Taming Facial Frizz in Humid Environments

Humidity and facial hair don’t mix. Your beard looks frizzy during muggy months because hair strands and follicles absorb moisture from the wet air, causing them to appear bloated. Here are 11 tips to sport a smooth beard no matter how humid the weather gets.

Frizzy Hair

1.   Wash Your Face Gently

Gentle cleaning prevents frizz like no other. Washing your face to remove excess oils, dirt, debris, germs and dead skin cells from your beard goes without saying. However, overwashing does more harm than good. It strips away your facial hair’s natural oils, making you more prone to frizziness.

What you use to wash is just as important as how you wash. Use a cleanser that suits your skin type. If you have normal skin, use a noncomedogenic product.

For dry skin, wash using a fragrance-free, hydrating product. If you’re oily or acne-prone, use a noncomedogenic cleanser containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. For sensitive skin, make sure the label says “fragrance-free” or “soap-free.”

Massage the cleanser into your face in a circular motion. Wash it off, and then gently pat your face dry with a microfiber towel.

2.   Use a Beard Conditioner

Applying a beard conditioner should be part of your shower routine. This product deeply hydrates, nourishes and softens your facial hair. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

If you have an extremely dry, coarse beard, use a leave-in conditioner for more lasting hydration. Be wary of the amount you use because it can create a greasy appearance. Use sparingly, and add more when necessary.

3.   Manage Split Ends

Split ends make your beard look frizzy on a low-humidity day. Imagine how they would look when the air is clammy.

Facial hair trimming is beard grooming 101. It’s essential during humid months to keep your split ends from sticking out when your hair swells from absorbing water from the air.

The longer your beard, the more prone you are to split ends. That’s because the sebum your skin produces can’t moisturize your entire hair once it reaches a certain length.

Untangle your beard with a comb or brush to make your split ends easier to see. Trim every pair you find with scissors, but keep as much of the intact portion from the hair shaft untouched as possible to prevent damage.

4.   Shave Random Hair Strands

The parts of your face you want to be bare should remain bare regardless of the season. However, skipping a shaving session during the warmer months makes your facial hair conspicuously unkempt once the patchy strands begin to curl.

Use a traditional razor for a close shave. Use a shaving soap or cream if you prefer a thicker lather, but go with a gel for something more lubricating.

5.   Seal in Moisture

Beard oils, balms and butters are leave-in products you can use to keep your facial hair and the skin underneath moisturized as you go on with your day.

Use beard oil when you only have a short stubble. Switch to beard balm after growing a full beard to hold it in place while keeping it moist and nourished. Move up to butter when your beard is long enough to only require light to medium hold for a tamed but rugged look.

6.   Practice Wet Brushing

Combing or brushing helps distribute your skin’s natural oils and beard care products through your hair evenly. However, doing it when your facial hair is dry contributes to frizziness. This action can damage the cuticle — your hair’s protective outermost layer.

Style your beard while it’s still wet. Dampness lessens the friction between a comb’s teeth or brush’s bristles and your beard.

7.   Steer Clear of Heat Styling

Excessive heat dries out your skin and hair. Your goal is to keep your beard moist for as long as possible, so avoid hot styling tools, such as beard straighteners and blow-dyers.

Let the air dry your facial hair naturally. If you must dry your beard more quickly, use a microfiber towel to absorb excess moisture and use a blow-dryer’s cool setting to prevent heat damage. Drying your beard without exposing it to high temperatures helps keep it strong, elastic and lustrous.

8.   Hydrate More Frequently

Less moist hair tends to grab more water from the air. Moisturizing your beard more often during the humid season is necessary to reduce frizz.

If you normally use beard oil, balm or butter once a day, double your moisturizer’s application. Doing so helps make up for the faster beard dryness rate occurring in the hotter months.

9.   Take Cool Showers

Taking a bath or shower with hot water can be therapeutic but disastrous for the beard. Hot water dries out the skin and damages the keratin cells on the epidermis, preventing them from locking in moisture.

Hot environments make you sweat, causing dehydration. Being dehydrated is detrimental to beard health.

Moreover, hot showering adds moisture to the air because indoor humidity levels rise as water steams up. Failing to ventilate the wetter indoor air to the outside efficiently after showering increases your risk of frizziness at night when it’s generally less humid.

The only exception is your face when washing it. Lukewarm water presents a healthy middle ground to cleanse your skin and beard.

