How to maintain your beard: practical guide and tips from the best barbers

Do you want to know the basic basics of properly maintaining your beard ? Better yet, discover the tips from the most renowned barbers on the planet to have a perfect hair ? So these few lines are for you, gentleman friend.

Gentlemen, it's time for you to enter the closed circle of bearded men of character (#BeardGang).

But first, why maintain your beard?

There will be something for everyone: from three-day beards to those over 30cm. Because yes, whatever its length, the beard needs to be maintained on a daily basis. But don't panic, we'll see it together. In the end, you will see, the ritual of caring for a bearded man turns out to be quick and even, sometimes, very pleasant.

To avoid small problems of tightness and itching

Gentlemen, those who have already risked letting their beard grow without maintaining it, will all make the same remark to you: “Beards are itchy!”. And they are right. When the hair grows and begins to cover the skin, it causes tightness if it is not taken care of.

Indeed, the facial skin which is hidden under your beard hair suffers. She is no longer hydrated enough . This is what causes tightness, itching and other unpleasant dry sensations. And for those who tend to have already quite dry skin, this can even lead to dandruff and thus make wearing a beard even more unpleasant...

The other problem with a poorly maintained beard is characterized by rough and dull hair . And yes, remember your girlfriend's thoughts, when you risk giving her (among other things) a kiss: "Wow, you're stinging!". Not very pleasant... because the more the hair grows, the more it needs to be nourished to maintain softness and suppleness.

Pulling and itchy hairs, um... I'm sure these bearded issues are familiar to some of you. But let's continue a little longer, because these are far from being the only ones.

For healthy and robust beard regrowth

In addition to avoiding the small inconveniences seen previously, maintaining your beard will allow healthy and robust hair regrowth . However, healthy hair is stronger and grows more densely. So if you want to keep your beard and above all, make it grow more, you understand that it is necessary to have a fertile and well-maintained base.

To bring out his character

And yes, gentleman friend, a clean and healthy beard, it shows.

Well-groomed and shiny hair, clean and symmetrical lines on the cheeks... the beard allows you to add style and establish your image . The beard is still the first thing your friends and people you meet see because it takes up a large part of your face. You might as well make sure it reflects your personality.

Just like a tattoo, a watch or even a bag, the beard conveys an imagination and references that are specific to you. Take the opportunity to sculpt it and personalize it according to your character and your desires.

How to maintain your beard on a daily basis: the basic ritual of the bearded man

If we now agree on the need to maintain your beard on a daily basis , it is essential to know how, in practice, to go about it. And believe me, you are in the hands of a specialist here...

For more than two years, the O'Barbershop team has been unearthing and selecting the best beard care products available . We have tested almost all the beard care products on the market, even if it means developing severe allergies and leaving a few hairs behind...

Rigorous work, carried out in collaboration with the most renowned barbers in the world such as Schorem in Rotterdam, Proper Barbershop in Los Angeles, and Hawleywood's in Sydney.

It is alongside these renowned barbers that we were able to analyze, compare and select “best practices” in order to take the best possible care of our beards.

Our expertise allows us today to be the official supplier of the best European barbers . They now know that our selection of brands allows them to supply themselves with the crème de la crème for their salon.

Better yet, brands and barbers are now calling on our team to help them develop their future beard care products.

Product scouts, barber suppliers, trend laboratory... and online store for bearded men, this is how we define our mission at O'Barbershop. It is with pleasure that I will share our findings and our knowledge with you.

The bearded man's daily ritual

So, how do you go about sporting a healthy and stylish beard? What and where to start? The secret lies in a daily care ritual to do quietly at home: moisturize the skin and nourish the hair .

It is essential to moisturize the skin hidden beneath the beard. The skin of the face is in fact too often forgotten by “newcomers”/bearded people, who do not give it the importance it deserves for optimized well-being. It must be in good health to allow the hairs to grow with strength and robustness. This also helps develop the density of the beard, and thus fill in any areas where the hair is weaker (think of castor oil here) .

The second essential thing in daily maintenance is the care of the hair itself. Beard hair needs to be nourished and shiny .

As it grows, your hair no longer receives enough sebum from the sebaceous glands located on the skin of the face. This generally leads to the famous unpleasant sensations of itchy beard, in addition to giving it a rough appearance.

“Hydrate the skin and nourish the hair… ok but how do we do it?” you will tell me. Don't panic, it will take you thirty seconds using a beard oil or balm.

Beard oil

A beard oil is made up of two elements: a base and a perfume . The base is a mixture of several vegetable oils such as argan oil, hemp seed oil or coconut oil for example. These oils provide everything the skin needs to be hydrated and the essentials to nourish and shine the hair.

