Keeping Your Beard Clean While Camping

Camping means roughing it and connecting with nature at its finest, though the conditions could be too much for your beard. How can you keep your facial hair clean while appreciating the great outdoors? While it may seem complicated when away from the bathroom, here are eight tips to tidy your face on your next adventure.

1. Be Mindful of the Campground

If dirty facial hair concerns you, consider the campground’s location. Overly dry areas may have more pollen because it won’t stick to the ground or plants, so it might find your beard instead. Avoiding this contaminant may take you to wetter areas because rain temporarily mitigates it. Be mindful when camping in areas with wildfires, agricultural dust and poor air quality.

Once you decide on a destination, check the weather forecast beforehand. Tailor your care to your camping site with helpful tools. For example, outdoor adventures by the beach expose your facial hair to salt spray. Mitigate this issue with plenty of beard oil for hydration. Will your campsite be windy? You’ll need beard wax to hold everything in place.

2. Carry a Trusty Brush

A beard brush is a must-have regardless of the campground climate. Being outdoors exposes you to dirt and campfire embers, so this tool can dislodge the debris. Take a few moments throughout the day to brush your facial hair and give it a touch-up. You might not have time for a complete wash, but the bristles can make you feel cleaner.

Brushes are universal in keeping beards clean outdoors, though the type may depend on the campground. Dry climates mean you need more hydration, so boar bristles are helpful. These tools work well when soaked in water and are terrific for touching up your facial hair. They distribute oils and exfoliate under-beard skin, making them worthwhile investments.

3. Utilize Beard Wipes

Showers might not be readily accessible, especially if you’re at a primitive campsite. How can you clean your facial hair without reliable access to a bathtub and mirror? Bring a pack of beard wipes in your cargo. These moistened cloths remove sweat and grime from your face without washing, enhancing convenience and saving time.

Looking your Sunday best in the woods is tough, but these get you closer. Find a pack with essential oils and natural ingredients to soften your hair and improve your appearance. If your skin is sensitive, use warm water to remove dirt or wipes with aloe vera.

4. Try Dry Shampoo

Some campgrounds have shower facilities to accommodate the families who vacation in the peak seasons. Experts say 11 million new households camped in 2024, so your favorite sites may be more packed than you’re used to. If the bathhouses become crowded, you may have to rely on dry shampoo to get the job done.

Dry shampoo for beards typically comes in a powder or spray, so application is relatively simple. These products absorb oil and dirt without needing water and may add volume to your hair. Using it can extend the time between washes, which is handy when your water supplies are low. Prioritize cleaners without alcohol, considering their drying tendencies.

5. Watch Your Mouth

Campfire meals are one of the highlights of your trip, especially if you make them from scratch. However, the mess can lead to extra time spent cleaning instead of being with friends. For example, tortellini soup brings warmth through spices and temperature but can easily spill into your mane. Beard protection boils down to preference, so start with a strategic trim.

If you know the meal will be messy, shorten your hair to make cleaning easier. Bandanas and bibs are other excellent preventive measures, so prioritize them on the camping checklist. Once you’re done eating, use wipes or damp cloths to freshen up.

6. Protect Your Beard When Sleeping

Sleeping on the ground brings you closer to nature but can quickly dirty your beard. Protect your facial hair by sleeping inside a tent and avoiding the worst of nighttime bugs. Once ready for bed, sleep on your back to prevent crushing or tangling your mane with the pillow.

Develop a nighttime routine on the campsite by gently washing your face. Gauge your chin curtain’s dirtiness after a fun day, as it could be dirty and oily. You may need beard oil to prevent overnight dryness, especially in arid climates. Some guys use braids to contain their facial hair without too much fuss.

7. Apply Beard Sunscreen

Being outside for days or weeks means you need plenty of sunscreen. This product protects your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and pesky sunburns. While facial hair naturally guards your cheeks and chin, you should use sunblock for extra protection. Find a beard-safe one for your camping trips regardless of the season.