10.       Watch What You Eat

Your diet provides your body with essential nutrients to keep your beard moist and healthy.

Prioritize optimal hydration. Adults should drink anywhere between 2.7 and 3.7 liters to meet the daily water intake that medical experts recommend. Drinking water during meals and whenever you feel thirsty should suffice.

However, you may have to drink more when you enjoy dehydrating beverages like alcohol. Snack on cucumber, zucchini and watermelon — foods that are 92%-95% water — to hydrate your body significantly without drinking too many glasses a day.

11.       Mind Sun Exposure

Exposure to direct sunlight for too long accelerates beard dryness, jeopardizing everything you do to keep it moist all day. Stay in the shade as much as you can.

Keep Your Beard Frizz-Free

Taming a frizzy beard involves considerable work. With these tips, you can be more mindful of anything that dries out your facial skin and increases moisture in the surrounding air to keep your mane impressive and healthy.

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How Your Sleep Quality Is Impacting Your Facial Hair Growth

Does a decent night’s sleep elude you night after night? Coincidentally, are you struggling to grow a full, thick beard? If you’ve answered “yes” to both, your difficulties in growing a beard may be anything but coincidental. You may be surprised to learn about the relationship between sleep quality and facial hair growth.

Sleep-Related Factors That Could Impact Facial Hair Growth

Restful sleep is essential to functioning well during the day and vital for your well-being. It’s no surprise that sleeping less or waking up multiple times per night takes its toll on how your body functions physically and how you cope mentally and psychologically in day-to-day situations. With your facial hair a physical part of your body, less sleep can lead to stunted beard growth.

So, what sleep-related factors can contribute to your facial hair growth?

1. Indoor Air Causes Sleep Disruptions

Do you have problems sleeping well in summer? Depending on where you live, warm, humid weather can mean tossing and turning all night long. Besides the indoor temperature, pet dander, pollen and dust mites can cause respiratory issues by attaching to your bed linens, putting peaceful sleep out of reach. Even if it doesn’t disrupt your sleep, poor indoor air quality can result in tiredness and fatigue during the day.

Living in a damp environment can lead to mold, which disrupts your sleep by causing congestion and irritating your eyes, nose and skin. Airborne mold particles are significant triggers for asthma attacks and other respiratory problems that can keep you awake most of the night in aggravated circumstances.

2. Insufficient Sleep Can Cause Skin Problems

Research shows that sleep disturbances impact skin diseases, but the direct correlation remains unclear. Sleeping allows your body to repair and rejuvenate, with collagen production, skin hydration and inflammation reduction among its recognized ways. Without time for these essential repair processes, you will likely be more susceptible to acne breakouts and other skin issues.

Skin inflammation restricts beard growth, and dryness causes flakiness, affecting facial hair growth. If you’re not sufficiently hydrated, your beard hair also becomes more brittle and susceptible to breaking. While shaving with a traditional razor can alleviate these symptoms, you’ll likely want to incorporate top-rate beard care products like a beard wash and beard oil to revitalize your facial hair — and get enough sleep so your body can naturally repair your skin and hair.

3. Stress Levels Affect Sleep

According to Cleveland Clinic, stress-related sleep deprivation can cause a decrease in beard growth. Backed by a 1987 study of 10 men, the reputable health care provider states stress is a primary factor of hair loss, specifying beard growth as being among the hair types affected when coupled with poor sleeping habits and quality.

Genetics, ethnicity, diet and alopecia areata — your immune system’s resistance to hair follicles — are also factors Cleveland Clinic attributes to facial hair loss in men. It is well-known that stress contributes to many human body changes, with poor or interrupted sleep patterns often an indirect effect.

Stress plays another role in stunting facial hair growth during those unwanted poor sleep periods. During highly stressful periods, your body releases more cortisol. This hormone is healthy in small amounts, but its positive input changes in response to chronic stress. Excessive hormones could cause skin conditions like acne and, worse still, can reduce your body’s testosterone to the detriment of your beard growth.

4. Poor Sleep Reduces Testosterone Levels

While the Cleveland Clinic is reluctant to name low testosterone levels as a factor contributing to declining facial hair growth, the Sleep Foundation suggests that regular sleep debt, or sleep deficit — when you begin falling short of your accustomed hourly sleep duration — commonly causes metabolic dysregulation.

