The beard has undeniably surged in popularity over the last decade, and with it, a plethora of Beard Care Tools have emerged, all promising to simplify your bearded journey.
However, if you’re new to the world of beard growth, the sheer volume of grooming products and tools available can be overwhelming. The seemingly endless options might leave you questioning what’s truly essential and what’s just extra fluff.
If this sounds familiar, rest assured, you’re not alone in this confusion.
In this guide, we’ll cut through the noise and highlight five indispensable beard tools that should be in every grooming kit. We’ll also identify five others that, while potentially useful, can be considered optional. Focusing on these essentials will set you on the path to beard mastery.
MUST-HAVE BEARD CARE TOOLS
If your goal is to cultivate the best beard possible, then the following five items are non-negotiable.
These essential tools are designed to ensure your beard not only looks fantastic but feels great too. This combination of appearance and comfort is key to boosting your confidence and resisting the urge to shave it all off.
ELECTRIC BEARD TRIMMER
For a beard that projects a sense of style and intentionality, rather than suggesting a complete abandonment of personal care, an electric beard trimmer is absolutely vital. Among all the tools discussed here, this is arguably the most crucial and the one you’ll likely use most frequently, making it a cornerstone of your beard care tools.
In the initial weeks of beard growth, an electric trimmer is indispensable for establishing your neckline. As your beard gains length, it becomes your go-to for shaping cheek lines, performing regular beard maintenance, and even executing full beard trims.
Our preferred trimmer is the Brio Beardscape. We’re such fans that Brio partnered with us to develop a custom Beardbrand Utility Beard Trimmer, scheduled for release in December 2024. Pre-order yours now and enjoy savings of up to 20%.
The Beardbrand Utility Trimmer against a sleek black tile backdrop, showcasing its design and features.
BOAR’S HAIR BEARD BRUSH
Often underestimated by those new to beard growing, the boar’s hair beard brush is a tool that men often regret not acquiring sooner. It’s an essential beard care tool that delivers multiple benefits.
Here’s why a boar’s hair beard brush is so important:
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Natural Oil Distribution: It plays a key role in distributing sebum, the natural oil produced by your skin. This oil is vital for preventing your beard from becoming dry, brittle, and prone to itching. When used in conjunction with beard oil, the boar’s hair bristles ensure the oil is spread evenly throughout your beard, maximizing hydration and nourishment.
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Exfoliation and Dandruff Prevention: As your beard grows, dead skin cells can become trapped underneath, leading to itchiness and beard dandruff, also known as “beardruff.” The firm bristles of a boar’s hair brush effectively exfoliate the skin beneath your beard. This action helps to reduce irritation and combat beard dandruff, promoting a healthier skin environment.
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Styling and Taming: A boar’s hair beard brush is an essential styling tool that allows you to train your beard hairs to grow in the desired direction. This is particularly useful for men with curly or wavy beards, helping to tame unruly hairs and create a more refined shape.
Incorporate a boar’s hair beard brush into your routine around the one-month mark of beard growth. Consistent brushing will keep your beard healthy and the underlying skin properly exfoliated, making it a fundamental beard care tool.
Does the bristle type really matter?
While you can find cheaper synthetic brushes that offer some functionality, they lack certain benefits of boar’s hair. Synthetic bristles are generally less stiff, which means you miss out on some of the exfoliating benefits provided by the firmer boar’s hair. Furthermore, boar’s hair closely resembles the texture of human hair, facilitating superior oil distribution and making it the preferred material for a quality beard care tool.
A trio of Beardbrand boar brushes displayed in a lifestyle setting, showcasing the Round Brush, Large Brush, and Travel Brush.
BEARD COMB
For the initial months of beard growth, you might manage without a beard comb. However, once your beard hairs exceed an inch and a half in length, a beard comb becomes indispensable. It’s a core beard care tool for managing longer beards.
Combs are essential for detangling beard hair and eliminating knots. When dealing with long, thick hair that’s prone to tangling, use the comb’s wider teeth. Start combing from the bottom of your beard and gradually work your way up towards your face to gently remove knots without pulling or damaging the hair.
A beard comb is also crucial when trimming your beard with scissors. It helps to lift and separate the hairs, allowing for precise and even cuts. Using a comb ensures you trim the correct amount, resulting in a neat, uniform beard shape.
Pro Tip: Be aware that not all combs are created equal. It’s advisable to avoid inexpensive plastic combs, which can create static and damage beard hair. To choose the best beard comb for your needs, consider materials like wood or acetate, which are gentler on beard hair and offer better durability as a beard care tool.
BEARD TRIMMING SCISSORS
Your beard is composed of approximately 30,000 individual hairs, each with a slightly different growth rate. As your beard lengthens, you’ll likely notice stray hairs that are longer than the rest, disrupting the beard’s overall shape. While you could use your electric trimmer to address these, beard trimming scissors offer a significantly easier and more precise solution for snipping these unruly hairs. They are a must-have in any comprehensive set of beard care tools.
