5 Beard Tools You Need and 5 You Don't
Over the past decade, the rising popularity of beards has brought about a rise in beard tools designed to make your new bearded life easier to manage.
But when you’re new to growing a beard, the sheer volume of grooming items available on the market can be overwhelming. The endless number of options can leave you unsure of what you need and don’t need.
Don’t worry; you’re not alone.
In this guide, we’ll cover five beard tools you absolutely need to have in your grooming kit and five that you can leave on the shelf.
BEARD TOOLS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED
Want to grow the best beard that you possibly can? Well, the five items listed below are an absolute must:
- Electric beard trimmer
- Boar's hair beard brush
- Beard comb
- Beard trimming scissors
- Round brush
These items will help you keep your beard looking and feeling awesome—which allows you to feel more confident and, ultimately, keeps you from reaching for the razor.
ELECTRIC BEARD TRIMMER
To grow a beard that looks good and doesn’t suggest to others that you have completely thrown in the towel on your life, you need an electric beard trimmer. Out of all five products listed here, this is probably the most important—and the one you’ll be using almost immediately.
After the first couple weeks of growth, you need an electric beard trimmer to set your neckline. As your beard grows longer, you’ll use it to shape your cheek lines, perform routine beard maintenance, and even trim your beard.
We recommend the Brio Beardscape or the Aberlite Trim if you need a trimmer.
BOAR’S HAIR BEARD BRUSH
The boar’s hair beard brush is one of the most overlooked tools by first-time beard growers and is the kind of product that men kick themselves for not having purchased sooner.
Here’s why.
A boar’s hair beard brush performs three essential functions:
1. It helps distribute sebum (the natural oil your skin produces) from your face to your beard hairs, helping prevent your beard from getting dry, brittle, and itchy. When used in combination with beard oil, the boar’s hair bristles help ensure the oil is distributed evenly throughout your beard.
2. As your beard grows, it’s common for dead skin cells to get trapped beneath it. The stiff bristles of a boar’s hair brush can get beneath your beard and exfoliate the skin, helping reduce itchiness and fighting beard dandruff, AKA beardruff.
3. A boar’s hair beard brush is an irreplaceable styling tool that allows you to get your beard hairs to lay in the direction you want them to. The boar's hair brush is especially helpful when taming your beard if your beard is curly or wavy.
Start using a boar’s hair beard brush around the one-month mark of your beard growth to keep your beard healthy, and the skin beneath it exfoliated.
Does it have to be boar's hair?
You can find less expensive synthetic brushes that perform okay, but you lose out on some of the benefits of boar’s hair. Synthetic bristles aren’t as stiff, so you lose out on some of the exfoliating properties you get from the stiffer boar’s hair bristles. Additionally, boar’s hair closely mimics the texture of human hair and allows for better oil distribution.
From left to right: Beardbrand Round Brush, Beardbrand Large Brush, Beardbrand Travel Brush.
BEARD COMB
You can survive without a beard comb for the first few months of growth. But once your beard hairs get longer than an inch and a half in length, having a beard comb is critical.
Combs are necessary for detangling beard hair and getting rid of knots. Use the comb’s widest teeth when combing through long, thick hair that tends to become knotted and tangled. Start at the bottom and work your way to your face.
You’ll also want to use a beard comb when trimming your beard with scissors. Your comb will help you measure and cut the right amount of beard, resulting in an even, uniform look.
Pro Tip: not all combs are created equal, and you’ll want to avoid cheaper plastic combs. This guide will help you decide on the best beard comb for you.
BEARD TRIMMING SCISSORS
Your beard consists of roughly 30,000 individual hairs, and each one grows at a slightly different rate. As your beard gets longer, you’ll likely find yourself with random stray hairs longer than others. You could trim these with your electric trimmer. However, it’s significantly easier to snip these wily hairs with a good pair of beard trimming scissors.
Beard trimming scissors also make it significantly easier to trim your mustache because you have more precision and control than you would with electric clippers.
ROUND BRUSH
Beard waves are a common frustration amongst beardsman with beards around three to six inches. When used with a blowdryer, the round brush reduces waviness, dents, or other indentations that form in your beard.
On the other hand, you can use the round brush to add more shape to your beard if it is straight and lacks volume.
In the video below, Greg Berzinsky demonstrates how he used a round brush to style his beard.
BEARD TOOLS YOU DON’T NEED
Let’s talk about some beard products and tools that you can skip.
- 1. Heated beard-straightening brush
- 2. Whisker dam
- 3. Beard shaper
- 4. Derma roller
- 5. Beard bib
For the record, we don’t dislike any of these products. We think they’re all pretty great tools; we just don’t view them as necessary. Think of these as luxury items you can add to your grooming arsenal later down the line.
HEATED BEARD-STRAIGHTENING BRUSH
Heated beard straighteners have risen in popularity recently, and you’ve likely seen advertisements for them on Instagram and YouTube. They can be an excellent tool for helping you style your beard quickly, and one that we particularly like is the Aberlite Pro.
However, if you’re dipping your toes into growing a beard for the first time, the cost of a heated straightening brush probably isn’t worth it. Most men can get away with just a boar’s hair beard brush and a beard comb.
Check out our guide to beard straighteners if you want to learn more.
WHISKER DAM
When you have a mustache—especially a walrus or Hungarian—everything you drink gets in it, so naturally, a solution was invented. The Whisker Dam is a copper cup guard with a non-toxic barrier that keeps your mustache hairs out of whatever beverage you’re consuming.
We love these things, but they’re more novelty than necessary. After all, a wet mustache never hurt anyone (at least, not that we know of).
If you really can’t stand your ‘stache being soaked in whatever you’re drinking, you might find the $20 price tag on The Whisker Dam to be worth it.
BEARD SHAPER
A beard shaper is a stencil you hold up to your face when trimming your beard. They’re a nifty tool that can help you get the cheek line shape you want for your beard, but you can definitely get clean, even beard lines without one.
In the video below, Carlos Costa shows you how to use a Beardbrand Beard Comb as a guide when trimming your cheek lines.
DERMA ROLLER
Derma rollers are advertised as a way to boost your hair growth and help you grow a thicker, fuller beard. When used, these devices puncture your skin and widen your hair follicles, leading to thicker hairs growing in—at least, in theory. Some research suggests derma rolling is effective when done routinely for 12 to 18 months, but research is still pretty limited.
Frankly, we're not sold on derma rollers. We think they’re essentially a scam marketed towards men who are insecure about their beard growth.
If you're dealing with beard patches, we recommend adopting a facial hair style that works best with your growth pattern. If you’re struggling with patchiness, check out our blog on what to do about your patchy beard.
BEARD BIB
Ah, the beard bib—probably the greatest invention of the 21st century. This man cape fastens around your neck and has two suction cups at the bottom, allowing you to stick it to your bathroom mirror and create a net that catches all your beard hair clippings when you shave or trim.
It’s an innovative tool, but do you need it? No.
THE WRAP-UP
Have questions about beard tools or need advice on your beard? Text "STYLE" to 512-879-3297. Our resident beard and style expert will text you back with personalized advice—for free.
Keep on Growing.
WHAT TYPE OF BEARDSMAN ARE YOU?
Do you know what type of beardsman you are? Take the quiz to find out if you're the rarest type and get an exclusive offer on a Beardbrand Beard Oil Starter Kit. You’ll also get ongoing beard advice sent to your inbox weekly.
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Do you know what type of beardsman you are? Take the quiz to find out if you’re the rarest type, and get ongoing beard advice sent to your inbox weekly.