The perfect beard in three steps

It’s by far the most common question I hear: “How do I grow the perfect beard?” Many men struggle with patchy beards or beards that just won’t grow properly – a worry that is often unfounded. In just one month, we’ll find the perfect style for “every man” in three simple steps and put an end to all your beard-growing woes.

Step 1: Contours are half the battle

The perfect beard starts with the perfect contours. These lines should be defined by a professional after around two weeks of beard growth, so that the future bearded gentleman knows where to start when shaving. Even a three-day stubble needs precise contours, as the style could otherwise look unkempt due to the hair growing wildly around the neck. This way, you’ll always make a good impression on your journey to a beard and can let it grow further in the desired areas of your face – with a simple trick, even without the typical itching.

Step 2: Get it into top shape

Over the next two weeks, we’ll let time work in our favour. Gaps in the beard often disappear as if by magic as the bare patches fill in. With the help of a beard brush, these areas can also be covered by the surrounding hair. The beard becomes fuller and is usually well-defined after a month, at which point we can focus on achieving the optimal shape. This depends on the face shape: a tapered look makes round faces appear more defined, whilst we round off the beard for men with expressive facial features.

Step 3: Maintain and enjoy

Once the growth phase is over, we’ve achieved the desired style. However, anyone who rests on their laurels won’t enjoy it for long: only with the right care will the hair not become dull or even die off. The beard should therefore be washed once or twice a week with a suitable shampoo, such as one from Eric:Barbier. It removes fine skin flakes and prevents inflammation. It also seals the hair cuticle and prevents unwanted odours. After washing, it’s time for beard oil. An oil made from cold-pressed argan nuts from Morocco, for example, is absorbed into the hair to protect it and doesn’t sit on the surface, as is often the case with other products containing lower-quality carrier oils. A visit to the barber should be scheduled every four weeks so that the contours and shape can be trimmed by a professional.

The old wives’ tales

If your beard isn’t behaving as you’d like, there’s plenty of ‘advice’ on the internet: from increased testosterone production to miracle cures that are supposed to stimulate beard growth, right through to the old adage that frequent shaving helps. It’s all nonsense. Humbug that has been scientifically debunked. That’s why I would always ask a barber for advice on what options are available. It doesn’t have to be a full beard straight away; perhaps a subtle style like the chin strap will suffice. As a last resort, there’s a hair transplant, though this costs several thousand euros and is very painful – with no guarantee that the transplanted hair will achieve the desired result.

So: before you bury your head in the sand, why not take a seat in the comfortable barber chairs at our salons in Hamburg city centre or HafenCity, and we’ll work together to see how we can fulfil your desire for the perfect beard.

Yours, Anthony