10 Burning Questions About Beards | Mr Porter
Illustration by Nishant Choksi
Dealing with the hair on your head is often a daunting task, but it is one that is rarely handled all on your own. When things get out of control, you can rely on a barber to give you the follicular equivalent of a factory reset. The hair on your face, however, is a different story. From maintaining the right length and style to reconciling yourself with the genes you’ve been dealt, beards are notoriously fickle. And it can feel like you’re going it alone, guessing every step of the way, because managing one’s facial hair is a lesson that’s pretty much skipped while growing up.
Making the decision to forgo the clean shave opens up a wealth of grooming possibilities that might be overwhelming. What kind of trimmer should I use? How often do I need to tidy up? What do I do about my moustache? Why are beard oils a thing? And when, oh when, will the itchiness go away?
To help you on your new bearded adventure – or if you’re a facial hair aficionado who just wants to make sure you’re doing everything right – we’ve compiled answers to some of your most commonly asked questions.