How to grow a beard? [Best Beard Styles] – 2021

Beards are much more than facial hair. Having a beard means that you are a man! Overtime, your beard becomes a part of your identity. If you shave it off, you just don’t feel like yourself until it grows back. You feel like you’ve lost your ruggedness and the essence of your masculinity.

You may be surprised to learn that growing a beard is more complicated than it looks. A healthy lifestyle and some grooming maintenance are critical in keeping your beard full and thick, but your biology also plays a part of the process as well.

Some men sprout a full beard by sixteen, while others won't reach their full beard potential until their mid-to-late twenties. You have no control over biology, so don't worry too much about it. You will likely manage some form of a beard.

Over time, your beard will get thicker and sparse areas will fill in. Once you're in your thirties, it's time to face the fact that the beard you have now, is what you will have the rest of your life. If it's not the beard of your dreams, that's okay.

Don't be discouraged if your beard doesn't fill out quite as well as you had hoped. Most men still have enough facial hair to manage a beard. If you have no hair on your cheeks, you can grow a goatee, etc. Have fun with it. If you don't like the first style, shave it off and try again.

Facial hair grows at the same rate as all of your hair. On average, it grows half-an-inch per month, but this varies by person and your overall health. Hair is made of protein, so protein-rich diets will help your hair grow more quickly.

A healthy body equals a healthy beard. Diets also rich in fruits and vegetables help you to grow hair more quickly simply because you are healthier. As discussed previously, women perceive men with beards as being healthier, and that is actually correct.

Your hair, including beard hair, can grow more slowly if you are under stress or are ill. Reducing stress and sleeping well keeps your follicles and hormones, which cause beard hair to grow, in balance and produces a better quality beard.

Beards have become more popular in recent years. Beards only became scarce after the Health Department suggested men shave their beards to prevent spreading germs, such as tuberculosis,  around the turn of the twentieth century. Now that we have a better understanding of germs and health, beards are back!

It’s a refreshing change to see bearded men on the cover of magazines and on commercials. For those of us who love beards, it is a welcome sight. Beards have become a part of our culture once again.

Part of the fun of having a beard is that if you change your beard, you change your whole look by styling it. Whether you choose to wear a close-cut goatee or a full, bushy beard, beard styles are just part of the fun of having facial hair. You can tailor your beard to be more professional or grow it out to look more rugged.

An added benefit to having a beard is that you can style and trim it in order to make up for facial features you want to conceal and draw attention to those you want to stand out. Women do this with makeup, but men can do the same thing with their facial hair.
I am writing this article to let you know that no two beards the same. You have beard style options that can change your appearance. It is the guide on how you can grow the beard of your dreams.

You know your face better than anyone, so you know the features you like about it and the ones that could use a little help. Face shapes can only give you generalized advice. You can detract attention from features or draw attention toward features as you see fit using these tips around the features in question.

• Create sharp angles
• Cut sharp lines
• Use longer hair in some areas

• Trim round angles
• Cut softer edges
• Keep hair shorter

Scarring, acne, and other skin conditions can be covered up completely with a full, thick beard. If you choose to grow out a beard for this reason, keep in mind that you can still work on your own style by trimming the beard length to give the illusion of a more preferable shape.

If it's your first time growing a beard, you will likely stop shaving and may experience itching, especially around the neck. This is normal and will go away once the hairs get a little longer. You can trim neck hair and shave around the neckline while waiting for the rest of your beard to grow in.

I mentioned the neckline before. The neckline should be slightly above the Adam's apple and cut in a "U" shape following the shape of your chin to the corner of your jaws. Hair that is growing below this line should be trimmed closely or shaved off for a more groomed appearance.

Trimming your budding beard is half the fun of growing one. An electric trimmer is invaluable to keeping your beard looking great and prevent it from looking like you're too lazy to shave. A trimmer allows you to use guides of different sizes in order to trim it uniformly.

To trim your beard, use a beard comb to brush the hairs against the grain, up and out so it is easier for the trimmer to cut. Use the desired guide for the length you prefer. You can use the same guide for the entire beard, or multiple guides. Just make sure to clip them on firmly or they can pop off and ruin your beard.

Another tip to soften things up with a trimmer is that you can blend longer lengths by using a tapered guide or by manually tapering the angle of the trimmer as you cut. Leaving your beard longer in some areas will also change the shape of your face and give it a more seamless, natural appearance.

For your mustache, trim it as you would with your beard, then comb the hairs down toward your lips and finish trimming around your lips with beard scissors. Failure to do this will result in your mustache getting in your food and drink.

