Tips and Tricks To Get A Silky Smooth Beard

Is your facial hair rough as sandpaper and rubbing you the wrong way? There are many of us experiencing the same problem right now. My bristles were dry, rough and scratchy throughout many years… until I finally came to realize that the issue is not unavoidable and can be resolved. You see, by failing to do a bit of upkeep and maintenance on your beard, you are enabling it to turn into the rugged, wild growth befitting a barbarian.

Do you feel the dry, sharp ends of your whiskers whenever you pensively run your hand through your beard? Your bristles do not have to feel like barbed wire. So starting today, you can take the following tips and tricks and apply them to turn your facial bristles into the silky soft whiskers of a sophisticated beard.

The Number One Most Effective Trick In Any Beardman’s Bag Is Beard Oil

You might have heard the term “beard oil” in passing, maybe used by an experienced beard veteran. Although beard oil is an old tool of the trade, it has not become commercialized until recently.

Today’s bearded man has come to realize that the grungy-looking beard is not a good look, and that beard oil will help you avoid that look. If you don’t know any details about this potion and the magic it can do for your bristles, then here is a quick intro:

Beard oil is a mixture of several natural ingredients that help your beard seal in moisture and stay hydrated. What precisely is in a bottle of this stuff?

Its two main ingredients are oil and more oil- carrier oils and essential oils, to be exact. To give you a more detailed scoop into the makeup of beard oil, we will tell you that carrier oils are like the base of the mixture and constitute about 95% of the final product, while essential oils add a bit of the “essence” of the respective plants they are derived from.

A lot of men voice their concerns about using such an oily product on their already very oily skin. I assure you that beard oil will actually benefit not only your bristles, but also your surrounding skin, no matter if it is oily or dry.

If you have not used this type of beard potion before, you can refer to our detailed review of some of the most popular brands and products; we provide you with a list of the most highly regarded beard oils on today’s market.

Also included in that review is a mention and description of Leven Rose beard oil, an ideal product for the beard oil novice. This specific model contains just two basic ingredients, namely jojoba and argan oils, for one particular reason: These are the most popular, effective oils for all the guys who don’t want to enter into the world of essential oils and the aromatic notes they introduce.

The primary benefits of any beard oil will come from its carrier oil, such as jojoba and argan oils, anyway. Jojoba oil is promoted as the oil which is most comparable to the natural sebum oil your skin produces.  

Both jojoba and argan oils are absorbed at an average rate (compared to all other carrier oils), which means that they linger on top of your skin for just a little while, not enough to worsen oily skin and plenty of time to help seal in moisture for dry skin.

If you want a beard oil with the least oily application, then look for fast absorbing carrier oils on the product’s ingredient label, including rose hip, grapeseed , sweet almond, and hazelnut oils. In fact, hazelnut and other oils even offer astringent properties which further help with excessively oily skin.

So what is the deal with beard oil and what will it do for your facial hair? First and foremost, this magic stuff makes your beard’s dandruff (“beard-ruff”) a thing of the past. Beardruff is simply a result of dehydrated skin underneath your beard bristles which have claimed all of the moisture. Without a doubt, beard oil single-handedly will take out your problems- dry skin, flakes, itch, discomfort- with one fell swoop.

The beard potion is a surefire means of attaining a silky smooth and hydrated set of facial hair. As soon as you begin its daily application, you will start to notice welcome changes; after about a week, your positive results will include hydrated skin as well as moisturized, supple whiskers. Your facial hair also will look less disorganized and be more manageable if you wish to style it with a beard comb. The fact is that beard oil is trending right now and for good reasons, so you will have a whole gamut of retailers, brands, and diverse potions to choose from.

If you feel overwhelmed by the huge selection on the market, let our best beard oil guide help show you the best product for you.

Meet Beard Oil’s Stronger Brother, Beard Balm

Like brothers, beard oil and beard balm have a lot in common: they contain natural oils and help keep your beard moisturized. Whereas the former is a liquid oil mixture, beard balm is best compared to the consistency of a styling gel.

Although the balm can help hold your whiskers to a certain degree, this product is designed primarily to keep your facial hair well hydrated and nourished. The end effect is a softer, silkier beard without flaky, dry skin underneath.

Beard balm contains 4 main ingredients (two of which it shares with little brother, beard oil):

Wax - Usually beeswax is used to give beard balm its thicker, less fluid consistency and help hold  and style your facial whiskers.

Butters - Beard balm gets its smooth texture and silky application from ingredients like shea, cocoa, and other nut butters.

