Support NeoGAF

[Stumpokapow]

I shampoo, condition, and beard scrub in the shower, then towel dry my beard, wait a few minutes, brush (I use a wiry brush not a comb), and put 8 or 9 drops on my hands, rub em together a few times, and then sorta pull my hands through my beard and then brush again.

So I'm looking for a new beard oil. The stuff I use smells good, but I find my hair kinda feels dry after a few hours. Really noticing it today after I used my amish beard balm yesterday and my beard stayed nice and soft all day long.

I also use amish beard balm when I'm using balm. I don't pretend this is scientific, but right now when I use oil I'm using "2 bit man" Vanilla and Blood Orange. I like the smell. I like the texture and feel. I don't wear aftershave or cologne or anything, just the beard oil. They have other scents too so if you're more of a wood guy or whatever you could go that way.

 

[SeanR1221]

I notice as the hair gets longer I have a lot of little random guys stick out on the sides. I know getting a trim will help but anything in the meantime? More oil? Additional brushing?

 

[Walpurgis]

I'm trying to see how far my beard can grow so I have stopped shaving (goal is to be a dwarf). Unfortunately, my mustache has recently begun to curl over my upper lip and it's pissing me off. I've started using a little comb to brush my mustache to the sides and when there's no comb, I use my hands. This works pretty well but it's annoying because my mustache always finds its way back over my lip when I wake up or eat or whatever. I think the problem is that I wash my mouth with water sometimes and screw everything up by accident.

Is there any way to make the default shape of my mustache to the sides or do I just have to get used to this torment?

 

[Kobe24]

wanted something different, so went with the beard fade.

 

[Number45]

I'm trying to see how far my beard can grow so I have stopped shaving (goal is to be a dwarf). Unfortunately, my mustache has recently begun to curl over my upper lip and it's pissing me off. I've started using a little comb to brush my mustache to the sides and when there's no comb, I use my hands. This works pretty well but it's annoying because my mustache always finds its way back over my lip when I wake up or eat or whatever. I think the problem is that I wash my mouth with water sometimes and screw everything up by accident.

Is there any way to make the default shape of my mustache to the sides or do I just have to get used to this torment?

I have this problem. I'm trying to be patient, hoping I'll be able to naturally sweep them to the side once they're long enough.

In the meantime you can use wax to persuade them to go where you want them to.

 

[Rsinart]

Been growing mine a few years. I just kinda let it grow. I make my own balm and oils. And when I am not using them I use 1740 Beard Balm.

From halloween this year. Got that mustache curl going.

 

[lem0n]

Been growing mine a few years. I just kinda let it grow. I make my own balm and oils. And when I am not using them I use 1740 Beard Balm.

From halloween this year. Got that mustache curl going.

Killer, bro. Keep it going. I miss mine but new job meant it needed to go

 

[Jharp]

That's some of the best corpse paint on a guy with facial hair I've seen.

Do have to admire Abbath painting the entire fucking thing though. Kvlt.

 

[Walpurgis]

Been growing mine a few years. I just kinda let it grow. I make my own balm and oils. And when I am not using them I use 1740 Beard Balm.

From halloween this year. Got that mustache curl going.

Damn. That Halloween one is too much. I bet you have people scurrying away. Shit's scary.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Been growing mine a few years. I just kinda let it grow. I make my own balm and oils. And when I am not using them I use 1740 Beard Balm.

From halloween this year. Got that mustache curl going.

Well done.

 

[SeanR1221]

Been growing mine a few years. I just kinda let it grow. I make my own balm and oils. And when I am not using them I use 1740 Beard Balm.

From halloween this year. Got that mustache curl going.

Thats some insane growth

 

[wenis]

I think I'm retiring my beard this month. Gunna go with stubble for the summer and bring it back towards the end of August. It's been fun... So long.

 

[Jzero]

Hey guys, can you guys show me what a week old stubble/beard looks like, i'm feeling kinda short at the moment and want to see what your guy's growth looks like after a week. This is my first time not shaving (since i quit my job)

Edit:

So I'm giving a beard an honest attempt for the first time in my life. I know a lot of people say no shaving for 4 weeks. I'm a little over 2 weeks and I'm hitting that apprehensive stage because I feel like it's way too patchy.

Just went back and checked your 2 week progress and it looks somewhat like my one week stubble. Hopefully mine grows out the same.

