If you’re like me, you like having things. I have a beard comb, and I have a beard brush, but I must confess when I purchased those products, I didn’t really know why I needed them, I just wanted them. So, after staring at them, just sitting there, in my bathroom for far too long, I decided to find out whether I should be using a beard comb or a beard brush.
This article is designed to help you out if you are trying to work out which is best for you: beard comb vs beard brush.
We’re going to look at what each one does, and then wrap it up with some helpful tips for using your beard comb or brush. Let’s go.
What does a beard comb do?
Beard combs are best used on beards that have become tangled – usually quite long beards. We’re talking about beards that have been growing for over 2 months or so. When a beard gets to this kind of length, you get more tangles and knots, and a comb is perfect for detangling.
If you were to use a beard comb on a beard that was much shorter, you are much less likely to have any knots for the comb to untangle – the hairs aren’t long enough to get in that sort of mess.
When it comes to picking a beard comb, it all depends on how long and thick your beard is. If you have a short, thin beard, you will want a comb that has very thin spacing between the teeth, whereas if you have a long, thick beard, you will need a comb that has wide spaces between the teeth.
Beard combs are also great for styling a beard. Again, this is not really the case for short beards, which are almost impossible to style, but longer beards can be styled in almost any shape you want – just apply plenty of beard balm, or a similar beard styling product, and you can use the comb to sculpt and straighten your beard however you’d like.
Finally, beard combs are perfect if you would like to trim your beard with scissors. Just comb out and hold where you would like to cut, and snip away. You get a lot of control using the comb and can ensure an even length. This is particularly helpful if you have a curly beard – the comb will straighten the hairs out, whereas a shaver or beard trimmer might not be able to cut the curly hairs an even length.
What does a beard brush do?
So, if a beard comb does all the untangling work, what exactly does a beard brush do? I like to think of it like this – the comb is like road workers – doing the tough, essential maintenance to ensure that everything is okay and running smoothly. The brush, on the other hand, is picking up litter and planting flowers on the roundabout – making everything look nice, clean and clear. If you don’t have any beard oil, it is still worth brushing every day – your beard will produce natural oils, which need to be evenly distributed.
Use a beard brush to condition every level of hair in your beard – apply a little beard oil and brush it through to make it all lovely and shiny. The brush will disperse the oil throughout your beard and help to ‘trap’ into the hairs, so you get the full impact.
A brush is also good for the day-to-day maintenance and cleaning of your beard. As gross as it sounds, the reality is that little bits of food and dust will get caught in your beard during the day, no matter how careful you are. At the end of a day, a quick brush through with a beard brush will help to remove these crumbs and specs of dirt to keep your beard clean and healthy.
Finally, by brushing your hair regularly, you can encourage it to grow in a certain direction. You can almost train your hair to style itself, which can save you a lot of time in the mornings!
Should I use a beard brush or a beard comb?
This is probably the question that you are looking for an answer to: should you use a beard brush or a beard comb? Well, if you have a fairly long beard, we would strongly recommend that you use both.
Use the beard comb to untangle and ensure that you haven’t got any uncomfortable and unsightly knots, and then use the beard brush to condition and clean your beard – picking up debris that a comb would probably miss.
If you have a short beard, you will probably only need to buy a beard brush – a beard comb is not going to be much use to you as your beard hairs will be too short to become tangled.
Top beard grooming tips
Little and often
In order to avoid getting a tangled, knotty beard you should be brushing and combing your beard every couple of days. It doesn’t need to be for long, just a quick brush and comb before bed should be enough.
If you leave it too long between each combing, you may find that you end up having to cut out knots from your hair, which will leave you with an uneven beard. On the other hand, if you brush too often you may cause damage to your hair and end up with split ends.
Get the right tools for the job
As we alluded to above, you need to buy the right comb and brush for your beard. A thick, long beard will need a wide-toothed comb, as a finely spaced comb won’t be able to get through your hair.
In terms of brushes, it will depend on where your emphasis is: If you are using it mainly to clear your hair then a bristle brush is best – the tough bristles will make sure you capture every little crumb. On the other hand, if you are using it to mainly condition your hair, then a softer brush, like a boar hairbrush, will be better. It is more flexible, so will brush through each hair.
Don’t skimp on quality either – buying a cheap comb or brush won’t help you that much, and you’ll find that you are replacing it before too long. It’s worth spending the extra on a decent one, trust us.
Brush and comb damp hair
Before you start brushing and combing your beard, dampen your beard with some warm water. If you comb or brush dry hair you can cause damage, like split ends or make it look frizzy. By using your equipment on damp hair, your hair is lubricated and that protects your hair as you brush.
Oils and balms are your friend
Having the right brushes and combs is a great way to start, but if you really want to keep on top of your beard maintenance, then you’ll want to have the full arsenal. Get yourself a great beard oil or beard balm – these will make sure that you are making the most of your combing and brushing, keeping your beard nice and healthy while also giving you plenty more control over the style and look of your beard.
