Helpful tips on taking care of your beard
Expert offers tips to keep if from getting ‘itchy and dry’
Just like anything else, if you put a little effort into it, your beard will look so much better.
A beard routine doesn't take a whole lot of time, and you can make it as simple or as complex as you want.
But the whole point is to have a routine, says Kevin Leboeuf.
The Fredericton, N.B., resident has become a bit of a beard expert, but it was a bit of a journey to get there.
From military to businessman
Shortly after Leboeuf joined the military at 18, he was deployed to Afghanistan as an EROC operator, where he cleared roads and high-threat areas, including searching for bombs.
His military career slowed down after he was involved in an IED (improvised explosive device) strike where his vehicle was blown up.
After completing a ninemonth tour, Leboeuf specialized in high-risk searches and was then deployed and trained troops in Ukraine in 2015.
In 2016, he was promoted to master-corporal but was later diagnosed with PTSD, which led to a release from the armed forces.
It was at this point that Leboeuf began growing his first-ever beard.
“It was itchy and dry,” he says.
SEEKING A SOLUTION
To combat the problem, he started buying products, but they were quickly vetoed by his holistic nutritionist partner, Alicia Phillips.
Together, they began to create their own products without harsh chemicals.
After months of research and development, Educated Beards was born in December 2017, with Phillips as CEO and Leboeuf as president.
Their mission is to help folks take care of their looks by manufacturing grooming products that are clean, conscious and safe, using top quality ingredients that are natural and organic, says Leboeuf.
Their list of products includes hair pomade, beard oil, beard wash, beard balm, beard butter and moustache wax.
Based on their experience
in the beard industry, Leboeuf offers his top tips for beard health:
WASH YOUR BEARD
“Don't do it with a head shampoo, as this strips away oils,” Leboeuf says.
Beard wash is the most important product, he says, as it doesn't strip away natural oils. Only use a beard wash on your beard.
USE BEARD OIL
The main ingredient in the Educated Beards products is jojoba oil, which mimics your natural skin oil, called sebum. This will feed the root of your beard, making it stronger and healthier, Leboeuf says, while also preventing the itch and dry skin.
Try balms or butters
A balm will lock in the shape and control flyaways. Beard butter will make your beard softer and less wiry. Grooming
Use shears or scissors to cut off split ends or flyaways that you just can't control.
Always let your barber line you up and shape your beard, Leboeuf adds.
“Your beard only grows one-quarter to half an inch
a month. Let the expert take care of your beard. This way, you won't make a mistake you'll regret.”
TOOLS
“The boar hair bristle brush is by far the most important tool for your beard,” says Leboeuf.
It can be used at any length, from new growth to long beards. The brush will evenly distribute oils throughout your beard and will even soften your beard.
On top of that, it will exfoliate the dead skin built up on your face, which will stimulate your skin, allowing the beard oils to absorb better into your skin
Take care of your tools Wash your brush once a month, Leboeuf recommends.
“Every time you use your brush, it extracts dead skin, gunk and product build-up,” he points out.
“It's super easy to clean. Just use your beard wash with medium-warm water, run a comb through the bristles and dry it, bristles down.”
This prevents water from getting into the wood, causing it to split over time and the bristles to fall out.
“Take care of your tools. Buy them once and maintain them.”
OTHER TOOLS
Combs are great for beards that are off your face, Leboeuf says, and will help with untangling and styling.
Stay away from cheap stamped plastic combs, he warns, as those have micro splinters that will tear and rip your beard, leading to split ends or even pulling out your beard hair.
THE BASICS
Short beards need only need three products: wash, oil and a brush, says Leboeuf.
Before shaving, prep your skin, usually after a shower so your skin and hair are softer.
Use a shave brush that has soaked in hot water to foam the shave soap, he says, and apply with a shave brush in circular motion, as it will lift the hair straight to get a better shave.
Finish your shave with cold water a little beard oil for hydration.
“The trick is to start simple and add on as you become comfortable with your routine,” says Leboeuf.