How To Comb A Beard
One of the most common mistakes most men make when growing out their facial hair is not caring for it. And growing a longer beard without proper maintenance can be a nightmare. Your face itches, you get red blotches on your face and neck, and your beard looks like something a bird would use to nest in.
Learning how to comb a beard is crucial if you want to make sure your facial hair doesn’t tangle and that the skin underneath stays healthy. Read on to find out more about the different types of beard combs, how to use them, and how to style your beard with the help of a comb.
What is Beard Comb?
Beard combs are like regular combs, but they’re for your beard. All kidding aside, the main difference between a normal comb and one that’s specially designed for facial hair is that beard combs are usually smaller in size and have more teeth.
Just like regular combs, beard combs are made out of different materials, such as wood, plastic, metal alloys, and horn. But thanks to their smaller size, you can use beard combs to reach the hair growing under the sharp angles of your jaw and under your chin.
Benefits of Using Beard Combs
Trains Your Hairs And Keeps Your Skin Healthy
Combing your beard helps train your facial hair to grow in a certain direction. This helps prevent your beard hairs from tangling, and it also helps your skin look better.
One of the most common causes for the red blemishes you get on your face when growing a beard are ingrown facial hairs. This happens when hairs curl around themselves and start growing underneath the skin. But if you comb your beard on a regular basis, you train your facial hairs to grow in the direction you want, so you reduce the chances of having ingrown hairs.
Makes Your Beard Look Thicker
Combing your beard also makes your beard look thicker. Even though combing doesn’t affect the growth rate of your beard, it lines up all the hair follicles in the same direction, making your beard seem richer.
Clears Your Mouth
Munching on your own hair is never pleasant. And eating things with sauce when you have mustache hairs hanging over your upper lip can be a challenge. Combing your facial hair can help you trim your mustache, clearing your mouth and making it easier for you to eat.
In addition, combing your beard and mustache will help direct the hairs around the mouth to the sides, reducing the number of food particles that get trapped in your facial hair.
Helps You Style Your Beard
You cannot style your beard without a beard comb or a high-quality brush. Besides training your facial hair to grow in a certain direction, combing your beard will also help you get the look you desire before leaving the house.
Comb your beard, add some balm or wax to maintain the look throughout the day and you’re bound to turn heads anywhere you go.
How Does Beard Comb Work?
Beard combs help align your facial hair in the direction of your choosing. Besides that, combs can help remove the food and dust particles that get stuck in your beard.
But beard combs also help distribute the oil your face produces to keep your beard moisturized. And they help distribute the beard oil you apply during your grooming routine.
Types of Beard Combs
Beard combs are made out of a variety of materials. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the most popular options.
Wood
Wood is one of the most popular materials for beard combs because it has many pros and only one major con.
First of all, wooden combs look and feel great. They’re stylish and offer a nice grip, allowing you to reach even the most difficult areas under your chin and jaw. Most wood beard combs are handmade, so each one you get is unique in its own way.
Wood doesn’t accumulate static energy, so it won’t frizz your facial hair. The width between their teeth varies, but as a rule of thumb, wooden combs do not pull or tug your beard hairs.
The main con of using a wooden comb is that it’s not waterproof, so you need to be somewhat careful when using it after a shower.
Metal
Metal combs are not very popular because they can accumulate static energy and frizz your beard. However, there are some metal alloys that can be used to make high-quality beard combs.
The main advantage of having a metal comb is durability. Metal combs can withstand anything, so they may prove valuable if you plan to fight crime as a comb throwing vigilante.
Plastic
Plastic combs have one major advantage - they’re cheap. Unfortunately, they also have a lot of cons, which makes them unpopular options.
Plastic creates static, so plastic combs will not tame your beard as well as those made out of other materials. Plastic is not very durable, so a plastic comb may lose some teeth when you smooth out a tangle in your beard.
Cellulose Acetate
Cellulose acetate is a material that resembles rubber. And just like rubber, cellulose acetate doesn’t produce static, so it’s a good material for beard combs.
Combs made out of cellulose acetate are also easy to clean, so they can be a good option if you’re one of the men who always finds food or dirt particles in their beard.
Horn
Horn or bone combs are some of the best beard combs out there. They’re durable, stylish, and a pleasure to work with.
The main downside of horn beard combs is that they’re usually more expensive than all the other options.
How to Comb Your Beard
- Start with the right comb - You should get a beard styling comb that fits well into your hand. Its teeth should be wide enough to pass through your beard with ease, but slim enough to catch and direct even the finer hairs in the right direction.
- Start from the neck - Start combing your beard from the neck upwards toward the chin and cheeks.
- Don’t pull the tangles - You might run into some tangles during the combing process. Don’t pull at them because you risk ripping the hairs from your face, which can be very unpleasant. Pass the comb gently through the tangle to separate the hairs. If that doesn’t work, apply some beard oil and try again.
- Comb down - Now that you’ve passed through the beard in an upward direction, it’s time to brush it down and style it.
- Don’t forget the mustache - Comb the hairs in your mustache to direct them away from your mouth and to the sides.
- Create a good routine - Make combing your beard part of your grooming routine. Take your time and make sure you’re not too aggressive.
Beard Combs FAQ
Why do I need a beard comb?
Because it helps your facial hair grow in the right direction and it helps keep your beard and face clean. Because you can’t style your beard without one. Knowing how to brush your beard is an essential skill if you want to sport facial hair.
Should I comb my beard every day?
Yes. You should comb your beard at least once a day to help prevent ingrown hairs and spread the moisturizing oil your face produces on the beard.
Does combing your beard help it grow?
No, combing your hair doesn’t affect your beard’s growth rate. However, using a comb can help your beard look richer because it lines up all the hairs in the right direction.
When to use a beard comb?
You should use your beard comb at least once per day. You can comb it whenever you like, but combing it in the morning can also help you style it before leaving the house.
You should also use a beard comb when you’re preparing to go out with friends, before important events such as dinners, business interviews, and more. After all, what’s the point of growing an awesome beard if you don’t use it to impress those around you?
How often do I need to use a beard comb?
You should use a beard comb at least once per day and whenever the situation demands it.
Want to grow a beard so rich it could make men and women sigh in admiration?
Check out The Beard Struggle’s shop and find the tools you need to make your beard the envy of your bearded brethren.