All posts by Steven Wilson

No-Shave November: more than an opportunity to grow your beard

2019/11/07 Steven Wilson Leave a comment

Last updated: November 1, 2023

It’s November. Make that No-Shave November. In the United States, Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. No matter where you are, 2019 is nearing its end. The next couple of months are a favorite time of year for many thanks to the holidays and traditions of time spent with family, surrounded by laughter and good food. It’s also when No-Shave November rolls around.

Now is the time when we can all get on board to help raise awareness for men’s health, including men who are battling cancer along with the common side effect of hair loss associated with their treatments. No-Shave November is a great way for us to join together, similar to American Heart Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in February and October, to support those living with illness.

What is No-Shave November?

A lot of guys may not be aware of what No-Shave November is really about. Some see it as an opportunity to save time each day by not shaving and maybe gaining a little extra sleep every morning. Others just think November is a month to let their beards grow because the weather might be getting colder. Or they might see it now as the traditional month to start growing a new beard.

Of course No-Shave November offers the perfect excuse for growing a new beard. But the real purpose of No-Shave November is to support men fighting prostate and testicular cancer and to prevent men’s suicide. No-Shave November means raising awareness about men’s health and the importance of early detection and prevention. To do this, men are encouraged to grow out their facial hair as a symbol of support and donate the regular costs of grooming to the cause.

Why is it important?

Men’s health is often brushed aside. But the causes that No-Shave November support are important concerns for all men.

Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland where it may grow slowly or it may grow aggressively and spread quickly to other organs and tissues. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetimes, making it one of the most common cancers for men. Early detection is key for the best treatment outcomes.

The Mayo Clinic classifies testicular cancer as being relatively rare. Yet it is the most common cancer for American men between the ages of 15 and 35. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to see if you should give yourself regular testicular self-exams to aid in early detection.

No-shave November men's suicide prevention: crisis counseling sign — Never let suicidal thoughts overtake you. There is always hope and there is always help, even if you feel that there is none. Resources are available. Please reach out to someone for help.

Men’s suicide rates are alarmingly high. It’s a disturbing crisis that is difficult for many to acknowledge. Reports indicate that women are more likely to think about suicide while men are more likely to carry it out. Recent data revealed that men died by suicide 3.5 times more often than women. If someone you know is in crisis, reach out to help connect them with resources to prevent a potential tragedy. In the United States if you are in crisis, or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, 24/7, at 988. In other countries, please seek out appropriate suicide-prevention resources.

What if you can’t grow a beard?

Growing a beard fit for a lumberjack isn’t always realistic. Some guys have never been able to grow one. If that’s you, don’t worry. The lack of ability to grow a beard is genetic and you just can’t help it.

One way you might participate in No-Shave November is by letting the rest of your hair grow for the month. For some, that option presents its own challenge. As we get older, it can get harder to grow our hair like when we were younger. And even young guys may experience male pattern baldness much earlier than they might have ever expected. Unlike the inability to improve beard thickness, you can treat hair loss, if it’s right for you, with a doctor’s prescription for male pattern baldness. This could help you show your support for the No-Shave November movement without having to stress about lacking the genetics for beard-growing.

Another way to participate in No-Shave November if you cannot grow your own beard is to suggest to beard-capable men that they grow their beards. Encourage them to grow and support No-Shave November themselves.

What if you already have a beard?

If you’ve already got a beard and are a pro at beard growing, don’t scoff at No-Shave November as “amateur beard month”. Encourage all the first-time beard growers out there and welcome them as newcomers to the bearded brotherhood.

Not a necessity, but a way to make a big statement would be to shave your beard and start growing again. You can think of it like that old saying which states that the only reason to shave off your beard is to experience the pleasure of growing it out again.

No-Shave November: more than a beard - photo of John's beard — Bearded already? Give encouragement to the rookie beard growers and recruit others to grow their beards for No-Shave November!

Even if you’re already fully bearded and opt not to shave and regrow, you can participate in No-Shave November by reminding everyone that it’s all about raising awareness about men’s health issues. Amplify your participation by recruiting others to participate as well.

How can you support the cause?

Be a leader. Don’t be afraid to keep the conversation going around these significant men’s health issues. Keeping the focus on men’s health issues helps to press for needed research to improve treatments and prevention.

