Check: The 5 most common beard myths

Is facial hair really unhygienic, and does a beard actually grow faster if you shave regularly? Some beard myths have persisted for decades, and the experts at Eric:Barbier often hear all sorts of stories about beards. Even if there’s sometimes a grain of truth behind the claim, the barbers usually just shake their heads. That’s why today we’re debunking five widespread beard myths for you!

Beard myth no. 1: Shaving helps your beard grow faster

“Is your beard not growing? Then you just need to shave more often.” Every young man has probably been told this. But it’s a misconception – the hair follicle, which is responsible for the growth and thickness of beard hair, isn’t touched or stimulated at all during shaving. So the fact remains: beard hair grows on average 0.3 to 0.5 millimetres a day. Frequent shaving doesn’t change that. But what can you do to make your facial hair grow thicker? “There are many theories on how to extend the growth phases of the beard. I notice this on holiday: when I relax and focus more on a healthy diet, my beard grows faster. However, the hairs just get longer and the beard doesn’t become denser overall,” explains master barber Anthony Stölting.

Beard myth no. 2: A beard is scratchy and itchy all the time

If it itches under the beard, it is very rarely actually down to the beard hair itself. Much more often, the reason lies directly underneath: if the skin becomes too dry, it starts to feel tight and itchy. No wonder we then suspect the scratching of the thick beard hairs is the culprit. To prevent this from the outset, regular use of a high-quality beard oil that provides sufficient moisture for skin and hair helps. But it’s not just dry skin that causes itching under the beard. Styling products are often the reason for the itching too. Many men are sensitive to certain ingredients, such as glycerine, which cause the skin to dry out. The professionals at Eric:Barbier therefore only use products with purely natural and nourishing ingredients, such as their own in-house beard wax.

Beard myth no. 3: You can easily dry your beard with a hairdryer

We’ve all been there: your beard is freshly washed and you need to quickly tidy it up before work. Naturally, the easiest and quickest way to do this is with a hairdryer. But be careful: blow-drying can quickly cause heat damage to your beard hair! High heat causes the beard to lose moisture and essential proteins, which can make the hair brittle. However, if you really need to get ready in a hurry, the barbers at Eric:Barbier recommend massaging a little beard oil into your wet hair before blow-drying. This acts as a protective layer and prevents major damage. But even if you use beard oil, your beard isn’t completely protected from the heat. So always make sure you don’t blow-dry for too long and keep the hairdryer at least 15 centimetres away from your face.

Beard myth no. 4: Not every man can grow a beard

This assumption, too, belongs in the realm of legend. In principle, every man can grow a beard – but not all beards grow in the same way. Just like eye colour, hair colour or height, beard growth is determined by your genes. Not every beard grows at the same speed, to the same length or in the same places. That’s why it’s important to find your own style. But what can you do if you’re not happy with your beard growth?

As a rule, two things help: a visit to a barber you trust, who can use their trained eye to help you determine the right beard style, and a lot of patience. “As you get older, a beard also becomes increasingly dense. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can simply let your beard grow and then use a high-quality beard brush and beard oil to brush the hair down so that the bare patches are covered,” reveals Anthony. “I always advise against using products like Minoxidil, however, as these involve hormones to prolong the hair growth phases.”

Beard myth no. 5: Beards are dirty and full of bacteria

This beard myth regularly makes a comeback in the media. Claims that beards contain just as many bacteria as public toilets are causing concern among men. But like so many things, these claims are completely taken out of context. Yes, it’s true, beards do harbour some bacteria, but these are just as present on our hands, our clothes and our smartphones. Nevertheless, thorough grooming is very important to ensure a healthy balance. Just like the rest of the body, facial hair should also be properly cared for. As beard hairs are much thicker than the hair on your head, they also need to be washed more thoroughly. Beard expert Behar advises leaving a special beard shampoo on for around five minutes before rinsing, to remove both care and styling product residues at the same time. As you can see, there are many myths circulating about facial hair. Do you have any questions about your beard? The barbers at Eric:Barbier will be happy to help you during your next visit to the salons. And they’ll also take the opportunity to show you how to lather up shaving foam perfectly.