A 2019 study indicates that metabolic disorders combined with low testosterone levels through hypogonadism can lead to higher risks of further incident development. Male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a condition where male bodies don’t generate enough testosterone, with the condition existing from puberty or developing later in life, often due to infection or injury.

With sleep debt contributing to metabolic disorders, the presence of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism could lead to increased risks of facial hair loss through reduced testosterone levels. Your inadequate sleep patterns may be unrelated to stress, but they can still contribute to falling testosterone levels in specific situations.

5. Better Sleep Encourages Physical Exercise

The better you sleep, the more likely you’ll feel like waking up early for a gym session before work or a jog at dusk after a hard office day. How does exercising affect beard growth, though? Research indicates that testosterone levels rise for periods between 15 and 60 minutes after physical exercise, but regular fitness routines four times weekly result in more stable and permanent testosterone increases.

You already know that poor sleep could reduce your testosterone count, but raising it, especially with consistent weight and resistance workouts, will invariably result in better facial hair growth. So, if you’re struggling to grow a beard, concentrate on your deadlifts, squats, bench presses and resistance bands next time you visit the gym — of course, these exercises also have other benefits besides testosterone growth.

Moreover, adding a healthy diet to your training regimen will reduce the chances of diabetes and other factors that could cause metabolic imbalances that affect sleep patterns. When you exercise regularly, sleep will come easier at the end of the day, and your facial hair growth will benefit.

How to Sleep Better

When attempting to improve your beard growth, you can try improving your sleep patterns in several ways.

  • Maintain a regular sleep cycle: Discipline yourself to go to bed and wake up at the same time throughout the week. Avoid sleeping in on weekends.
  • Limit your daytime naps: If you must rest your eyes, keep breaks to a maximum of 20 minutes after lunch. Long daytime naps can hamper your sleep at night.
  • Have a nutritious breakfast: Eating a morning meal will condition your body to wake up at a specific time, creating a daily pattern. Missing breakfast means your energy lowers as your blood sugar drops, which alone can hamper sleep patterns.
  • Control your light exposure: Spend time in natural light during the day, but avoid screen time and late-night television for a few hours before bedtime. Limit exposure to light when sleeping for a less hampered period in dreamland.
  • Exercise: Daily workouts will improve your sleep quality, but avoid strenuous routines three hours before you sleep. Light yoga stretches are perfect for relaxing before you turn in.
  • Eat and drink wisely: Eating too many carbohydrates and sugars at any time can impact your sleep quality, as they promote wakefulness. Caffeine can create sleep disturbances for up to 12 hours after consumption, so choose another beverage in the evening and before bed. Only eat big meals and drink alcohol in the early evening. Reduce your liquid content at night, especially if you have a weak bladder.

These are only some ways to encourage better sleep. A light, healthy snack in a quiet, darkened room before bed can help you wind down, and breathing exercises when lying in your comfortable bed may help you fall asleep. Some people enjoy white noise like nature sounds to calm their minds and enhance relaxation. Whatever you do, set worries and problem-solving aside until tomorrow.

Achieve Restful Sleep to Enhance Facial Hair Growth

Evidence suggests that sleeping peacefully for long enough could improve your beard growth. De-stressing and falling asleep in a peaceful, dark environment after an early evening workout could enhance your chances of growing that full beard you’ve always dreamed of.  

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Understanding Face Paint and Beard Dye Before Super Bowl Sunday

Are you rooting for the AFC or NFC at your Super Bowl party? Regardless of their fandom, some guys like to show their support with beard dye and face paint. These products are part of the fun evening, though it’s essential to understand the risks and how to apply them.

What to Know About Face Paint Before the Big Game

Face paint is easier to apply for kids because they likely don’t have beards. However, adult men must be more careful because of their facial hair. Here’s how you should approach it.

1.   Choose a Good Face Paint

When choosing a paint, consider which one would be best for your skin. You have plenty of options. Start with a water-based paint if you want to get rid of it quickly after your Super Bowl party.

Cream-based products typically last longer and are more suitable if you need all-day color. Your next priority should be getting hypoallergenic and non-toxic face paint to mitigate itchiness or dangerous chemicals. Then, consider trimming your beard to make the application more manageable.

2.   Application

Regardless of the paint you choose, the first priority should be washing your face. Get a clean start by removing oils, dirt and other contaminants in your way. Then, apply the base paint to your face, avoiding contact with your eyes.

