It’s not exactly news that sporting beards among men has progressed from mere fad status to the overwhelming norm over the last few years.
With a variety of facial hair styles sprouting on faces everywhere, it’s more timely than ever to make sure your beard is not only well styled, but kept healthy and nourished.
From neat designer stubble to an extra-long body of fuzz, we share some of our expert tips on how to care for your beard naturally to ensure your skin and hair is in the best condition it can be.
Growing healthy beard hair naturally
It’s fair to say that some of us are slightly more blessed than others in the beard growing department, which more often than not can be attributed to genes. However, as with your skin and head hair, there are ways to make sure that whatever you can grow is healthy, nourished and looks on point.
First stop? Diet. Yes, almost predictably, there is yet another benefit for eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle. The better your diet, the healthier the hair you grow will be.
In particular, your food intake should be high in:
- Protein
- Iron
- Omega-3 Fats
Consuming organic vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, peas and other greens will boost your testosterone levels: the key to improving your beard quality. Taking regular exercise, keeping your stress levels down and avoiding smoking will also work wonders.
Natural beard care tips
We all shampoo (and some condition) our hair several times a week, but what about tending to the hair on your face, chin and neck?
No matter what length or style of your beard, it is so important to keep it clean, flake-free and moisturised.
Using gentle, natural grooming products will only enhance your beard’s quality and appearance, while making sure you’re not inflicting any harsh, potentially damaging chemicals on your hair or skin.
For the shorter beard
Anything less than 10mm can be cared for using regular facial grooming products, putting emphasis on when and how you use them specifically for the beard. For the shorter beard, exfoliating is key so that dead skin can still be lifted from underneath your beard hair while softening the hair itself.
Use Green People For Men - No.1 Exfoliating Face Scrub 2-3 times a week. This certified organic exfoliator for men contains Bamboo and Cranberry to gently remove dead skin cells while Shea butter soothes the skin.
Next, wash your beard and the skin beneath with a gentle face wash which will remove impurities and cleanse the area for tip top beard condition. Try using Green People’s Foaming Face Wash which is alcohol free and balances the skin without drying it out, reducing the risk of a flaky face.
Then apply your moisturiser, which can be applied to the whole face and neck using light tapping motions, including over bearded areas. To be thorough, opt for our No. 7 Antioxidant Repair Serum and follow with No. 3 Cooling Moisturiser.
Did you know you should also use sunscreen for your beard? Read our guide to applying sun cream to your beard.
If scented products aren’t for you, there’s plenty of choice in the way of scent free skin care, ideal for sensitive skin.
Green People for Men - No. 1 Exfoliating Face Scrub 100ml
Discover a deeper clean with our exfoliator and facial cleanser for men
€20,95
For the longer beard
A slightly different approach to natural beard care is required for those with bushier beards as the hair has more potential to be dry and appear straggly.
Don’t worry though, nobody is expecting you to spend your weekends intensely treating and pampering your face. Simply extend your shampoo and conditioning regime to your beard hair while in the shower.
Using Green People For Men - No. 10 Itch Away Shampoo to wash your beard and relieve any flakiness and irritation. Follow with Scent Free Conditioner to soften and enrich the hair.
Green People for Men - No. 10 Itch Away Shampoo 150ml
A soothing natural shampoo for men with a dry, itchy or flaky scalp
€19,95
Pat dry with a towel (avoid using a hairdryer!) and once the hair has dried, scrunch a couple of drops of natural beard oil through the beard hair.
Try to use a beard oil rich in vitamin E and packed with nutrients needed to grow a healthy beard. This unique combination of natural oils stimulates hair growth whilst promoting shine and decreasing frizz.
Beard styling advice
Depending on the look you’re striving for, taming your beard really shouldn’t require a whole lot of effort. Whether you’re after a rugged look or something a little neater, the key to grooming your face lies in making it appear as natural as possible. Avoiding harsh, manicured lines is important, but equally, shapeless and unkempt isn’t the way forward.
To achieve the perfect (but not too perfect) groomed beard, follow these guidelines:
- Invest in a good trimmer to keep hair desired length
- Trim down the hair on the upper cheek area
- Avoid clean shaving your neck
- Comb long beards to neaten
- Embrace greys and don’t be tempted to dye
For personal advice on the best natural grooming products for your needs, get in touch with our UK customer care team. You can reach them on 01403 740350 or on social @GreenPeopleUK.