Regarding the scent of beard oil, these are essential oils which will provide an ambiance. Sweet, woody, spicy… these are the essential oils which will set the tone and character of the oil.

Certain essential oils will also provide antiseptic or even soothing properties... this is not the priority, but it is always welcome (especially depending on your skin types).

In passing, prefer oils produced from natural, quality ingredients . And yes, bearded friends, you are going to apply this oil to your beard and skin, so be careful not to apply anything on it. We favor natural products and avoid products with chemical compounds as much as possible.

Applying beard oil is child's play and only takes 20 seconds. Simply put a few drops of oil in the palm of your hand, then heat it by rubbing your hands together for 5 to 10 seconds. Once the oil is heated and distributed over all the hands, all that remains is to apply by massaging the beard, going well down to the skin and to the hair roots.

Want to see a video of how to apply beard oil? Here we go, we head to Fabien, the barber from the famous Barber Ink barbershop in Paris:

To know which oil to choose, I have made a small selection of products that professionals and connoisseurs are eager for. See instead.

Mister Kutter Havana Soup beard oil

Big Red Factory Beard Oil

Grave Before Shave Cigar Blend Beard Oil

Beard balm

A beard balm is composed, just like beard oil, of a clever and subtle blend of different oils for the base and essential oils for its fragrance. But in addition to beard oil, a balm contains wax, such as beeswax or shea butter for example, which gives it its solid appearance.

A balm will therefore have the same characteristics as an oil (nourishing and hydrating), but will also provide a styling and fixing effect thanks to the wax . It's particularly effective for beards with unruly hairs who don't want to fall in line. In addition, there are balms for more styling use than others.

Applying a beard balm is as quick and easy as applying an oil. Simply take a dab of balm with your nail, put it in the palm of your hand, then heat it by rubbing your hands for 5 to 10 seconds. Once the balm has heated and become liquid on all the hands, all that remains is to apply by massaging the beard, going to the skin and the hair roots.

And because we love video tutorials, we go back to Fabien from Barber Ink to see how to apply beard balm:

To know which balm to choose, here too I have put together a selection of products endorsed by the greatest barbers. Indulge.

Reuzel beard balm

Noberu beard balm

Mister Kutter's beard balm

More confidential products... just as effective (serum, cream...)

We have just seen that beard oil and balm constitute THE BASIS for anyone who wants to take care of their fleece. But recently, a handful of passionate bearded brands have developed new products, more confidential, but just as effective .

This is particularly the case of the London brand Daimon Barber, which has developed a nourishing and moisturizing cream to maintain your beard on a daily basis . A little masterpiece which brings a fresh and creamy side that is very pleasant when applied. But the most obvious and remarkable advantage is that this beard cream is absolutely not greasy. As a result, no greasy/oily effect on the skin.

The other beard treatment that is all the rage at the moment is the balm from the Australian brand Uppercut . It is the only balm packaged in a tube and in a gel/cream format. It's quite confusing at first, but once you taste it, you can't live without it. This creamy appearance provides an instant sensation on the beard, as if it were densifying and hardening in just a few seconds. It's very surprising during the first uses. And that's without mentioning the completely addictive coconut-caramel scent that accompanies us all day long.

Just like Daimon Barber's cream, Uppercut balm is a wise choice for new beards who want to maintain their beard without the hassle. It's super simple and quick to use .

Also note that the Uppercut balm provides a fairly pronounced fixing/styling effect, which will help discipline the most rebellious hairs.

Want to go further: how to clean your beard?

Now that you know how to nourish and moisturize your beard, do you want to go further? Perfect, so let's continue and see how to sanitize it further by cleaning it .

Cleaning your beard, is it really useful?

Like everyone (or almost everyone) you wash your hair regularly with shampoo. Well bearded friend, it’s the same for the beard. The latter needs to be cleaned thoroughly to stay clean and healthy.

Think about everything your beard endures every day: pollution, sweat, cigarette smoke, meal residue, beer foam, lipstick... and other more or less savage attacks...

Washing your beard is also part of the ritual of a bearded gentleman worthy of the name. And there, several schools compete with different techniques. There are fans of hair shampoo , those who only swear by Marseille soap... And recently we have seen fans of beard shampoo appear . Let's look at this in a little more detail.

How to clean your beard? And with what products?

We hear a bit about everything and anything about the products to use to clean your beard, but in reality, only a few products are really effective and suitable for beards .

Head & Shoulders, Marseille soap, Tahiti shower... we find many reviews from bearded men who regularly use these products to wash their beards. And 4 or 5 years ago, it is true that there was no specific treatment. So it was a good intention.