Taking part in No-Shave November is a great way to show that you stand for something. People will follow you. People will want to hear your story and know what you represent.

Relevant charities

Two relevant No-Shave November charities are:

You can check them out on Charity Navigator to learn about how they rate as charities:

- Livestrong Foundation on Charity Navigator
- Prostate Cancer Foundation on Charity Navigator

When the month ends

Although No-Shave November ends at the month’s close, your support doesn’t have to end. Spreading your message, beliefs, and support for those fighting prostate and testicular cancer as well as men’s suicide can be a year-round effort. And the end of No-Shave November does NOT mean that you automatically should resume shaving. Keep growing your new beard!

To continue the mission of No-Shave November, consider volunteering at your local hospital or participating in races or walks that support men who continue to fight these awful diseases.

If you feel that a month off from shaving is enough for you, then you might think about getting rid of your new beard growth. If so, stop. Think again. Don’t make a hasty, automatic decision that your new beard growth must go. If after careful consideration you decide that your new beard absolutely cannot remain, do the deed the right way by following our expert guide to shaving off your beard. Then make a commitment to grow again during the next No-Shave November.

growing a beard

Grow your beard! It’s No-Shave November 2019.

2019/11/01 Steven Wilson Leave a comment

Welcome, new beard growers! Don’t be shy. If you’ve never grown your beard, now is the time to boldly grow where you’ve never grown before.

Although, any time is a good time to start growing out your beard, there’s no better time to start than during No-Shave November. There is strength in numbers. You won’t be alone in your beard-growing effort. And if your beard-growing confidence gets a little shaky when confronted with objections or criticisms by others, you can justify your new beard growth by pointing out that it’s No-Shave November.

You can grow your new beard with confidence and success by following our proven guide on how to grow a beard. So don’t delay. Start growing out your beard today!

Chris shows off his new beard growth as an example for No-Shave November. — Grow your beard for No-Shave November…and beyond!

And when November ends, don’t stop there. Keep growing! We hope that once you go beard, you’ll never go back.

Be sure to go here and grow your beard:

How to grow a beard

beard care and grooming

Look younger while sporting a beard

2019/09/25 Steven Wilson Leave a comment

Most men like to look younger. Some will even admit it. However, too many guys automatically believe that looking younger means shaving off their beards. Stop! Don’t do that! Instead, follow these steps to look younger while still sporting your prized facial hair.

Step 1: Get your rest

The first step to looking younger is making sure that you are getting a good night’s sleep, every night. Depriving your body of proper rest can lead to many health problems. One of the first negative effects of insufficient sleep is on your looks. Having bags under your eyes can make you look older. And a great cure for that is…SLEEP.

Step 2: Prep your face

The next step to looking younger is always keeping up on general maintenance. Washing your face every day and exfoliating once a week is a good place to start. It is good to rid your skin of excess oils that could lead to breakouts and scarring, which could diminish your youthful look. It’s important to know your skin type for this step! Skin types, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, are:

Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use

Normal skin is clear and not sensitive

Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough

Oily skin is shiny and greasy

Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Each skin type presents its own need. For oily skin you should use a cleanser that cleans deep. But for dry or sensitive skin you want to use a gentle cleanser.

Step 3: Trim and shape

How to look younger with a beard, image 002 — Big or small: keep your beard looking sharp for a younger appearance.

After washing your face, your hair follicles are at their prime for trimming and shaping. That said, trimming with clippers or scissors generally works better when your beard and mustache are dry. When your beard is well trimmed and shaped, it’s bound to make heads turn your way. Plenty of young guys keep their beards in top form. This should remain a priority as you get older. You want to make sure that your beard looks sharp and well-groomed.

Keeping all your edges crisp and clean is key to a sharp-looking beard. The easiest way to get this look is by using the right tools. Do your research and make sure you are using the proper accessories when it comes to maintaining your facial hair. Brands like Harry’s offer many different shaving products and solutions you can use to clean up your beard’s edges and turn your trimming process into perfection. Pro Tip: Don’t forget your eyebrows. Trim your eyebrows to keep them in check as well. The neater your eyebrows and beard are, the younger you look.

