How To Groom A Stubble Beard
Nobody likes a straggly or scraggly beard. It’s unsightly and it screams you don’t care about your appearance. Put simply, you don’t want to make a negative first impression – so learning how to groom a stubble beard is important. Beard grooming is achieved by proper maintenance, which includes washing, trimming and oiling. You might find it surprising that there’s more to correctly groomed stubble than simply shaving the area under the chin or jawline close. In fact, it requires dedication, patience and precision to ensure your stubble looks its best.
Let’s start by talking about the first piece of the puzzle: proper washing. As we all know, we should wash our face daily, and this also applies to a stubble beard. It’s important to clean away dirt and products like pomade, wax, and oils which may have been deposited the day before. Use a mild cleanser or gentle exfoliating scrub on your beard, however be sure not to use products containing sulfates or parabens as they can be harsh on facial hair.
The next step to ensure a well-groomed stubble is to trim. This is a crucial task as it gives you more control over the shape and length. Trimming a stubble beard requires a trimmer or clipper. Start by setting the trimmer to the desired length – usually a setting between one and five usually works for a stubble beard. Take the trimmer and run it across the area of your beard, ensuring you trim evenly. Finally, it’s worth noting to run a trimmer across your neck and cheek line to ensure they’re neat and tidy.
Finally, you must invest in a good-quality beard oil or balm. This will help keep everything nice and tidy by moisturising and softening your facial hair. It will also provide natural-looking shine and condition the underlying skin. To use a beard oil, dispense the oil or balm into your hands and work on the facial hair, ensuring you cover it all. You should do this at least once per day, and more frequently if you have a long or thick beard.
Minimising Maintenance
Minimising maintenance is key when you’re considering trimming a stubble. Too much trimming will cause patches of facial hair to become thin, leading to disconnected and scruffy looking stubble. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever trim your stubble but try not to do so too often. Avoid taking the trimmer to the same area too frequently; instead, focus on trimming any strays or those areas that have grown longer than the rest.
When you’re trying to minimise maintenance for stubble, it’s important to remember that beard oil is your best friend. Make sure to keep your facial hair healthy by regularly applying a high quality beard oil, preferably one made with natural ingredients.
It’s also a great idea to keep a moisturising and exfoliating facial scrub within reach, as your skin will need it more if you’re growing a stubble. This is especially true if you tend to use a lot of styling products – gels, waxes and pomades – as these can be drying and don’t wash away easily.
For A Neat Look
One of the key rules for a well groomed stubble is to ensure the neck and cheek lines are completely clean. This will require a razor, meaning you’ll need to shave any hairs outside these lines, making sure they’re nice and neat. You may also find it useful to invest in an electric trimmer to make sure your cheek and neck lines are sharp and precise. Make sure you have an extra set of blades on hand as you’ll find yourself changing them often.
If you use a razor, start by applying a pre-shave oil to soften your facial hair and create a barrier between your skin and the razor. This will reduce irritation, leaving your skin looking smooth and your stubble looking neat and stylish.
When you’re finished, be sure to apply a post-shave balm to soothe and moisturise the skin. This step is especially important if you suffer from razor burn as it will help reduce any irritation and redness.
Stubble Maintenance Tips
To make sure your stubble stays well-groomed, here are a few maintenance tips:
- Don’t trim too often – you will end up with straggly stubble.
- Keep your beard oil and scrub handy.
- Keep your razor blades sharp.
- Wash and condition your beard at least twice a week.
- Make sure to keep your neck and cheek lines sharp and clean.
Longer Stubble & Beard Maintenance
As you grow your stubble out, it’s important to ensure you continue to take care of it properly. This means using a beard brush and comb to keep the hairs neat, using a high quality shampoo and conditioner to keep your beard soft and conditioned, and using a beard balm or oil to maintain moisture. The more you look after your beard, the more stylish it will look.
It’s also necessary to trim your longer stubble, though again, you should make sure not to trim too often. Start by deciding the length you want your stubble to be, then set the trimmer to that number before trimming your desired areas. After each trim, make sure you run an electric trimmer over the neck and cheeks which helps to get a smooth and neat look.
Tips For Styling
If you’re looking to style your stubble, there are a few extra steps you should always take. Start by combing your stubble, then apply a small amount of wax or pomade to finish the look. You should try to avoid products with too much hold as this will leave your stubble looking too structured and unnatural. To help the wax or pomade keep hold, try applying a light dusting of hairspray.
Additionally, if you’re growing a longer stubble, you can use a straight razor to shape the outer edges. This will give your beard a more tidy and consistent look and ensure you look your best.
Final Words
Groomed stubble looks stylish and neat, but it requires dedication and precision to ensure it looks perfect. Be sure to cleanse, trim and oil your stubble regularly, and avoid over-trimming. Additionally, take time to shape and style the outer edges with a razor to give your stubble a neat and polished look. With the right tools, dedication and patience, you’ll achieve the perfect stubble.
