COMMON BEARD MISTAKES
The following are some of the most common beard growing mistakes that you may come across throughout your bearded adventure.
1. BEING IMPATIENT WITH BEARD GROWTH
Like all good things, growing a great beard takes time. When it’s nice and full, it will keep you warm, protect your face, build up your confidence, and look great. However, it’s not always that easy to grow a full beard, especially if it doesn’t grow as fast as it does for some guys blessed with natural full-beard genetics. That’s why many men quit after a couple of weeks of trying to grow out their beards.
One of the most common mistakes is when men try to grow a beard, but do not immediately see it covering their faces. They get frustrated and decide to scrap the whole 'beard growing thing' and shave it off. Resist this urge! Patience is key.
2. NOT TRIMMING OR SHAPING YOUR BEARD
You can just let your man-mane run wild, especially during the first 6-8 weeks. However, once that first two months of your beard growth journey is over, you will want to start trimming and shaping your beard so you don’t look like a caveman.
If you’re not a man who has been genetically bestowed with a dense and evenly-growing beard, you will find that shaping and trimming will become an absolute must. It can end up looking terrible when it’s too thin and untamed, growing in all sorts of different lengths.
3. FALLING PREY TO COMMON BEARD MYTHS
There are quite a number of beard myths out there. A common one is that growing out a beard will make it more challenging for you to get a job. That’s simply untrue for most professions. In fact, studies have found that men with beards are perceived as being wiser, more serious, and are more likable. A nice-looking beard is seen as a sign that a man is healthy. If anything, having a beard will make you a more desirable candidate. Also, beards have been found to make men look more attractive, given the evolutionary signal that a man’s testosterone levels are through the roof.
4. AVOIDING THE USE OF BEARD CARE PRODUCTS
Growing an all-natural beard is all well and fine, but avoiding the use of beard products is going to be to your beard’s detriment. Products like beard oils, balms, washes, conditioners, and others will help preserve your beard’s natural oils, keep the skin under it hydrated, and have it looking excellent. You will love your beard much more when you take care of it properly.
5. WASHING IT EVERY DAY
While you should be washing your beard regularly, it shouldn’t become a daily ritual. That is because when you shower, especially when you are using hot water, you are stripping the natural oils that are produced by your skin. The oil and sebum that normally nourishes and softens your beard are gone, leading to a dry beard that creates plenty of beard dandruff, or "beardruff."
What is even worse is if you wash your beard every day using a shampoo that is meant to be used for the hair on your head. That will ensure you take all of the oils completely off of your beard.
Ideally, you should be washing your beard just a couple of times a week. You should also be using a shampoo that is specifically designed for use in a beard. It will be more gentle and will preserve some of the natural oils your beard has. As soon as you hop out of the shower, apply a few drops of beard oil to your beard to seal in moisture. Following these steps will help your beard stay full, vibrant, and soft.
BONUS BEARD MISTAKE: MAKING THE CHEEK LINE LOW & THE NECKLINE HIGH
You may have seen George Lucas sporting this kind of beard. The cheek line gets way too low towards the jaw, while the neckline goes too high. This beard trimming mistake will make your beard appear tiny, small, and really unnatural.
There's nothing wrong with sporting a clean cheek line on top of your majestic beard. However, you want to make sure you are letting your beard come up high enough on your cheeks (at least mid-way), while allowing the rest of it to grow down several inches, before getting to the point where you start trimming or shaping your beard.
CONCLUSION
When growing a beard for the first time, you will definitely want to keep these common beard growing mistakes in mind. Otherwise, your beard won't be as healthy, or as good-looking as it could be. Your beard deserves the best shot it can get!