Step 4: Add some beard oil

We know that as we age, our bodies change. With that said, our facial hair changes too, which can make us look older. Facial hair not only changes in color, but it can also change in texture. The older we get, the more coarse our beards may become. However, beard oil can help with this. Adding a little beard oil every day will help to moisturize and protect your beard!

Step 5: Moisturize your face

Adding a light lotion to your face can reduce the effects of the environment on your skin. Using the correct moisturizer for your skin type can make a world of difference. For example, if you normally have dry skin, use a heavier daily moisturizer. For added defense, try a face moisturizer that contains sun protection (SPF). This will help limit the effects of sun exposure. However, be sure not to add face moisturizer to the areas that already have beard oil on them.

Add these five steps to your regular grooming routine and you will look younger before you know it. With the proper care, you can keep your beard and still look younger! Now please share any other tips that work for you in the comments below!

featured beards

William’s winning beard

2019/09/01 Steven Wilson 3 Comments

Meet William

All about beards is happy and proud to welcome William to the featured beards section. William’s beard story is an important one because of his steadfast resistance to the onslaught of anti-beard criticism that he faced once he set out to grow his beard. William stood firm against all the anti-beard naysayers and refused to give up on his beard. Instead, William became fiercely dedicated to growing his beard and is a strong advocate for beards. For this, William merits respect as he stands as a great example for all new beard growers who may waver in their confidence when subjected to criticism of their nascent beards. William demonstrated that by staying strong and dedicated, despite all opposition, he truly has grown a winning beard.

William’s introduction:

My name is William and I have been constantly bearded since January 2013. Living and working in the Netherlands, I decided to become bearded before the big “beard hype” over here…not for beard fashion reasons, but I was willing to change and wanting something different with my face. And I was getting bored with shaving once or twice a day… that was also a big reason, to be quite honest.

I work as a lawyer. I am married and have three children. I play the euphonium in a local band, love to travel, and am active in a confirmation group in a Roman Catholic church and Mary fraternity that dates back to 1834 . I love reading all kinds of books and papers. I am also active as a volunteer in the local carnival museum. My city is one of the most famous carnival towns in the Netherlands. Here I love to celebrate these festivities as a bearded Dutch man!

Scroll down to read Williams’s beard story and be sure to see William’s beard progression gallery and William’s beard gallery below. The photos on this page and in William’s photo galleries are courtesy of William and are used with permission. All photos are subject to the site’s conditions of use.

Looking sharp: William's beard right after a visit to the barber, feature photo 002 — Looking sharp: William’s beard right after a visit to the barber.

William’s winning beard story

What do you think about beards?

Beards are a choice every man should have, although each man has to deal with his possibilities to grow or not. It’s all about a man who has to have the beard genetics first. Then it is up to him to choose for a beard or not. But frankly said… a beard makes the man. That’s what I think about it. When I see pictures of men without or with a beard, I often choose the bearded pictures, because the look of a bearded man makes a man more attractive in his human appearance: a solid, trustful, and manly look! That’s my opinion on the meaning of un-bearded or bearded men.

What do you think about your own beard?

I like a good full, total beard with a good length. It has to be taken care of…not too wild, but also not too neat, somewhere surely in the middle. I am very satisfied and happy with my beard, because — and this is what it’s all about — I find that it suits my face and makes my face complete. The colors (the combination of blond, and dark) are fine for me!

When you were a little boy, did you ever think about growing a beard in the future when you would become a man?

No, I didn’t. It wasn’t a custom in my family. There weren’t clear examples, although my father tried it shortly but stopped it because of the resistance of my mother. And one uncle on my mother’s side wore a beard in a “Van Dyke” style for years. That’s where I could see that beard genetics were present in my family. But as a boy, I didn’t see it as a future thing for me!

What led you to grow your first beard?

It came from the curiosity from the combination of the following questions, which I answered afterwards with a big YES.

- Can I grow a good beard?
- Will I get used to the change?
- Would I like to be a bearded man?
- Will it suit me?
- Can I withstand the possible negative reactions?

Have you remained bearded since growing your first beard?

YES, the whole time.

Gallery: William’s beard progression over the years
Click on any image below to view a larger version and, optionally, a slide show.

