Pros
- 60 minute battery life
- 19 length settings
- 9,800 cuts per minute
When it comes to beard care, the single most important tool in your arsenal is a quality beard trimmer. Thanks to its unmatched power and versatility, this trimmer from Panasonic is the best available, no matter your style or preferred length. Whether you’re aiming for a short, neat look or a longer, more rugged style, this nifty trimmer has got you covered.
Powered by a high-speed motor that delivers 9,800 cuts per minute, its stainless steel blades glide through thick, coarse hair effortlessly, making every trim feel smooth and precise. It’s the ultimate all-in-one tool for customizing your beard to perfection. Not to mention, the adjustable dial on this tool lets you easily switch between 19 different length settings—no need to hassle with changing attachments.
Read More: How to Trim Your Beard
Product Type | Trimmer |
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Size | 2 x 7 in |
Pros
- Suitable for all skin and beard types
- Long-lasting bottle, a little goes a long way
- Refreshing woodsy scent
- Phthalate-free, paraben-free
Cons
- Easy to apply too much
When it comes to beard care products, a stellar beard oil is second only to trimmers because of its ability to soften facial hair and moisturize the underlying skin, helping your beard stay smooth and itch less. We’ve tried a ton of beard oils in our testing process over the years and this is one of the few that moisturizes dry strands without leaving them feeling or looking greasy.
It’s super lightweight and sinks into your facial hair quickly.
The second reason it rose to the top is the scent—its woodsy and spicy scent is by far the best fragrance of all of the oils we’ve tried, reminiscent of a quality cologne but subtle enough that you don’t smell it under your nose all day. Not to mention, this is by far one of the more versatile oils available. We’ve had testers with all sorts of hair types and beard styles swear by this stuff.
Product Type | Oil |
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Size | 1.7 oz |
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Pros
- Specifically formulated for beards
- Aloe helps soothe itch and dryness
- Softens whiskers as well as cleans
Cons
- Smaller container compared to other beard washes
Any man who has ever grown a beard knows how dirty they can get, so it’s best to regularly use a specially formulated beard shampoo. Of course, not all are created equal with many lacking the nourishing ingredients to avoid leaving the beard and underlying skin dry and tight. Conversely, we found this wash from Jack Black to cleanse facial hair without stripping and drying out the skin underneath, thanks to its powerful combination of aloe and panthenol, aka vitamin B5.
Read More: Best Face Washes for Men
Product Type | Wash |
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Size | 6 oz |
Pros
- Easy to massage onto skin
- Leaves skin feeling moisturized
- Great scent
Cons
- Granules may get caught in coarse beards
Even if you wash your beard and face every day, product buildup and dead skin can accumulate on the surface of your skin below your whiskers. Use this scrub once or twice a week to help remove buildup and allow your skin to breathe (and reduce flaking and breakouts while you’re at it). Be sure to massage it into your beard with your fingers all the way down to your skin.
Proraso’s scrub may look thick in the jar but it glides through your beard easily, even if it’s on the longer side. For best results, apply it in the shower on a wet beard—just a small amount is enough to reach the skin. It massages in easily, rinses out without residue, and leaves your beard feeling fresh with a subtle scent that leaves room for cologne or other fragrances.
Product Type | Facial Scrub |
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Size | 3.5 oz |
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Pros
- Helps to reduce ingrown hairs
- Glycolic acid exfoliates skin without granules
- Works for areas that are shaved as well
Cons
- Can be hard to apply under long beards
When it comes to ingrown hair treatments, and exfoliators in general, we found that pads like these are the easiest to use—and most effective. Use one pad to swipe over any area you want to exfoliate, areas you regularly shave, stubbly areas that you’re growing out, or really your entire face.
The glycolic acid helps to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and keep the channels clear as hair grows out, preventing them from getting stuck and leading to ingrowns. These pads are way easier to use than a spot treatment and gentler than a scrub. Those with longer beards may struggle with application, but these also work well for areas that are shaved, like the edges of your beard, your cheeks or neck.