Consider light sunscreen for your beard, especially when camping. Heavier sunblock can weigh you down and be overly greasy, which can be annoying. Instead, you want products that won’t clump your hair and appear uneven. Blackheads and irritated skin are hassles at campsites, so be smart with your application. Regardless of the product, experts recommend SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from the pesky UV rays.

8. Stay Hydrated

While products and tools are helpful, your beard’s cleanliness relies on hydration. Skin and hair depend on water to remain balanced, so keep plenty of hydrating liquids on your trip. Experts say dehydration can lead to overreactive sebaceous glands, emphasizing the need for regular water intake.

Embracing sweat may seem odd, but it’s essential for keeping your facial hair clean. Hydrating your body means you can perspire more easily and flush out your beard’s dirt and debris. Carry reusable bottles throughout your trip to increase water access and stay hydrated. Men need about 15.5 cups daily, but sweat and exercise may require more.

Maintaining Beard Hygiene at the Campsite

Camping is for making memories and improving your connection with nature, not constantly cleaning your face fuzz. Be proactive and pack hygienic supplies like microfiber towels and beard oil. Primitive outings may need special attention, but it’s better to overpack than come up short. Manageable maintenance means you can spend more time with family and friends.

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Are Shaving Subscriptions Worth the Cost?

How often do you shave, and do you have sensitive skin? When considering a shaving subscription, consider these questions before taking the plunge. If you shave regularly and you don’t have sensitive skin, a quality subscription may enrich your shaving experience. If not, it might be better to stick with what you know and trust. Explore the pros and cons of a shaving subscription before you decide.

What Is a Shaving Subscription?

Like many Americans, you might prefer buying from physical retail stores where you can view your facial care products. If so, the concept of a shaving subscription club might be foreign.

With a shaving subscription, you’ll always have a fresh razor and enough shaving cream. Subscriptions can be budget-testers, though.

Once you pay your subscription, the club ships you a package filled with a range of products. Generally, these supplies vary monthly based on manufacturer or distributor promotions. You’ll likely get the basics like razors, face wash and shaving cream, but there could be other products you may be unfamiliar with or haven’t used. Typically, there is no firm guarantee regarding what you receive.

These subscription clubs are a popular source of shaving goods for many men seeking easy solutions. They’ve benefited from the steep rise in e-commerce since the COVID-19 pandemic, with online retail estimated to generate over $8 billion in revenue by 2026. Online subscriptions are convenient, especially if your lifestyle prevents you from visiting a store often.

While you’ll likely accumulate enough shaving stock over time to ensure you always have supplies, does this equipment accumulation warrant the price of the shaving subscription? Weigh these factors and decide for yourself.

1. Personalization

When you visit your local store’s men’s hygiene section, you choose the razors, creams and shaving accessories you prefer. You know from experience which razor works best for your skin and why you might prefer the more precise shave of a traditional razor over an electric one. You’re aware that certain creams and face washes cause allergic reactions, so you know what to choose and avoid.

While the best shaving subscriptions rely on shipping quality products to bolster customer loyalty, they don’t necessarily choose these products with your specific needs in mind. Before you receive your package, you won’t know whether it includes shaving products you’ve tried and discarded in the past for reasons applicable to you alone.

The best shaving clubs allow you to complete a quiz before subscribing. This gives them a clearer picture of which products to include in your packages, so personalization is involved. However, their knowledge is limited to your answers to a few broad questions.

You risk receiving items that don’t suit your skin. Maybe you’ll get lucky with the included products, but the next shipment may differ. In this case, it might benefit you to shop online for custom shaving kits that specify what you’ll receive in your bundle, down to brands and included accessories. Of course, if you can use any razor or cream when shaving, personalization is likely not as pertinent, and — with a subscription —- you’ll enjoy access to new supplies whenever you need them.

