Many beard growers use a hands-off approach to maintaining their facial hair. Fighting the itch and letting it grow on its own may work for some people, but in our experience, a beard needs, and deserves, a little tender loving care. Here are our top eight beard maintenance tips that can help you maintain or grow a beard that’s healthy, attractive, and intimidating to those who enter its vicinity.

It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: keep it clean! Maintaining a hygienic beard is an essential part of facial hair health. More than that, no one likes a dirty beard. Make sure to wash your beard regularly. We recommend doing so at least twice a week but no more than three times a week. Overwashing your beard may dry it out, causing your facial hair to become brittle and can even slow down its growth.

When you wash your beard, avoid using the same shampoo that you use on your scalp. Instead, consider trying out Johnny Slicks’ Organic Hand-Whipped Beard Wash. Our beard wash is an organic shampoo made with tea tree and peppermint oils to not only clean your beard but also to wake you up!

Having a beard can relatively protect you from the elements, including harmful UV rays from the sun. Because of this, men who often wear a beard throughout their lives will generally have younger, healthier skin as they grow older. At the same time, many men with beards neglect the skin underneath their facial hair. Make sure to regularly exfoliate the skin beneath your beard to remove dead skin cells, keep your hair follicles clear, and keep the skin moisturized. Having healthy skin is an important part of having a healthy beard. And if you do end up shaving your beard for some reason, the face you find behind the hair won’t surprise you.

Using beard oil is a game-changer for any beard wearer, and it will help with both your beard’s hygiene and your skin care, not to mention reducing the dreaded beard itch commonly suffered by men around the world.

Beard oil hydrates facial hair, replenishing the natural oils lost when you wash your bard. Beard oil also provides your beard with essential nutrients and can provide a healthy boost to both volume and shine. Last, but certainly not least, using the right beard oil will make your beard smell great, and if using Johnny Slicks’ Organic Beard Oil – downright irresistible – see our disclaimer.

#5: Find the Right Beard Comb or Brush

You should be brushing or combing your beard regularly. This will not only keep your beard looking neat and tidy, but it can also stimulate hair growth. For a high-quality beard comb or brush, try our friend’s beard brush at Kent, a company that’s been in the business since 1777.

#6: Trim It Often (Shaping Your Beard)

Regularly trimming your beard is one of the most important parts of beard maintenance. Trimming your beard will keep it from developing split ends – yes, men can get split ends too, even in their facial hair. As you trim your beard regularly, you can also shape it to look the way that you want. While some of us prefer the au-naturel look, everyone enjoys a well-shaped beard.

#7: Use Product

In addition to using beard wash and beard oil, some men also like to use beard balm. Beard balm is generally made with beeswax and you can use it in tandem with beard oil. When using beard balm, make sure to have a good beard brush to ensure even coverage throughout your beard.

#8: Take Care of Yourself

Our last tip for beard maintenance is simply to take care of yourself. This means getting adequate sleep, regular exercise, and cutting down on stress. Your beard will only be as healthy as you are, and stress plays a large role in hair growth and health.