Product Type | Exfoliating pads |
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Size | 45 count |
Pros
- Easy to use
- Multifunctional design can shave and trim
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Blades need to be changed regularly
When it comes to detailing your beard, you’ll want to avoid using the same device you use for trimming and instead opt for something with a bit more precision. This small, easy-to-use shaver can help detail your facial hair, while the length guards help fade sideburns and trim short beards. Its small size is also ideal for keeping your beard fresh on the go, too. In short, whether you’re going for a crazy Tony Stark-esque design or just want to keep your lines crisp, the OneBlade will be one of your best resources.
Read more: Philips Norelco OneBlade Review
Product Type | Trimmer |
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Size | 9 x 7 in |
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Pros
- Can be used on beards of all lengths
- Lightweight balm texture
- Not prone to clumping like other balms
Cons
- Easy to apply too much
What made this beard balm stand out in our testing process is that it packs the perfect balance between texture and hold. While it’s beeswax and shea butter-based like many balms out there, somehow it warms in your hands and spreads through your beard more easily without clumping or leaving those weird little balls of wax behind.
It effectively softens the beard and imparts a little bit of hold, but won’t leave your beard too stiff. We think it’s ideal for short to medium-length beards, though our testers with longer beards liked it too; they just noted that sometimes they like a little more control than this balm gives. But as an effective balm for most beard types, it’s a winner.
Read More: Best Beard Balms
Product Type | Balm |
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Size | 2 oz |
Pros
- Specifically designed for the neck area
- Built-in precision trimmer for lines
- Multiple blades give a close shave
Cons
- Cartridges need to be replaced often
Just because you have a beard doesn’t mean you can throw out your razor. You still need to keep the lines clean, so use a razor to shave your cheeks and neck. This option is specifically designed for the neck area and has a built-in edger to easily keep the lines of your beard crisp. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, this razor will be just as important as your trimmer.
Product Type | Razor |
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Size | 2 blades included |
Pros
- Great woodsy scent
- Ultra-moisturizing
- Paraben-free
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Cap design isn’t the best for travel
As previously mentioned, beard conditioning is essential to restoring the oils that beard washes can strip. This foam from Reuzel does exactly that, as well as moisturizing whiskers and leaving hair soft and manageable. Of course, it’s ideal for those who might prefer the texture or feel of a foam versus a spray or balm. Plus, it offers a masculine woodsy and spicy scent that rivals some of our favorite colognes.
Product Type | Foam conditioner |
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Size | 2.36 oz |
Pros
- Fragrance-free
- Formulated for sensitive skin
- Easy to apply
- Non-greasy
Cons
- May not last as long as oils for those with dry skin
Similar to a beard balm or oil, this beard butter simultaneously softens beard hair while moisturizing skin underneath. However, for those with sensitive skin, the texture or fragrance of many oils and balms might result in a reaction. Not to mention, some dudes just prefer to have no lingering scents below their nose all day. Every Man Jack Beard Butter is the ultimate counter to these products. It’s entirely fragrance-free and relies largely on a slew of natural ingredients, like shea-butter and coconut oil, to hydrate skin and tame unruly fur.
Product Type | Styling cream |
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Size | 4 oz (2-pack) |
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Pros
- Soothes itchy stubble
- Hydrates skin
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Best on beards under 1-inch
Growing a beard is a process, and anyone who has attempted it knows that the growing-out phase is the hardest, as facial hairs can get awfully itchy and uncomfortable during it. This innovative spray instantly soothes itchy skin by delivering hydration to your skin and stubble to keep it soft and calm.
There aren’t many products out there specifically designed for the grow-out phase of your beard, or for just stubble looks in general, which is part of why we love this product so much. When your new beard gets itchy, a few spritzes of this moisturizing spray instantly calms itch and has a pleasant cooling effect as well. It helps to soften shorter whiskers, so you can use it even if you just have a really short beard or stubble look, and also moisturizes the skin leaving it feeling softer and more supple.