The skin beneath your beard tends to be dry. To prevent drying and flaking of the skin use beard oil, beard conditioner or beard balm on your beard. Oiling your beard will also soften the hairs so it is less irritating to the skin of women who may come close enough to be poked by it. Also, if you are serious about your beard, then you need a beard grooming kit.
To maintain a well-groomed appearance, wash your beard with a beard cleanser daily, and use a beard comb or brush to keep errant hairs in place.

Beard Grooming Kit

How to choose a Beard Grooming Kit

There are many different beard grooming kits available, each one with their own benefits or promises, so how do you know which one to buy? The best advice you could get would be to purchase a beard grooming kit that will cover your entire routine, if you have one established. If you trim your beard every morning, then wouldn’t it make sense to buy a beard grooming kit that includes a pair of quality scissors? A good starter kit should, at the least, include beard wash, beard oil or beard balm, scissors, and either a brush or a comb. This would ensure that if you are a beginner with beard grooming, you will have everything you need.

Advantages of having a Beard Grooming Kit

If you don’t groom your beard regularly, it begins to look more like that of a homeless man than one belonging to a man of some sort of sophistication. Having a beard grooming kit makes the process easier by supplying you with everything you need in order to keep your beard well maintained. Some of them may also include a sort of guide to give you ideas on different ways to groom your beard with the purchased kit. Each beard grooming kit is different, and all offer different levels of control when grooming your beard.

Prerequisites for Using a Beard Grooming Kit

There are only two prerequisites to using this product. The first would be to have a beard, because without one you have nothing to tame. The other requirement would be the desire to groom your beard on your own instead of spending loads of money to visit a barber regularly.

This video explains the difference between beard balms and beard oils, which may help you determine which kit would be best for you: 

​​​​5  Best Beard Grooming Kit

​​​​DapperGanger Beard Grooming Kit

The first suggestion I would give to anyone with the desire to broom their own beard would be The Beard Grooming Kit by DapperGanger includes a canvas travel bag, stainless steel scissors, shampoo, beard oil, beard balm and a beard comb. All of the ingredients are organic and made in America, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of your products, or the ingredients that went into them. The shampoo and the oil are designed to be used by those with sensitive skin and will not cause breakouts or reactions. You don’t have to worry about the products being of low quality; you can tell that the products are of higher quality by reading down the ingredient list. When looking down the ingredient list, you will be able to tell at once that only natural, organic ingredients were chosen to be included in the beard oil, beard balm and beard wash. 

BushKlawz Beard Grooming Kit

The second suggestion would be The Beard Balm and Pocket Comb Set by Urban Prince comes with beard balm and several different types of combs to tame almost any beard. The balm is made from 100% natural ingredients, which will improve the strength and softness of your beard. With the product by Urban Prince, you don’t have to worry about putting unnatural products in your beard just to tame it. The natural oils will tame your beard better than anything with artificial products in it. 

The Beard Legacy Grooming Kit

The Beard Grooming Trimming Growth Kit by The Beard Legacy includes a bottle of beard oil, stainless steel scissors, a beard brush, a comb and a small pouch big enough to carry the scissors and comb in. The pouch is just big enough to carry the comb and scissors in and attaches to your belt, allowing you to comb or trim your beard wherever you are. The brush and comb, although they are not as portable as the scissors and comb, are also of high quality. 

Wizard Beard Grooming Kit

The next suggestion would be The Beard Grooming Care Kit by Wizard Beard includes beard balm, a double sided comb, a beard brush, beard oil and a drawstring bag to carry it all in. Including both balm and oil allows you the freedom to test each to determine which one would be the best for your beard, without having to buy them both individually, or to risk buying one and possibly not liking it.The drawstring bag makes it simple to keep everything together, no matter where you may go. The ingredients for the balm and the oil are all natural, and it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you do not like the products, you can return them and be no worse off.

Craft Beard Grooming Kit

The Beard Grooming Kit by CraftBeard comes with two different scented oils, a double sided comb and a pair of stainless steel scissors. The oils are organic and of high quality, each possessing a unique scent so that you can decide which is best for you. The double sided comb allows you to comb through your beard with different levels of fineness, to work out any knot or kink. This is one of the few kits that include a pair of stainless steel scissors, with the sharpness that only hair cutting scissors can accomplish. 

