I just started growing beard last year (I'm 47 now). Here's what I learned: 1. You can't please everybody. Some people will like your beard and some won't. My mother-in-law HATES it with a passion (because she's Japanese and she's 80 years old, and it's a cultural and generational thing). My wife, however, LOVES it (but maybe in part because it annoys her mother). 2. It never looks as bad to other people as it does to you. I always think my beard looks ugly, scraggly, patchy, etc. ... yet, I've gotten a LOT of compliments, too! 3. Grow your OWN beard. Don't try to look like anybody but you. Every man's beard is different and grows in a different way. Enjoy YOUR beard, no matter how it looks. Some people want a civilized, trimmed beard. Some people want wild and natural. There are high beards, low beards, long beards, wide beards. Just go with the beard nature gave you and be proud of it. 4. Give it time. Beards go through stages. Some are cool. Some are awkward. Just live that beard! Let it go. 5. Be very careful trimming it. It's so easy to over-trim, or snip wrong, especially if you're not experienced. I just shaved off my beard after a mustache trimming disaster ... 6. If you do something disastrous, you don't have to shave off your beard. It'll grow back. Let it look weird. If you love your beard, keep it, even if it's ugly or weird. I so regret shaving off my beard. I realize now ... it was probably just fine. 7. Listen to your beard. Give it what it wants. Some guys CAN'T wash their beard every day. I used to wash mine twice a day! Watch the health of your skin and hair and do what's natural. 8. Watch this youtube channel. Beardbrand is awesome!
Thanks Bro. It is easy to get the feeling that your beard doesn't "measure up". Reading your words made me realize that my beard is cool and even if I am the only one who thinks so.
Nearly half a decade late, just finding your message in a bottle now so here’s one back incase it reaches you. Thanks for this mate, glad I took the minute out of my day to read this. More often then not I’ll get for lack of better terms some mild anxiety about my beard. Either it be a patchy stage here or there from it growing in uneven and at different times, or sometimes I’ll go throughout my day and realize that it ended up being a bit scruffy like the lad with the cup on the corner, along with the likewise etc. I appreciate the advice though and will keep it in mind going forward. Wishing your travels from here are well and safe.
@@jonbanks653 I don’t know you g, but I’m sure it’s a pretty cool beard as long as you rock it with confidence. I’ve seen some lads somehow pull off a patchy chinstrap, they got that confidence tho.
That's great advice. Thanks for your tips! I've only started growing a beard a little under a year ago and, as 26, still inexperienced but trying to learn as time goes on
Thanks for the advice. As a 50 yo recently retired firefighter I am now for the first time in my adult life allowed to grow a beard. I’m 1 month in and enjoying the results. I’m not sure I will go full duck dynasty, but since the hair stopped growing on the top of my head it’s sure exciting being able to now grow it out elsewhere 👍🏼
Hey I am growing my first beard . I also got sick of my thinning hair and shaved it . Gone !! now I want to get an awesome beard to offset it . I am temped to try to get a couple weeks growth shaped but i think im going to wait a month or two
Hes everyones beard goal, no? I thought carlos and greg were beasts(and of course they are), jack and kermit the frog have great facial hair too but i always thought this dudes density and flow were god tier. Maybe im just tired
I have been watching your videos for over an hour now. I am a girl, it's the middle of the night and I can't grow a beard! I have however learned a lot about beards so I guess I could give advice to guys haha! (and by the way you look very handsome)
I started growing one for the first time at the start of the year, before the whole corona thing kicked off. While I liked having it and people said it suited me, I recently decided to shave it off for several reasons. It requires a fair bit of maintenance, and going to a male grooming barber isn't currently an option. Under the present circumstances, I decided that convenience is more important than aesthetics. When things return to normal, I'll probably grow it back.
Great advice. First time beard grower here. I also needed to learn to keep up with my beard. As it grew it's manageability changed so, I needed to learn to stop expecting this month's beard to do what last month's beard did. While this was obvious when I went from stubble to the first couple of centimeters it was much less obvious as it got a bit longer. Also just getting familiar with my products. I needed to learn how much balm was enough and what was the right combination of wax and balm to achieve that look I wanted. Or whether or not I was using the right grade of wax. Switching from my usual brand of wax helped a lot. Thanks again for that wax suggestion Jeff! Lastly I would suggest talking to someone about your beard: frustrations, goals and what have you. This really helped me be more present and realistic instead of thinking about that 12th month of growth or style I saw that may not be attainable for my hair type. Thanks again to Jeff for that conversation!
63 and growing my first beard. Always had thin areas and never thought it would fill in but it has much better than I thought. Starting to get the beaver look, puffy sides but I think I will wait a while before I do a shaping trim.