Carrier Oils - Like beard oil, beard balm consists of a large amount of carrier oil(s) which help seal moisture into your hair and skin

Essential Oils - Essential oils add their plants’ aromatic “essences” as well as various other beneficial properties.

The application of beard balm can prove a bit complex in the beginning; but as soon as you succeed in applying it once, it will come as second nature. To start, extract about a nickel-sized amount with your fingertips and place it in the palm of your hand.

Do not apply the scoop of balm directly into your beard. Keep it in your palm and rub your hands together until the product has softened and melted. After a few seconds of melting the balm between your palms, you should be left with a thin, buttery coat of oil (no lumps allowed).

Now you can apply the balm to your beard, massaging it in with your finger tips from the roots to the tips of your bristles. You want to guarantee that the roots and surrounding skin get their fair share of the moisturizing product. Of course you also want to coat the entire shaft of each bristle, which will make your beard silky soft and supple.

Again, as with beard oil, you should start reaping the rewards within a week. Where can you get some beard balm to call your own? This product is a bit more difficult to locate in stores and even barber shops; the beard product market is still in the beginning stages of exploding.

Your chances of finding beard balm are highest on the worldwide internet, where you can simultaneously research ingredients and their respective benefits. Actually, all you need to do is scope out Amazon for the easiest access to a variety of beard products right at your fingertips.

Beard Wash and Conditioner For Whisper-Soft Whiskers

Beard oil, especially in conjunction with beard balm, should suffice in leaving your facial hair perfectly soft and suitable for cuddling. Yet there are still more products out there to ensure that your beard never rubs you the wrong way again. Beard washes and leave-in conditioners are examples of such softening agents.

Beard conditioner, for example, is a great addition to your facial hair care system. This product combines the advantages of beard oil and balm into one bottle. It contains carrier oils, responsible for coating your skin and hairs in order to lock in the moisture within. It also offers hold-ability so that you can guide and shape your whiskers into a style of your liking. Once you wash it out at the end of the day, your skin and bristles will have reaped the benefits all throughout the day.  

A good morning routine incorporates an application of conditioner so that it can work its wonders for the rest of the day. Beard conditioners tend to get positive feedback from users because of the hydrating and softening effects on your beard.

Beard Combs and Brushes for Softening Touch-Ups

When you leave your initial beard to its own devices, its hairs invariably will grow in various random directions. This disorganized growth of hairs pointing in all directions definitely contributes to the rough feel and rugged look of your facial hair. So no matter how much moisture is sealed into your skin and bristles by using a product such as beard oil, balm or conditioner, the overall look may still appear rough and disheveled.

This is the point when a beard comb or brush will come in very handy. The strokes of a beard comb benefit your bristles two-fold: the follicles are stimulated, receiving more blood flow, oxygen and nutrients, and the individual strands will learn which way to grow.

Ideally, you brush your hair no more than a couple of times a day for touch-ups in order to avoid over-handling and damaging it. As your bristles become accustomed to growing in a sleek line all together, your beard will feel much silkier and softer to the touch.

There is no need to add any kind of product before combing your facial hair. The combing action further benefits your face because it prevents ingrown hairs from forming. If you are unsure whether to use a comb or brush, I recommend a comb. The end results of both tools are the same- to detangle and straighten out the hair strands. From personal experience, I can tell you that the comb is a bit gentler on the whiskers.

Don’t Miss Out On Regularly Scheduled Trims

The tips of your facial hair can eventually develop split ends. To get rid of these broken ends, you should trim your beard regularly.

Beard oil can definitely reduce the number of split ends you acquire by keeping your hairs hydrated and supple, but a regular trim will reduce the amount of oil you will have to invest in.

For these minimal trims, you should use shears rather than a beard trimmer. While beard trimmers are great for evenly cutting off longer lengths, shears give you more control when you are just taking millimeters off of your whiskers.

Combos As An Easy Introduction

As we have seen, there are plenty of products to add to your cabinet that will help your beard remain hydrated, healthy and super soft. You might feel exhausted just thinking of all the products you want to add to your arsenal, thinking of all the research, comparing and contrasting you will have to do to find a good set of beginner products. If you prefer to make things easy on yourself, you should check out the beard starter kits offered for all the beard product novices out there.

