Elements of Style – Tips For No Shave November
Having a beard in the fall and winter sounds like a great idea, right? It keeps your face warm and protects you from the cold air. But don’t forget, your beard will be exposed to rain and humidity in the fall, then wind and snow in the winter, which can interfere with your comfort. There’s a process behind growing and maintaining a proper, well-groomed beard – plus a robust dose of dedication. This year has brought many changes, but proper beard care is not one of them.
Boardroom Salon for Men’s team of expert stylists and barbers are here to share a few essential grooming tips to help you put your best foot – or beard – forward.
Beard for a Cause
Numerous Boardroom clients and men everywhere participate in No Shave November/Movember – it’s a fun way to support a great cause and increase awareness for men’s health. Nonetheless, guys who don’t normally sport facial hair are taking the plunge and giving up shaving for the month, and still want to look great and feel confident. Facial hair can add definition to a soft face or ruggedness to a more youthful one. Boardroom recommends the following:
Step 1: Kick off November with a fresh shave.
Step 2: Schedule a weekly beard trim to keep the shape uniform.
Step 3: Throughout the month schedule a shave to clean up the neck and chin lines.
For the professional man, a neat, well-maintained beard looks outstanding. Keeping a regular grooming schedule ensures you are always ready for a meeting, whether in person or virtual.
Get Grooming
One thing we’ve learned along the way is that trimming the stray beard hairs can make a huge difference in the way your beard looks as a whole. It can seem counter-intuitive to trim your beard or hair when you want to grow things out but getting a good shape up will guide your current look into the style you ultimately want to achieve.
Start with a great foundation – just as you wash the hair on your head, you should wash the hair on your face. Start by cleansing with a good beard wash. Follow with a beard conditioner to combat frizz and keep your facial hair feeling soft.
Signature Style
Avoid the lumberjack look by keeping your beard neat and tidy. Shave your neck to just under the jaw line, shaving the top of the beard along the cheek for sharp, defined lines and using clippers, trimmers or scissors to maintain a uniform length throughout the body of the beard. Finish with a beard oil to combat frizz and keep your facial hair feeling soft.
Keep a mustache comb and scissors handy. In between beard trims with your barber, maintain your mustache with grooming at home. Comb your mustache and keep it clean around the lip area with regular trims.
Use a mustache wax to keep stray hairs in line. Put a little on your fingers and sculpt your ‘stache (it’s also easier if you keep it warm in your pants pocket). Try different styles. Keep it simple; position the hair downwards. If you’ve grown out your mustache, twist the ends and twirl upward for a classic, dapper look.
Picking Products
Men sporting beards are looking for high-quality effective products. Products that give the results they desire and make them look great and feel confident; products that are easy to use but provide lasting results.
Boardroom highly recommends Beardbrand and Jack Black for all facial hair needs. Boardroom carries a variety of products, from each line at all salons. It’s a tough call, but if we had to choose just one product from each line you would need, we’d pick a Beard Oil and a Beard Wash.
Beardbrand’s Beard Oil is lightweight, non-greasy and available in three scents. The Beard Oil conditions to help combat frizz, hydrates to keep your facial hair feeling soft, tames wiry hairs and creates a uniform shape throughout the beard – bonus points: get one that smells amazing.
Jack Black’s Beard Wash is a multifunctional formula that helps cleanse, condition, and soften facial hair by removing dirt and oil while conditioning the hairs and skin underneath.
The beard is a portal into self-improvement and self-care. Use it as a way to invest in yourself. The attention you give to your facial hair should parlay into your hair, skin and style as well.