The beard I have presently was started in May 1993. This was two weeks before I retired. From that time until about 3 months ago, February 2018, I used shampoo and conditioner for head hair. Last November I began letting my beard grow toward a yeard. When it got a bit longer I noticed rather large skin flakes. At this time I checked into products for the beard. I have noticed a great improvement in cleanliness as well as manageability. Glad to have discovered beard products.
Danny Floyd my fiance decided to put some of our baby shampoo in our hand soap container for some reason and we noticed it discolored the container. No other soap had done this before, so needless to say, we don't even use this baby shampoo on my baby. I know it's crazy to spend a few bucks on shampoo just for your beard but considering you will be using a dime amount every other day it's worth it. At least you are not spending $30+ in razors per month
+chris nel I liked it when he had it long and wild. Eric has been a huge inspiration in my beard and head hair growth journey. like Jeff said, look up pictures of other beards men and well his is the one I admire the most. i guess you can it's my goal for mine to look similar to his?
Great video Jeff. As always, you do a great job with these types of videos. I really like your comment to not compare your beard to anybody else's. I think it is OK to look at others as a source of inspiration. But as you say, each person needs to focus on what is best for them. About 2 years ago, when I started growing my beard to its current length, it was new territory for me and I was constantly looking for RU-vid videos to know what to do and how to take care of it. That is where your & other Beardbrand videos really helped. I learned about beard oil, boar bristle brushes, wide-tooth combs, beard balm, etc. It took a while for me to get used to my longer beard & I was a bit self-conscious about it. Even 2 years ago, a mid-size beard was not as common in the workplace (I work for an oil company) and I would get comments from others. Things are very different now as beards are much more common and I am just another dude with a beard.
Great video. I especially like the last little bit where it almost became philosophical and metaphorical about life. It's people like you that help keep manhood positive and intact. Back when I used to clean shave, I found the wet shaving community to be an awesome little community for men, and now that I'm rocking a beard, it's great to find another community just as positive and helpful. Good stuff, dude.
I used to do it all the time, I stopped when I started using oil cause it gets on your hands, and I want it to keep it in my beard as long as I can. Try that, try thinking you will wipe the oil out when you play with it
Aside from the blatant stereotype in your comment, there is a fun snippet on viking beardtrimming in the swedish author Frans G. Bengtsson’s book ”The long ships” (very much a work of fiction) where the protagonist laconically explains that the worst way to trim your beard is with oars (as he is held as a rower on a slave ship) 😂
Vikings were actually well known for being extremely clean. Anglo-Saxon men hated them because their women all loved them because they didn't stink. They bathed regularly.
Great Video. I am actually growing my beard and in my second month. I am planning to let it grow and have no need to touch a blade again. I think its important that men understand the natural way is to let it grow and the artificial way is to keep shaving. If you are in doubt of growing and reading this comment, just grow! its so much fun.
It took me about seven months to grow my beard out to the length you have it in this video because it's very slow growing. I wish I had started watching these videos before I began the process. I woke up about four days ago and just decided on a whim to shave it off. I regretted it almost immediately. I look so different without it that I almost don't recognize myself. I don't know what possessed me to do it. I started growing it back the next day. I've learned most of what you've talked about simply through trial and error but it is very good information for those guys just starting out. By the way, that's not me in my profile picture, that's the real Gabby Hayes of the 1930's and 1940's "B" movie Westerns fame, lol. I'm older, but not that old, lol.
Jeff your beard still inspires me.... I've been a beardsman for about 3 years now and I love the inspiration and support for men that beardbrand offers. However, I still have never had a beard as long as I would like. Any thoughts on dealing with the stresses and negativity brought on by others ( ie. girlfriends, coworkers, bosses, gf's parents) as these have always gotten to me enough to trim my beard..... and never got past the awkward point.
I would over groom mine to help. use a lot of hairspray to get a better shape, until the awkward passes. be sure to have good shampoo and oils to combat the spray
For me it's head wind. I would grow and finally cut off due to opinion of others including my wife. This last April I decided to stop shaving and go for it. With no permission or telling anyone my plan I went for it. I'm at 8 months and the comments have really slowed down. I figure people Are used to see me with facial hair. I know how you are feeling. Hope this helps. Keep growing.
I always hear from beard folks "never use shampoo for your head on your beard"... That's great, but I have terrible dandruff with my beard and scalp, so if I don't use Head and Shoulders at least once every other day, I will have massive flakes and itching. Tried several different "beard shampoos" and oils and this was always the case.
hahaha so true. That's my problem. I've been trying to let it grow like for 6 monts, but every 4 weeks I end up trimming it because it looks just baaad!
