From Scruff to Buff: Facial Hair 101
August 26 | 3 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
According to MECCA Beauty Board member and resident facial hair aficionado Shivan Patel, facial hair care doesn’t have to be overly complicated.
Like any beauty-related endeavour, beard and moustache maintenance sit on a scale – with one end being ‘my stubble is designer’ and the other being ‘I just let it grow’. For those who identify with the latter or sit somewhere in between, Shivan is here to help.
Beard care basics
Step one: keep it clean. “Wash your beard regularly with a beard-specific shampoo or a mild cleanser to avoid drying out the hair and skin,” explains Shivan. “Aim for two to three times a week depending on your skin type and lifestyle.”
After washing, he recommends moisturising with beard conditioner and oil – you’ll find both in the Murdock Barbers of London Brick Lane Set. This will help keep the hair soft and manageable, plus reduce itchiness and flakiness on the skin underneath.
Like the hair on your head, it’s best to trim your beard regularly to avoid patchiness or damage – no-one wants split ends on their face!
“Use a beard brush or comb to detangle and style your beard,” Shivan adds. “Brushing helps distribute natural oils, promotes blood flow, and can prevent ingrown hairs.” Additionally, try a beard oil in tandem with the Lonvitalité Microneedle Derma Roller to support extra volume and growth.
It starts with skin
Between shaving, a powder-to-foam scrub and a moisturising balm are Shivan’s staple skin savers. “A gentle exfoliating cleanser always helps keep the skin healthy underneath between trims. I recommend using the kit: Wonder Exfoliant as it’s gentle, and the active enzymes buff away any impurities,” he explains.
Next, lock in hydration for healthy-looking skin, all day. “I recommend a cleansing balm mask to nourish the skin underneath. I swear by MECCA COSMETICA Mecca-morphosis Purifying Cleansing Balm between and after shaving. It transforms my dry skin post-shave to hydrated and plump.”
Finally, finish with an oil. Infused with moisturising botanical oils, the OSEA Dayglow Face Oil is the perfect post-shave product for smoothing and soothing. Shivan also recommends the sweet and smoky Horace Tobacco and Vanilla Beard Oil, which also acts as a “gentle cologne”.
