Ask ten guys how they brush their beards and you'll get ten different answers. Some swear by brushing up. Others only ever go down. The truth is that the best routine uses both directions, and the order matters.

Brush your beard upward to separate hairs and then downward to smooth and shape, using our comb to evenly distribute natural oils. That two-step habit takes less than a minute, and it's the difference between a beard that looks grown on purpose and one that just happened.

Start by Brushing Up

Brushing upward, against the direction your hair grows, does the heavy lifting. Beard hair is coarser and curlier than the hair on your head, so it tangles and mats easily, especially underneath where you can't see it.

Working the comb up from your neckline toward your cheeks:

• Separates hairs that have clumped together overnight
• Loosens tangles before they turn into knots
• Lifts dead skin and flakes away from your face so they can be brushed out
• Adds volume, which helps a flat or patchy beard look fuller

Go slowly and use short strokes. If you hit a snag, stop and work it free from the bottom up instead of yanking through it. Pulling causes breakage and split ends, and that's how beards end up looking frizzy.

Finish by Brushing Down

Once everything is separated, comb your beard downward, in the direction it naturally grows. This is the step that makes it look sharp.

Brushing down lays each hair flat and smooths it, which cuts frizz and gives your beard a cleaner outline. It's also where you shape it. Guide the sides down and slightly back along your jawline, and direct the hair under your chin straight down. If you keep a mustache, comb it outward from the center of your lip.

Brushing down also trains your beard over time. Hair that's combed the same direction every day starts to settle that way, so your beard stays neater between trims.

Why Your Comb Makes the Difference

Your skin produces natural oils that are meant to condition your beard, but on their own they mostly stay near the roots. That leaves the skin underneath greasy and the ends dry and brittle. A good comb carries those oils from root to tip with every pass, so the whole beard stays soft and healthy.

That's exactly why we make the Better Man Beard Sandalwood Beard Comb. Sandalwood is smooth and sturdy, so it glides through coarse hair without snagging the way cheap plastic combs do. Wood also creates far less static than plastic, which means fewer flyaways and less frizz.

The comb works just as well with beard oil or balm. Apply your product first, then use the comb to spread it evenly instead of leaving it sitting in one spot.

A Simple Daily Routine

1. Start with a clean, towel-dried beard. Damp hair is fine, but soaking-wet hair stretches and breaks more easily.
2. Apply a few drops of beard oil or a small amount of balm if you use one.
3. Comb upward from the neckline to separate hairs and loosen tangles.
4. Comb downward to smooth, shape and spread oils from root to tip.
5. Finish with a few strokes along the edges to tidy your outline.

The Bottom Line

So, should you brush your beard up or down? Both. Up to separate, down to smooth and shape. Pair that habit with the right tool and your beard will look better, feel softer and be easier to manage every day.

Ready to upgrade your routine? Pick up the Sandalwood Beard Comb from Boise's own Better Man Beard and give your beard the care it deserves.