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How Often Should You Brush And Comb Your Beard?

July 31, 2023
How Often Should You Brush And Comb Your Beard?

Beard brushing and combing are vital steps in the grooming routine as it keeps your facial hair looking intentional and well-maintained. So, how often should you brush and comb your beard?

Most men aim to brush their beards once a day, on average. Combing can usually be done a little more frequently with twice a day being within reasonable limits. It’s important to remember that excessive brushing and combing can do more harm than good.

Let’s dig deeper into this topic.

Can You Brush And Comb A Beard Too Much?

It is possible to brush and comb a beard too much. Excessive beard brushing can lead to split ends and frizz, eventually doing more harm than good.

Certain types of beard brushes will do more harm than others.

Boar bristle beard brushes are great because boar bristles are quite similar in texture and consistency to beard hair. As a result, they usually glide through beard hair without much tugging or pulling.

beard brush
From Shutterstock

Nylon bristles, on the other hand, often create static and ultimately – frizz. They’re also generally not as gentle on beard hair and produce a worse outcome as a result.

The same principles apply when combing a beard as well. It’s best to use a hand-cut, anti-static beard comb made from sandalwood or pearwood. These should minimize frizz. Synthetic combs often create static and do the opposite.

Deciding How Often You Should Brush And Comb Your Beard

Every man is different, so there is no one right answer to this question. You’ve got the general guidelines above, but this isn’t always the case. How often a man should brush his beard depends on a variety of factors. 

Let’s discuss those factors here.

The Style

If you’ve chosen to grow a longer or more complex beard, it will require more complex grooming. A quick daily brush with a natural bristled brush during styling will help to tidy your beard and stop stray hairs from sticking out.

But due to the length or complexity of the style, it might need additional touch-ups throughout the day to look its best. 

The Texture

Your hair’s texture plays a vital role in how often your hair needs to be brushed to look and feel its best. Straight beards are generally thinner, and can, therefore, be harder to keep from tangling. This is particularly obvious when you’re out and about on a windy day. 

Whereas curlier beards are generally thicker and hardier than their fine and straight counterparts, they are usually harder to keep in place.

This leads many to overbrush their beards in an attempt to keep them in place. 

It’s worth considering a grooming product with a certain level of hold.

The Length

How long you’ve been growing your beard should also determine your brushing frequency.

When your beard is just starting out, it’s best to steer clear of brushing for a while. Once the initial growth phase is over and the hairs soften, you can consider brushing your beard to keep it looking neat.

The style, length, and texture all need to be taken into account when making your decision regarding brushing frequency.

How Long Should You Brush Your Beard?

On average, people brush their beards for 30 to 60 seconds to ensure they do it methodically and intentionally. Men with longer beards may find themselves taking slightly longer, but excessive brushing should be avoided as it’ll eventually be counterproductive.

It’s important not to brush for the sake of brushing.

You’ll want to dedicate a reasonable amount of time to do it, without overdoing it.

Benefits Of Brushing Your Beard

Brushing is useful for keeping a beard looking neat, tidy, and stylish. By skipping this essential step, you’re committing one of the biggest mistakes in beard maintenance.

Following this, you’re also stopping your beard from reaching its full aesthetic potential.

1. It Evenly Distributes Oils and Products

Combing or brushing through your beard helps to evenly distribute products throughout your facial hair, preventing it from accumulating where you don’t want it accumulating.

2. It Tames The Beard

Brushing through your beard also tames it, laying it downwards instead of outwards. This leads to a more polished look and makes your facial hair far easier to groom.

You won’t need as much product to get it to stay where you want it. 

Beard Brushing Precautions You Should Take

Often, it’s the simplest precautions that make the biggest difference. Funnily enough, there’s nothing ground-breaking here. But you’d be amazed by how many people are either unaware or simply don’t understand the importance. 

1. Seriously, Don’t Brush Too Often

Sorry for driving this point home. Hopefully, you’ve now got a better how much is too much for your particular beard. 

Brushing your beard too often puts a lot of stress on it.

2. Use High-Quality Tools

Some brushes, especially those with synthetic bristles, can pull at the hairs.

Using the correct tools, such as a high-quality brush with natural boar bristles, can help to prevent snagging of hairs.

Using low-quality grooming products, especially plastic combs, and brushes with synthetic bristles, will often do more harm than good.

Conclusion

Considering the points outlined in this article could have a dramatic effect on the look of your beard. 

Because every man is different, and so is every beard, maintaining facial hair is unique to each individual.