You’ve been patiently waiting months for your full beard to come out, but now that it’s out, it can’t seem to stay tidy. Now, you’re wondering how to keep your beard hairs from sticking out.
In most cases, an unruly beard could be a sign of unkempt hair. With a nourishing beard care routine, the pesky flyaways could be easily managed. A healthy grooming routine would involve cleansing, hydrating, and trimming the beard regularly.
Finding the right routine and care methods can go a long way to perfecting your beard style. Stick around to know why your beard has flyaways and how you can deal with them properly.
How To Keep Beard Hairs From Sticking Out
After understanding why your beard hairs might be sticking out, it’s time to know how to get rid of them for good. You can follow our easy step-by-step guide for a flyaway-free beard.
Step #1: Find the Right Products
The first step to tackling beard hairs sticking out is getting the right products and grooming tools. When it comes to beard products, you want to look for ones that promote moisturizing effects, such as conditioners and low-sulfate shampoos.
Use Beard Shampoo
Specialized beard shampoos are better to use than a standard soap bar. The latter will wash away all the natural essential oils that your skin produces to moisturize your beard. This, in turn, will make your beard hairs more prone to sticking out.
If that’s the case then why not just use normal hair shampoo? Well, beard shampoo is milder and will cleanse your beard of any build-up from sweat or excess sebum without being too stripping.
Use Beard Conditioner
After using the beard shampoo, you should then use a conditioner to saturate your beard with moisturizing agents. It can also ease the detangling process without pulling out too much hair.
You don’t necessarily need to apply a whole lot of beard conditioner or else you’ll risk causing too much buildup. That being said, a moisturized beard is a well-kempt beard free from flyaways.
Use an Exfoliator
An exfoliating cleanser could also be a much-needed addition to your cleansing routine. The beads inside the exfoliator will help rub off all the dead skin underneath the beard.
It’ll also unclog your pores and make you feel fresh after scrubbing off that extra layer. Additionally, exfoliating allows your beard hairs to grow more uniformly.
Use Beard Oil
Another vital product that you can’t miss is beard oil. It’s a must-have product to keep the moisture, from the conditioner, locked inside your beard cuticles.
Applying beard oil daily can also keep your beard hairs in place. This sort of routine will help maintain a healthy beard in the long run
If you’re looking for faster results you could consider beard products that will provide hold like beard balm, jelly, butter, pomade, or wax. Unsure of which to pick? Check out each of their benefits below.
Beard Balm
Beard balm and beard oil have lots of similarities when it comes to their nourishing benefits. The balm products contain oil, kinds of butter, and beeswax.
The main properties encourage a strong hold, while also protecting the beard hairs’ shaft from any harsh elements like the sun.
Beard Jelly
Looking for all the benefits of beard oil without the greasiness? Well, look no further. Beard jelly has been specially formulated to provide you with the same strengthening benefits as beard oil without most of the stickiness.
The best part is that its hold effects are longer lasting than your average beard oil. It can keep the beard tamed for up to eight hours.
Beard Butter
You might be thinking, what’s the difference between beard butter and beard balm? It’s simply the portion of ingredients. Beard balm carries more beeswax, making it a much better option for maintaining hold.
On the other hand, beard butter will hydrate and provide a deep conditioning treatment to your beard. It’s a suitable option if you’re dealing with dryness.
Another difference is that the balm’s consistency is more viscous, while the butter is creamier and lighter.
Beard Pomade
Pomades are an exceptional solution to taming your beard’s flyaways. Its texture is similar to petroleum jelly. The product can be both oil or water-based.
Beard pomade is one of the best options on the list when it comes to longevity. It can last you until the next wash. We advise you to be light-handed with it because it can form a hard cast.
Beard Wax
Similar to beard pomade, beard wax is perfect for keeping stray beard hairs in check. You’ll barely need to retouch on the wax, because of how long-lasting it is.
You can apply it three times per week or more depending on how long your beard is. On top of that, beard wax will add shine and luster to your facial hair.
