Get your beard under control
Maybe you've tried several times to grow a magnificent beard. But you've gone back to the familiar clean shave? If you want to grow a nice and neat beard, it's a good idea to make sure the base for the beard is healthy and clean. Then you can let a new, lush beard grow. But even shaving is not without its difficulties in the delicate neck region and facial skin.
Like many men, you've probably been suffering from the so-called red razor bumps, which are caused by bacteria entering the pores and hair follicles. This leads to red bumps on the skin - better known as beard plague.
Fighting beard plague requires careful care before, during and after shaving. For that, you can use Australian Bodycare's complete facial razor bumps pack. There's a product for every step of your shaving process, and all products effectively counteract the build-up of bacteria on the skin, so you can say goodbye to irritated and bumpy skin.
Problem-free shave
With these shaving steps, you can minimise or avoid red bumps after shaving, so you're in the best position to grow a great-looking, problem-free beard:
1. first of all, make sure your skin is not dry. Shaving on dry skin almost always guarantees irritated skin. Moisturise your skin by gently exfoliating it with a scrub or face mask, then rinse with warm water. This is where the Australia Bodycare Face Wash comes in. The face wash effectively cleanses the skin of bacteria, leaving it ready for a close shave.
2. Once your skin has been washed free of dirt and bacteria, keep it lightly moisturised and apply the Shave Gel from the pack. The shave gel should be left on for at least one minute before you start shaving. The transparent gel creates an invisible protective barrier on the skin that makes it easier to shave smoothly.
Sharp shaving tools
Make sure you have razor-sharp and clean razor blades. Avoid pressing the blade too hard against the skin and always take the strokes in the direction of the hairs. If you shave against the hairs, you almost pull the hairs out of the follicles - and this causes increased irritation to the skin. If you don't feel that the shave is close enough in the direction of the hairs, you can finish with a cross-hair shave.
3. Thoroughly wash your face free from products with warm water and finish it off with cold water. This will close the pores. Finish shaving with Australian Bodycare After Shave, which effectively cools and soothes irritated skin with nourishing and natural Tea Tree Oil, which has an antiseptic effect.
With these three steps, you'll avoid embarrassing red bumps that spoil your well-groomed look. You can use the procedure when you want to shave straight or when you've grown a full beard that needs to be kept sharp at the edges.
Keep your beard clean with shampoo and conditioner
Once your beard has grown to a suitable length, it requires regular care to keep it looking strong and presentable. The same way your hair needs to be washed regularly, so does your beard. While it's obvious to just throw a dab of shampoo into your beard when you're in the shower, it's not always the best solution.
Your beard is located in a area of your face where it is exposed to all kinds of things. For example, drink and food residues. A well-groomed beard also means a clean beard - that's why hygiene is crucial.
Wash your beard
Make sure you wash your beard with a shampoo designed for this purpose, so that it is deeply cleansed and moisturised in order to look its best. A specialised beard shampoo will also prevent skin irritations that regular hair shampoos can quickly cause when they come into contact with delicate facial skin.
Obtain a soft, thick beard
After all the hairs in your beard have been thoroughly cleansed, it's important to seal in the moisture. You can do this with a good beard conditioner. Beards can quickly look and feel stiff and coarse. And it's no fun kissing a hedgehog - or looking like one.
A conditioner keeps your beard moisturised, so that each individual hair is softened deep down. It's important to massage the product into the entire beard and down to the underlying skin. This will help to ensure that the skin is saturated with moisture and the beard roots receive optimal care. Let your conditioner sit for a few minutes - this allows it to work in depth.
Oil based beard care
A great beard requires nourishing ingredients. You can get that with the right care through shampoo and conditioner. But if you want to look sharper, it's a good idea to nourish your beard with a beard oil. The oil softens the beard with plenty of moisture and nourishment, leaving it shiny and well-groomed.
Add vitamins and minerals
Beard oils are packed with vitamins and minerals that protect against harsh environmental factors that can make your beard look dull and lifeless. Beard care also provides effective care for the delicate skin underneath so it doesn't get irritated. The active ingredients in a beard oil also help to regulate your skin's natural oil production.
How to apply oil to your beard
Drizzle a few drops of oil between your fingers and warm it up briefly. Then run your fingers through your beard. Remember that you should only use a very small amount - unless you want a very shiny look. You may want to use a comb to comb through your beard to distribute the oil evenly. The beard care gives your beard a soft and smooth look - and not least a fresh scent that can keep odours from food residues and the like away.
Trim your beard regularly
A well-groomed beard is much more than a clean, soft and hygienic beard. If hair growth is not kept in check, you won't get the optimal and elegant beard look. Beard care is first and foremost about a razor-sharp look. That's why it's important to keep your beard trimmed regularly.
Uncontrolled hair growth can easily make you look scruffy - even if your lush beard is freshly washed. Just as your hair needs to be trimmed and the sharp edges of your neck and ears need to be maintained, so does your beard.
Brush your beard
Before you start trimming your beard, first brush it with a comb so that all the hairs are facing the same direction - otherwise you'll end up with an uneven result. To get the perfect sharp shape and form of your beard, make sure you remove all the small hairs above the cheek line and below the edge line. But what's the size of the edge line?
How to find the perfect edge
To find the perfect edge and shape, use your Adam's apple as a guideline. Draw a line from each ear down just above the Adam's apple to create a U-shape. It is within this shape that your beard should be. Anything below the line should be shaved off so that you don't have a wild beard that goes all the way down your neck. The beard goes slightly down over the jawline, which gives a softer look than if you shave all the way up to the jaw. This will instead give your face an unnatural rounded shape. Also, always make sure to create straight lines so that your look is balanced and harmonious.
Trim your moustache
The moustache also needs a trim every now and then. It varies whether men want a longer or shorter moustache than the rest of their beard. Experiment and find out how your moustache best supports your beard look. However, if you prefer a longer moustache, it's important that no hair sticks out over your upper lip. It doesn't look sharp - and it doesn't look hygienic either.
By following this beard care guide, you'll be well on your way to growing an expressive, sharp and well-groomed beard that will be the envy of most men.
