Not every New Year’s resolution has to involve weight loss or feel like a chore. Sometimes, it’s good if you just want to incorporate more self care into your daily routine. Well, for 2022 we suggest exactly that! Taking the time to grow a beard is really only half the battle. When your beard is finally in the shape and size you want it to be, then the work is really just beginning. You need to develop a routine to care for it and maintain it and that can feel overwhelming, but it is definitely worth it. Here are some ideas and tips for you to leverage in the new year to help you keep your beard maintenance routine on track. 

Break It Down

Now, before we can strategize about keeping and building your routine, we have to know exactly what you need and want to do to your beard each week in order to keep it in optimal shape. Jot down exactly what needs to be done for upkeep and how often to start. Then we can schedule it out later, but getting this list together first is essential to the battle plan. It might look something like this:

• Wash with warm water and soap
• Apply beard balm
• Apply beard oil
• Comb beard

• Trim beard outline
• Trim long patches and stragglers as they crop up
• Shave face around beard edges
• Shave neck and lower chin

Integrate Beard Care Into What You Already Do (when possible)

So, for your daily tasks, it is easy to make a habit of washing your beard when you are in the shower, just add to your daily shower routine the application of beard balm right after you get out of the shower as you are drying off. Then comb and style your beard as you’d like. For the beard oil, just keep the bottle near your bedside and pop a dab of oil on your palm and rub it into your beard each night as you are settling into bed. The lavender scent in some of our oils will even help you sleep!

The same goes for your weekly upkeep tasks. Try doing all of your trimming tasks on one day and then your shaving tasks a few days later so you don’t have to do them all at once. 

Keeping To Your Schedule

Once you have your tasks decided and your schedule laid out, then it is time to start executing it! To stay on track, try to set sticky note reminders on your bathroom mirror or around your closet. Write the schedule down somewhere you will see it every day and be reminded of it. You can even set calendar invites and events that will set off your phone whenever it is time to do another beard upkeep task. 

Evaluate And Adjust Regularly

After a few weeks to a month of your new routine, take a moment to reflect on its current configuration and how easy or difficult it was. If you think something needs to be swapped around or added or removed, then this is the perfect time to make those adjustments! Don’t be afraid to adjust and improve your routine as you go along, it doesn’t have to be set in stone. 

No matter what you do for your self care and beard care resolutions this year, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season from Better Man Beard.