There’s nothing quite like the feel of a thick, luxurious beard. But when your facial hair gets out of hand, trimming and shaping can be challenging. In this article, we’ll give you tips and tricks for how to style your beard and keep it looking its best.

In ancient India, beards were prized for their symbol of wisdom and dignity. In fact, the beard was so important to the Indian culture that many men would even pledge it as collateral for a debt!

However, as Western civilization moved westward, beards began to lose their popularity. The clean-shaven look of the Victorian period was popularized by the likes of Sigmund Freud, and men who did choose to maintain a beard generally limited their growth to a moustache or goatee. This was accelerated by the introduction of psychological mass marketing to men (like Edward Bernays and Madison Avenue), as well as by the growing popularity of movies that portrayed heroes with clean-shaven faces.

Around the turn of the twentieth century, beards finally started to reclaim their prominence in America, though they weren’t quite as widespread as they are today. During this time, the beard care was still very popular among men of the upper class, and some members of the nobility maintained full beards as well. However, by the early twentieth century, this trend had begun to reverse, and most men who chose to maintain a beard opted for a moustache or goatee.

Throughout history, the beard has been a sign of religious devotion and virility for many cultures. For example, the Zohar, a key text of Kabbalah, specifies that the hairs in one’s beard are channels of subconscious holy energy that flow upward to the human soul. For this reason, Hasidic Jews do not shave or trim their beards. In fact, they also refrain from shaving during certain Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Sukkot, and the Counting of the Omer.

To maintain a beard, it’s essential to regularly wash and moisturize your face and beard. Washing helps remove the buildup of dirt, oils, germs, and dead skin cells that can clog your pores, leading to dryness, itching, and even beard dandruff. A gentle cleanser made for your specific skin type is a good choice. In addition, moisturizing can help soften the skin under your beard and prevent ingrown hairs during the stubble phase. Moisturize daily with a face or beard lotion that is formulated to hydrate your skin and hair. In addition, a beard oil can help to strengthen and condition your beard hair so it looks thick and full.