Few people want to go outside with wet hair, especially during the winter. As it turns out, this rule applies to facial hair as well. While blow-drying might sound like an effective way to get out the door quickly, it can damage your beard and skin. Developing a healthy beard grooming routine for the winter will protect your whiskers. Here, A Cut Above in Anchorage, AK, offers some helpful tips for washing and drying your beard.

Know Your Hair & Skin Type

The oiliness of your skin is and thickness your hair will determine how often you should wash facial hair. Generally speaking, the oilier the skin and the thinner the beard, the more often it should be cleaned.

Oils, or sebum, can attract dirt and contribute to acne and dandruff. Thin beards can get oilier faster, which not only adds to the build-up on your skin, but it can also make facial hair look less full. Men with dry to combination skin and thicker beards might only need to wash once a week. Overwashing strips the skin’s oils and dries it out, causing flaking and tightness. 

Dry Facial Hair Carefully

One of the most important aspects of beard grooming is maintaining the hair’s moisture. After washing and conditioning, avoid rubbing a towel over your beard, as this causes tangles and damages the hair follicles. Instead, pat it with a towel until it’s damp.

Before using the blow-dryer, apply a coat of beard oil to protect the hair from heat exposure. Use the dryer on its lowest or coolest setting and hold it at least six inches away from your face. This combination of a cool setting and healthy distance minimizes harm to the skin and hair cuticles. Hot air makes beard hair coarse and skin dry, which is neither comfortable nor attractive.

Use a comb to style your beard while drying it. This helps the hair maintain your desired shape. To finish grooming, lock in moisture and keep your beard neat with a balm.

For more helpful beard grooming tips, turn to the experienced barbers at A Cut Above. For over 38 years, they’ve provided stylish haircuts and relaxing professional shaves, so Anchorage-area men look their best. Visit the barber shop online online or call (907) 276-6884 to learn more about their services.