Beard trimming scissors also provide superior control and precision for mustache trimming compared to electric clippers. This allows for detailed shaping and ensures your mustache complements your beard style perfectly.
ROUND BRUSH
Beard waves, those frustrating curves and bends in beard hair, are a common concern for men with beards in the three to six-inch range. A round brush, when used with a blow dryer, is highly effective in reducing waviness, dents, and other uneven formations in your beard. It’s a styling-focused beard care tool for achieving a smoother look.
Conversely, if your beard is naturally straight and lacks volume, a round brush can be used to add shape and fullness. By directing heat and manipulating the hair with the brush, you can create lift and dimension, enhancing your beard’s overall appearance.
In the video below, Greg Berzinsky demonstrates his technique for styling his beard using a round brush, providing a visual guide to this essential beard care tool technique.
BEARD TOOLS YOU CAN SKIP (FOR NOW)
Let’s now discuss some beard products and tools that, while interesting, aren’t strictly necessary, especially when you’re just starting out with beard grooming. These can be considered as secondary beard care tools.
- Heated beard straightening brush
- Whisker dam
- Beard shaper
- Derma roller
- Beard bib
It’s important to note that we don’t consider these to be bad products. In fact, they can be quite useful in specific situations. However, they fall more into the category of luxury items that you can consider adding to your grooming kit later on, rather than essential beard care tools for beginners.
HEATED BEARD-STRAIGHTENING BRUSH
Heated beard straighteners have gained significant popularity recently, and you’ve likely encountered advertisements for them on platforms like Instagram and YouTube. They can be a valuable tool for quickly styling your beard, and we particularly recommend models like the Aberlite Pro.
However, for those new to beard growing, the investment in a heated straightening brush is probably not essential. Most men can achieve excellent results using just a boar’s hair beard brush and a beard comb. These fundamental beard care tools often suffice for daily styling needs.
If you’re interested in learning more about heated styling options, our comprehensive guide to beard straighteners provides further details.
WHISKER DAM
For men sporting a mustache, particularly styles like the walrus or Hungarian, the issue of beverage spillage is a common and relatable problem. The Whisker Dam was ingeniously designed to address this. This copper cup guard, featuring a non-toxic barrier, effectively prevents mustache hairs from dipping into your drink.
While we appreciate the cleverness and functionality of the Whisker Dam, it’s more of a novelty item than a necessity in beard care tools. Ultimately, a slightly damp mustache is a minor inconvenience at worst.
However, if you find the sensation of a wet mustache particularly bothersome, the Whisker Dam, priced around $20, might be a worthwhile, albeit non-essential, addition to your beard care tools.
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An Instagram post showcasing the Whisker Dam in use, highlighting its functionality and design.
BEARD SHAPER
A beard shaper is essentially a stencil designed to guide your trimming, helping you achieve consistent beard lines. It’s held against your face while trimming to create defined shapes. While beard shapers can be helpful in achieving precise cheek lines and neckline shapes, they aren’t strictly necessary. Skilled grooming can certainly be achieved without this specialized beard care tool.
As demonstrated in the video below by Carlos Costa, a Beardbrand Beard Comb can effectively serve as a guide for trimming cheek lines, offering a versatile alternative to a dedicated beard shaper. This illustrates that essential beard care tools can often multitask.
DERMA ROLLER
Derma rollers are marketed as a solution for boosting hair growth and achieving a thicker, fuller beard. These devices work by creating micro-punctures in the skin, theoretically stimulating hair follicles and promoting thicker hair growth. While some studies suggest potential effectiveness with consistent use over 12 to 18 months, the research remains limited.
We remain skeptical about the effectiveness of derma rollers as beard care tools. We believe they are often marketed towards men feeling insecure about their beard density, potentially preying on these vulnerabilities.
If you’re concerned about beard patches, we recommend choosing a facial hair style that complements your natural growth pattern. For guidance on managing patchiness, our blog post on what to do about your patchy beard offers valuable advice. Focusing on styling and essential beard care tools is often more effective than relying on unproven devices.
BEARD BIB
The beard bib, often humorously referred to as the “greatest invention of the 21st century,” is designed to catch beard trimmings. This cape-like garment fastens around your neck and uses suction cups to attach to your bathroom mirror, forming a net to collect hair clippings during shaving or trimming.
While undeniably innovative, the beard bib is not an essential beard care tool. It offers convenience, but isn’t a necessity for effective beard grooming.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do you have more questions about beard care tools or need personalized beard advice? Text “STYLE” to 512-879-3297. Our beard and style experts are ready to provide you with free, tailored guidance.
Keep Growing Strong.
DISCOVER YOUR BEARD STYLE
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EXPLORE FURTHER
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEARD OIL AND BEARD BALM Tools are only part of the equation. High-quality conditioning products like beard oil or beard balm are crucial. If you’re unsure which product suits you best, this guide can help you decide.
THE 22 BEST BEARD STYLES FOR 2022 Find inspiration for your next beard style with our curated list of the top 22 beard styles of 2022.
