If you want to sport a well-groomed beard, it’s crucial to understand the ins and outs of beard care, how to grow facial hair healthily, and what products will keep your beard looking its best. Whether you’re going for a short scruff or a full-on beard, this complete guide covers a range of beard grooming tips to help you achieve a clean, stylish, and well-groomed look.
Why Beard Care?
Beard grooming is more than just aesthetics. A proper beard care routine ensures your beard stays healthy and manageable, while also supporting the growth of strong, smooth facial hair. Not only does it improve your appearance, but it also prevents issues like itchiness, dandruff, and dryness. Plus, your beard is a key part of your personal style. Regardless if you’re going for a rugged or refined look, a well-groomed beard helps you feel confident and polished.
Why are Grooming Habits Important?
Developing consistent grooming habits for your beard is crucial. Just like taking care of your hair or skin, your beard requires regular maintenance. This includes proper washing, conditioning, and styling. Regular grooming helps to:
- Prevent skin irritation and beard dandruff
- Keep your beard hair soft and smooth
- Improve beard growth and prevent patchiness
- Make styling easier for a more polished, professional appearance
Tip: If you’re wondering how to keep facial hair groomed while it's growing in, the answer lies in establishing a beard care routine that works for you. The earlier you start, the better your facial hair will look over time. Experiment with a few beard products for men from Scotch Porter’s Beard Care collection or opt for one of their beard care kits for a complete grooming solution.
Understanding Beard Growth
The truth is, not everyone’s beard grows the same. Some men experience full, thick growth early, while others may struggle with patchiness or slow growth. The key is to commit to the process and use the right tools and products to support healthy beard growth. Here’s a couple of beard growth advice worth noting:
Commit to the Process
Growing a beard takes time and patience. What’s more, beard growth can vary depending on genetics, diet, and overall health. Stick with it, and remember that the awkward phases (like patchiness or uneven growth) are part of the journey. Keeping up with regular beard maintenance, even during these stages, will make it easier to shape and style your beard as it fills in.
Choose the Right Beard Care Tools & Products
Wondering how to groom a mustache? The right beard care tools and products are key for keeping your beard in check. From scissors and trimmers to specialized beard combs, these tools help you trim and shape your beard while maintaining its appearance. It’s also important to choose science-backed beard growth products and ingredients that actually work — such as Scotch Porter’s brand new Beard Gro Line.
If you’re struggling with patchiness, thinning, and weak hair follicles, the Beard Gro Accelerator is a gel-to-water serum that you can apply once daily after cleansing to stimulate follicles, strengthen beard hair, and fill in patchy areas. It contains 5% Capixyl™, rosemary extract, and caffeine to improve blood circulation and follicle health, which then promotes beard growth and density.
Feel like your current beard products are not working as well as they should? Try the Beard Gro Roller + Cleanser Kit, which helps prime your skin to improve product absorption and efficacy. Just use the roller 2-3 times per week after cleansing to tackle stunted growth and clogged or dormant follicles — the 0.3mm microneedles create micro-injuries that stimulate collagen production needed for thicker, stronger beard hair. Don’t forget to clean the roller with the antiseptic cleansing spray after each use.
Not sure what’s the difference between oils and balms? This beard balm vs beard oil guide will get you up to speed.
Dealing with Common Beard Problems
Every man growing a beard has encountered some issues, whether it’s dry, flaky skin or patchy spots in your beard. Here’s how to tackle some of the most common beard problems when it comes to men’s facial hair.
Beard Dandruff
Beard dandruff, or also known as “beardruff”, is a common issue caused by dry, flaky skin beneath your facial hair. It can make your beard look unclean and feel uncomfortable. The best way to prevent beard dandruff is to regularly wash your beard using a gentle beard wash, which will remove dirt and excess oils without stripping your skin of its natural moisture.
Beard Patches
Patchiness can be frustrating, especially when you’re aiming for a full beard. While genetics play a role, you can encourage more even growth by using a good beard oil. This helps to nourish hair follicles and promote beard growth over time. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet and taking care of your skin will support healthy facial hair growth.
Unmanaged Scruff
The line between a trendy, well-groomed beard and unmanaged scruff is thin. To keep your beard looking its best, regularly trim it to avoid split ends and uneven growth. Make sure to comb through your beard daily (with the help of a balm or oil) to keep your beard hair smooth and untangled.
Itchy Beard
Unable to resist the urge to scratch when you’re growing out your beard? You’re not alone. Itchiness is a common complaint, particularly in the early stages of beard growth. To combat an itchy beard, use a high-quality beard oil or balm. These products hydrate the skin beneath your beard and soften the hair, making the itchiness fade away.
Essential Beard Care Products
While there are plenty of products you can use for beard grooming, there are a few essential items every bearded man should have in his arsenal. Here are five must-haves from the Scotch Porter Beard Care collection:
Beard Wash
The Moisturizing Beard Wash is essential for keeping your beard clean and free of dirt, oil, and debris. Unlike regular shampoo, which can be harsh, this one is formulated to be gentle on your facial hair and skin, preventing dryness and irritation. It’s infused with natural ingredients like aloe vera and burdock root to promote moisture while soothing any discomfort. Use it on a weekly basis to maintain a clean beard without stripping away natural oils.
