The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Beard this Season

When Old Man Winter shakes his hands and casts that cold, icy, and snowing weather over the world, it can through many people for a loop. Wintertime makes caring for your skin, your body, and even your beard a little more difficult. Since winter tends to dry out everything around, it is important to know how to properly care for your beard during the cold months.

With all the cold weather and busy times, caring for your beard might seem like the last thing on your list, but it shouldn’t be. You can easily care for your beard despite the cold weather and busy times that usually surround the winter and the holiday seasons.

It doesn’t even have to be difficult to care for your beard when it’s cold out. In fact, there are a few tips that make it rather easy to keep a happy and healthy beard while you enjoy the holiday season. Here is what you need to know about taking care of your beard during the wintertime.

Trim it Up

There is nothing worse than a scraggly beard. It not only makes you look rough around the edges, but it also looks like you don’t care as much as you do. Instead of leaving your beard to chance, you should try to keep it trimmed as often as possible. Trim away the long and unruly hairs to keep your beard looking fresh.

If you don’t feel comfortable trimming it yourself, you can always head to your local barber and have them give you trim. They can help you avoid those dry hairs that tend to split and keep your beard in better shape.

Avoid That Hot Water

When the days turn cold, many tend to go straight for hotter showers and hotter water while washing the face. However, hot water can be detrimental to your beard. One thing is the creation of dandruff after using hot water to wash, which can be itchy and grotesque. Hot water is drying as well, which can cause your beard hairs to become brittle and break.

Instead of using hot water, trying using a warm or even cool water. The cooler water will help clean your beard but not dry it out. The cool water doesn’t strip your beard of its natural oils, and it is better for your beard overall.

Wash It

You wouldn’t think that washing your beard would be a difficult thing, but when the winter months come rolling around, you might want to reconsider your beard washing routine. Washing with shampoo can strip your beard of all the natural oils that keep the hairs from becoming dry and brittle. Much like washing with cooler water, you should wash with something besides shampoo to keep your beard healthy.

Washing with conditioner instead of shampoo and lightly massaging the conditioner into your beard is a great way to get it clean without damaging the hairs on your face. Let the conditioner sit for one to two minutes before washing it out with lukewarm or cool water. Your beard will be clean and healthy at the same time.

Drying It

As soon as you get out of the shower, you need to begin drying your beard. When excess moisture sits on your beard, it becomes a place for bacteria to grow or even for more drying out of the skin and hair. The best way to dry your beard is by using a clean towel, or a hair dryer that has a cold setting.

The cool blasts of air will help dry your beard but also give it a bit of shine as well, making your beard look healthier than ever before. If you are drying with a towel, be sure to gently dab the beard and not rub, since rubbing can cause the hairs to tangle, pull free, or break off. This is especially important if you are trying to put moisture back into your beard.

Use Beard Oil or Balm

Just like with hair, your beard needs conditioning. Instead of using conditioner in the shower alone, you should also use a balm or a beard oil to keep your beard hydrated and prevent it from drying out in the cold weather.

There are many different beard oils and balms out there, which can make it difficult to find the best one for your personal needs. These oils and balms do not have to be rinsed off either, which helps keep your beard looking healthier and feeling softer than ever before.

Conclusion

Winter is not kind to skin, bodies, or hair. In fact, when winter comes around, it can often dry out your skin and your hair, your beard included. If you are seriously trying to take care of your beard this winter, it might seem like a lost cause. However, it’s not as difficult as it might seem.

Just by taking a little time to wash your beard differently, conditioning properly, drying it immediately after washing, and more, you can ensure that your beard looks and feels amazing. Not only will you look great, but you will be confident as well with your healthy and shaped beard.

If you want to put a more dapper spin on your look along with your beard this winter, you can check out some of the stylebook ideas that many men are using to help find the right clothes to match their new, healthy beards

Written by Jeffrey Arvel