestingly enough, surveys have shown that most women aren’t overly attracted to men with full-on face manes. The same study did, however, show that the majority of women perceived men with beards as being more powerful and commanding more respect.

The Huffington Post was so inspired by this study that they decided to produce an infographic to show how men have shifted their beard styles throughout history to get a one-up on the competition.

What Purpose Did Beards Serve?

Researchers believe that prehistoric men used beards for several functional purposes. One of the primary reasons was warmth, as turbulent temperatures left men with the need to protect their faces from the harsh elements.

Intimidation also played a role. By demonstrating a thicker, wider jawline, scientists believe that men used beards to intimidate enemies and mating opponents. During any scraps they may have run into with other humans or animals, the beard would also have helped to shield them from blows to the face.

Facial Honor and Alexander the Great

In early history, beards were grown and donned as a sign of status and honor, placing some men above others in the social hierarchy. If you did something wrong? That beard was getting trimmed.

Ancient Greek ruler Alexander the Great, however, decided that his soldiers shouldn’t be allowed to grow beards. Why? Because he thought they’d run a chance of being grabbed in battle. In addition to the pain of having your beard pulled, the dude on the other end probably had some kind of sword, so it wouldn’t be likely to end well.

Since then, beards have been worn by men throughout history to achieve a variety of different means. Otto the Great of the Celtic tribes used to swear by his beard when agreeing on important matters and touching a man’s beard in the Middle Ages would have gotten you into a pretty aggressive fight.

Honest Abe brought the beard into popular fashion in the 19th century and he’s still remembered by it to this day. The infographic is packed full of more interesting facts and greater details on how beards have moved from a defensive advantage to the peak of fashion. Take a look at it and see for yourself:

For all your bearded needs, including top product reviews and discounts, check out our other articles. Get social with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too, and be the first to hear about exclusive competitions and giveaways.

Categories: Beard Fun

The Beardicure Guide on How to Shape a Beard

As supporters of charitable donations and fundraising, we at Beardicure are proud to be taking part in No-Shave November. If you’re doing the same – or maybe participating in Movember instead, good on you.

For some, No-Shave November involves a period of continuous growing. During this time, some people decide to shave and others don’t. If there’s one thing for certain, though, it’s that the end of November is going to leave you with a serious need for a good trim. That isn’t always as easy as it may seem, however.

Although the safe bet is to book in an appointment at your local barbers and have them carve a glorious style into your face, why not try doing it yourself? With a little bit of effort, you’ll be boasting an impressively bushy, beautiful beard style in no time. You’ll also save yourself $20+ dollars on a professional appointment, which is always a good thing. Read on to find out what you need to know about how to shape a beard.

What Will You Need?

Although it can be done with scissors, leaving yourself with that as your only piece of beard-trimming kit is going to put a lot of pressure on you. One slip and, well, you’re going to be left in a pretty sticky situation.

For this reason, we recommend that you invest in a decent beard trimmer. It’ll come with a length guard, meaning you don’t have to worry about shaving too short. With this, you’ll be able to set a longer length and gradually work down until your beard is the size you want it to be. They don’t have to break the bank, either. A model such as the Philips Norelco is a great choice – just look how reasonably priced it is.Philips Beard Trimmer

Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer

Shaping A Beard

After weeks – or maybe even months – of painstaking growing, the time has come to shape your beard into your dream style. This is a great point to be at, because it’s probably the most satisfying part of the growing process. Here’s what you need to know about shaping a beard:

1. Find Your Face Shape

Before you start trimming away, work out what kind of shape your face is. Why? Because it has a direct impact on which styles you’ll nail, and which styles you’ll fail. This is really worth doing, because there’s nothing worse than finishing beard grooming and realising you’ve totally made the wrong call.

If you’ve got a wider face, you won’t go wrong with a thicker, wider beard. If you’ve got a narrower face, however, a full beard might look a little overpowering.

Male Face Shape

2. Compare Your Beard and Head Hair

Depending on what beard style you’re looking to nail, you should bear your head hair in mind. If you’re aiming for a longer beard but have much shorter head hair, you could run the risk of looking a bit weird – kinda like a lego man with a facial hair strapon.

This is the same case vice-versa, however. Although some men can pull it off, longer hair and a shorter beard don’t always work well together. If you’re unsure of where to start, symmetry is always a good base point. Try to leave your beard hair at an equivalent length to your head hair and you won’t go too far wrong. If you’re concerned of messing the style up completely, start at a longer length and work yourself down.

3. Trimming

There are a couple of base rules when it comes to trimming your beard, but overall it’s a pretty easy process. The main aim of trimming is to remove any excess hair that makes your beard look bulky and unstyled, so find the length you want the longest part of your beard to be and set your trimmer to that.

How to Use a Beard Trimmer

After trimming the whole of your beard at the longer length, set your trimmer to a slightly shorter size to add in a gradient. Whether you want to do this or not is dependent on your particular chosen beard style, but it’s the way I like to do it. Trim around the upper cheek line and lower neckline of your beard at this shorter length and you’ll make it look less chunky and far better styled.

As mentioned above, if you haven’t got a beard trimmer to hand and are running low on time, you can always try the comb and scissors approach. You can achieve this by running a comb through your hair to the length you want trimmed, and slowly and gently working the scissors through it. Remember to be thorough and maintain the length throughout, however, or you could end up with a patchy style that’ll take weeks to even out.

4. Styling Your Sideburns

The part where your beard joins your head hair can be difficult to get right. The key to this is figuring out where the hair on your hair and your beard both begin and styling around this. The easiest way to make your sideburns look neat and tidy is by adding a taper. Gradually increase the length of your beard as you work down your sideburns and you’ll be left with a much smoother style.

Side Burn Styles

5. Styling Your Neck

When you look in the mirror, the neckline of your beard isn’t your main focus. It is, however, really important that you get it right. Although some men like to go for the rugged, natural look, there’s nothing good about the neckbeard style. Over styling your neckline, however, can also be a mistake, so it’s important that you find the right middle ground.

Typically, your beard’s neckline should extend about 1-1.5 inches down from your ear and curve at the same distance around your jawline

6. Working Around the Lips

When it comes to beard styling, the lips are dangerous territory. Cut them too short and you’re going to be left with the beard equivalent of a bad bowl-cut. Leave them too long and you’ll never hear the end of it from the women in your life.

For most styles, the length of your mustache should be around the same as the length of your beard, if not a little longer and the hairs shouldn’t curl around your lip. You can tackle these with an affordable pair of rounded scissors – the same that you might use for trimming nasal hair. Comb your mustache down and pick off any stray, overhanging hairs. Be sure to maintain a relaxed facial expression, however, as if you don’t you could end up taking off much more hair than you planned on.

Categories: Beard Care, Beard Styles