I agree with this so much. My beard is very similar, although I keep mine much shorter, it just suits my body proportions and height. A tip for new beards is, you’ve established a beard, 3 months, you need to shape it. You should trim it and shape it regularly (seems counter-intuitive) but, just leaving your beard after 3 months, it’ll just look a mess. You need to shape and trim it and it’ll start to become denser, like mine is now. If you imagine planting a new hedge, you leave it to grow for a while, but then you shape and trim it... if you just leave it, it will look straggly, long and unattractive I tend to keep my beard shorter in the summer, as my beard and beards in general grow much faster in summer. Whereas in winter it’s bigger
Fantastic video. Informative and to the point. I dont normally comment on videos i watch and enjoy but i feel the need to say thank you. Im a month and a half into my beard journey and my wife decided to buy me a grooming kit, brush, oil etc this video has helped highlight the fundamentals. Ps... I have found myself absent mindedly stroking my new found hair. I will be sure to try and stop doing this. Keep up the good work
I always tried to grow a beard every fall and get tired of it within 5 to 6 weeks. I am at 5 weeks now and decided to google beard oil, came to this video and am so glad I did. I am going to take your advice and get back to you. Also going to try your oil. Thank you
Good video! Two things 1. Difference between oils and balms? You mentioned both in one step, but didn’t elaborate. 2. Shaving to trim cheeks and shaving neck line, any advice?
My hair grows pretty quick, while I do have problem areas, my main problem is keeping it tame. I use a wooden brush to coax the hair on either side to grow in the same direction. But sounds like I need a blow dryer. nice vid great tips/reminders 👍
One of the best Urban Beardsmen! His videos are truly helpful... Compared with other Beardsmen he never priorities or focus on selling products. That Portuguese guy literally jumps straight into marketing, which looks very awkward. Jeff highlights about the product naturally in a flow while serving tips.... Jeff The Best!
Just in time. I've had a beard for like 7 years now, but always short. And I like it. Its thick and full. Decided to grow it out. Been growing it for like 2 months and its getting crazy. Was about to trim it. Thank you. I'm definitely following this tips.
I kinda have to shower everyday, so how do i fix that ? Is the issue with the water or the shampoo ? And do i have to add some oil if i wash too much ?
Sitting here watching this video, gently stroking and shaping my almost wizardlike beard, till I got to the no touching part. This is going to be so damn hard because i always feel the need to keep shaping! Especially when it's windy outside and my beard flaps all over the place hahaha
Some of us work outside and or otherwise get dirty on a daily basis have no choice but to wash our beards daily.. Another thing I would add to this conversation is that any no tear baby wash works well as a inexpensive daily mild beard wash.
basically something made with organic ingredients or with soundly safe in the least, aka not harsh chemicals, (preferably not tested on animals) , My opinion is soap is a simple compound, adding all these crazy ingredients to "help clean better" has at one point been a sales tactic and i feel that still applies to SOME. Not like these things don't work better or anything, i just feel they are unnecessary and i don't believe they are GOOD for you, not saying they are bad.
Whole foods had tons of natural soaps. I like the grandpa line of soap. Expect to pay $5-6 per bar. It will last for a long time. I wash mine about once per week. I rinse the other days.
I wonder how Grizzly Adams was able to grow a beard back when there were no beard growing tutorials?! BTW, bonus points if you remember Grizzly Adams! 😉
"Soaps" are technically alkine products which can actually be super aggressive for skin and hair. Skin and hair are both acidic, so you should aim to use products that are close to the same pH of your skin/ hair.
Yeah, I was surprised as well when he mentioned soap considering it's basic pH. On the flip side, I've heard it's better to use fatty moisturizer on facial hair which is confusing because soap is all fat. It's difficult to tell what appropriate.
Yeah drinking coffee with a straw sucks. Thanks for your videos your tips I found the best. You come up with tips that hit the nail. Like not comparing and loving what you have. That’s the important part.
Thanks, the only tip that REALLY matters, but i tacked it to the end as this video is aimed for new beard growers, they usually don't want to hear that kind of stuff, but if i can just plant the seed of internal growth, along side external growth, i feel i win.
Jeff matey please close the top button of your shirt next time so I can actually pay attention to anything you're saying... Nahh I'm joking, good video!
Love the channel. I’m 52 & growing my first beard. I had no clue at first & I trimmed it twice. I know, mistake. Live & learn. I have also been 2 months without a haircut. My hair is usually really short, like a 3 on top. I think I’m leaving the length & doing a fade on the sides. Anyway, thanks for the info; it’s a big help!
Great tips. Most people don't realize a great beard requires a lot more maintenance and upkeep than just being clean shaven. My "awkward phase" started at about 2 months where it was looking kind of ratty.
Be patient. Chances are what your dad has is what you'll have eventually. Mine came late in life. At 55 I have a very thick beard. My best friend in HS had a beard like Jeff's. Today his beard is barley thick. Good luck
Shaving your face won't make a beard grow & won't make what hair you do have grow any more or fill out any more. It is purely genetics, age, sensitivity to testosterone etc...
i love watching your videos. my biggest problem is wishing my beard was thicker. seeing your beard does not help. lol. good video as always and great advice thanks