 

[SeanR1221]

Hey guys, can you guys show me what a week old stubble/beard looks like, i'm feeling kinda short at the moment and want to see what your guy's growth looks like after a week. This is my first time not shaving (since i quit my job)

Edit:


Just went back and checked your 2 week progress and it looks somewhat like my one week stubble. Hopefully mine grows out the same.

May growth be with you my son

 

[Number45]

Patience is the number one requirement when you're starting out. Everything else comes after it.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Patience is the number one requirement when you're starting out. Everything else comes after it.

Yeah unless you're blessed with very beardly genes, the first month or so is going to be patchy and irritating. Gotta get over that hurdle though.

 

[SeanR1221]

A few things I've noticed as the hairs gotten longer.

I don't think I should condition everyday. I feel like it's drying me out.

If I let my hair air dry after a shower it curls and clumps

My hair looks best if I don't shower for a day and my natural oils take over.

If I brush after oil my hair curls

I can actually use my wooden comb on my face now.

So!

Here my new routine.

Not going to condition everyday and when I do just very light rubbing down

Brush/comb next after I pat dry

Then oil/balm it down for control

Here's the results. I think I have my 'routine' down now

 

[Number45]

I actually don't like the feel of conditioner on my beard at all. I wash daily with a natural soap, usually followed by oil. If I shower in the evening though I don't like putting oil in (unless I'm going out obviously). Been looking for something that I can put on after a shower to try and lock some of that moisture in without it being oily when I go to bed.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Sean, I feel like your mustache is especially baller. Thanks for the routine write-up. I'm slowly moving to a route where I don't know if I want to condition anymore. I actually have to use so much condtionioner to get it across my entire beard evenly and even more to get it down to my skin that it becomes a bit of a time sink. Also, feels like I'll blow through Conditioner too quickly.

My routine now has basically been: Shampoo my beard 2-3 times a week (just rinsing with water on days I don't shampoo), towel dry after showering, apply oil with hands down to the skin, then apply oil to my wood comb and comb it all into place. I do the oil and combing after each shower. Probably adds 3 minutes to my morning routine in total. Beard seems good texture-wise.

 

[SeanR1221]

Sean, I feel like your mustache is especially baller. Thanks for the routine write-up. I'm slowly moving to a route where I don't know if I want to condition anymore. I actually have to use so much condtionioner to get it across my entire beard evenly and even more to get it down to my skin that it becomes a bit of a time sink. Also, feels like I'll blow through Conditioner too quickly.

My routine now has basically been: Shampoo my beard 2-3 times a week (just rinsing with water on days I don't shampoo), towel dry after showering, apply oil with hands down to the skin, then apply oil to my wood comb and comb it all into place. I do the oil and combing after each shower. Probably adds 3 minutes to my morning routine in total. Beard seems good texture-wise.

I feel like my mustache is what makes it. If I had a weak one I think I'd shave

So I talked to my friend who's a stylist. She mentioned that I'm probably experiencing conditioning clumping on the hair and it isn't being properly cleansed by a shampoo.

Going to grab a bear shampoo from the stylist this Thursday and won't be conditioning again! She completely cleared everything up and explained why I was having this issue

 

[RumblingRosco]

I feel like my mustache is what makes it. If I had a weak one I think I'd shave

So I talked to my friend who's a stylist. She mentioned that I'm probably experiencing conditioning clumping on the hair and it isn't being properly cleansed by a shampoo.

Going to grab a bear shampoo from the stylist this Thursday and won't be conditioning again! She completely cleared everything up and explained why I was having this issue

Never heard of conditioning clumping. Yeah, I think conditioning is actually great for a beard, but it seems like you, me, and Number45 up there (and probably others) seem to not like the end result as much as we'd hope. To me, the main purpose of a conditioner is to re-apply oils to the hair and skin that we remove via washing/shampooing... but if we're all throwing oil on top anyway after a shower, it seems that at best conditioning is overkill and at worse causes other issues (such as the clumping thing you're talking about, which I need to look into).

 

[SeanR1221]

Never heard of conditioning clumping. Yeah, I think conditioning is actually great for a beard, but it seems like you, me, and Number45 up there (and probably others) seem to not like the end result as much as we'd hope. To me, the main purpose of a conditioner is to re-apply oils to the hair and skin that we remove via washing/shampooing... but if we're all throwing oil on top anyway after a shower, it seems that at best conditioning is overkill and at worse causes other issues (such as the clumping thing you're talking about, which I need to look into).