William’s beard progression: Just getting started.

William’s beard progression: the full beard takes shape.

William’s beard progression: the full beard is becoming a permanent feature.

William’s beard progression: the full beard is short but strong.

William’s beard progression: the full beard’s permanence is well established now.

William’s beard progression: his full beard has withstood all criticism and has not gone away.

William’s beard progression: the full beard’s size remains fairly short.

William’s beard progression: the short full beard is a stylish choice.

William’s beard progression: he ventures into bigger beard territory.

William’s beard progression: enjoying that feeling of being comfortable with your beard regardless of size.

Also see: William’s beard gallery.

Did you encounter a lot of resistance to your beard from people around you?

Oh yes… From the start, the reactions were resistant. And to say it diplomatically, they were not very mild. Most members of my family didn’t like my choice. Also most of my friends didn’t like the beard. Reactions in groups on birthdays to me as a person or one-to-one personally were in a sneering way, although reactions from people out of my “inner circle” were much more positive. And fortunately, a lot of people also were normal in their reactions. But to be quite honest, my wife still isn’t a fan and neither is my mother. But that’s okay for me. You can’t have all in life and my opinion about my beard in life has become: “You don’t like my beard. That’s okay. I didn’t grow it for you, but for myself.” This is because I am happy with my choice and that’s all that counts. I don’t mind what other people do. Let them be happy with their choices. And I am happy with mine.

How did you deal with all of the resistance to your beard? How did you overcome it?

It wasn’t easy. It felt very often as a rejection of me as a person. And it could (and sometimes still now) can feel very painful. But I was strong enough to deal with it and to overcome it. It was my decision. I wanted to be bearded and give it a chance. And finally people got used to it and opinions changed.

Why do you think that some people are so automatically against beards?

At first: beards in appearance always have an initial disadvantage because people are not used to beards on faces starting from the age of infancy. Second: beards call upon some people’s thoughts of being aggressive, thoughtless, unreliable, and dominant; the combination of those traits doesn’t contribute in a positive way to the general view of beards. And third: beards are for some people like clowns are; they are scary in some sort of ghostly Halloween way. There are more reasons I think. But I noticed these as some of the most important.

Are you dedicated to staying bearded now? Why?

Yes, I am still dedicated. It has become my new lifestyle. I never thought this could have such an impact on me that I don’t want to change anymore!

William demonstrates how a full beard is fully compatible with a professional appearance, feature photo 003 — William demonstrates how a full beard is fully compatible with a professional appearance.

Do you believe that beards are compatible with or even enhance a “professional” appearance?

I don’t have a real opinion for that. I think that for some men it really is an improvement for their appearance and for some it isn’t. It all has to do with beard genetics, the form of a face, and of course a man himself has to feel good with it.

Do you know if your beard has inspired others to grow their beards?

Yes, finally it has. It took years, but some men in my environment chose for themselves to go for a beard. This was after first being a bit negative towards mine. Now it gives me a big smile from time to time. That’s for sure.

Do you encourage others to grow their beards?

No, not actively. Only when men ask me about it and have an interest to do so. Out of my experience of at first negative reactions and later on more positive ones… I only react in a way when people ask me for it. I’m still a bit careful, I think.

Why have you chosen the classic full beard?

It is just the sort of beard that is my kind of beard. The other sorts are not that attractive to me. I am a fan of the full bearded beardway!

Do you shape and trim your beard yourself?

Partly… Once every five or six weeks I go the barbershop. The rest of the time in between I try to do it myself.

How do you care for your beard?

I use several beard products like beard oil, mustache wax, pomade, and what I’ve come to like a lot over the last half year: beard balm.

Do you take pride in your beard?

Yes, I do. Frankly, when I look around, I feel blessed to have a beard the way that I have. It just is exactly the way I wanted, except for some details (see my beard complaints below).

What do you like best about your beard?

Its thickness, the full bearded “covering” of my face, and from time to time it is lovely to go through it, touching and feeling by hand.

Do you have any complaints about your beard?

Like its owner, my beard is very pigheaded. There are a lot of hairs that don’t grow the way I want them to. But that’s a point I can deal with. I have a good barber and, of course, other good ways to keep my beard in line!

