Beard care is about much more than style
Ahead of international beard day, we explore some of the best products and routines to look after your facial hair
The market for male grooming continues to boom and, along with it, beard care. The beard even has its own international day of celebration in September. As it is tied to cleanliness, grooming — including facial hair — is also a cornerstone of Islam. Taking the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as an example, most Islamic scholars consider growing and maintaining a beard to be wajib (obligatory) for Muslim men, although the preferred style and length tends to differ between schools of thought and cultures.
A comprehensive beard care routine involves regular washing, conditioning, trimming and styling. Rizwan Makda, founder of grooming brand Mumkin — and the owner of a full beard — recommends following a routine with beard-specific products: wash the beard with shampoo while showering, followed by conditioner for two minutes before rinsing out. After patting dry, he massages in oil to moisturise and nourish, followed by balm, which is thicker in consistency and provides a good hold. He finishes off with a brush to tame, style and straighten out any flyaway hairs.
“For me, beard care isn’t just about style, it’s about faith,” says Makda. “Keeping a beard is sunnah and that carries a deep meaning — it’s a way of honouring something important and timeless, and we should do that with the highest of standards. It’s more than appearance: a well-kept beard shows the world that, yes, we follow this path for religious reasons but also that we value presenting ourselves well.”
Makda’s goal in founding Mumkin was to help other men feel good about themselves. “If you’re balancing work, family, health and faith, you deserve at least five minutes each morning that are just for you,” he says. “Grooming isn’t just about looking sharp; it’s about feeling strong, capable, and ready for whatever life throws at you.”
It is tempting to think that all you need to do is trim and style your beard, but much like the hair on your head, facial hair also needs care and attention. Beards are often coarse and being around the mouth, where dirt and oils from food and drink can get trapped, they are likely to need even more attention — particularly if you’re one of those 3-in-1 shampoo guys. This Nourish Post-Shave & Beard Oil from Mauli Rituals contains ayurvedic ingredients that condition and moisturise skin and hair, and is enhanced with watermelon seed oil to remove impurities.
If your beard is itchy or causing irritation to other faces it comes into contact with, it probably needs hydrating. Conditioning creams and beard oils help with softness, something that both your skin and your significant other will thank you for. In terms of ingredients, look for those that contain a combination of essential oils such as tea tree, sandalwood and lavender, as well as nourishing carrier oils such as jojoba, argan and almond. Try to avoid synthetic additives that can cause irritation, particularly if you suffer from dry or sensitive skin.
Black seed oil is a sunnah ingredient with numerous benefits and healing properties mentioned in hadith. The Prophet described it as “the cure for every pain except death”. It is rich in fatty acids and, in the context of beard care, has both anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as a traditional remedy for hair growth. You can make your own budget-friendly elixir at home by mixing a few drops with a carrier oil, or, alternatively,, treat yourself to Sunnah Club’s pre-made version.
Founded in London, Mr. Sunnah is another Muslim-owned brand that aims to provide beard care products made with high-quality natural ingredients at affordable prices, including a range of combs and brushes. Its luxurious-smelling Impression Beard Oil incorporates black seed oil, vitamin E and a powerful floral fragrance, while being alcohol-free. Alternatively, Husn Beauty’s Beard Oil comes in four different fragrances, all created with natural ingredients designed to condition the beard and moisturise the skin underneath.
As someone who is unfortunate enough to share a bathroom with a person with a beard, I’d also like to suggest investing in a trimmer with a built-in vacuum that minimises the amount of hair left behind on every surface. Otherwise, beard aficionados swear by the Philips Series Multigroom 9000, which comes with 20 tools — although, sadly, it’s missing a sensor that reminds you to clean the bathroom mirror and floors. Aesop’s lightweight unisex Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion helps to hydrate and balance skin while pacifying any post-shave irritation — and it smells great, too.
