It's getting cold out there! I know you are all counting down the days until Christmas. And, you wish you had decided to get that log burner, after all. We must continue to look after ourselves, and by that, I mean our beards!
You may represent a wizard's guild or beginning your beard journey. Either way, these tips will help you look after your beard during winter.
Washing the beard
The low humidity outside will leave your beard feeling a bit brittle. So, reduce the amount of beard shampoo you use each week and use shampoo as little as once or twice a week. Foaming washes can add to dehydration. You can use warm water to clean the beard; make sure to pay attention to the skin underneath. Get stuck in with the tips of your fingers and massage any dry skin away. I tend to use a jojoba conditioner on my facial hair.
Cover up!
Your chin may be warmer with that homegrown face scarf. It would help if you wrapped up using a scarf. Cover the beard, especially if it's snowing or particularly frosty. Ice and snow can damage the beard; it can make it very brittle and increase the number of split ends.
I can't believe it's not butter
Beard oil is excellent for adding moisture to the beard and helps keep it soft. Those of you using a beard balm may notice that they feel a lot heavier in beard than usual in the cold. The cold air can make the wax harder than normal.
Have you tried using beard butter instead? All the goodness of an oil and balm, without the wax. Beard butter looks after the beard and the skin underneath. Plus are suitable for all beard types and lengths. If you have a short beard, you may feel that oil or balm isn't necessary, whereas butter may be the ideal alternative.
Manage those split ends and get a trim.
Before it gets cold, give your beard a head-start by getting any split end trimmed up. I know it can be scary to take your beard to the barbers, so make sure they are experienced in trimming beards. I get my beard trimmed at Ricky J's in St Neots.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to have a chat with your barber before they set loose with the clippers. Explain that you are looking for a slight trim as you are growing it out. You don't want them taking off more than necessary. You'll identify early on if they are, in fact, comfortable doing it. Check out the local barbers online. Do they include beard trims on their price lists?
Find a beard care product that works for you
There are A LOT of beard care companies out there. Most offer a variant of raw ingredients, and some will work better in your beard than others. If you have sensitive skin, always test with a small amount first. , find a company that has sample size bottles to try before you commit to a full-size bottle.
If you are looking for a product to reduce itchy dry skin, then here are some base oils to keep an eye out for:
Grapeseed Oil Vitus Vinifera makes your hair smooth and soft. It can even promote hair growth. Its fast absorbing nature makes it very useful for acne-prone or oily skin.
Sea Buckthorn (Hippohae Rhamnoides) has six different fat-soluble vitamins, 22 fatty acids, 42 kinds of lipids and 36 kinds of flavonoids - Woah! It is the richest natural source of Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) and Omega 7. Plenty of rich ingredients makes it a skincare necessity.
Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa) seals in moisture and helps repair split ends.
Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis) treats many skin ailments by reducing inflammation.
Borage Oil/Starflower Oil (Borago Officinalis) is rich in essential fatty acids and treats dry skin.
RUNESILK is an independent beard care company based in Little Paxton. Daniel has been making beard care products since 2018, and their products have received eleven Golden Beard Awards; and are an active member of many bearding communities. If you need any advice or help with your beard care routine, you can always reach out to the owner Daniel at info@runesilk.com.
Oh, and if you're in the early phases of growing a beard and struggling to get past the itchy stage, "Let it grow!" It does get easier 😊