Beard Care for Black Men
Source : The Mod Cabin
Black men often email and ask us for tips on how to properly grow a beard, so we wanted to share those tips here. Because of the tightly coiled nature of black hair, which is due to the flat, ribbon like structure of the hair follicle, many black men deal with ingrown hairs when they shave. There are ways to help prevent ingrown hairs, however. One way is to stop shaving and grow a beard. Beard Care for Black Men by The Mod Cabin will explain how black men can grow, style and maintain healthy facial hair.
Let It Grow
Its a good rule of thumb for black men to let their facial hair grow out for 4 to 6 weeks before cultivating their personal beard style. This will allow you to see how your facial hair grows and notice any areas that are patchy or extra thick, which could affect the beard style you choose. Regardless of style, you want to get your beard off to a great start by keeping it properly washed, conditioned and groomed.
We asked beard model Carl Battee about the advantages and challenges black men encounter when they decide to grow a beard.
Well being of of two different ethnic backgrounds (black/Hispanic) makes my facial hair much more difficult to manage, so I would say the biggest challenges of growing facial hair as a black man would be not knowing how your hair will look or react to products in the beginning stages of growth.
Use The Right Products
Because black men need extra moisture to keep their beards from becoming dry and brittle, it is important they use beard grooming products that hydrate their facial hair and skin. Unfortunately most store bought soaps and shampoos actually dry out your skin and strip your facial hair of necessary oils. We recommend avoiding store bought soaps and synthetic shampoos. Instead we recommend using all-natural hot processed soaps or cleansing oil for beard washing and all-natural beard oils and beard balms for moisturizing and conditioning.
Look for beard oils crafted with unrefined jojoba and pure argan oil. Make sure any added scents in the beard oil are made with all-natural essential oil blends rather than fragrance oils. Fragrance oils are made with undisclosed ingredients, and can be full of harsh chemicals that can irritate skin and dry out hair. Essential oils, however, can actually have a beneficial effect on skin and facial hair. We recommend using a beard oil after washing your beard, when it’s nearly dry.
Follow up with a quality, all natural beard balm. Most good beard balms will have the same moisturizers that are found in beard oils, but will also include butters and waxes that act as sealants to help hold in the moisture and keep your hair and skin hydrated. You’ll also get the added benefit of the beard balm helping make your beard appear thicker.
A lot of guys don’t know what tools to use when starting their beard journey, according to Carl.
When I first started to grow my beard I didn’t know the do’s and don’ts or what was needed and the time it would take to manage a good sizable beard. My advice to anyone who’s thinking or just starting to grow a bit of facial hair is always keep a good boars hair beard brush and beard comb handy to keep the mane looking good through out the day.
Your Beard Care Checklist
When you decide to grow a beard, make sure you have the following items to help get your started on the right track:
Beard Soap – look for all-natural soaps that have not had the naturally occurring glycerin removed. This makes a more moisturizing bar of soap.
Beard Oil – make sure your beard oil contains unrefined jojoba and pure argan oil. Stick with essential oils and avoid synthetic fragrance oils.
Beard Balm – your beard balm should contain both sealants, such as unbleanched shea butter and beeswax, as well as moisturizers like unrefined jojoba and pure argan oil.
Beard Brush – boar’s hair brushes are best for distributing oils and balms evenly through facial hair due to the natural scales along the boar’s hair bristles.
Beard Comb – a good beard comb will have teeth with smooth edges. Cheap combs will have teeth with sharp edges, which will cause facial hair to snap or break when combing.
Moustache Comb – it may sound unnecessary, but a well made moustache comb can make a huge difference in how your facial hair appears. A moustache comb will have finer teeth for more precise styling.