How to Care for an Epic Winter Beard

Don’t wait for chilly weather. Start at the end of September or early October. (At the first sign of cozy sweaters hitting the stores start growing out your beard.) For the best results, start with healthy skin. Wash, exfoliate, and moisturize your skin regularly to prevent it getting dry, and to give your facial hair the best chance to grow.

Go here for the full story but, in short, it depends on so many things from hair type to testosterone levels to age. But after a month or so of growth, you will see stubble. Another month later you may experience a patchy beard and at three months or so, you’ll be grooming your Winter Beard like a champ. 

No, it’s the opposite. Beards grow fastest in the summer due to Vitamin D being readily available – naturally boosting facial hair growth. And testosterone levels are much higher. In winter, the nights draw in – there’s less sun and less Vitamin D available. So, beards grow slower. Plus, testosterone levels drop (this is believed to be because our bearded ancestors slowed down, hibernated, during the winter months). 

Get yourself a healthy grooming routine to combat the drying effects of harsh outdoor weather and indoor heating.

Wash, exfoliate and moisturize your skin regularly. Use lukewarm water – not hot – as it strips your natural oils. Pat your beard dry with a towel. Use your Wahl trimmer to keep your beard looking neat and to get rid of dead ends. Add softening balm or a couple of drops of beard oil – and brush to evenly distribute the oils and prevent tangles. 

Yes, longer beards can be a toasty accessory as a natural layer of insulation that traps warm air close to the face. But in extremely wintry weather, beards will not replace a scarf or a hood. In fact, if they get wet in the cold – a beard could freeze. So do not skip the proper winter attire.  

Indoor heating, extremely cold outside temperatures and winter winds can wreak havoc on the face and beard. If your skin dries too much you might spot signs of snow – flaky beard dandruff. Like using lip balm to prevent chapped lips, you should use a few drops of beard oil every few days to keep your beard feeling soft and supple. Beard oil, and regular washing and moisturizing will stop your beard from becoming brittle and breaking as you pile on the cold-weather layers.

Glad you asked – did you know you can pick a Winter Beard style out on our Wahl Style Selector app? And, with a little AI magic, try it on your face before you trim it? You’re welcome.