Beards - what do I need to know?

horse

Thinking of dipping a toe in beard growth. Any tips or advice?

guitarfishbay

Don't shave

fields5069

Also avoid lumberjack shirts and poetry.

BGG

Don't trim or shape for at least a month, just grow it out.
Keep it in good condition by washing with water twice a day, a beard shampoo once a week, maybe beard conditioner ? But deffo beard oil once you have some growth and beard balm for shape.

Best advice is BE PATIENT !!! I did mine for six months, loved it then got bored and it came off LOL

ennspek

Mine grows ridiculously quickly. I have absolutely no idea how to groom/manage it though so I always have to hack it off.

CHRISB50

Once said beard is fully grown, you will develop a penchant for fixie bikes, trousers that end too early and craft beer.

Hertz32

Dont stick your toe in people's faces. Especially if they are starting to grow a beard 

goldtop

Beware that your beard may grow a different colour to your hair!

My hair was your usual mousey brown (er... back when I had enough), but my beard attempts were ruined by it being distinctly gingery. It looked like I was a ginger chap dying my hair mousey brown.

stimpsonslostson

CHRISB50 said:

Once said beard is fully grown, you will develop a penchant for fixie bikes, trousers that end too early and craft beer.

Not forgetting full sleeve tattoos. 

Or depending on your age: Real Ale, Wooly jumpers and folk music.

I have a beard mainly because I'm too lazy to shave often enough to look clean shaven- I go from clean shaven to full beard in about a week.
My only advice would be to push on through the itchy stage, it can be annoying and you may get a few ingrowing hairs etc. This all fades when you achieve the pinnacle of manliness that is a full beard.

I confess that I DO sometimes miss the lovely clean feeling you get after a good hot shave, but not enough to go back to shaving.

marcus449

Good luck

Jimbro66

stimpsonslostson said:

CHRISB50 said:

Once said beard is fully grown, you will develop a penchant for fixie bikes, trousers that end too early and craft beer.

Not forgetting full sleeve tattoos. 

Or depending on your age: Real Ale, Wooly jumpers and folk music.

Brylcreemed hair and horn-rimmed glasses also obligatory....

monquixote

BGG said:

Don't trim or shape for at least a month, just grow it out.
Keep it in good condition by washing with water twice a day, a beard shampoo once a week, maybe beard conditioner ? But deffo beard oil once you have some growth and beard balm for shape.

Best advice is BE PATIENT !!! I did mine for six months, loved it then got bored and it came off LOL

I've had a beard for about the last 6 years and I can honestly say I have no idea what beard shampoo or beard oil are. 

Just don't shave. 

My only advice would be tidy up around your neck and cheeks where it starts to whisp out so you get a stronger line. 

Initially it will be itchy, but that passes after a few weeks.

Col_Decker

When you do shape it don't shave up to your jaw bone otherwise you'll look like a tool.

sgosden

Regular barbers will not listen to a word you say, and steal 4 inches off your beard and shape it into previously mentioned jaw bone hipster wanker beard.

never trust a barber who doesn't themselves have a magnificent beard.

speaking from experience. yes I'm still bitter.

horse

monquixote said:

BGG said:

Don't trim or shape for at least a month, just grow it out.
Keep it in good condition by washing with water twice a day, a beard shampoo once a week, maybe beard conditioner ? But deffo beard oil once you have some growth and beard balm for shape.

Best advice is BE PATIENT !!! I did mine for six months, loved it then got bored and it came off LOL

I've had a beard for about the last 6 years and I can honestly say I have no idea what beard shampoo or beard oil are. 

Just don't shave. 

My only advice would be tidy up around your neck and cheeks where it starts to whisp out so you get a stronger line. 

Initially it will be itchy, but that passes after a few weeks.

That's reassuring - I wasn't planning on washing it more often than (what's left of) my hair.

I think it will be a mix of ginger-brown and grey-white based on stubble growth

Brize

horse said:

Thinking of dipping a toe in beard growth. Any tips or advice?

Don't. It's passé.

EricTheWeary

If you keep it short then you probably don't need the oil,etc. Mine is long enough now that I need the oil to stop it being knotted and feeling like scratchy pubes. Barbers seem to recommend argan oil which is made for heat damaged hair, there maybe some knocking around the house if anyone in the horse household has heated curlers,etc. 
You should tidy it up , or get someone else to. A decent beard trimmer helps but going to a decent barber is better. 
Keep tissues in your pocket as the longer your beard grows the more it acts as a trap for milk, toothpaste, ketchup, etc. 

holnrew

I recently started to use beard shampoo, conditioner and oil, just because my skin underneath flakes and itches. Also the oil tends to darken the ginger bits

richardhomer

Buy a penny farthing and listen only to vinyl....

gusman2x

I've not had a wet shave since 2006. So although people think I have a beard because I'm a hipster, I actually have one because I'm lazy and don't like shaving.

I trim with normal head clippers. 4 on front, 2 underneath and for the tache, Never use oils combs or shit like that. I shampoo it with anti dandruff to avoid sprinkles in my coffee.

Adji

sgosden said:

Regular barbers will not listen to a word you say, and steal 4 inches off your beard and shape it into previously mentioned jaw bone hipster wanker beard.

never trust a barber who doesn't themselves have a magnificent beard.

speaking from experience. yes I'm still bitter.

Definitely this!