Once you have the base, you can start adding stencils, stripes or numbers. For example, a Chiefs-themed face could be red with yellow and white lines on your beard’s edge. Alternatively, you could add your favorite player’s number. Wearing No. 26 on your face won’t make you as strong as Saquon Barkley, but it’s a start.

3.   Aftercare

Face paint is terrific for Super Bowl Sunday, but you don’t want to show up at work the next day with leftover decorations. Start with a makeup remover that’s gentle on your skin. If yours is sensitive, consider coconut oil because it doubles as a moisturizer.

Then, focus on your beard’s needs. If some paint gets in your facial hair, use a beard wash to clean it up and remove any remnants. Most face-paint products don’t have a scent, but a sandalwood beard wash could remove any lingering odd smells.

4.   The Risks

Some football fans try to budget their night wisely after the holiday spending by skipping the decorations or co-hosting. How can you save time and cash in your festivities? Know the risks of face paint before spending money on medicine to care for a rash or bad reaction.

While most products are safe, there are still risks to buying paint with unfamiliar ingredients. These cosmetics could cause an infection or allergic reaction on your face. For example, your face paint may contain heavy metals like arsenic or lead. When consumed in significant amounts, they could be toxic.

How to Approach Beard Dye for Your Super Bowl Party

Your face isn’t the only thing you can decorate on Super Bowl Sunday. With beard dye at your disposal, you can take your pride to the next level. Here’s what you need to know about it.

1. Picking a Beard Dye

First, you must choose what dye you want for the party. Don’t get hair and beard dye confused, as they operate differently. The hair on your head is typically thicker than your beard, thus requiring stronger components to alter the color. Conversely, the dye for your facial hair is gentler due to the less effort necessary.

Another critical consideration is whether you want to get a professional dye or a do-it-yourself job. At a salon or barber shop, you get an expert’s touch, but you can dye your beard at home if you want a quick fix.

2. Application

Some precautions could protect your skin before you apply the dye. For instance, consider testing a small amount of the product on your arm before applying it to your facial hair. This strategy lets you see how your skin reacts and adjust accordingly. If everything goes as planned, you can take the next step with your beard.

Like the face paint, your beard dye requires a fresh start. Wash your facial hair with beard shampoo to remove contaminants and extra oils. Some guys apply petroleum jelly like Vaseline around their beards to safeguard their skin. Then, you follow the box’s directions to ensure you get the most from your dye.

3. Aftercare

Dyeing your beard can negatively affect it by making it quite dry. Therefore, it’s essential to apply quality beard oil in your aftercare. When you want to remove the color, refrain from using bleach or other harmful products. It’s best to let it fade over time until your hair returns to its original color.

If you want a quicker solution, consider trimming your beard or shaving it completely. Other options include going to a barbershop or removing the dye yourself. DIY adventures include mixing baking soda, white vinegar, dish soap and shampoo to remove the color.

4. The Risks

It’s fun to dye your beard for a Super Bowl party — especially if your team is playing — but it comes with some risks you might be unaware of. For example, the American Cancer Society says consistent exposure to dyes has some correlation to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

While less severe, dryness and brittleness are other risks of using beard dye. These products strip moisture from your facial hair, thus leaving coarser textures over time. With weaker hair, you may find split ends and more challenging styling sessions. Another consequence is fading colors, requiring more time to get to your preferred color.

Wisely Decorating Your Face and Beard for the Big Game

Sporting events are about showing your team pride and celebrating wins with your friends. How can you do it in style? Face paint and beard dye are terrific products to put your game face on for your Super Bowl party. Before you change colors, ensure your hair and skin are ready for application.

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How to Care for Your Skin During a Harsh Winter

Winter involves holiday gatherings and relaxing by the fire. However, the cold temperatures can take a toll on your skin if you don’t properly care for it. How can you ensure a healthy, moisturized body during a harsh winter? Here are eight tips to use during the cold season.

1. Use Moisturizer

Moisturizer should be part of your skincare routine throughout the year, but it’s even more essential during the winter. Find a formula that’s best for your skin type. While scent should be a factor, you want to pick the most effective brand to keep your skin moisturized. The optimal time to apply it is after you dry yourself off after a shower.

