Beard care is an important ritual for many men. Some men choose to trim, shave, style, and otherwise groom their facial hair, in the pursuit of the perfect beard. Often, men have heard the adage that trimming a beard will make it grow thicker. Does trimming a beard make it grow thicker?
Studies have found that trimming a beard won’t make it grow thicker, as hormonal production and geometry of the hair follicles determine the thickness of the beard. The hair follicle is a structure in the skin made up of cells, which produce a single strand of hair. The production and geometry of that strand of hair cannot be changed through trimming and shaving.
However, while trimming a beard won’t make it grow thicker, it can alter the perceived thickness and fullness of facial hair. Trimming and grooming can even out an uneven beard, making it appear more uniform and voluminous. It’s also important to remember that a well-trimmed beard can be more comfortable. Trimming stray hairs can also reduce itching and provide a cleaner, more finished look.
Leading experts suggest that the best way to get a healthy looking beard is to understand the shape of one’s face and to use products that work for that particular shape and texture of the face. Additionally, maintaining the same grooming technique can help the beard remain fuller. One of the most important practices is to shampoo and condition your beard, to keep it looking and feeling healthy.
Although trimming a beard won’t make it thicker or fuller, it can, however, help to preserve its natural shape. Carefully and periodically trimming runaway hairs can help brace the shape of a beard, and avoid it looking oversized or wild. This can create a more natural and desirable aesthetic.
Finally, the goal of a beard is typically to give a man a bold and confident look. Although trimming and grooming a beard won’t make it grow thicker, it remains an important part of a man’s grooming routine as it can offer a smooth and more polished look.
How to Achieve a Healthy Looking Beard
Hair growth and health can be enhanced with specific products and treatments. Popular products such as beard balm, moustache wax, and beard oil can help hold facial hair into place and keep it shiny without the need for harsh chemicals. Additionally, using specialized beard soap can help the hair follicles stay clean, avoiding fungus, bacteria and debris build up.
Leading skin experts suggest consulting a professional for help choosing the best products, as well as to address any skin care concerns. Depending on personal needs and skin type, specialists can help personalize a beard care program.
Another tip to keep a beard looking healthy and looking sharper has to do with how to apply the products. In order to achieve the best possible results, experts suggest applying products in the direction of hair growth. This will help stop the cuticles from lifting and follicles from breaking, avoiding an unhealthy appearance.
Throughout the process it’s important to use a comb to get rid of tangles and knots, softening the beard and making it look healthier. Brushing the beard can also help to distribute the oils naturally produced by the skin, evenly across the beard.
Additionally, many skin experts suggest avoiding products with drying alcohols and harsh ingredients that can strip away nutrients, thus leading to brittle and dehydrated skin.
Combining Different Grooming Tools
Trimmer, clippers, and scissors of different sizes can be used in combination with one another to optimize beard grooming. Trimmers are great for cutting bigger hairs, while clippers are good for shortening the length of a full beard. Thus, trimmers and clippers are ideal for styling a beard for a tailored look.
Then, when trying to finish the process, scissors are the perfect tool for detailing and tidying up the beard. When using scissors, experts recommend using smaller scissors with a pointed tip, placing the scissors at an angle, and taking only small amounts of hair with each snip for a precise result.
Then, in order to ensure even cuts, it’s recommended to alternately cut from different sides. This way, if one side of the cut is longer than the other, they’ll at least be symmetrical.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that cutting off too much can be difficult to repair, so it’s important to move slowly and cut off hair only in small increments, until the desired length is achieved.
Use of Cutters, Clippers and Razor Blades
The use of cutters, clippers, and razor blades is a classic method of facial hair maintenance, and still remains among the trendiest ways to craft and customize a beard. Cutters and clippers are used to keep beards at the desired length and are perfect for removing excess hair from just about any area of the face.
Cutters are the most commonly used option for trimming a beard, as they work efficiently and quickly, and have a variety of interchangeable guard sizes, ranging from flats and rounds to specialized longer guards, for a very precise and specific trim.
Meanwhile, razor blades offer the most precise and detailed way of trimming a beard. For extremely sharp lines and precise detailing, using razor blades can produce a very stylish look. One important tip is to use a razor guard when faux-shaving with a razor to reduce the amount of pressure and to guard the skin against cuts.
In summary, although trimming a beard won’t make it grow thicker, it remains an important part of most men’s facial hair grooming routines. Carefully trimming a beard can create a more even and tidy look, offering a fuller and more polished aesthetic. With the right products, tools, and methods it’s possible to achieve a healthy and stylish looking beard.
Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Beard
Taking good care of a beard is a continuous process that requires dedication and commitment. First, it is important that beard owners develop a routine to keep their beard well-groomed and healthy looking. Men can start on the first day with a beard trim and then continue to regularly groom it with a brush or comb.
Secondly, to keep the beard looking fresh and well-groomed, experts suggest using specialized products such as beard shampoo, moustache wax, oil, and balms, to ensure maintenance and nourishment. Furthermore, carefully choosing the right products to hydrate, moisturise and nourish the skin can make a difference in how the beard looks and feels.
Experts also suggest avoiding beard grooming products that contain artificial fragrances, and instead opt for those that contain natural ingredients, like essential oils to avoid potential skin allergies and rashes. Additionally, it’s important to remember that product buildup can occur if over-applied, so finding the right balance is key.
Finally, regular visits with a facial hair specialist can help to avoid making mistakes when grooming a beard, and can also provide advice on how to select products and tools, as well as provide updates on new styles and trends.
Beard Grooming Techniques
As the beard grows, trimming and grooming techniques can help tame runaway hairs and preserve its natural shape. One of the most common techniques is the use of beard scissors, recommended by experts to remove unwanted and stray hairs.
Meanwhile, to add texture to the beard and create a desired style, most professionals recommend blending techniques, which can add another dimension to the look. Blending techniques are generally used when one area of the beard is thicker than another and helps to even out the whole look, making it more uniform and natural.
Additionally, professional barbers suggest opting for trimming solutions like a buzzer cut, to douse off large amounts of hair, creating a more symmetrical and level look. Using a low guard size can also be an efficient way to remove large mass, rather than using Beard scissors to snip off multiple locks.
For a more voluminous look, backcombing can be used to give the beard a fuller, more defined appearance. By stroking the beard inwards with a comb, it’s possible to achieve a textured, feathery look.
To finish, leading barbers recommend one last pass with a brush or comb to smooth the beard and check for any imperfections. Finally, apply a lightly scented beard oil to the beard to protect it and keep its natural shape.