Beards are still beautiful! While many men have shied away from the hirsute look and gone back to being clean-shaven, there is still a place for the bearded groom to look great. What you don’t want, however, is a grizzly, frizzy mess accompanying you down the aisle on your special day.
Opening Image: Photo by Clem Onojeghuo
We do concede that men are far more adept at grooming these days, but there are still some little extras that can make a huge difference in not only the look but also the feel of a beard. It takes more than just trimming to keep a beard, and just as importantly, the skin underneath it, healthy and luxurious. Regular washing and trimming are a must, but the pièce de resistance is a quality beard oil.
Beard oils perform the double duty of not only softening and taming beard hair but also helps to hydrate the skin underneath. This neglected and hidden facial skin can get dry, itchy and flaky so it’s important to look after what lies beneath.
The best time to apply beard oil is right after washing your beard; this is the time when your hair follicles and pores are open, which will allow the oil to have maximum effect. For longer beards comb the oil through to ensure all beard hairs get equal love!
And do note that with beard oils, less is more! Most come in deceptively small bottles, which can leave one feeling a little short-changed. However, when you realise that you only need 2-3 pumps for a full beard, a little goes a long way.
Not only do beard oils moisturise the skin and treat your beard hair, but you’ll also find they can act as a cologne, really is there anything these oils can’t do?
One of our favourite tried and tested beard oils comes from local lad Darren Kennedy’s fantastic homegrown Kennedy & Co range of men’s grooming products. A luxurious oil that’s not too thick, it contains a mix of botanical and essential oils, with a touch of menthol for a great feel on the face. Combine this with a scent of Cedarwood and natural Botanics, and it’s a product that will set you up for the day as the final touch of your beard care routine.
Kennedy & Co. Hydrating Beard Oil, 14.99Available in all good retailers at a mere €14.95 for a 50ml bottle, this is a must-buy for any future groom who wants to walk down the aisle in full bearded glory!
-- Graham White