William's winning beard is an asset all year round, feature photo 003 — William’s winning beard is an asset all year round.

What is your opinion of beards.org?

For me it was the very good support from the site that helped me to stay bearded and to keep my positive feeling about beards. It is good to share and to see all the worldwide pics from all other men who love being bearded in all kinds of sorts and ways!

What do you think about being featured on beards.org?

I feel honored and pleased. To get “beardly”noticed by a worldwide known beard site is not only a recognition of being valued as man with a beard, but also a confirmation that my beard can be noticed as a good, visible support for men who want to choose to grow a beard! Do it and make THE choice to grow your beard. Although resistance can be there, you won’t regret it!

William’s beard gallery
Click on any image below to view a larger version and, optionally, a slide show.

William's winning beard, gallery photo 1

William's winning beard, gallery photo 2

William's winning beard, gallery photo 3

William's winning beard, gallery photo 4

William's winning beard, gallery photo 5

William's winning beard, gallery photo 6

William's winning beard, gallery photo 7

William's winning beard, gallery photo 8

Also see:

William: today’s beard, 2017/03/14

featured beards

Chris’ fierce beard: growing stronger

2019/06/14 Steven Wilson 2 Comments

Chris, with his fierce beard, made his debut in the featured beards section six years ago. Since then, Chris’ thick beard has been growing stronger. He grows an eye-catching luxuriant beard that is the envy of many an onlooker. In this update you’ll see that his beard is bigger than ever before. In addition, Chris discusses how things have gone with his beard in recent years and how he cares for and maintains his beard in top form. A new photo gallery featuring Chris’ beard is included below after his interview. All photos appear courtesy of Chris.

Also, since Chris was first featured here on All About Beards, he has gone to graduate school and earned his MBA in executive management. Click on any of these photos to view a larger version:

Chris with his fierce beard at his MBA graduation

Chris and a fellow student are all smiles at graduation.

Chris' fierce beard as he celebrates his MBA graduation

Chris and a fellow student enjoy a celebratory moment during graduation.

Chris' fierce beard: celebrating his MBA graduation

Chris is joined by a friend in celebrating his MBA graduation.

Chris’ beard update interview

Do men still mention to you that they wish they had a beard like yours?

I honestly get comments like that almost every day. My friends and family roll their eyes when it happens. But they’re just jealous of the attention. Ha ha.

Does your beard still get you a lot of attention?

We recently had a new executive join our team. And when our department had the opportunity to meet with him, he opened the meeting with a comment that mine was the best beard he had ever seen. He closed the meeting with another reference to the beard. Needless to say, I inspired several new beards in the company that day!

I am happy to report that I’ve been able to merge my bearded appearance with my corporate persona successfully. My favorite story was one day I was on the elevator with our VP of HR. He asked me if I planned on keeping the beard… a short pause that felt like an eternity gave my mind time to wander… “I’ve never had any negative comments about my facial hair at work, but here we go…” He broke the silence with, “I definitely think you should. You know, I had a beard once…” And he continued to tell me about his previous experience. I encouraged him to try it again and he is now part of the bearded brotherhood!

From a flirting standpoint, let’s just say yes, the beard still delivers…

Have you kept your full beard continuously since the time of your beard feature?

I did shave my beard completely off once since my last appearance on the website. My mom is one of the few people who prefers me bald faced. I shaved for her 70th birthday as a gift. After the birthday month was over, the beard growing resumed.

Chris starts growing his fierce beard again after shaving for his mom's birthday. — Mom’s birthday party’s over: Chris starts growing his fierce beard once again.

Have you gone bigger or shorter with your beard in the recent years?

Compared to my featured pics, my current beard size is definitely bigger. It varies. But even on the smaller end of the scale, it’s bigger than back then.

Have you settled on a more-or-less permanent beard size and shape?

My style has been a little refined over the years… short mustache (my hair is too stubborn to go handlebar), long in the front, squared off at the bottom, keeping the sides trim, and then tapered from back to meet the length of the front.

Are you still trimming and shaping your beard yourself or do you ever utilize the skills of a professional?

