Is Movember about to change?
As we all know November is now also known as #Movember, a month for all us gents to experiment with our lip brows whilst at the same time raise awareness for #prostatecancer however I believe that this is all set change. From Ricki Hall to Christian Bale and even a cheeky little attempt from Daniel Radcliffe it seems like beards are the biggest things in male fashion right now. With this has come a new take on our beloved #Movember which is simply called #NoshaveNovember.
The rules are simple, as explained by its name you put down that razor and LET IT GROW. Well that’s what I thought until my eyes were opened to a whole host of male grooming products that are dedicated to the male beard. From oils to waxes for those rebellious bristles, soaps and even dedicated clothes for the bearded gent it seems that the BEARD is back. But where to start with such a huge market?
Here is a roundup of what we at Men Style Fashion think are best for the bearded gent.
THE BEGINNING
So my journey as a beardsman started on the 22/08/2014 ( I know sad that I remember the date right?) and about 2 weeks in I realised that there really was such a thing called an “itchy stage”. After a call to my father for some manly one on one advice i decided to try some good old fashioned tar soap i highly recommendGrandpa’s Pine Tar Soap. Tar soap is probably one of the oldest soaps but believe me, without this stuff you will not make it through that itch. But this is only just the beginning to taming that beard.
SOFTENING THE BRISTLES
Let’s face it no one wants a face full of bristles that are coarse and dry. Yep you guessed it there are products that turn even the coarsest of beards hair smooth. This market is huge and becoming slightly overcrowded so here is my take on the top products in this category. Beard oil – Now if you are going to grow a beard this stuff is essential. Not only does it leave your beard feeling soft it also gives it a very nice fragrance. The bearded man Co seems to be the masters when it comes to fragrances. With 24 fragrances on offer there is one for everyone mood or occasion and believe me these fragrances will last for hours.
If you are looking for something a bit more straight to the point then Beard brand is a high quality high end beard oil that has no faults. Beard brand mission is to create the highest quality beard products on the market and with stockiest such as Selfridges in the united kingdom which I feel is perfect for their target market.
Conditioners –There is only 1 winner for me and that’s Percy Nobleman’s beard wash. This stuff leaves your beard feeling soft. Not only that but with every purchase this company will give something back to prostate cancer during the month of November. Waxes and balms – Again that market is flooded and they are all pretty much the same so when purchasing from any of the above brands why not slip some of their waxes into your shopping basket and give them a go.
MAINTAINING
Now straight to the point – Beard trimmers just don’t cut it. (Did you see what I did there) if you are serious about your beard. To me it is the same as trying to even out your side burns after have one of those old fashioned clean shaves. Go to a barber and get them to keep your beard in check. You will need to trim that tash weekly as these things grow quick. Grab yourself a decent pair of hair dressing Scissors or if you are brave and feel comfortable with using one I recommend a precision trimmer. But be very careful as I have slipped up a few times and had to re grow my grizzlier. If you are ever in London I highly recommend popping over to Pall Mall Barbers. I have been to a few now to keep my beard in check but with over 250 years worth of barbering experience these guys are the ones to visit if you are unsure on where to go next with your facial hair. Pall Mall barbers oils and stache waxes are all made by them so remember to check these out when you pay them a visit.
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
I know right clothes for the bearded gent?? How crazy is that but it seems to be all the rage if you are a beardo like me. T-shirts, hoodies, hats and signs the possibilities seem to be endless. Cool Beard Bro Co is a company dedicated purely to bearded fashion. All the designs are original and these guys will even personalise your clothing with anything you want which makes for a perfect gift or stocking filler. One other thing I wouldn’t live without is my range of brushes and combs to keep my beard in check. Kent brushes offer a huge range of combs and brushes from the boar brush for the gent that’s beard needs a good groom to their extra tiny comb for the gent with a moustache these guys have you covered.
ADVICE AND TIPS
Now there is only one guy in my eyes for this job. Eric Bandolz has to be the don of beard advice and tips. From giving advice and tips on growth and maintenance to even what supplements to take this guy really knows what he is talking about. Without this guy men around the world will be still sat on the sofa wondering where their bearded life’s went so wrong. Eric’s blogs can be found on youtube and with hundreds of thousands of views you will soon see why I rate this guy so much. He even recently appeared on shark tank (America’s dragons den) selling his own line of products…. Yep he’s the done. So there you have it, our round up on what’s big in the world of men’s beard grooming. I know you are probably thinking “that’s quite a lot of products for 1 month of beard growth” but trust me once you start growing you won’t stop.
