How to Take Care of Your Beard Between Barber Appointments

One of the questions we hear all the time at Blade and Razor Barbershop is, “What should I be doing with my beard between appointments?”

And it makes sense. You leave the shop with your beard looking clean, shaped and exactly how you want it, but a couple of weeks later the hairs start growing out, the neckline isn’t quite as sharp, and maybe your beard is starting to feel a little dry.

The good news is you don’t need to turn your bathroom into a barbershop to keep your beard looking good.

A little maintenance at home goes a long way. Using the right products, keeping your beard clean and knowing what you should and probably shouldn’t trim yourself can help you maintain that fresh look until you’re back in our chair.

Here are some of the beard care questions our clients ask us most often.

How often should I wash my beard?

This really depends on your lifestyle, but for most guys, washing the beard about two or three times a week works well.

If you work outdoors, work out regularly or have a job where you’re sweating throughout the day, you may need to wash it more often.

What matters just as much as how often you wash your beard is what you wash it with.

Regular hair shampoo isn’t always the best choice. Beard hair tends to be thicker and more coarse than the hair on your head, and the skin underneath can become dry pretty quickly.

That’s why we recommend using a wash made specifically for beards.

A good beard wash cleans out sweat, dirt and product buildup while still being gentle on the beard and the skin underneath.

At Blade and Razor, we also carry luxurious grooming products that make it easy to continue your beard-care routine at home instead of losing that fresh barbershop feel a few days after your appointment.

Why is my beard always itchy?

We hear this one a lot, especially from guys who are growing their beard longer for the first time.

Usually, the problem isn’t actually the beard. It’s the skin hiding underneath it.

As your beard gets fuller, it becomes a little harder to properly moisturize the skin underneath. That skin can become dry or flaky, and the coarse beard hair rubbing against dry skin doesn’t make things any better.

That’s where beard oil can really help.

After washing your beard, pat it dry with your towel rather than rubbing it aggressively. Rubbing too hard can make the beard frizzy and may also irritate your skin.

Then, while your beard is still slightly damp, apply a few drops of beard oil.

And here is the part a lot of people miss: don’t only put the oil on the outside of your beard.

Use your fingers to work it through the hair and massage it right down to the skin.

That’s where you want the moisture.

Do I actually need beard oil?

For most guys with more than light stubble, we would recommend it.

Beard oil helps keep the beard softer and easier to manage, but it also helps moisturize the skin underneath.

You don’t need much.

In fact, one of the biggest mistakes we see is guys using way too much beard oil.

Your beard should look healthy, not greasy.

Start with a couple of drops, rub the oil between your palms and work it through your beard. If your beard is longer or especially thick, you can always add a little more.

Our beard oils at Blade and Razor are also a nice way to give your beard a clean, subtle scent without it being overpowering.

What’s the difference between beard oil and beard balm?

People sometimes think they need one or the other, but they actually do slightly different jobs.

Beard oil is mainly there to moisturize and soften.

Beard balm gives you some conditioning as well, but it also gives you more control over your beard.

You know those random hairs that decide they don’t want to stay with the rest of the beard?

That’s where balm comes in handy.

Warm a small amount between your hands, work it through the beard, and then use your fingers, brush or comb to put everything back into place.

If your beard is getting longer, you may find that using a little oil followed by balm works better than using either product on its own.

Not sure what your beard actually needs? Ask us next time you’re in the shop. We can show you what to use without trying to turn your morning routine into a 30-minute project.

Should I brush my beard every day?

If you have some length to your beard, yes.

It doesn’t need to take long. Even a quick brush in the morning can make your beard look much more put together.

Brushing also helps spread your beard oil through the hair instead of leaving most of it sitting in one area.

For shorter beards, a beard brush is usually enough. With a longer beard, you might prefer a comb or use both.

One thing we don’t recommend is pulling a comb through a knot like you’re trying to win an argument with your beard.

Take your time.

If there’s a tangle, gently work through it. Pulling too hard can break the hair and leave the beard looking uneven.

Can I trim my beard myself?

A little bit? Sure.

A complete reshape? We would probably say leave that one to us here at Blade and Razor.

This is how it normally starts: one hair is sticking out, so you trim it.

Then you look at the other side.

Now that side suddenly seems longer.

You trim that too.

Ten minutes later, you’re standing in front of the mirror wondering where half your beard went.

If there are one or two obvious stray hairs, carefully trimming them is fine. But remember that your barber has shaped your beard around your face, jawline and natural growth pattern.

Once you start taking too much off, it can be difficult to get that shape back without letting it grow again.

What about my neckline?

The neckline is another place to be careful.

When you leave your appointment, pay attention to where your barber has created the line. As new hair starts growing underneath it, you can carefully clean up that area.

What you don’t want to do is keep shaving higher and higher every week.

Before you know it, your neckline can end up halfway up your jaw.

If you’re not sure where the line should be, leave it.

We would rather clean up a little extra growth at your next appointment than have to fix a neckline that has been taken too high.

How do I keep my beard smelling good?

Start with a clean beard.

After that, good-quality beard oil or balm can add a light scent and keep your beard feeling fresh throughout the day.

You don’t want your beard smelling like you emptied a bottle of cologne into it.

A subtle scent is enough.

For us, the goal is pretty simple: your beard should look clean, feel soft, smell fresh and still feel natural.

How often should I come back for a beard appointment?

There isn’t one schedule that works for every beard.

If you like a really sharp beard with defined cheek lines, a fresh neckline and detailed shaping, coming in every two or three weeks is usually a good idea.

If you have a longer beard or prefer a more natural look, you may be comfortable waiting three or four weeks.

It also depends on how quickly your beard grows.

The main thing is not waiting until you’ve completely lost the shape before coming back.

Keep it simple

Beard care really doesn’t have to be complicated.

Keep your beard clean. Take care of the skin underneath it. Use a little beard oil or balm when you need it. Brush it regularly and try not to completely redesign your beard in the bathroom between appointments.

That’s really it.

Your barber gives your beard its shape and foundation. What you do at home helps you maintain that look until your next visit.

Every beard is different too. Some guys deal with dryness. Some have very coarse hair. Others have a beard that seems determined to grow in five different directions.

So if you’re not sure which products you should be using, ask us when you’re at Blade and Razor Barbershop.

We’re happy to recommend one of our luxurious beard products and, more importantly, show you how to actually use it.

Because the goal isn’t just to have your beard looking great when you walk out of our shop.

We want it still looking good when you walk back in.