I think you're hitting the nail on the head. If we're already oiling, why do it some more? Also if you're never shampooing the conditioner doesn't get cleansed.

What beard shampoo so you use?

 

[LogicStep]

This is week 5. I've never let my beard grow for this long before. I'm liking it better now but it still needs more time. Just showered and applied some balm and brushed it. Hoping that in another month or two it'll look better. Hate those bald spots I have

 

[Syncytia]

I've only used balm/wax on my beard. How does oil compare? I want to try some out since I was reading it helps with getting down to the skin (although I don't feel I have any problems with dry skin under my facial hair).

I just got a boars hair brush and the difference from a comb is incredible. Everyone with a beard should most definitely get a boars hair brush, I can't believe what I've been missing out on.

I also just got some beard shampoo as well. Previously I've just used my hair shampoo with good results. Hopefully this is an improvement on that.

 

[RumblingRosco]

I think you're hitting the nail on the head. If we're already oiling, why do it some more? Also if you're never shampooing the conditioner doesn't get cleansed.

What beard shampoo so you use?

I don't use anything specific for beards. I forget what it is but I'll post back here when I get home and check it out later this week.

Today I had a beard hair fall out on what is basically the 6 month anniversary of the last time I shaved. The hair was a bit wavy but not super curly, but I put it on a ruler and straightened it out. Fully straightened, it was just a hair over 3 inches long. So, I guess it's safe to say at at least some of my beard hairs grow at a rate of about 0.5 inches per month.

 

[Jzero]

May growth be with you my son

Thanks. I'm starting my second week and the itch is getting real 👎💢

 

[Number45]

An oil might help with that, although some people naturally suffer more in that respect than others due to the way that the hairs grow. It'll pass though. I'm at the point that I don't feel anything from my beard, it's just the moustache that makes its presence felt (by both being visible to me and getting in the way of food and drink).

 

[Quick]

I haven't shaved in about two weeks now due to laziness, and I figured that maybe I'll give this a legitimate try.

Two weeks in, and the thickest part appears to be under my chin. The cheeks aren't as thick, but it looks like it has the potential to be even thicker. My mustache is also pretty whiskery, it gets a bit too wispy at both ends, but there's nothing in the middle and the two sides are disconnected. And there's a huge disconnect between mustache and cheeks, where there's nothing growing.

Sorry, no pics. Just thought I'd ramble and share.

 

[Bear Force One]

Thanks. I'm starting my second week and the itch is getting real 👎💢

Usually dry skin. Use a good beard oil and dont wash it with soap every shower.

 

[eot]

How do I make my beard hairs not point everywhere?
I see people with shit that looks like a watercombed head and I have no idea how they do it.

 

[SeanR1221]

How do I make my beard hairs not point everywhere?
I see people with shit that looks like a watercombed head and I have no idea how they do it.

Oil, brush, balm, all will help

 

[rokkerkory]

jealous of all you guys that can grow beards

 

[eot]

Oil, brush, balm, all will help

I need to read up on that stuff.
Your growth pattern looks quite similar to mine, but yours is more dense and ten times tidier (looks real nice). Maybe I should go to a barber and have him do something because I'm afraid I'll just make it worse.

Quote me if you want to see some bad pictures

 

[SeanR1221]

I need to read up on that stuff.
Your growth pattern looks quite similar to mine, but yours is more dense and ten times tidier (looks real nice). Maybe I should go to a barber and have him do something because I'm afraid I'll just make it worse.

Quote me if you want to see some bad pictures

Definitely look into those products. Its looking wild now, so you have to tame it. Also seeing a stylist, she/he can help shape things up. I think my stylist did a really good job with my latest trim. She bringing up the neck line as the top hairs grow down, so it lays flat and prevents the neck curl.

I think she did an excellent job.

Here are some product links...

Beard Oil
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IB6IAOS/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Beard Brush
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YQ5NNH2/?tag=neogaf0e-20

(note on brushing. If you brush straight down from the top of the cheek to the neck, you will curl the neck hair. Brush the cheek down, and then the back of the jaw line/neck towards the front of your chin).

