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Growing a beard is something that most men consider at least once in their life. Some men are willing to give it a go, while other men prefer the minimal, clean-shaven look. If you do decide to grow a beard, help it looks its best by following a simple maintenance routine.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a step-by-step method of how to grow the perfect beard to suit your face. So in this article, we’re going to take you through what to consider when trying to grow a beard.

Quick Tips

Understand your face shape

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. What is the shape of your face–oval, round, or oblong? Knowing your face shape will help determine what kind of beard will suit you best. The general rule of thumb for a beard is to help bring more balance to the face, by moulding it overall into an oval shape.

For example, if your face shape is already naturally oblong, you don’t want to grow a long beard that accentuates that length even more. Instead, a shorter beard with wider sides will balance it all out. On the other hand, if your face is round, a lengthy beard works perfectly as it makes your face more elongated.

Patience is key

Like any hair growth, beard growth takes time. A lot of time. You just have to keep at it and eventually your beard will slowly grow in size. Give it two months at the very least to see noticeable changes. Also, don’t shave what’s already there in the hope that it’ll grow faster the second time around–this is a debunked myth!

Define the neck and cheek outline of the beard

As your beard grows longer and fuller, you'll need to decide where you want the beard to end especially in the neck and cheek areas. Keeping well-defined beard lines helps to create a neater look and separates a purposeful beard from forgetting to shave! When shaving, consider using a gelatinous shaving gel that goes on clear so you can maintain more accurate lines.

Defining the neckline is a little bit more difficult, but there’s a quick trick to tackle this. Raise your chin to stretch your neck, then place two fingers just above your Adam's apple. The top of your fingers is where the beard neckline should end, and any hairs below should be shaved off.

Trim as it grows

When growing a beard, messiness and unruliness will eventually become a problem. Trimming not only keeps the beard neat, but also helps further define your beard style, giving you a clearer idea if the look suits your face. To keep trimming as easy as possible, ensure that the beard hairs are taken care of by using a beard shampoo, and be sure to read our guide for more helpful tips.

Use conditioning beard oils or beard balms

Beard oils and beard balms contain a vast array of moisturising ingredients to prevent beards from getting itchy, dry or developing dandruff. Take some time out of your day to massage these products into the whiskers and into the underlying skin.

Brush it out

If you’re growing a long beard, this is especially important. Brush your beard after your morning shower and at the end of each day to keep it healthy and tamed. A beard brush will also distribute the natural oils in the beard, preventing unruly hairs and keeping the beard soft and healthy. Plus, brushing it daily reduces frizziness, breakage and split ends.