Growing a Hipster Beard and How to be Your Burly Best!

 

The hipster beard is a big trend these days and should stick around at least for the winter.  If you're unsure what a hipster beard is, you've seen it.  The hipster beard is a long, full beard, usually combined with a clean cut pompadour haircut.  This style of beard has even the slickest city guy looking like a lumberjack, but can he cut a cord of wood for the fireplace?  I digress.

So, if you're longing for the hipster beard, how exactly do you go about growing a beard?  Well, the short answer is to simply stop shaving.  But there's more to it than that.  Let's walk through each of the steps.

1) Test the Waters
To grow a big beard properly without ending up looking like a serial killer, you've got to be able to grow a full beard in the first place.  To determine if you can grow a decent beard, simply stop shaving for a few week.  Now, examine your growth.  Is it full and evenly distributed or is it patchy?  If the growth is space or scraggly, the full hipster beard may not be your best option.It should also be noted that some workplaces frown on bushy or unkempt facial hair, so it's probably best to check with your employer before you embark on becoming bearded.

2) Be Patient
A big, burly beard can take a few months to grow.  You'll go through a phase where you might look a little unkempt.  It will also itch for a few weeks.  Hang in there.  To tone down the itching, you can use a gentle shampoo and conditioner and moisturize with a lotion or beard oil (I love Jack Black Nourishing Oil for this).   Once you make it through the grow-in phase, maintaining a beard is fairly simple and straight forward.

3) Keep it Groomed
Until your beard gets long enough to cover your neck, you should keep the neck shaved clean.  Use the bend of the neck as your guide and just shave everything below that point.  I also recommend investing in a good clipper (such as the Andis Master) to keep things trimmed up.  It is a good idea for the first trimming to seek the service of a professional barber who can show you how to trim your beard properly at home.  Make sure to have your barber show you how to properly trim your beard free-handed (without a guard on the clipper) as longer beards require a little free-hand trimming.

4) Maintain Your Beard
Caring for your beard is relatively simple.  To keep a longer beard soft and manageable, you'll need to shampoo and condition it properly.  There are products specifically made for beards, but I find the shampoo and conditioner you use on your head usually works just fine.  A leave-in conditioner or beard oil will add softness and manageability.  If your beard is gray and you want to tone down the gray, there are several beard coloring products (such as Just for Men) on the market.  Follow the directions exactly and make sure not to leave the product on too long for a more natural result.

Growing a beard is a fun and inexpensive way to freshen up your look, but keep in mind a beard is not for everyone.  Not all men have the facial hair to support a beard and some will be turned off by the maintenance a beard requires (although I don't believe it is much more bothersome than shaving every day).   The beauty of growing a beard is that you can trim and shape it in a variety of ways and, of course, if you become tired of it you can shave it off in minutes.  

By David Alexander

Men's Hair Expert