Dry skin is common in the winter due to the outside conditions. If your skin starts flaking, consider seeing a health care professional for further help. You may get a prescription for extra-strength skin care products. Make moisturizer part of your routine by doing it at least once daily. Typically, guys apply it in the morning and at night.

2. Apply Beard Oil

Guys with beards need an extra layer of protection in the winter, considering they’re susceptible to dry facial hair. Incorporate beard oil in your routine as often as your skin moisturizer. These products work together to keep your integumentary system hydrated and ready for the harsh winters.

When searching for beard oil, find products with high-quality ingredients and pleasant scents. It’s also practical for grooming facial hair and achieving specific looks — and while it’s great for your beard, this oil goes deeper by moisturizing your hair follicles and skin to reduce dryness and dandruff.

3. Remember Your Sunscreen

You may associate sunscreen with fun summer days at the beach. While it’s essential during hot weather, this lotion remains helpful in the harsh winter. Ultimately, it comes down to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Experts say the sun causes up to 90% of visible skin changes despite some attributing them to aging. Therefore, this skincare strategy is essential.

UV levels dip in the winter because of the Earth’s tilt, but they’re still potent enough to affect your skin. This type of radiation is invisible to the human eye, so it’s best to wear sunscreen throughout the year. Wear it between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. if you’re in direct sunlight for prolonged periods.

4. Turn on the Humidifier

Being indoors doesn’t always protect you from the elements. Even your indoor living space becomes drier when the air shifts from humid to arid. These conditions are more bearable when you have a humidifier in your home. Turn it on during the winter to add moisture and reduce the dryness in your beard and skin.

Keep the humidifier at a comfortable level in tandem with your thermostat to ensure your living space doesn’t feel like a rainforest. This appliance sends water vapor into the air, allowing your skin to remain hydrated. In addition to being excellent for your skin, humidifiers keep your living space more habitable during the winter.

5. Monitor Your Appliances

Humidifiers keep your home comfortable and your skin hydrated during the winter. What about your other appliances? All your domestic machines have a role in your body’s health. Maintaining these appliances throughout the year — especially in the colder months — is essential to your well-being. Watch for signs they need extra care.

For instance, heat pumps are crucial for warming your home and mitigating the harsh conditions outside. Within this device, the air filter requires regular examinations and cleanings. This component removes mold and mildew that make you sick but can become clogged if you don’t tend to it. Odd sounds could also indicate your heat pump needs service.

6. Take Colder Showers

When you’ve spent time in the cold, it’s nice to come home and take a hot shower. The warm water feels fantastic on your skin but could adversely affect its hydration. Experts say hot water removes oil and moisture from your body, thus causing more harm than good if you’re concerned about dry skin.

Once winter arrives, mitigate your skin drying with colder showers than usual. While it can take time to get used to, your skin will thank you later. Lukewarm or cold showers are better for your body because they’re better at retaining moisture. Another way to improve your shower routine is by using mild soaps.

7. Eat a Healthy Diet

The air and your skincare products significantly determine your skin’s moisture levels. However, there are a few underrated factors you may overlook. For instance, people underestimate the role of healthy eating in your skin’s health. A 2024 Cureus study found a well-balanced diet supported optimal skin health and influenced dermatological disorders.

Your diet should be specific to your nutritional needs. That said, you can help your skin by following basic dietary principles. Protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats should be at the center of your meals. Increase your vitamin A intake, as experts say this substance protects skin from free radicals. Your shopping list should include sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

8. Monitor Your Coffee Consumption

Coffee is a must for many guys, whether they work early or burn the midnight oil. While this beverage boosts your energy, it could harm your skin. Coffee is a diuretic, so it removes moisture from your body and increases bathroom trips. Constant consumption could lead to drier skin, especially in the winter.

When the cold weather arrives, monitor your coffee cups and see how your body reacts. If your skin becomes drier, reduce your consumption and see if it has any effect. Coffee has a role in helping skin, such as treating shaving cuts and constricting blood vessels. Some people use coffee seed oil to increase collagen. However, you should watch how it impacts your body.

Protecting Your Body From the Harsh Conditions

Old Man Winter doesn’t have much sympathy for your skincare routine. This season typically brings snowfall, drier conditions and flaky skin, so caring for your body is essential. Take extra time to moisturize your face and beard. Then, do the little things like eating a healthy diet and taking a cold shower. Ultimately, skincare in the winter requires a holistic approach.

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