With summer coming to an end, it’s time to start thinking about how to style your beard this fall. Whether you like to crop it short for summer and grow it out in the colder months, you don’t have a beard and would like to grow one this fall (No Shave November, anyone?), or you just want to change up your look this fall, you’ll need to plan ahead because we all know growing a beard takes time. Fortunately for you, The Gent Lounge has your back and we’re here to tell you everything you need to think about when it comes to planning your fall beard style.
Plan your Growth
The most important part about growing a beard successfully is having a plan and that translates into any changes you plan to make to your beard style. When you think you want to change it up, it makes it a lot easier when you formulate a solid plan and figure out what steps you’ll need to accomplish your goal.
The first step of this is assessing where you want to be. Search the internet for photos of beards and find one that you like and that would suit your style and your face shape. Pick a couple of options and ask your loved ones what they like, but more importantly choose your favorite. However, it’s important to be honest with yourself about your ability to grow the particular style you’re going for and about the time it will take to get there.
Once you’ve found the beard you want, assess where you are now. How far off from your goal are you? What changes do you need to make to get there? These are the questions that will guide your growth over the next few months. For example, if you have a goatee and want a hick full beard by the end of October, it will require some planning to get your goatee to blend into a full beard.
Think About Your Hairstyle
So now that you’ve picked a beard style and have a solid plan in place to get there, you’ll need to think about the rest of the hair on your head. A beard should work hand in hand with the hair on your head. Generally speaking, if you have a messier beard your hair should be a bit cleaner cut and if you have a nice well-kept beard you can let your hair be a bit messier. That said, there are plenty of cases where messy-messy works and where clean-clean works, so play around with it and see what works for you. Again, pictures are hugely helpful here. Search the internet for combinations that work well and would suit your face shape. The most important part is that you realize your hairstyle should work with your beard style and that you understand the most appealing hair/beard combinations as a starting point.
Consult Your Barber
At this point you’ve chosen a beard style, you’ve mapped out a plan to get there, and you’ve chosen a hairstyle to go with it. Now is where the fun begins! At this point you’ve got everything you need to get the groundwork laid and set yourself up for success. This is where you go in to your trusted barber and you show them what you’re going for. A good barber will be able to take the pictures you’ve found, assess where you are, and give you a cut that will set you up to get there.
As you go in for each cut, remind them of where you’re going and they’ll keep adjusting the cuts to get you there!
Focus on Your Beard Health
Now that you’ve got the groundwork in place and you know what your goals are, you’ll want to set yourself up for success. In beard growth the most important part, whether you accomplish your goals or not, is the health of your beard. Make sure you’re using quality natural beard products to keep your beard moisturized, conditioned, clean and maintained.
Beard health also comes from the inside. Make sure you’re drinking at least 100 ounces (13 glasses) of water a day and eating clean healthy foods that are high in protein and healthy fats, while avoiding processed and sugary foods. Exercise is important for beard health as well as it promotes a healthy production testosterone.
In Conclusion
A new beard style can be a great way to begin a new season. It’s always fun to mix it up and play around with your personal style and present yourself in a new way to the world. Who knows, maybe your new style will catch the eye of someone who has never noticed you in that way before! The best part is you start to explore yourself and figure out who you are and how you want to be seen by everyone you encounter. Take pride in your style, feel free to mix it up and make yourself happy!
Stay classy, gents! Cheers!