Step #2: Allow Your Beard to Grow
After a fresh cut, your beard hairs might stick out from being too short. Letting these short hairs grow for a bit can keep them more tamed.
The longer the facial hair, the more likely it’ll lie flat. It might be time to give your beard a break from trimming.
Over-trimming can damage the skin underneath the beard. It might promote ingrown hairs, which is the last thing you want if you’re trying to grow out your beard.
You can go easy with the trimmer for a couple of weeks. That way, you’ll give the short hairs time to grow.
Step #3: Switch to Scissors
If the beard flyaways are ruining your look, you can just cut them off with a pair of scissors. Think of yourself as a gardener shearing away to create the perfect grass sculpture.
The scissors will provide you with sharper and more precise cuts, unlike a trimmer which might give you a choppy cut instead. Trimmers are made to cut large portions of beard hair, so trying to use them to snip off the flyaways might result in an unwanted patchy mess.
When getting the scissors, you want to make sure they’re short and sharp. It’ll help get into smaller areas and perfect your cut, respectively. If you’re new to using scissors, then here’s how you can use them in three simple steps.
- Comb your beard hair upwards to spread it out.
- Comb the beard back into its original place.
- Carefully trim off the hairs that stick out.
Step #4: Comb and Brush Your Beard
Most beards aren’t exactly straight. This might make it more difficult for your skin’s natural oils to reach all the way to the hairs’ ends.
A brush will allow your natural oils to be better distributed across the beard. It’ll also help in stimulating the beard’s roots to promote growth.
Apart from spreading the skin’s oils, it’ll also diffuse the styling products you’ve applied, which will help control any unruly hairs.
The best time to brush the beard is after a wash. That way, you can comb or brush out all the excess water remaining in the beard.
You might not want to purchase just any beard comb you find. Cheap plastic combs can cause static. We recommend finding a good-quality metal comb. It’ll discharge any static electricity from your facial hair.
Now that it’s all combed out, you might need to shape it to avoid the flyaways using a beard brush. Using a soft-bristled brush, control the direction of your beard hairs by going downward.
Step #5: Use a Beard Straightener
If you have a formal event to attend and need a quick fix, then you could always resort to a beard straightener.
Now, while it’s a convenient solution, you should tread lightly. You might want to reserve the straightener for special occasions. Otherwise, you’ll only worsen your beard’s frizz situation. Still unsure about using a straightener? Check our helpful guide to ease your decision.
Pros of Beard Straightener
- It’ll keep the stray beard hairs in place and reduce frizz.
- It’s easily portable.
- It won’t break the bank.
Cons of Beard Straightener
- It’ll cause damage in the long run.
- It won’t look natural.
Step #6: Frizz Prevention
In the final step, you need to combine all these efforts to prevent the beard hairs from sticking out. Creating a care plan for your beard is an ideal method to keep your facial hair healthy and thriving.
You’ll need to avoid products with harsh chemicals. Finding a well-balanced trimming and brushing routine is also critical. You could also build a healthy lifestyle by eating right to nourish your beard from the inside out.
Why Your Beard Hairs are Sticking Out
Before we get into how you can control the beard hairs from sticking out, let’s understand why it happens in the first place. Check out some of the reasons below.
Genetics
Your beard might be extra frizzy due to a genetic factor. In other words, it could run in the family. The texture of facial hair is mostly determined by your parents.
The rougher and coarser the beard, the more likely you’ll be dealing with some hairs sticking out of place. Curly facial hair is also more prone to frizz. This type of hair texture is usually thick, which can scatter all your beard hairs around.
Improper Trimming
It’s time to focus on your trimming habits. If you constantly trim your beard, keeping it too short, it’s bound to stick out. On the other hand, leaving it untrimmed could be just as bad since it leaves you with split ends sticking out.
It’s also crucial to note that each beard hair can grow at its own pace. This might create an uneven layer, where some hairs are longer and stick out more.
The solution is to figure out a balanced trimming routine. It might be best to start by trimming your beard to get an even layer. You can then follow a weekly trimming regimen.