I do let my barber trim my beard. But it’s usually a joint effort. If I want a major trim, I’ll do it first, and then have him clean it up. Or, for a regular trim while I’m getting a haircut, I’ll trim a bit when I get home. He just opened his own shop, and I’ve sent him a lot of business over the years. I even did a photo shoot for the shop. You’ll see me on his website, Single Barrel Barbershop, and I’m the first pic they ever posted on their Insta.

What’s your beard grooming and maintenance routine?

I shampoo and condition my beard every time I’m in the shower. I try to use quality products that are sulfate free and have a decent oil content. Then I towel dry. I apply a generous amount of beard oil (I’m crazy about Duke Cannon right now) and brush it out. If I’m looking for a more styled appearance, I’ll use a styling product like a beard balm. I keep a brush in my truck so I can touch up before heading into my destination.

Do you have any beard-care secrets that might benefit other beard growers?

I always keep my beard smelling good. People love a well-groomed beard that smells delicious.

When trimming and styling your beard, also consider your hairstyle. If you’re going to have a big beard, your hair should be trim and tight as a contrast. I love getting a tight fade on the sides. It makes the beard stand out even more!

Is your beard still inspiring other men to grow their beards?

Absolutely. Some of my friends tag my pics with #beardgoals .

Would you say that your level of enthusiasm for your beard has changed over the years?

At this point, my beard is a big part of my personality. The only reason I could see shaving would be for a future milestone birthday gift for my Mom.

Chris’ new beard photo gallery

Click on any photo below to view a larger version.

Chris' beard update photo 8: getting his beard trimmed

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Chris' beard update photo 9: getting his beard trimmed

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Chris' beard update photo 10: getting his beard trimmed

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Be sure to see Chris’ original beard feature:

Chris’ fierce beard, featured image 1 — Chris’ fierce beard

beard products

Great beards of history!

2019/03/28 Steven Wilson Leave a comment

Bearded dad and author Kellen Roggenbuck is back with another beard book for children: Great Beards of History! Like his first book, My Dad Has a Beard, this paperback is under thirty pages and is colorfully illustrated with humorous drawings created by Roggenbuck himself. In this book, Roggenbuck presents a diverse selection of bearded figures from history, including bearded luminaries such as Mr. T and Abraham Lincoln. Funny tidbits accompany the drawings of each bearded icon to tell the story.

In addition to highlighting a number of famous beards, a secondary theme running through the book promotes dear old bearded dad as a famous beard hero as well. This reflects the message from Roggenbuck’s My Dad Has a Beard book. While both boys and girls should enjoy My Dad Has a Beard, Great Beards of History! is geared to appeal more to both girls and boys equally. All children should find this lighthearted look at great beards of history to be funny and entertaining.

Dad and author Kellen Roggenbuck shows off his new book Great Beards of History!

The first reason that led Roggenbuck to create Great Beards of History! was his desire to create a more diverse beard book for children. The author explains, “This new book deals with beards from different time periods, different countries, different races, and even different genders. There’s a little beard for everyone. Second, I wanted to explore the sentiment that to our kids, we are all famous, remarkable people because we are their dads and that’s such an amazing, cool thing.”

I asked Roggenbuck about the kind of feedback he’s gotten on both books from parents and kids he knows. He replied, “The feedback has been incredible — I could never have imagined how far reaching this book would be and the outpouring of love and gratitude for My Dad Has a Beard. The overall reaction to the new book is that it’s a great book to laugh at and parents have really appreciated it at bedtime. Especially that 6th night of reading the same book over and over…”

Still a confirmed beard enthusiast, Roggenbuck reports that his beard continues to grow right along. He is looking forward to his first time to participate in a beard competition this year. He plans to compete in a local competition in September.

Great Beards of History! gives kids a fun look at a variety of bearded historic figures and fosters an appreciation for a local beard hero: Dad.

Don’t delay. Order your copy today! Great Beards of History! is now available on Amazon. Click or tap on the following image to buy your copy on Amazon:

My Dad Has a Beard is available on Amazon, too. Click or tap on the following image to buy yours on Amazon:

All about beards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Photos appear courtesy of Kellen Roggenbuck.

