I have had a beard or mustache for the majority of my 64 years. I have never tamed either one
Beard lotion: ‘Mr. Whiskers’ brand. You must rub the lotion in.
Seriously?
Skip the beard, just don’t cut your hair for a few years.
I was in the service for five years, back in the 80’s.
First thing I remember doing is: no camo clothes, and I grew a beard. ;)
I wore lots of red, blue, yellow...anything but camo.
I never mastered the beard thing, except at times right after coming and trimming—then it looked good. Not sure about the oil, though, never tried it.
Skin got all scratchy and dry under it. Soap doesn’t work, nor does shampoo. I needed to find a third category, which I never looked for, and never did find. (Of course, I didn’t have the good sense to ask, as you’ve done, so you’re already a step in the right direction.)
Good luck on the beard!
Had a beard for about seven years almost constantly. When I finally shaved it off, I felt liberated and truly clean again. My face felt like it was really washed.
Then again, I have oily skin, so the beard kept me from really being as clean as I would like. YMMV, I hope.
Hope you are more comfortable, vigorous washing helped. You did get past the itchy stage. With my curly whiskers, that was torture the few times I went through it, gave up recently.
Dunno how all these gen-x/y/z types run around with several days growth, makes me itch and feel greasy just to see them.
My advice is to get a good beard trimmer, but I don't know it would work on a long beard. Generally mine is short enough that I don't need to worry about anything other than keeping some of the wilder hairs in it from making it look ratty.
My husband has had a beard our entire marriage & never used any product in it, I think most beards are wirey cause they are outgrowth of whiskers. Combing it downward when wet will train it eventually.
I grew a beard for the very first time at age 19 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. That was 51 years ago. I have never shaved it since. I have never done anything to it except trim it. My hair, however, is as straight as an arrow so that your results may differ.
I had a beard for a year after I retired. My wife did not like it and it took more effort and time to keep it nice than shaving so I got rid of it.
If your wife is OK with you having a beard then go for it. I didn’t know about conditioners and all that other stuff, I just kept it trimmed nice and all was fine. Good luck.
I shaved my hair and beard then, I still shave my hair and beard now. Somehow the bald look comes easier. My dad had a full head of hair until the day he died...he liked crew cuts.
As for any extra care? I just shampoo it when I wash my hair and trim it back about three times a year with barber clippers. It's mostly gray, I'm a little on the heavy side, and kids call me Santa LOL.
Seriously I was at a Walmart and a kid kept peeping at me maybe 5-6 years old and it was close to Christmas. The kids mom came up laughing and told me her son told her look it's Santa but he's not in his uniform LOL.
The biggest thing is shaping.... trimming
I’ve grown many epic beard man beards decades before hipsters did it to butch up
My wife actually likes a long beard....which is not common
Beards will grow out to the sides till long enough to train well...say 10 inches plus
So you have to shape by trimming down...so as to grow length...not out
Shampoo like hair......
Waxes and oils help and some smell good....avoid too much eucalyptus or menthol
You’ll smell like Vicks
Your wife ...God lover her ...will have to alert you to food or anything in beard
Its unavoidable
Unless you are in prison and wish to disallow lip readers on the yard you can’t allow mustache to cover mouth...its a big food and snot and you know what else trap.....so trim mustache to whatever bushy you like and keep washed and out of mouth corners
Keep nose and ears trimmed..... a big beard can make u forget
My longest was around two feet.....mostly a chin beard that time....a very long van dyke
Now I’m running about 4-6 inches....I use a nice lemon wax....just for smell...its too short to train
Have fun
One serious caution until you get used to having it. Be careful when grilling or fires etc where the fire flares up. After a while you’ll do it by instinct.
Had a beard ever since I was handed my diploma in high school. Stopped shaving the next day. That was 34 years ago.
Never bothered with beard “lotions” or “conditioners”
I keep it trimmed with a quarter inch depth gauge on an electric beard trimmer.
One thing I will say is to keep it clean. especially for the ladies. It will also tend to hold pollen if you have allergies.
One advantage is if you let it grow long like the guy on “fast and loud”, you can carry your soup in it for lunch. Simply squeeze it out into a bowl and microwave.
On here I just shaved mine off tonight after six years. My kids had a great time having me show them how to shave with my Rooney brush, soaps and creams, and a DE razor with Feather brand blades. My daughter didn’t care for the styptic pencil I had to use afterward though. :-)
I’ve worn a beard since 1969. Wash your face with shampoo and it should behave. I like to keep the beard short, about eyebrow length. It’s the best of both worlds, no daily shaving and no ZZ Top mass to deal with.
I started a beard the day I retired (July 1986). It’s currently 8” long but has been trimmed a few times in the past. I use Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 for both hair and beard, works great.