However, beard hair does not have the same characteristics as hair. The same goes for the scalp, which is quite different from the skin of the face... We therefore easily deduce that hair shampoos and body soaps are not really suitable for beards.

But in recent years, a few enthusiasts have developed shampoos specific to beards . Shampoos with a subtle blend of natural oils such as Argan and Jojoba, and vitamin additions to deliver the optimal combination to gently cleanse and moisturize your beard.

The best barbershops in the USA, Australia and England now use and recommend this type of dedicated product to their bearded customers. And it works so well that Anglo-Saxon bearded men are crazy about it.

In France, beard shampoo has had a little difficulty finding its place . Arrived only 2-3 years ago, it was initially described as a “purely marketing product” by some… (probably jealous people who hadn't had the chance to try). But today, it has clearly convinced an ever-increasing number of users.

Just like beard oils and balms, it is best to choose a shampoo made with quality natural ingredients . Even though it is much more difficult to create a 100% natural shampoo, some stand out from the crowd...

And yes, you are lucky because once again we have done all the work for you, we have found the best of the best which we are revealing to you in our selection of the best beard shampoos.

The Bearded Chap's beard shampoos

Created in Australia by Luke, this shampoo is the only 100% natural shampoo on the market. Without paraben, sulfate and other chemical substances, in just a few years it has become a true legend. It is particularly recommended for long and thick beards thanks to its pronounced nourishing power. Its 375ml format is also interesting and economical compared to standard 250ml formats.

Noberu Amber-Lime beard shampoo

Just like its beard balm, Noberu strives to protect the hair and skin from external aggressions such as pollution or the cold. And it is the Argan oil and green tea contained in this shampoo which act as a shield by providing a protective film around the hair.

A very gentle shampoo, with fairly light woody and lemony notes that do not disturb the scent of the balm or beard oil.

Grave Before Shave beard shampoo

Enriched with Argan oil, this shampoo has the particularity of intensely nourishing the hair. This gives it incredible softness which is felt from the first shampoo. Just as gentle on the skin, it is as effective on short beards as on long beards.

This makes it a perfect shampoo for those who want to experience the joys of beard shampoo.

In terms of use, nothing could be easier. Simply shampoo 2 to 3 times a week , in the shower, and that's it. No need for more, it's more than enough.

For bearded people who are faced with “extreme” conditions on a daily basis (athletes, cooks, mechanics, etc.) and whose beard is “dirty”, you can increase the frequency. However, be careful not to overuse it so as not to risk damaging your beard .

What if now you gave it some style to assert your character? Let's move on to tracing the contours.

Styling your beard: tracing the contours

You have followed all our previous - and valuable - advice. And while your beard hairs are now in Olympic shape, you nevertheless notice that a few hairs are wandering around in an anarchic manner on your cheeks and neck, and that this gives a slightly "neglected" look ..?

Don't panic, bearded friend, let's see together how to make everything cleaner and more symmetrical, thanks to tracing the contours of the beard.

The beard actually grows quite unevenly depending on the hair growth. For some, the hair grows quite high on the cheeks.

The objective here is therefore to break this unharmonious and neglected structure, to on the contrary offer the beard a symmetrical and neat shape by shaving the superfluous hairs.

And for that, nothing could be easier. All you need is a razor, a comb, shaving gel, and a little dexterity.

Here is step by step how to outline the contours of your beard on the cheeks:

• Apply a shaving gel or oil to the areas to be shaved.
• Take a straight comb and place it on the cheek so that you have a tracing line to follow. Here, it's up to you to see what angle you want to give in relation to the desired style.
• Take the razor and shave by sliding against the comb. This allows you to have a perfectly straight line.
• Shave the few remaining stubborn hairs and refine the freehand tracing.

To do this, you will need to have:

• A shaving gel or oil

Opt for a transparent shaving gel or oil, which will allow you to shave the contours with great precision. Milkman Shaving Oil (Australia) is perfect for this, as is their precision shaving gel.

• A razor or straight razor

We could talk about hours of razors, blades or straight cutters. Enthusiasts and purists love to debate the effectiveness of a blade or the style of the razor. In our guide, we will remain very simple and practical. So, the razor doesn't matter, as long as the blade is sharp.

Tracing the contours is one of the most difficult and risky steps for a bearded man . Many errors, unfortunately irreversible, occur at this time. More than one bearded man has collapsed in tears following a failed tracing… This step is therefore not to be taken lightly.