Beard shampoo (I use this in the shower every couple days. Otherwise I just rinse my beard with water)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IO6WGRM/?tag=neogaf0e-20


And heres the balm
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NNFB0O/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Obviously this is a lot at once. If Id start somewhere, Id go with a good stylist in your area (look for a mens only place and check social media to see how good their hair cuts look) and then get oil and a brush, the two essentials IMO.

 

[Jzero]

I'm starting my third week tomorrow and my mustache game is weak as fuck. It's growing way slower than my beard. It looks like a darker version of the bieberstache

My beard is growing out pretty well though.

 

[Stumpokapow]

The honest amish balm is nice (I have it as an emergency backup in my desk at work) but it is a very strong smell and leaves you with very oily fingers afterwards imho.

 

[SeanR1221]

The honest amish balm is nice (I have it as an emergency backup in my desk at work) but it is a very strong smell and leaves you with very oily fingers afterwards imho.

I agree on how oily it is. I tend to use just a tiny little bit and it gets the job done for me

 

[Mr_Zombie]

Oil, brush, balm, all will help

Not always. Sometimes wiry facial hair is simply a matter genetic and there's nothing you can do about it. I've been using oils and balms for over a year now, and beard brush for a couple of months and I'm still getting those random facial hairs that points whatever directions they want or have a zigzag shape.

 

[SeanR1221]

Not always. Sometimes wiry facial hair is simply a matter genetic and there's nothing you can do about it. I've been using oils and balms for over a year now, and beard brush for a couple of months and I'm still getting those random facial hairs that points whatever directions they want or have a zigzag shape.

Oh yeah, there are definitely exceptions for sure!

Have you tried different brushing directions? Figuring out your face shape was big for me, and I went from a puffy look to a much more natural shape.

 

[blame space]

http://i.imgur.com/9XADR0f.jpg

my shits flying all over man. how do I even it up without cutting half of it off? besides going at every flyaway with a pair a scissors.

 

[esmith08734]

Guys, how do I grow more hair on my cheeks. I want to be a man.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Guys, how do I grow more hair on my cheeks. I want to be a man.

Nothing you can do to encourage growth. You can glue hair to your face, however.

 

[esmith08734]

Nothing you can do to encourage growth. You can glue hair to your face, however.

Done.

 

[SeanR1221]

Guys, how do I grow more hair on my cheeks. I want to be a man.

How's it looking right now?

 

[esmith08734]

How's it looking right now?

Bare. I have had the same facial hair growth since I was 15. I am 26 now. It basically connects, but no full coverage.

It's essentially this:

 

[SeanR1221]

Bare. I have had the same facial hair growth since I was 15. I am 26 now. It basically connects, but no full coverage.

It's essentially this:

I've seen styles like that work. Have you grown it out for 2-3 months and let a stylist have a go at it?

 

[esmith08734]

I've seen styles like that work. Have you grown it out for 2-3 months and let a stylist have a go at it?

Never before. I went, maybe, a month. I always chicken out because of my lack of cheek coverage.

 

[SeanR1221]

Never before. I went, maybe, a month. I always chicken out because of my lack of cheek coverage.

Don't lose hope at one month!

Here is me at 1 month compared to now (4 months)

Some guys will have a big full beard at one month. Others take time. Also, unless it's completely busted, embrace your growth pattern. At first I was very self conscious about the space under my lip that's not filled in, but one of the big bearded guys at my gym encouraged me. He said everyone's growth pattern is unique and that's what makes for a good beard.

 

[esmith08734]

Don't lose hope at one month!

Here is me at 1 month compared to now (4 months)



Some guys will have a big full beard at one month. Others take time. Also, unless it's completely busted, embrace your growth pattern. At first I was very self conscious about the space under my lip that's not filled in, but one of the big bearded guys at my gym encouraged me. He said everyone's growth pattern is unique and that's what makes for a good beard.

Thanks for the vow of confidence. I think I will give it a try. I am starting a job in June, so I think this is a good (and possibly only) time to start. It gives me almost two months.

 

[SeanR1221]

Thanks for the vow of confidence. I think I will give it a try. I am starting a job in June, so I think this is a good (and possibly only) time to start. It gives me almost two months.

Yeah I went through the initial stages when I had some time off work.

Give it a go. Worst thing that happens is it doesn't look great and you have to shave