No shave November has come and gone, but you are still pursuing to grow the most epic beard that you possibly can. But some seem to be stuck in a rut. Or maybe you are just a late bloomer when it comes to growing a beard and have been fiddling around to see what can be done. Or maybe you are just someone curious to see how long you can grow your beard, and wanting to see an end result that might just end you up looking like Gandalf. Whatever the case maybe, we have put together a list of tips that will help you achieve your beard goals.

HAVE SOME PATIENCE AND JUST LET IT GROW

The first and one of the most important steps for an epic beard is to just be patient and let it grow. It might seem a little annoying at first, but just give it time and embrace the growth. You need to understand that a fuller beard needs time to be cultivated and no epic beard comes in a short span of time. So, when you first start growing it, resist the urge to trim or even style your beard for the first 4-6 weeks. For some it might take longer than that so just be patient. This will help the beard grow evenly and further help you to decide on what shape or style of beard you would be rocking.

DETERMINE WHAT GOES WELL WITH YOUR FACIAL STRUCTURE

Just like everything else, beards need to be in tune with your overall persona, and if it doesn’t fit with what your face looks like then, well, you’re not doing justice to your beard. So, once you’ve let your beard grow to an optimal length, you can consult with the chart below which shows what kind of beard goes well with your face. So, once you’ve got that figured out, you can finalize on a beard style that will actually compliment your facial structure. Your beard will look better and so will you. If you have a square or round jaw, you’ll want to grow your beard fuller on the bottom to elongate your face. If you have an oblong or rectangular face, you’ll want more hair on the sides while avoiding more length beneath the chin.

LEARN HOW AND WHEN TO TRIM YOUR BEARD

Once you’ve conquered growing out your beard for a month and fought the itch to just shave it off, you will want to shape it up the way that you want it. As you’ve let your hair grow wild, the beard would look un-managed with stray hair coming out everywhere; and this is when you should trim your beard and shape it up. At this point, you have the perfect canvas to sculpt the most perfect beard for yourself. Even if you are planning to grow it out, you will want to get a sharp and angular look with your beard; it will not only look badass but your beard will start looking even fuller. So, you can either check-in with your barber to have it trimmed or you can invest on quality trimmers, scissors and razors, and do it yourself. At first, it might feel a little weird trimming your beard being scared that you might just screw it up, but overtime, you’ll get used to it. Rather than going to the barber regularly, we suggest you polish your techniques and just learn to do it yourself.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Just like your hair up top, the hair on your chin needs shampooing and conditioning as well. Especially in the early stages of growth when you are not used to it and dead skin cells trapped underneath can cause a lot of unwanted itchiness. So, the general idea is to scrub your beard a couple of times a week to make sure that it is clean and moisturized. There are a few tips depending on the type of skin and hair you have. If your skin is dry and beard is coarse, tone down the scrub frequencies but condition and oil it regularly. And if both your skin and beard is oily, make sure to keep it clean and use oil wisely. Also, make sure to massage your face when you wash it, as this helps to keep the beard healthy. A healthy beard is a growing beard.

DON’T FORGET THE ALMIGHTY BEARD OIL

Now, this has to be the Holy Grail for anyone looking rock an epic beard. Nothing tames a bread like regular use of beard oil and it even helps in nourishing your beard. There are many varieties that you can choose from with a range of manly scents. And if you want something that’s more personalized to your liking, then you can even experiment with combining different oils to get the best one for yourself. Whatever the case may be, use of beard oil conditions your beard making it softer and shinier. It also nourishes the beard and the skin underneath while also encouraging growth.

BRUSH AND COMB THE BEARD

This is one of the most overlooked aspect in growing a beard. Many people just skip this and end up with an unruly and tangled up beard, which is never a good sight. With that being said, brushing and combing your beard ensures that your beard looks better and also healthier. When you brush or comb your beard, it stimulates the follicles that assist in growth and keeps your beard looking healthy and shiny. Brush from top to bottom and from the sides to the center of your beard; don’t be too harsh, you don’t want a coarse beard. Look for a boar bristle brush or a wooden comb; we’d suggest not to use cheap plastic combs.

DIET FOR YOUR BEARD

Just like everything else in the human body, what you eat has a drastic effect on your beard growth. Your beard is made from protein and fat, but it’s also heavily reliant on Vitamins B5, B3, and B9. That means your beard requires nutrients and nourishment for better growth. So, stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet that consists of lean proteins/meat, green leafy vegetables, milk and other dairy products, whole eggs, and the right kind of fruits.

RELAX! JUST TAKE A CHILL PILL!

And lastly, just relax! Stress can stunt hair growth and get in your way in pursuit of the most epic beard. So, just chill out, exercise, mediate or do whatever that keeps you calm and relaxed. Then you can just sit back and watch your beard grow.

Compiled by Prashant Manandhar