Also see:

My dad has a beard!

beard care and grooming

Add some new zing to your look and your beard for spring

2019/03/19 Steven Wilson Leave a comment

It’s time for spring — north of the equator, that is — and it brings longer days, warmer weather, and maybe a new beard style! One of the great things about having a beard is the ability to change it up whenever you like. Maybe you’ve kept your face nice and toasty with a big beard all winter but are now ready to trim it down or switch to a different style for a lighter look. Below, we’ve come up with a list of ways in which you can do a little spring cleaning to freshen up your facial hair style as well as other aspects of your grooming program.

Consider new beard ideas for spring

If you’re the kind of man who likes to keep his beard the same all year long, that’s great! We salute you. However, springtime represents a time for renewal and fresh starts. Changing up your beard can transform you with a fresh new look. So if you’re game for a beard change, there’s no time like the present.

While we always strongly advocate for the full beard for those who are capable of growing the full beard, you can still change up your full beard while keeping your full beard. If your full beard is still wild and woolly from the winter growth season, lightening it up with a trim down to a shorter length can give you a sharp new look for spring.

beard for spring image 2 — Trimming your full beard short can give you a lighter feeling and a sharp new look for spring.

If you feel like making an even bigger change to your beard, consider switching to another style such as a goatee and mustache combo. Or go for the similar yet bolder extended goatee. Maybe now would be a good time to have fun with a temporary switch to the chin curtain. Check out our beard style guide and select a style that you’d like to try. Or be creative and design your own unique beard style.

Develop a skincare routine

A great beard needs a solid foundation. And a healthy beard comes from healthy skin. Harsh winter weather may have left your skin feeling dry and flaky, which does not provide the greatest grounds for growing and maintaining facial hair. The good news is that this can be quickly corrected with the proper skincare routine. The first step is determining your skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology lists skin types as follows:

Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use

Normal skin is clear and not sensitive

Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough

Oily skin is shiny and greasy

Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Knowing your skin type will give you a better idea of which products you should use. Always use skin care products that are gentle on your skin that will maintain your face and scalp as clean and healthy places for hair to grow. If you are in doubt about your skin type and which products would be best for you, it’s a good idea to check with a medical professional.

Maintain your mane

In addition to a facial hair change-up, many men welcome the warmer weather with a new hairstyle. Whether you opt for a shorter cut or a new hairstyle altogether, there are plenty of products out there to assist you in maintaining the hair on your head. Like skin, hair types vary depending on the individual and this determines factors such as how often you should wash your hair and which products you should use. For some men, growing hair on the face comes much easier than growing hair on the top of the head. If you’re in this boat, there’s no need to worry! Something as simple as switching up your hairstyle is a quick fix and will give you the confidence you need to look and feel your best. Following a diet full of foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins is a great way to support healthy hair growth as well.

Invest in the proper tools

You can do everything right when it comes to the beard-growing process, but if you don’t have the proper tools to maintain your beard, you won’t look your best. Investing in a quality beard trimmer is key to keeping your facial hair looking its best at all times. While there are plenty of beard trimmers on the market from which to choose, when selecting a beard trimmer you should shop around and make your purchase based on the features that will best suit you and your facial hair.

The same goes for choosing a proper razor. If your new beard style is one that means you’ll be doing a lot of shaving, like with the goatee or chin curtain, you’ll need a quality razor. If you don’t want to bother with getting razors at the store, you might consider getting razors via subscription. Many companies now offer a basic plan in which you can tailor products and tools to fit your needs. This allows you to try out their products and then decide what’s best based on your shaving needs.

Overall, it’s pretty easy to create your new look for spring. Shedding your cold-weather style for a fresh look will leave you looking and feeling great just in time for the new season.

featured beards

Per’s superior beard

2019/02/09 Steven Wilson 9 Comments

All about beards is proud to welcome Per to the featured beards section. Per is a prolific beard grower and a master of the mustache. His beard is excellent and his mustache is often amazing. A seasoned, veteran beard grower, Per is quite dedicated to the beard. He grows a great beard and enjoys it, which is a great way to be. Per’s beard has been known to inspire others to grow their beards. Let’s hope that he will now inspire many more new beards everywhere.

Scroll down to read Per’s beard story and be sure to see Per’s beard photo gallery below. The photos on this page and in Per’s photo gallery are courtesy of Per and are used with permission. All photos are subject to the site’s conditions of use.