If you have a beard and would like to save money in the long run by grooming it yourself, then purchasing a beard grooming kit is a wonderful idea. Any of the five mentioned are excellent choices for the beginner groomer and the experienced groomer alike, though the Beard Grooming Kit by DapperGanger would be my number one suggestion for any buyer. This specific grooming kit includes everything that a beginner groomer would need in order to fully tame their beard and to keep it tamed. It also gives them the option to play with using the beard balm or the beard oil in order to find out what is best for them. Despite that, determining the best option is up to you to decide.

Beard Comb

Benefits of Using A Beard Comb

There are many benefits that come with regularly using a beard comb.

• It reduces ingrown hairs. Combing encourages your hairs to grow in the right direction.
• It makes your beard look fuller. With a comb, you are training your hairs to grow in correctly, perfectly aligning around your face.
• It prevents hairs from growing into your mouth. Combing regularly will keep the hairs from growing into your mouth. It can also help to clear out any left over food particles that may have gotten stuck in there.
• It can help you to apply your beard oil and moisturizer. You can only reach so deep when applying beard oil or moisturizer. Using a comb will help you to evenly distribute the product throughout your beard.

What To Look For When Choosing A Beard Comb

There are a few things you should keep in mind when looking for your new beard comb.

Price

Before you do anything else, be sure you set your budget. Like most things, some beard combs are more expensive than others. In general, the more expensive the comb, the better it will be. This is because it will be made of higher quality materials. However, there are plenty of great options available in any price range.

Comb Material

There is a number of different types of beard combs that you can choose from. The different materials include: Wood, Plastic, Metal, Horn/Bone
The most popular type of beard comb are the wooden combs. These ones are the best at removing knots and tangles. However, everyone has a different preference. You must decide which one works best for you.

Comb Teeth Size

Different comb widths are better for different situations. Wide tooth combs are great for detangling. A fine tooth comb is better for styling and keeping hair in place. Your ideal comb tooth width will depend on your reason for buying a beard comb. You may also consider getting two beard combs, one for each main use. (Source)

How To Comb Your Beard

Once you comb your beard a few times, it will feel very naturally. But, when you are just starting out, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are five steps you should follow when combing your beard.

• Figure out which comb is better for your situation. Do you need a wide tooth comb or a fine tooth comb? As we mentioned above, wide teeth are better for getting rid of knots whereas fine teeth are better for styling.
• Now that you have your comb picked out, you can begin combing. The best time to groom is right after you get out of the shower. Hold the comb with the teeth up and begin at the bottom of your beard. Start at your neck and work upward.
• Use a light grip. There is no need to use a tight grip when combing your beard.
• Next take care of snags, which you will inevitably run into. Do not tug or pull, work through the tangles slowly and gently. Using beard oil will help you comb your beard with ease.
•  After you have combed your beard upward to fluff out your beard, comb down to style it. This process is a lot easier with a fuller beard.

Best 5 Beard Comb

Grow A Beard Beard Brush and Comb Set

The Grow a Beard Brush and Combo Set is one of the most portable beard combs on the market. This bristle and comb combo is made of a durable bamboo material and can last for hundreds of uses. The two are both very small and offer easier portability for day to day beard combing. The company also offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee with purchase.

Kent 81T- Men's Handmade Beard/Moustache Comb

The Kent 81T- Men’s Handmade Beard and Mustache Comb is a small-sized comb perfect for daily beard grooming. The comb itself is made of a plastic material but is super durable and easy to carry around in your back pocket.

Hunter Jack Beard Comb Kit for Men

The Hunter Jack Beard Combo kit is a durable beard comb for daily use. The comb is made of an anti-static green sandalwood material and can help improve your beard with every use. The comb also comes with a leather carrying case to prevent damage to it and for easier portability if you’re on the go.

Folding Wood Comb by Striking Viking

Striking Viking’s Folding Wood Comb is a unique bear comb due to the fact that it can actually fold up and fit easily in your pant’s pocket or backpack. The comb is made of a durable anti-static wood material and helps evenly comb your beard for healthier facial furniture. Due to the sandalwood material of the comb, it helps your new beard comb last longer and brush better.

Soho Grooming Beard Shaping Tool

The Soho Grooming Beard Shaping Tool is a great beard comb, built for shaping and styling. It comes in a sharp black color and offers the ability to both comb out and knots or tangles in your beard, as well as shaping it up for your select style. This comb allows for professional-grade accuracy without the hefty price tag that comes with it.

Among the top five beard combs that we went through, our top pick is the Grow A Beard Beard Brush and Comb Set. The beard comb is uniquely crafted from an anti-static sandalwood for a more durable grip. In addition, the comb also comes with a carrying case to prevent damage when combing your beard away from home.

