How to Maintain a Beard for a Professional Look

Co-authored by Timmy Yanchun

Last Updated: August 1, 2022

The beard can be the ultimate sign of pride and masculinity for a man. They come in all shapes and sizes, and even signify strength, virility, power and wisdom in some cultures.^{[1]
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Research source} Not to mention, it keeps your face warm during the winter! While some jobs require their employees’ faces to be clean-shaven (eg. military or police), many jobs will allow beards if they are clean and tidy. Upholding a professional appearance at work is always a must, but maintaining a beard requires some extra care.

Steps

1
Set a beard length goal. If you want a beard yet still need to keep a tidy appearance, only start trimming after a couple months.
- This is subjective due to the simple fact that all men’s hair grows at different paces. However, a few months of growth should give enough thickness to the hair that it will be able to keep your face and neck insulated during harsh winter temperatures.
2
Give it time. This step takes patience, as there may be an itchy phase as your beard hairs grow out longer and your skin gets dry.^{[2]
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Research source} This usually occurs during the first week or two of growing.
- There is no proven way to make facial hair grow faster. Do not believe the myth that shaving more often makes a beard grow in quicker and thicker.^{[3]
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  Research source}
- A beard sometimes doesn’t always fill in the way you want it to. Genetics decide the beard so if your dad can’t grow one, you’ll probably have trouble as well.
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3
Find the neckline. Leave extra space below the jaw, giving a nice ending to the beard that’s pleasing to the eye every way you turn your head.
- This will give the beard a more natural look as opposed to sharp-edged.
4
Wash your beard. Drop some beard wash in your hands and rub them together. Slowly rub the beard and make sure all hairs have been covered. Rinse the beard out with warm water. Dry the beard by patting it with a towel.
- The best place to wash your beard is in the shower, although it can also be done at the bathroom sink.
- Use a shampoo designed specifically for beards for the best results. If you don't have any beard shampoo, you can still use regular hair shampoo though.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Timmy Yanchun
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 22 January 2020.}
- Be gentle with the towel otherwise hairs may be pulled out.
5
Condition your beard. After the beard is dried off, rub the jojoba oil in your hands and apply slowly to the beard, running your hands through each strand of hair.
- All-natural jojoba oil is useful for giving the beard some handling while styling it after it’s washed.
- This will also add some playfulness to the beard.
6
Comb the beard. Grab your fine-tooth comb, and comb your facial hair down and out. Make sure to go slow so no hairs get pulled out. You can form the shape of your beard after you have combed it.
7
Perform maintenance trims. While the beard is completely dry, slowly pull outward with the comb so all hairs are loose. Pull downward once on all sides of the beard, allowing for the natural shape of the beard. This will expose all the extra scraggly hairs that do not fit into the beard. Take the scissors and slowly chop away at each individual hair until it corresponds with the shape of the beard.
- After the few months of initial growth, trims should occur about once a month to maintain a clean look.
8
Uphold your look. Walking in the winter weather should be a bit easier with a beard covering your face. Growing and maintaining a beard should be something to be proud of, and a clean appearance at work will surely make your employer happy as well. Just be sure to routinely wash and trim your beard.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I make my beard look more attractive?

Timmy Yanchun
Professional Barber
Timmy Yanchun is a Professional Barber and Co-Founder of Svelte Barbershop + Essentials. Svelte Barbershop + Essentials is a men’s grooming company, specializing in men’s hair, beard, skin, and shave products, originally located in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California but has now branched out to 3 locations across Los Angeles. Timmy has been cutting hair since age 13 and opened his first of 6 barbershops at age 18. He is also the co-founder of the newly launched brand LTHR, the world's first wireless hot lather machine for barber quality shaves at home. Timmy and Svelte have been featured in GQ, Men's Fitness, and Hypebeast.

Timmy Yanchun

Professional Barber

Expert Answer

You want your neckline to fall somewhere between your jawline and the first wrinkle on your throat. A common mistake new “beardsmen” make is trimming too high up on their jaw.

Warnings

Set aside a good amount of time for a trim and make sure there are no distractions. If you make a mistake, it may ruin the entire beard. After several months of dedication, you won’t want to return to Step 1.

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