Today we are celebrating World Beard Day! Occurring the first Saturday of Sept, this international holiday has whiskered individuals walking with their chins held high.
Historical
Although the exact origins of World Beard Day aren’t clear, beards have had significant impacts throughout history. Some figures are nearly unrecognizable without their whiskers, whether that’s Abraham Lincoln, Blackbeard, or even Santa Claus.
While the first men grew beards for warmth or protection, they slowly became a symbol of wealth or power. Ancient Egyptian rulers would dye their beards, and both men and women pharaohs would often wear fake metal beards.
Mesopotamian civilizations used oils to keep their facial hair healthy, and even styled them with the modern-day equivalent of a curling iron. Wearing a beard was a sign of honor in ancient Greece. Men grew them long, as cutting them was a form of punishment, while Romans kept their facial hair trimmed and neat.
Some historians believe that Danish Vikings even had their own celebrations centered around their beards.
Modern Day Beards
In America today, beards are predominantly used as a fashion statement as much as any other hairstyle. Some trends come and go, but every person has styles they prefer, whether for personal or religious reasons.
Orthodox Jews, for example, tend to keep unshaven beards and peyos. Some Amish, Sikhs, and those who follow the hadith can also be found with long whiskers.
After more than a year of lockdown without needing to shave, beards are even more common. However, a well-kempt and styled beard is almost always favored over the messy, grown-out look. Luckily, eCosmetics has all the tools necessary to create wonderous whiskers on World Beard Day and every day after.
Grooming and Styling
One of the most important things when it comes to facial hair is making sure it’s well taken care of.
Care
Like in a normal hair care routine, beard care starts with the wash. Formulas like SheaMoisture’s Maracuja Oil & Shea Butter Beard Wash, Acqua Di Parma’s Barbiere Beard Wash, and Anthony’s Conditioning Beard Wash clean the beard, chin, and cheeks while keeping them hydrated. Beard care and skincare go hand-in-hand, after all. There are also multi-tasking formulas that can be used on the beard, body, and hair, like Sunny Isle’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil 2-n-1 Hair & Beard Wash and Sebastian’s Seb Man The Multi-Tasker For Hair, Beard & Body Wash.
Keeping the beard moisturized is important to prevent it from tangling, flaking, or itching. Conditioning formulas like The Art of Shaving’s Peppermint Beard Conditioner, KeepIt Handsome’s Beard Moisturizer, and Jack Black’s Beard Lube Conditioning Shave help keep the beard long, strong, healthy, and shiny.
Just like the Mesopotamians, oil can also help keep your beard looking and feeling its best. Beards also tend to be thicker and coarser, so it’s okay to use heavier oils for healthier hair. Can You Handlebar’s Beard Oil conditions and nourishes with olive, grape seed, rice, and jojoba oils, Billy Jealousy’s Charm Offensive Beard Oil With Sweet Almond Oil also uses aloe vera and soybean oil in its formula, and SheaMoisture’s Maracuja & Shea Oils Beard Conditioning Oil softens strands. American Crew’s Beard Serum also uses a blend of conditioning oils in its formula.
Styling
Beard balms contain a lot of the same hydrating oils in formulas that also tame frizz and flyaways with mild control. There are a lot of options for balms, such as 18.21 Man Made’s Beard Balm, Billy Jealousy’s Charm Offensive Beard Balm, Uppercut Deluxe’s Beard Balm, and Tigi’s Bed Head For Men Lion Tamer Beard & Hair Balm. Each formula has its own unique scent for hair control that fits any personality.
There are also strong styling products to lock in beard looks. L’Oreal’s Men Expert Barber Club Beard & Hair Styling Cream gives light hold, for example, while American Crew’s Moustache Wax and 18.21 Man Made’s Wax give stronger hold for more defined styles.
Along with holding products, several styling tools also make beards look their best. While brushes and combs—such as Baxter Of California’s Beard Comb, The Art of Shaving’s Horn Mustache Comb, or Wet Brush’s Men’s Leather Detangler—help distribute products, untangle knots, and groom whiskers, temperature-based styling tools can help make sure each hair behaves. For this, we like BaBylissPRO’s CryoCare – The ColdBrush and Croc’s Baby Flat Iron, though any flat iron or curling tool can work wonders.
Trimming
Although shaving your beard on World Beard Day is generally frowned upon, there are 364 other days of the year your whiskers might need to be shaped, trimmed, or cropped.
You can trim up by hand with Tweezerman’s G.E.A.R. Facial Hair Scissors or Moustache Scissors, or using more powerful tools like BaBylissPRO’s BLACKFX Outlining Trimmer FX787BN, Andis’ T Outliner Cordless Trimmer, or WAHL Professional’s 5 Star Barber Combo Legend Clipper And Hero Trimmer Model #8180. Make sure to keep those trimmers clean and working properly as well with BaBylissPRO’s All in One Clipper Spray.
If you’re going for an all-out shave, prep your face with a skin and hair-softening cream such as Shiseido’s Men Shaving Cream, Tabac’s Tabac Original Shaving Cream, or AHAVA’s Men’s Foam-Free Shaving Cream. For a fully luxurious experience, apply your shaving cream with Mason Pearson’s Super Badger Shaving Brush.
No matter your style, make sure to flaunt those follicles this World Beard Day.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