2. Wasted Equipment or Accessories

You might wear short stubble or a chinstrap regularly. If you’re not a constant shaver or receive items in your package that aren’t suited to your requirements, you run the risk of accumulating, throwing away or donating your subscription items. With good subscriptions, you choose how often you receive shipments — they could come monthly or every three months, for example.

Selecting a subscription service with a delivery frequency option can reduce the risk of wasted items. However, you could still pay premium rates for extra razors or aftershave that sit in your bathroom cabinet. Stocking up is one thing, but on-hand items only have positive investment value for a limited time before they become obsolete. Buying items when needed may make more financial sense than accumulating them indefinitely, meaning a shaving subscription may not be your best option. 

3. Costs

The importance of cutting costs on shaving equipment depends on your budget constraints. Many people have to watch their budgets closely. Considering budget constraints means factoring in paying premium rates for a shaving subscription and assessing the chances of any unwanted or unused razors and accessories. Compare these factors to taking the time to stock up when needed. Ultimately, this decision lies with you.

Ask yourself whether you’ll benefit from the shaving supplies you receive in the mail. You’ll undoubtedly enjoy the novelty of the saved time. However, if this enjoyment subsides as your subscription no longer benefits you or your bank balance, it may no longer be worth its cost. In this instance, consider investing in the items you truly need for a positive shaving experience and less unnecessary costs.

If you’ve become unhappy with an existing shaving subscription, you can investigate other club options that may be more cost-effective. When doing so, consider the quality of the products they provide and whether the shipments carry any personalization.

4. Environmental Factors

Some shaving subscriptions supply reusable razor handles with recyclable blades, contributing to a more eco-friendly shaving experience. If a shaving club highlights environmentally friendly practices on its website, your supplies will likely arrive in more sustainable packaging, making any additional costs worthwhile for many consumers who prioritize sustainability.

Without a shaving club’s transparency around environmental intent, there is no telling how this factor affects your subscription products. If you lead a sustainable lifestyle, you might be better off purchasing your shaving supplies at your nearest store from eco-minded brands rather than subscribing to a club.

Shaving Subscriptions Carry Pros and Cons

Ultimately, whether a shaving subscription is worth the cost depends on you. If a recurring payment suits your habits and provides convenience and endless supplies, affording you a positive shaving experience, you won’t mind the cost.

Alternatively, absorbing extra costs may not suit you if you want quality products you trust that won’t gather dust in the cabinet or adversely affect your budget or the environment. What provides your most comfortable shaving experience should be the deciding factor. 

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Beard Nets and Snoods — Everything a Bearded Man Should Know

Beard Nets

Beard nets and snoods are accessories many bearded men only discover after starting a job that specifically requires them. Learn everything you need to know about such headwear to balance your professional duties and personal style.

What Are Beard Nets?

Beard nets are protective coverings designed to contain facial hair, which may be necessary to keep individual strands from landing on surfaces that should stay contaminant-free, such as food items and machines.

A beard net is generally stretchable and lightweight, allowing it to fit snugly over your face. It has an elastic band, tie or string meant to go around your head to keep it secure while you wear it.

Beard nets are non-woven fabric — a material made up of mechanically, thermally and chemically bonded fiber webs. Non-woven fabric lends itself to garment mass production to yield large product volumes, and its processes spur innovation to enhance their flexibility, durability and other qualities to suit various applications.

What Are the Different Types of Beard Nets?

Simple beard nets only cover the mouth, chin and jawline. However, some designs cover more areas.

Hair and beard nets can contain scalp and facial hair simultaneously, avoiding the need to wear two accessories. Some beard nets also come with a bib that covers your chest and keeps your shirt clean.

You may see beard nets marketed as beard bandanas or guards. These coverings accomplish the same purpose but also offer facial hair protection. Men may wear them to prevent foods like soup and pasta sauce from getting into their beards while eating.

A beard bandana is part of many gentlemen’s grooming routines. If you use beard oil or balm to keep your facial hair moist at night, wearing one can prevent the product from soaking into your bedding. This headgear may be more comfortable if your beard is prone to knots and tangles.