Beard Oil
The Premium Beard Oil is one of the most important beard products for men. It moisturizes the skin underneath your beard, prevents flakiness, and keeps your facial hair soft and manageable. The combination of jojoba oil and avocado seed oil also adds a smooth and healthy shine while protecting the beard from dryness and damage. Applying beard oil up to twice daily can help support beard growth and prevent beard dandruff.
Beard Wax
For those looking to shape and style their beard, the Mustache and Beard Wax is a great product to have in your grooming kit. It’s a beard styling essential that provides a strong hold, helping you manage longer beards and mustaches while also adding a subtle shine.
Beard Balm
Wondering how to make beard soft? The Conditioning Beard Balm is a versatile product with a cream-like texture that acts as a moisturizer. It contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter and biotin to moisturize and soften coarse beard hair. It also works to tame flyaways while providing the nourishment your beard needs to stay healthy and shiny. Suitable for daily use, it’s perfect for men who are looking for a very light hold to maintain their beard’s shape.
Beard Comb
More than just a styling tool, the Kent Pocket Beard Comb helps distribute beard oil evenly, prevents tangling, and stimulates your skin. Always choose a wooden comb with wide teeth to work through knots more easily, as those made from plastic are highly likely to snag and pull at beard hair, which can lead to breakage.
Daily Beard Care Routine
Consistency is key when it comes to beard grooming. But first, you’ll need to create a daily routine that you can easily follow through. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Cleanse Thoroughly
Start your day by giving your beard a gentle cleanse with the Moisturizing Beard Wash. It helps remove any dirt, oil, and residue that have built up overnight. This will keep your beard fresh and prevent irritation. Avoid using regular shampoo, as it can strip away the natural oils your beard needs to stay healthy.
Bonus: Exfoliate your skin weekly with the Beard & Face Exfoliating Cleanser to clear away dead skin cells and reveal a smoother and brighter complexion underneath your beard. Just mix with water and watch this powder formula transform into a luxurious foam that helps reduce the risk of beard dandruff, ingrown hairs, bumps, and clogged pores over time.
Step 2: Condition Regularly
If you’ve always wanted to know how to fix frizzy beard hair — don’t skip this step. After cleansing, it’s time to condition your beard with the Hydrate & Nourish Beard Conditioner to keep it soft, manageable, and frizz-free. Remember to pay closer attention to the ends of your beard and leave it in for up to 5 minutes before rinsing. Alternatively, you can use the Restorative Leave-In Beard Conditioner to hydrate and strengthen your beard hair without the need for rinsing. It’ll also make it easier to style later on. For dry, unruly beards, you can condition up to 5 times a week.
Tip: In between washes? Use the lightweight Leave-In Beard & Hair Conditioner Spray (that’s infused with eight super-hydrating oils including Argan, Marula, Avocado, and Coconut) to keep your beard soft and moisturized without weighing it down. You can even spritz some on the go whenever your beard feels dry.
Did You Know?: Regular Hair Conditioner Is Not The Same As Beard Conditioner, Here’s Why
Step 3: Pat It Dry
Once you've washed or conditioned your beard, gently pat it dry with a towel. Avoid rubbing with a regular face or bath towel, as the rough surfaces could snag beard hair, causing breakage or frizz. Instead, use an old cotton t-shirt or microfiber cloth and press lightly against your beard to absorb excess moisture.
Step 4: Style & Brush
Now that your beard is clean and dry, it’s time to style. Apply the Conditioning Beard Balm to keep your beard soft and smooth while holding down any stubborn strands or flyaways. Alternatively, you can use beard wax for a stronger hold or stick to the balm for a more defined style. Don’t forget to brush your beard with the Kent Pocket Beard Comb to evenly distribute the product and smooth out any tangles. Brushing regularly will also help train your beard to grow in the desired direction while preventing knots.
Step 5: Lock in Moisture
Finish off your routine by locking in moisture with the Premium Beard Oil. This step is crucial for achieving a sleek and defined beard that radiates health. The beard oil provides an extra dose of moisture and shine, enhancing the overall look of your beard while ensuring it stays hydrated throughout the day. For the best results, always apply the oil last to seal in the benefits of your previous steps.
Step 6: Beard Maintenance
Beard grooming doesn’t stop with styling — it’s important to maintain your beard throughout the day too. Regularly check for stray hairs and trim any uneven areas to keep your beard looking sharp. As a rule of thumb, you can trim your beard once a week to prevent split ends and keep it looking neat.
And when you’re out, keep a beard comb or brush handy to touch up your beard and prevent tangling. Also, reapply beard oil or balm if your beard starts to feel dry or lose shape, especially after meals or exposure to the elements. Regular upkeep helps you maintain a healthy and well-groomed beard.
The Takeaway
With this complete guide to beard care in your back pocket, you’ll be able to master the art of beard grooming with ease — from understanding how to make beard hair smooth to effective beard maintenance through the use of proper beard care products and tools. Whether you're a beard grooming novice who’s learning how to groom a beard or a seasoned pro who’s looking for extra hacks on how to look after a beard, following these tips will ensure you’ll be well on your way to a healthier and fuller-looking beard that gets better with time.