Dryness
Think of your beard hair like a piece of leaf. A healthy leaf is malleable, meanwhile, if it becomes dry, it’s fragile and rigid.
That’s what happens to your beard if it’s dried out. The moisture is sucked out and it resorts to sticking out. The dryness could be caused by several factors such as the environment, diet, and wash routine.
You might also be drying out your beard from overheating it by using a hairdryer in a high-heat setting. Dryness could also come from hair straighteners, especially if you use them on a damp beard.
Unhealthy Diet
What you eat or drink can affect your beard health. Since your beard hairs are sticking out, it could point to dehydration. You need to make sure you’re getting at least eight cups of water per day.
Your meals can determine how well your beard will grow. A diet rich in proteins and leafy greens can make your beard appear shinier.
Greasy foods will only worsen your skin’s condition, which can adversely affect your beard’s growth levels. This could lead to an uneven layer, where hairs stick out more than others.
Too Much Washing
Your beard, like your hair, can get dry from over-washing it. Too much cleansing can strip away the beard’s natural oils making it prone to sticking out.
We recommend using beard shampoo every three days to avoid this issue. Speaking of shampoo, you might also want to use a sulfate-free one since it’s less stripping.
Washing With Hot or Cold Water
All hair contains pores to suck in moisture. Hot water can easily penetrate through your beard hair’s shaft, but it might draw out most of your hair’s moisture.
This means that the beard will dry out and, in turn, become frizzy. Meanwhile, cold water can close up your beard’s cuticles and reject any moisture from coming in. To balance things out, you can use lukewarm water.
Electricity
If you’re looking like a mad scientist with your beard sticking out in every direction, then static electricity might be to blame.
Your beard could be charged, making it attracted to surrounding objects. One of the main culprits of static electricity could be a dry environment. Otherwise, you might be excessively rubbing your beard.
The best way to ease an electrically charged beard is by using a shampoo infused with anionic surfactants. This ingredient basically creates a negative charge to counteract your positively charged beard.
Using Beard Dye
Nothing says makeover like a good ol’ fashioned beard dye. Even though the color might turn out great, your beard might sustain some damage from the chemicals.
The dye can cause dryness, which will probably lead to your hair sticking out. You might want to consider adding a deep conditioning step after you dye your beard.
Improper Brushing
At some point, you might’ve overslept and had to rush your grooming routine. Since there’s barely any time left, you could’ve been a little too heavy-handed with your beard brushing step.
Your beard might not be strong enough and can easily break off, causing split ends to stick out. Next time you’re running late, try to use a gentle, soft-bristled brush to alleviate the pulling.
Improper Drying
When you dry your beard, you might be using a towel to rub off all the excess moisture. It might be time to put that towel down since it can be too abrasive and lead to more frizz.
Instead, you can either leave the beard to air dry or use a low-heat setting on your blow dryer. Alternatively, using a cotton t-shirt also works because it won’t be as rough as a towel.
Weather
Whether it’s a hot and humid summer day or a freezing winter night, the environment can put a strain on your beard, making it stick out.
Picture this, your beard is well-groomed and straightened, but once you enter a high-humid area it starts to stick out.
That’s mainly because the moisture in the air is more than in your beard. Since your hair likely needs to be hydrated, it’ll gladly stick out of its groomed shape to catch the humid air’s moisture.
Too Much Touching
Whenever there’s a thought on your mind, you might catch yourself stroking your beard. While it may make you seem smarter, it can have a frizzing effect on the beard.
It happens because you’re disrupting the hair’s texture and form, making it stick out unflatteringly.
To Conclude
After patiently waiting to grow out a beard, a few hairs sticking out can be frustrating to deal with. Nevertheless, by tackling the issue from the root, your beard will come out looking and feeling much healthier.
All it takes is a nourishing beard care routine, some trimming, and an effective styling technique. By following our step-by-step guide, you can kiss those annoying flyaways goodbye.
Check out this article to learn if you can use hair products on your beard.