Are Beard Nets and Snoods the Same?

Many people use beard nets and snoods interchangeably, so there should be no confusion between the two terms in most cases.

However, in fashion, snoods refer to tubular scarves. You can wear a snood as a face covering to protect your beard and mustache from the elements throughout the year. This versatile garment has no loose ends, serving as a hood when desired.

Unlike conventional beard nets, fashionable snoods come from woven or knitted fabric. They’re usually 100% polyester to have moisture-wicking properties, making them comfortable to wear on humid days.

Who Must Wear a Beard Net?

Any bearded man trying to land a job in an industry that considers hair a contaminant or physical hazard may have to wear a beard net.

For instance, businesses in the food and beverage sector usually have a hair restraint policy for compliance. Many local and state regulators adopt the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code to safeguard public health.

The code requires food processing or catering employees to wear restraints that keep their hair from contacting exposed food items, clean equipment, utensils, linens and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. Counter staff, hosts and servers are exceptions to the rule because they pose minimal risk of contaminating exposed food.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is particular about wearing respirators over beards. Facial hair can compromise a respirator’s airtight seal and multiply leakage by 1,000 times, defeating the purpose of wearing this personal protective equipment to prevent hazards related to airborne contaminants.

In compliant construction sites, management may require workers who need to wear a respirator to shave their beards.

Are Beard Nets Sustainable?

Modern nonwoven fabrics are recyclable. Though they entail specialized manufacturing techniques, beard nets shouldn’t harm the environment if you discard them properly and ensure they reach recycling facilities.

The sustainability movement has also given rise to renewable nonwoven fabrics. These materials are typically plant-based and highly biodegradable — microorganisms can break them down until they disappear without leaving lasting ecological damage.

Are Beard Nets Comfortable?

Some wearers experience discomfort because these accessories can be itchy and irritating, especially when worn for extended periods. The material and fit affect comfort — loosely woven nets may feel more breathable, while tighter ones can cause friction. Choose a high-quality, lightweight beard net to minimize irritation and make wearing it more tolerable.

How to Care for Your Beard When You Must Wear a Hair Restraint

Being strategic about your grooming practices when wearing a beard net will contain your facial hair more effectively and let you experience less discomfort. Follow these three tips.

1.   Keep It Tidy

Shorter beards are easier to contain, so trim your facial hair regularly with scissors or a beard trimmer. Learn whether your company imposes a maximum beard length to know how long you can let it grow before trimming it.

Strongly consider changing your style if you sport a bushy mane — like the Garibaldi beard, which takes several years to achieve. You may have to switch to the Van Dyke style and keep it closely trimmed.

2.   Trim Your Neckline

Some beard net designs exclude the neck. Your garment may fail to cover strands around that area, which could put you in trouble.

Keeping most of your neck hairless is beard grooming 101, even if you don’t wear a hair restraint for work. Shaving this area defines your style and maintains a neat, conscientious appearance.

Find the crease between your neck and jawline to know where your beard should end. Use a traditional razor to cleanly shave the area.

3.   Prioritize Hydration

Dehydration makes your hair shed faster. New hair may break and prematurely fall out when it becomes too brittle due to dryness.

Drink plenty of liquids and incorporate water-rich foods into your diet. Cucumber is the ideal snack for beard health. Ninety-five percent of this vegetable is water. It only has eight calories per serving, satisfying your hunger without gaining too many pounds to keep your testosterone levels high and minimize hair loss. It also supplies vitamin A — an essential nutrient for healthy beard growth.

Use a beard conditioner in the shower and beard oil or balm before leaving the house to keep your hair moist.

Grow Healthy Facial Hair Despite Wearing a Beard Net

Wearing a beard net can take some time to get used to. Your facial hair shouldn’t suffer while it adjusts to its covering. Practice these tips to maintain a healthy beard and feel more comfortable when using a hair restraint.

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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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