Some of the options that receive the highest customer ratings online are sets by Beardbrand as well as Uncommon Goods’ Beard Pack.  My very own recommendation is for Box Beard Care set by Beardsley, which is a collection of beard oil, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

Some of the kits offer a complimentary brush or a large amount of one particular product, which increases the price and might not be what you really need. These beard maintenance packs are also a great gift to wish for any time your kids or wife ask what you would like for your birthday or the holidays.

The Ideal 4-Step System To Get A Soft, Silky, Sophisticated Beard

We have already gone into detail about many beard products available to today’s beardsmen, so now is the time to figure out the perfect morning routine which incorporates all these wonderful potions and tools. Here are your 4 simple steps to soft, silky strands:

1. Lather and Rinse with a Suitable Beard Wash or Shampoo
The first activity of your day is probably taking a shower. Here is your cue to begin your morning beard routine by lathering your facial hair with a quality beard shampoo or wash. After you rinse it all out well, make sure you towel dry your beard before you proceed on to the next step. I also advise that you only use these cleansers once every other day or so. On the off days, it will suffice to let the stream of water wash out any dirt from your bristles.

2. Apply Beard Oil, Sparingly
After your beard is dried off with a towel, it is ready for beard oil application. Pour a dime-sized portion into your palm, then rub your hands together to evenly disperse the oil. Next, rub the potion into your beard hair, using your fingertips to massage it in from the roots down to the tips. If the amount is insufficient to coat your entire facial hair area, you can add a conservative amount (same application process) until your whiskers are covered completely.

3. Use Beard Balm to Supplement (or Substitute) Beard Oil
Beard balm is a great complement to beard oil, although it contains all the necessary ingredients allowing it to even substitute beard oil. If you are wondering whether or not you should use both products together, my opinion is “the more, the merrier.” While the beard oil coats your hair and skin, providing a protective layer to seal moisture into your cells, it does not hurt to provide a second line of defense. Beard balm will form a second layer of protection while simultaneously providing a bit of hold so that you can subdue any stray strands and shape your whiskers into a nice style.

4. Comb (or Brush) for a Sleek Finish
To top off your morning maintenance routine, you should use a beard comb (or beard brush) to set your bristles in the right direction to start off the day. If you have a longer beard, any stray hairs sticking out in random directions will really ruin the sleekness of a soft beard, which can easily be resolved with a few strokes of your comb to set it all straight. While a regular comb could damage your whiskers, a beard comb is made particularly for beard hair to guarantee the best care. A beard brush also trumps just a regular brush because of the same factor.

Commonly Asked Questions from Men

Q.:  Despite using both beard oil and wash on a daily basis, my beard feels rough and dry sometimes.  What am I doing wrong?
As mentioned before, it is not advisable to use a cleanser every single day because, by definition, it is meant to get rid of dirt and any kind of residue, including sebum and oil.  This means that you are stripping your beard daily of naturally occurring sebum as well as the moisture within your cells.  My recommendation is to use the beard wash only every two or three days.  On alternate days, just allow the stream of your shower water to wash through your whiskers. Additionally, don’t forget to comb your hair daily to subdue stray hairs, making your beard a whole lot sleeker and softer.

Q.:  Will beard oil exacerbate my acne?
Beard oil should not clog your pores, so it should not cause any acne.  I suggest that you find (or create) a beard oil with fast-absorbing carrier oils. These oils apply in a thin, sheer coat and do not linger on top of your skin for long.  Hazelnut oil is an example of a carrier oil that absorbs quickly as well as offers astringent action.  Also search product labels for essential oils that provide astringent and anti-bacterial properties to further cut off any acne that might already be present.

Q.:  How can I make my beard stop scratching my girl when she reaches in for a kiss?
First of all, don’t let her make you choose between her or it because it isn’t necessary.  For the best, fail-proof results, use beard oil in conjunction with beard balm, then use a boars brush to massage them well into your beard, making sure you tame all stray hairs in the brushing process.

Q.:  What home remedy do you suggest for softening my rough beard?
For the ultimate, quintessential homemade potion to make your beard super soft, I want to refer you to our guide outlining the process of making your very own beard oil from scratch.  The fact that this enables you to choose only the best oils for your particular needs means that you will have a custom-designed beard oil specifically for your beard.

Q.:  What if I want to soften my beard for the sole purpose of shaving it off?
Oil application is not recommended before you trim or shave your beard because the oil will mess up your tools.  Instead, hop into the shower and let your beard soak in warm water for about 5 minutes.  After your skin has absorbed a nice amount of water and your hair follicles have plumped up, you will have a much easier time shaving.

Grow Your Beard Thicker & Faster With The Help Of Beard Oil