Dear reader,
At some point, the idea came to me to stop shaving. Why? Simply because I can. I’m going to keep my beard. No more shaving. Long live the beard.
As you know, I have been a loyal customer of Manandshaving for years. How that came about is a long story. It started long ago with the purchase of a beard oil. Read on for my beard adventure.
If you decide to keep your beard, beard management starts from day one. I also have to maintain my beard. You can compare it to your garden. If you do nothing, it becomes a mess. Just like your garden, you need to regularly tidy the borders. The ivy growing against our side wall needs to be trimmed. If you don’t, it grows in all directions. And of course, you need to mow your lawn too.
Itchy beards and rough beard edges
After about a week without shaving, my beard started itching badly as usual. On the advice of my barber, I bought a beard oil. Normally, I’m not a fan of creams and greasy sticky oils on my skin. I already cringe at a little bit of sunscreen on my face. Anyway, I put a few drops of beard oil in my beard and then brushed it through with a beard brush. My barber had some new beard brushes on the shelf and I bought one for a few euros. I have to say, the itchy feeling became much less. But this beard oil was very greasy. The oil stayed sticky on my skin. So I started looking for a beard oil that absorbs faster into the skin.
After a bit of googling, I happened to come across Manandshaving. I had never heard of this webshop before. A webshop with only shaving and beard products for men. A real men’s store. A whole new world opened up to me. What a choice. More than a thousand different shaving soaps, razors, shaving brushes, beard oils, and much more. Many grooming products I didn’t know, like Proraso, Mr Bear Family, Guardenza, and Truefitt and Hill.
Beard care is applying, maintaining, and cleaning
Anyway, I was looking for a beard oil that absorbs quickly into the skin. There was so much choice. So I called. I was spoken to politely and quickly told that the choice is very personal: what one person finds a good beard oil, another finds a poor beard product. In other words, it’s a matter of trial and error. Because I have a bit of flaky skin, I was advised to start with a neutral or unscented beard oil. That causes less irritation. In the end, I ordered the Mr Bear Family beard oil Beard Brew Unscented. I had never heard of this beard brand before. But it’s sold worldwide. The founder started in his own kitchen making beard oils. I imagine him standing daily over a big bubbling pot stirring and mixing. Honestly, I bought it because I liked the logo with the bear. After using it, I felt the oil was absorbed immediately by my skin. So much less greasy and less itching and flaking. A great beard oil.
A few times a week I apply the Mr Bear oil to my beard. You shouldn’t use too much or too often. Before you know it, you have a greasy mess hanging from your chin. Once a week I clean my beard with regular hair shampoo. Because what you put in your beard must also come out. I also saw a beard shampoo from the same brand on the website. Maybe it’s nonsense, but I bought a Mr Bear beard shampoo with a citrus scent. So I use this shampoo a few times a week. It’s a mild shampoo and skin-friendly. I really like it.
Johan
