If you have ever struggled with facial hair that grows in all directions, you may have asked yourself “How do I get my beard to grow straight?” Growing a full, luscious beard can seem like an elusive dream. But with the right preparation, practice, and patience, growing a straight beard is entirely achievable. The key is understanding the science behind beard growth and preparing the beard to grow with a straight grain.
Before attempting to grow straight facial hair, it’s important to know what causes facial hair growth to be unruly. Genetically, facial hair grows differently for everyone, so some people naturally have straighter beards than others. Additionally, many conditions like hormones, age, nutrition, and lifestyle can contribute to facial hair’s overall growth pattern. But, more often than not, it’s the lack of proper beard care that leads to facial hair growing erratically- like in all directions. In other words, it’s essential to use beard care products to groom and maintain your beard, in order to achieve a straighter-looking one.
Maintaining A Healthy Beard
When it comes to beard growth and maintenance, hydration is key. Regularly hydrating the skin with a light-weight moisturizer helps encourage beard hair to grow in a neat and orderly fashion. This also aids in preventing split-ends and inflammation of the skin. Experts recommend using a facial moisturizer that has a combination of oils like rosemary, seed oils and jojoba. These natural oils hydrate the skin and contribute to healthier beard hair.
In addition to hydration, exfoliation is necessary in order for your beard and skin to look as healthy as possible. Dead skin cells can impede hair from growing in the direction that you desire, so regularly exfoliating is an important part of the process. Exfoliating also helps keep your skin clear of acne and ingrowths. To exfoliate, use a light scrub and massage your face in circular motions. Do this at least twice a week.
Trimming the Beard
Beard hairs can be incredibly stubborn, but with proper trimming you can encourage them to grow in a straight direction. To do this, trim your beard every 2-3 weeks using small, sharp scissors. For best results, use a trimmer with a guard when harvesting the beard as it gives a clean, straight cut. It’s essential to remember to only trim the end of the hairs and avoid taking off too much. The goal here is simply to evenly shape the beard.
Shaping the Beard
Once you have trimmed and properly hydrated your beard, you can begin to shape it. This is where you can make the biggest difference in encouraging your facial hair to grow in a straight direction. To do this, use a boar bristle brush to manipulate the beard and work with the natural grain of your hair. When brushing downwards, start from the sides and move your way down to the chin and cheeks. Once this is done, use your fingers to create a straight line just below the jawline. This encourages the hair to grow evenly and in one direction.
Specialty Care Products
Aside from using a brush and moisturizer, there are specialized products to help promote a straighter beard. Products such as beard balms, beard oils, and pomades can help control and shape the beard, while also providing healthy nutrients required for better beard growth. These products typically contain natural ingredients such as shea butter, Vitamin E and essential oils, to deliver intense hydration and improve texture, leaving the beard looking neat and tidy. Whatever you decide to use, make sure the products you choose contain a high concentration of the ingredients you need for the best results.
Taming the Beard
Finally, if you want a more polished and structured look, consider taming the beard with a hairstyling cream. This product provides a light hold and medium shine, making it ideal for a subtle, natural look. To use, simply apply the cream to a slightly damp beard and use a brushing motion to style the hair. Make sure you apply the product uniformly and evenly, to ensure your beard looks neat and put together.
Regular Maintenance
The most important part of getting your beard to grow straight is consistent maintenance. This includes brushing your beard regularly in the direction that you desire, drinking plenty of fluids, maintaining a healthy diet and hydrating the beard. Additionally, strengthening the hair follicles with a scalp massager or a beard oil helps with the growth of straighter and softer beard hair. While it will take time and consistency, with proper preparation, patience, and practice, you can achieve the beard of your dreams.
Combing Your Beard
Regularly combing your beard will also help to keep it straight. Use a wide-toothed comb and start from the bottom and work your way up, combing each strand upwards. Combing helps remove tangles, prevents split ends and aids in keeping the beard shape intact. It is key to remember to not over-comb or too much, and to be careful not to pull and tug at the beard, as this can cause damage and hair breakage.
Beard Wax Application
Beard wax was designed to keep your beard in shape and looking neat. Apply a small amount of beard wax to the desired area, and use your fingers and comb to spread it evenly. There’s no need for excessive wax as this could make the beard oily and greasy. Additionally, avoid tugging or pulling on the beard too hard, as this can create tension on the hair. When you’ve achieved the preferred style, use a blow dryer to help set the hair in place.
Using the Right Razor
When shaping the beard, it is best to use a good quality razor, one that is sharp and has a thin blade. This will allow you to get the desired line, while also avoiding any nicks and cuts. When you have the right razor, make sure to use a shaving cream or gel to lubricate the beard before shaving, and always make sure to move the razor in the same direction that the hair grows. Do not hesitate to make multiple passes with the razor, as this will help deliver a cleaner look.
