Beards are serious business, so plan a regime
Time was most blokes who wanted a beard figured that having one just meant, well, growing one. That may have been true about 20 years ago, but today’s beard growers are a little more exacting.
Open a men’s magazine, head to your barber or take a walk around Melville and it’s hard not to notice the care, attention and sculpting that goes into many beards.
As James du Plessis, owner of the beard-care product company Hairy Eye, says, over the past few years the market for businesses like his has grown. More men choose to embrace facial hair as an individual expression of their personal style, turning what was essentially a trend into a lifestyle.
As such, beards need more care than ever.
“To most people, caring for their facial hair involves occasionally washing their beards and the odd trim. But there’s more to it than that,” he says.
“When someone makes the decision to grow any form of facial hair, it is critical they embark on a grooming regime as a matter of course. One cannot choose to grow a beard and only start using beard-grooming products after a few months.
“By following a regime from the onset, one will ensure the process of growing one’s beard will become a pleasurable experience, rather than be faced with constant itchiness and discomfort in the initial four to six weeks – this discomfort usually motivating one’s decision to shave.”
Washing, conditioning and oiling a beard not only gives it an aromatic sheen, it also helps with skin and stubble issues, dryness and irritation.
The role of beard-grooming products and a grooming regime is critical to ensure the beard and skin are nourished and healthy.
Du Plessis says the best place to start is at your local barber.
A barber not only advises a client about products and how to use them, but also about overall grooming, including trimming, shaping, product use and more.
Where once beards were simply a style selection, now they are a lifestyle choice. It seems that more than ever before, beards are a serious business.