There comes a time in most guys’ lives where a beard is on the brain. Unfortunately we’re not all blessed with the genes of Gandalf, but to be honest we think it’s more about quality than quantity. We’ve put together a beard maintenance guide to help you look after your facial fuzz, so you can keep winning those beard points.

Keep it clean:

Rinse your beard every day with warm water, you can easily do this in the shower, and it helps to get rid of any day-to-day nasties like sweat and crumbs (if it’s long, gently comb out any knots first to avoid ending up with a birds nest on your face). We’d recommend giving your beard a good scrub every other day or so with a quality beard wash, this will thoroughly cleanse the hair without stripping out too many of the natural oils. If you’re still in the growing stages (less than a centimetre or so) then try using a gentle exfoliating face scrub instead. This will get rid of any dirt on the skin, minimise itching and encourage fullness and growth. “But a beard is just hair, surely I can use my regular shampoo?” This is a common misconception; the skin on your face is much more sensitive than anywhere else on your body (including your head) so regular shampoo is likely to cause irritation and itching, which in turn leads to a dry and dull looking beard.

Shape up:

If you’re new to the beard game, make sure you let it grow for at least a week before you start doing any trimming. We know it’s tempting to try and even things out but hold back for now, as this can lead to patchiness in the longer term. Once you have a bit of growth, keep on top of any stray hairs with scissors or a beard trimmer, try and keep things as even as possible, and don’t neglect the moustache (your other half will thank you for that one). You can also use a regular razor to clean up the lines on your cheeks and neck. Trimming the neckline can be a tricky one. A gradual fade is usually a winner, but achieving this yourself can be a bit touch and go if you’re a beginner. If you can’t be bothered with the hassle, a simple (and pretty much fail safe) alternative is to place two fingers just above your Adam’s apple and draw an imaginary line from that point to the back of each ear. Anything on your neck underneath this line can be rid of. Keeping your beard for the longer term? It’s probably worth visiting a professional barber every so often to get a proper shape up. They’ll be able to notice the little things you’ll often miss, and shape your beard in a way that best defines your face.

Happy skin = Happy beard:

It’s easy to go for an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to the skin underneath your beard, but just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not important. Beards are notorious for wicking moisture away from the skin, causing dryness and the all too common “beard itch”. Using a beard oil on a daily basis helps to lock in the moisture, leaving the hair silky smooth and your face itch free. Rub a few drops into your palms and work it right into your beard, making sure you don’t miss the skin underneath.