Ballerific Beauty: Growing & Maintaining A Healthy Beard

If you’ve been hiding from social media and haven’t noticed that men with beards are the newest rage,  honey you’re missing out! A man with a beard is perceived as masculine, powerful and dominant; even if their personality doesn’t hold any of those traits.

Some African  American men may be able to grow a beard, but don’t have the proper knowledge about how to care for their facial hair or grow their beard to its full potential. So what grooming steps will it take for a man to grow a healthy beard?

Everyone’s process is different, but here are a few basic guidelines to live by.

Be conscious of what you put in your body. Know that what you take in, plays a huge part in your outer appearance. This means that you should maintain a healthy diet, drink the recommended amount of water for your weight, and take your vitamins. Also make sure to keep up a good gym regimen. Exercising and shedding excessive weight increases testosterone. Testosterone grows thicker beards. Exercise also increases blood circulation which carries proteins and vitamins to your hair follicles.

It’s also important to give it time and be consistent in your routine. Some men can grow a full beard within a week or two. Some may need an entire month for their facial hair to come into fruition. Whichever man you may be, it’s important to give it time and patience.

Keeping your beard clean and moisturized is a a major key to keeping it thick and growing. Start with a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner at least 3-4 times a week, followed by a deep conditioner once a week. If you’re using a shampoo and conditioner with harsh chemicals, it can cause dry strands or even a worse; missing spots in your beard. Once your beard is clean, air dry or pat your face dry with a cotton t-shirt to avoid frizz.

Whether you have a goatee, mustache or a beard; oils are important. With a clean face, apply a beard oil to keep your strands soft, and moisturized, also stimulating your facial hair pores for beard growth. Essential oils to use are tea tree oil, virgin coconut oil, pure argan oil, and jojoba oil. After you’ve rubbed your oil thoroughly into your beard use a wooden beard comb to prevent unwanted shedding or a medium boar bristle brush. To avoid excessive razor bumps and razor burn treat your beard at least every 2 weeks to grooming by a professional barber.

The main issue men with beards have is not knowing how to properly maintain a moisturized beard. A big scoop of grease is a huge no-no. It contains products that you should stray away from

• Parabens: cancer causing agent

• Mineral Oil: blocking hair follicles to grow

A light amount of grease can be used as a sealant after applying oil. Treat your beard with the proper care to grow your manly facial hair to its full potential.

Lastly, even when your goal is to grow your beard out, don’t’ forget to trim, trim, trim. Keep your beard looking neat and tidy, regardless of length. If you can’t work a trimmer at home, it’s okay to have a professional barber line you up.