Beard brush

A beard brush is a critical accessory that lets you groom your beard. If you are planning to buy a good beard brush, this article is for you. The article highlights the qualities that make up a good beard brush, and it reviews some beard brushes that you can purchase.

What Are the Qualities to look for in A Good Beard Brush?

The market has many beard brushes with different qualities, prices, and are manufactured by various companies. As such, picking the best beard brush from the vast array might be a challenge. Some of the qualities that can help you choose the best from the rest include:

​The material used to make the brush

Most beard brushes’ handles are designed from plastic, bamboo and wood. Plastic made beard brushes are water resistant, they last long and they are washable. On the other hand, those made of wood and bamboos are eco-friendly, and they are durable.

Type of bristles

Most beard brushes have natural and synthetic bristles. The natural hair bristles are soft, and they are a good option for conditioning, styling and cleaning short beards. On the other hand, synthetic bristles are tougher than natural hair bristles. Brushes with synthetic bristles are a good option for combing, spreading beard products, and cleaning long beards. You might want to choose a beard brush that matches your hair type.

The size of your beard brush has a lot to do with your beard grooming. For instance, you might want to purchase a small sized brush if you like traveling. Standard size brushes are an excellent option for beard grooming tasks at home.

How to Use a Beard Brush

The secret to getting a stylish and well-groomed beard is to educate yourself on how to use the beard brush properly. Stylists recommend that you should moisturize your hair using an air conditioner before you start styling it.

After applying the moisturizer, comb through your beard gently as aggressive combing might be painful and uncomfortable. Always brush your beards from top to bottom and from side to center. This YouTube video is an excellent visual guide.

Smooth Viking Beard brush

Smooth Viking beard brush’s bristles are made from wild boars. The firm bristles make the brush a good option for styling and grooming your beard and mustache. Also, this beard brush from Smooth Viking is free of the synthetic fillers that wear out easily or even irritate your skin.

Besides grooming and styling your beard, the boar bristle let you apply natural oil on your beard, it untangle tough curl knots on your beard, and it clears dirt and dandruff from your mustache or beard. Another important feature on this beard brush is its wooden handle that lasts long.

Bamboo Beard Brush and Comb Set

The bamboo beard brush is designed to help users groom all types of beards. You can use the brush to moisturize, clean, and apply oil and other beard products to your hair. Its firm but soft bamboo boar bristles comb through all types of beards are they are designed to reduce static.

Another reason why we recommend this bamboo brush is because of its pocket size that lets you, groom, at home or away from home. The standard package of this beard brush contains the palm size beard brush and a comb to help you style your beard.

Furthermore, this beard brush is backed with a 100% money back guarantee. This guarantee lets you return the product in case you feel it is not holding up its promise.

The Liberty premium beard brush features 100% boar hair bristles attached to a wooden handle. This wooden handle has a black finish that enhances its aesthetic value while giving you the freedom to clean it quickly. The beard brush comes with a free comb and a free e-book with tips you need to groom and style your beard.

You can use this beard brush from Liberty to clean your beard, moisturize and apply beard oil as well as styling your beard. Its firm boar hair bristles dig deep into your beard to eliminate dead skin and dandruff.

You may want to purchase this beard brush because it is customized for men, the hairs are lab tested, and the handle is made of a sturdy European Beech wood. Its lifetime money back guarantees let you return the beard brush anytime you feel it doesn't work as advertised.

This pocket beard brush might be a good option for people who travel a lot, and they want a good brush to help them groom their beard while they are away from home. Zeus Pocket beard brush has firm boar bristles that can comb through the tough tangles to give you a well-maintained beard.

Besides styling your beard, you can also use this beard brush to massage your skin as a way to make it robust and healthy. Its compact size and carry case gives you the freedom to carry it in your vehicle or your traveling bag.

Another excellent feature on this brush is its warp resistant wood handle that is easily cleaned by wiping. Also, this sturdy wood lasts long.

Repsol Care Beard Brush And Beard Comb

The beard brush features a wooden handle and boar bristles. The firm bristles help you style long coarse and curly beards. As such, this brush is a good option for spreading beard oil, conditioning beards and cleaning them. Furthermore, you can use the beard brush to massage and soften your beards.

The full kit of this beard brush from Repsol Care comes with a handmade comb featuring a fine tooth finish that protects it from pulling your beard hair. You can use its carry case to store or take your beard brush. It is backed by a 90-day money back guarantee. During this 90 day period, you can return the beard brush if it fails to deliver the expected results.