Read More: Beard Growth Kits
Product Type | Spray |
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Size | 4 oz |
Pros
- Good for all beard lengths
- Durable boar bristles
- Portable, good for travel
Cons
- Can be harsh on skin if too much pressure is applied
Boar bristle brushes are the gold standard in beard brushes, and for good reason. This handleless brush is easy to hold and apply just the right amount of pressure to reach through thicker beards and really smooth them out. The boar bristles are strong and don’t feel like they could break off in your beard like some flimsier ones do and they power through tangles and knots with minimal discomfort. It’s ideal even if you have a shorter beard because it helps to exfoliate the skin beneath; just go a little gentler when you’re using it to avoid scratching yourself up.
Read More: Best Hair Brushes
Product Type | Brush |
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Size | 2 x 4.5 x 2.75 inches |
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Pros
- Strong hold
- Small, portable tin
- Thicker than a beard balm
Cons
- May dry too quickly for some
Depending on how long your mustache is, you may need a specific styling product to keep it in check. Enter mustache wax. It’s thicker than a beard balm and too heavy to use on your entire beard, but it will keep your mustache in check and out of your mouth. It’s also handy to shape your mustache into whatever style you want, so if you’re aching for a handlebar, this is your jam.
Product Type | Wax |
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Size | 0.5 oz |
Pros
- Spray formula is lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Large bottle is difficult for travel
Using a conditioner after your shampoo is important because it replenishes healthy oils that can be stripped in the cleansing process and makes hair easier to manage with a softer feel, and this certainly extends to your beard. For beard conditioners, we tend to gravitate towards sprays because they’re so easy to use and hard to overdo, and this option from Scotch Porter is one of the best out there.
Just a few spritzes of this jojoba-oil-laced spray are enough to hydrate your strands. Our one gripe is that the bottle is big so it’s hard to take with you if you travel, but we’re willing to overlook that because it just works so well.
Product Type | Conditioner |
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Size | 8 oz |
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Pros
- Smoothly cuts whiskers
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic grip
Cons
- Expensive (for scissors)
As your beard gets longer, the best way to get rid of flyaways and scraggly strands is to bust out old-school scissors. Don’t use these to trim lots of length (that’s a job for your trimmer), but instead use this to gently chop down those unruly hairs. First, brush your beard into the shape you want and then use the scissors to trim any hairs that fall out of that shape. Finish with a beard balm to keep it all in place.
Product Type | Shears |
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Size | 6.5 in |
What to Look for in Beard Products
Overall, you want to look for products that are specifically designed for beards. This means that they’re formulated or designed to work on facial hair, which is often coarser and thicker than hair on other parts of your body. This is important when it comes to tools like trimmers and brushes as they’re more likely to work better on coarse facial hair.
When it comes to things like washes, balms, oils and similar products, you want to make sure that they use ingredients that are good for your hair and your skin, since they’re likely going to be touching the skin underneath your beard as well as the whiskers themselves. Look for ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, aloe and other botanical ingredients that are moisturizing but not heavy. If you’re prone to breakouts, you’ll also want to look for products that are noncomedogenic, which means they won’t clog pores. And for stylers like waxes and balms, look for natural waxes like beeswax.
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How Many Beard Products Do You Need?
Officially, the limit does not exist because beard care, like hair or skincare, is an ongoing process that should be done every single day. However, depending on the length of your beard, you may not need everything at all times. Everyone who has a beard should have a dedicated beard wash (think of it as a combination shampoo/face wash that can do both) and some sort of moisturizer to keep the whisker hydrated and healthy. This could mean an oil, conditioner, balm or something else depending on your personal preference.
The most important thing is to find one that you like the feeling of and can tolerate using every single day. Depending on how long your beard is, you may want some sort of styler to help keep it in place, like a balm or wax. The longer beards get, the more likely they are to get flyway hairs that you’ll want to keep in check. Finally, all bearded guys should have some sort of tool to cut their beards. This could mean a beard trimmer if you have a short or medium-length beard or just a good pair of scissors if you’re a long-beard guy.