Your best ally for maintaining your beard: the barber

If the basic daily ritual for maintaining your beard is simple and quick thanks to beard oil/balm/shampoo, it can be a little more technical when it comes to outlining the contours . But once again, we have a solution to simplify your life and make it even more pleasant.

And yes dear bearded man, going to the barber is certainly the best advice I could give you.

In addition to taking care of your beard, it takes you on a journey into its world and offers a real experience, a special moment in your day.

Your barber is your best weapon for having an impeccable and stylish beard.

Indeed, its traditional and authentic know-how constitutes the keystone of beard maintenance carried out “according to the rules of the art”.

His knowledge and meticulous actions allow him to:

• Visualize the beard shape that best suits your face (hair, shape, etc.).
• Trim and enhance your beard down to the smallest detail.

Choosing your barber is therefore a crucial step , because it is above all a question of man and personality. He must of course master his profession inside and out, but also correspond to your world, your image and your values.

In recent years, we have seen the emergence of a new generation of barbers who have perfectly acquired and integrated technical and authentic know-how, while adding their own personal touch. The result is a real updating of traditional know-how, adapting it to their vision, their experience, their desire ... each thus creating a unique and original style . And as for artists, the particular and recognizable style of certain barbers sometimes makes them real rock stars!

This is particularly the case of Leen & Bertus, the two founding barbers of the Schorem barbershop in Rotterdam, considered by experts to be the best barbershop in the world.

Their trademark: Ten vintage cutting styles that their customers choose when entering their barbershop. No adaptation possible, no possibility of mixing styles... it's just one style out of the ten offered, and that's it. Don't expect to walk out the door with the latest buzz cut . Success is there. Leen and Bertus are invited to the four corners of the world to present their know-how and demonstrate their technique. When we last visited them in Rotterdam in October, they had just returned... from Japan.

But how to find your razor virtuoso in France? Well, it's not that obvious. It really depends on how many miles you're willing to cover. There is currently no directory of barbers with real reviews and qualitative assessments... But be patient, the O'Barbershop team of barbers is currently working on such a tool.

In Paris and the Paris region, there are more and more good addresses thanks to the arrival of quality barbers .

We have of course La Barbière de Paris, elected artisan of the year 2016 and who remains an emblematic figure of the beard, just like the renowned Alain Maître Barbier. For high-end (or very high-end) services in a chic and elegant setting, this is where you should go.

Sarah (aka La Barbière de Paris) is one of the pioneers of cheek waxing (yes yes), or even moisturizing beard masks. It is this avant-garde side that has earned her so much respect in the industry.

And now, a “new generation” of barbers is shaking up the codes . This is the case of the provocative Barber Ink, located in the twelfth arrondissement of Paris, with a rebel and rock n' roll atmosphere. Or the authentic and vintage spirit of the very famous The Old School Barbershop in Cergy. The cool and trendy atmosphere of Le Cigare à Mustache, in the eleventh district, is also a place full of authenticity that we recommend.

Paris, Paris and more Paris…. don't worry, bearded friends, there are also incredible and very high quality barbershops in the region.

Here are some essential barbers:

• Mister Kutter in Tours and Blois, the temple of rock n'roll and biker, with a big note of “coolitutde”. And don't miss the “24 hours of the barber” event which generally takes place at the end of April each year in their shop in Blois. The opportunity to have your beard groomed at any time of the day or night in a festive atmosphere.
• The diligent and cutting-edge atmosphere of Mr Albert in La Rochelle. An essential step for those who want to find the products in preview. Nicolas and Fabrice are among the few French barbers who have the chance to discover our new products as a priority.
• The know-how and relaxed atmosphere of Comptoir de L'Homme in Dunkerque, masterfully managed by Fred. Try to make the last appointment on Friday evening, you will certainly have the chance to go and drink a good beer in the bar next door, once the cup is finished...
• Two gems from Lyon with 20 Barbershop and Baronnet Noir . Real institutions.
• The essential JP The Barbershop in Antibes, which practically becomes a nomadic barber in the summer, by doing so many services on yachts. He is also the barber to the stars during the Cannes Film Festival.

The final word...

Here you are, my bearded friend, you now know the essentials for maintaining your beard.

First and always, good hydration based on beard oil or balm allowing you to have a uniform and, above all, healthy beard. Proper washing several times a week is also recommended.

Never forget that your beard is exposed to numerous attacks from the outside all day long. As with everything else, you have to take care of it if you want to make it look like something.

Finally, never hesitate to call on a barber in Paris or elsewhere, who will accompany you and help you acquire the basics to obtain a superb beard.

It's up to you now, and welcome to the closed circle of bearded men with character .