DON’T GET BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS BARBER
BIDDLE’S BEST BEARD ADVICE
“When a man finds the right barber for him, who gives him a cut he’s happy with, he will stick with that barber. They insist on only having their beards touched by that person – even if it means waiting a bit longer.”
Another reason guys grow beards is because it makes them look more mature and feel more distinguished than when they are clean-shaven, which many men feel makes them look like schoolboys.
“Now that the salt-and-pepper look is popular, men are proud to show off their grey hair. We are even getting requests to create this look,” said Govan.
Even the ladies are starting to appreciate beards.
“In the past women were not in favour of them because they looked scruffy and felt hard and prickly against their skin.
“Now that men are taking better care of their beards and using products to keep the hair soft and moisturised, women find them more bearable,” said Govan.
“Even though long beards are still popular, I feel guys are going for shorter beards now, especially in this heat. I see the moustache making a comeback as well,” he added. KEN BIDDLE, a.k.a BarberBiddle, a barber at Barnet Fair, has been working at the shop for two years and is passionate about what he does.
“Gone are the days when guys would just let their beard grow and be a rugged man. I have never chopped down a tree or wrestled my dinner” said Biddle who sports a full, well-groomed beard.
I spoke to him about this growing trend and how to maintain a beard...
Personally, I will always advise a guy to work with what he has. Some beards are full so keep them full and neat, go for length and density. Other guys might find their beard doesn’t grow on the sides as much, stick to the “Iron Man” look of a short goatee with sharp lines. If a guy has a patchy beard with very little density, then keep the short beard look with sharp lines to create shape.
Moustaches are fun and funny, but guys love beer and none of us like to share our beer with our moustaches.
First and best advice is to brush and comb it as often as possible.
Don’t wash with normal soaps as it dries out the skin below the beard, wash with pure glycerine soap or a beard soap at most twice a week. Use beard oils and balms when the beard gets itchy or dry.
Finally, the most important tip of all is for guys to not try trim or shape their beards themselves. It can go wrong very quickly.
Zach Galifianakis, Travis Fimmel (Ragnar Lothbrok of Vikings) are usually referenced. Personally, I’m secretly hoping that Hugh Jackman has a comeback.