A beard brush is an essential grooming accessory that lets you style your beards, apply beard oil, clean your beards, as well as massaging the skin under your beards. An excellent beard brush has firm bristles that can brush through all types of beards and a sturdy handle that can last long. From our review above, we recommend best Smooth Viking Beard brush as the best beard brush in this list. 

Beard Balm

Let’s be honest, if you have a beard, you should be using beard balm. Not only does it moisturize your hair and skin, but it also conditions it, making it look great through and through. To make your purchasing decision easier, we have made this handy buying and recommended the top five beard balms on the market.

What Is Beard Balm And Why Should You Use It?

Beard balm is a type of conditioner for your beard that is made up of four main ingredients: beeswax, butter, carrier oils, and essential oils. These four ingredients work together both moisturize and condition your beard. Beard balm can:

• Make your beard softer
• Reduce dandruff
• Get rid of split ends
• Moisturize and nourish the beard and skin underneath it
• Shape your beard, even the unmanageable hairs
• Leave your beard smelling great

With all of these benefits, why would you not use beard balm? (Source)

How To Pick The Best Beard Balm

There are a few things you should look at when choosing your beard balm.

Ingredients

Perhaps the most important factor to pay attention to is the ingredients list. Ideally, you should look for a beard balm that uses all natural ingredients. It is better for your face, your beard, and the environment. As far as the carrier oils go, look for argon, jojoba, and grape seed oils. For the butter, look for natural shea or cocoa butter.

The size of The Package

Most of the time, you will find beard balms in one ounce or two ounce containers. When comparing different beard balms, make sure you take the container size and price into account.

Price

 Look for the best value for your cash (Source).

How To Apply Beard Balm

• Work your beard balm application into your daily routine. It is best to apply it right after your morning shower. When your beard and skin are damp, they will absorb the greatest portion of the ingredients.
• Scoop out a little bit of balm, about the size of your thumbnail.
• Rub it around in your hands until the balm is malleable and melted.
• Apply the beard balm to your skin and beard. It does not matter which one you apply it to first.
• Massage the balm into your beard in a downward motion. Make sure you work it into your whole beard from the roots to the tips.
• Wipe off any excess beard balm. You can use a brush or beard comb to get a more stylized look (Source).

5 Best Beard Balm

Honest Amish Beard Balm

The Honest Amish Beard Balm is one of the highest recommended beard balms to try for everyday use. Not only is it made right here in America, but it is also incredibly strong in helping reduce beard itch and dandruff. In addition, it also helps soften course beard hair for a more comfortable feel.

Smooth Viking Beard Balm

The Smooth Viking Beard Balm is a great leave in wax conditioner for men’s beards. It helps make styling easy and even promotes healthy beard growth. The balm itself is very lightweight, which makes it ideal for thick mustaches. Also, the Smooth Viking Beard Balm is made of premium oils for a better-shaped beard without and risk of dandruff afterward.

Wild Willie's Beard Balm

Wild Willie’s Beard Balm is a great beard molding tool for those looking for an all-natural balm. In fact, all the ingredients that make up the balm are 100 percent organic. Wild Willie’s beard balm is also made right here in America. Other features this balm include are reducing beard itch, preventing dandruff, and promoting overall beard growth.

Rocky Mountain Barber Beard Balm

The Rocky Mountain Barber Beard Balm is one of the healthiest balms due to its high content of all-natural ingredients. In addition, the balm also contains eight essential oils to promote a healthier beard. Due to its small canister size, the balm can be brought just about anywhere. Rocky Mountain Barber’s beard balm also features a cedar wood scent for a better smelling beard.

Premium Nature Beard Balm

Premium Nature Beard Balm is an all-natural balm that helps promote beard, growth reduces beard itch, and offers the best styling for bearded men. The balm comes in a portable canister that is durable enough to be portable for daily use on-the-go. Premium Nature’s beard balm also sports an enjoyable smelling citrus scent that lasts for hours.

Among our best beard balms, the winner of the most impressive balm is the Honest Amish Beard Balm. It is a very lightweight balm that is made out of top rated premium oils. Honest Amish’s beard balm helps promote healthy beard growth and prevents any itching or dandruff to occur. Overall, it is the best mess-free and easiest beard balm to use when styling your beard, whether for a special occasion or daily use.

Growing your beard can be a fun change. You will enjoy changing the style your beard and experimenting with what styles look best on your face. Trial and error is the best way to truly know what will work best on you.

Remember to take care of your body for the best beard growing results. In no time you will be able to have a beard that you love. 

Related article:
Barber vs cutting your own hair