Author: SignaAdmin

Pomade is one of those products that’s been around for quite some time, and probably isn’t going anywhere.

Seriously, people have been using pomade since the early 1900’s, and for good reason. Pomade is an amazing option for many different hair styles out there.

Did you know old school pomade was made from lard or bear grease? What’s even crazier is that men have been using bear’s grease for hundreds of years as a hair loss supplement.

While it’s likely this method of hair loss prevention is entirely ineffective, it’s still interesting nonetheless to see where pomade has evolved from.

So, how does pomade work, why does it work, and do you need it? First, let’s figure out exactly what pomade is today, and why people use it.

What Is Pomade?

There are many different kinds of pomade, but one thing most traditional pomades have in common is their greasy nature. This was done intentionally, because the added greasy feeling gives a certain style to hair that you wouldn’t be able to achieve otherwise. Modern, water-based pomades can achieve the same result without being overly greasy, however.

Furthermore, even matte-finish, non-greasy products nowadays call themselves pomades. This illustrates the fact that there is no specific formulation that makes a pomade a pomade. It’s actually just a universal term used to describe a hair styling product.

What actually goes into a modern pomade though? Surely modern pomades aren’t made from bear grease anymore!

You’d be right, the highest quality pomades are water-based solutions that are easier to get out of your hair. There are pomades out there that still use petroleum based ingredients, but you’ll find that you probably don’t need the extra grease unless you are going for difficult hairstyles like the pompadour, famously re-introduced by Elvis Presley. Even then, we don’t recommend using these types of pomades.

Why Should You Use Pomade?

Pomade isn’t the end all for hair products. There are plenty of other hair products that do different things. Good pomades should be pliable, meaning they provide hold but allow you to move your hair. If you prefer a stiffer hold that doesn’t move as much, a top quality men’s hair gel works best.

Typically, old school pomades are high hold, greasy, and extremely high shine. Whereas newer, higher-quality pomades for men gear more towards a pliable hold and a natural, healthy shine.

If shininess isn’t your style, and you’re looking for something with a pliable and firm hold that doesn’t look quite so formal and shiny, texture paste matte pomade might be right up your alley.

For that ultra confident, old school or modern look that you want to show off, pomade might be just the thing you need. Here’s how you use it.

How to Use Pomade

So, you’ve finally made it here. Now that you’ve learned about the different types of pomade, it’s time to get down to business. Here’s how you use pomade, the right way.

Choose Your Pomade Type

Are you going for a more formal style pomade with a nice sheen, or a more casual and versatile pomade with a matte finish? Avoid the greasy, overly-shiny products. Those are usually lower-quality and difficult to work with.

Go with a water-based pomade with plenty of natural ingredients, it’s just not worth the struggle of showering multiple times to rinse out low-quality pomades. Not to mention the damage those products do to your hair and scalp. The top tier men’s pomades not only help you create a style, they can actually improve the health of your hair and scalp.

Choose Your Pomade Hold

Now it’s time to close in on the type of pomade you want. In the hair styling industry, factors like hold and shine are great indicators of what a product can provide for you. These are usually presented on a scale of 1-10. So, for example, a hold of 7 would be classified as a mid-high hold.

Matte pomade (sometimes called texture paste) is going to be a safe choice for some guys with short hair, because it creates a natural and casual look. That said, however, a nice sheen on a short cut looks clean, sharp and formal.

Most products on the market are a mix of both, offering variations of low hold and medium shine, high hold and high shine, and other variations.

Wash Your Hair Before You Use Pomade

Get dirt, grime, and old styling products out of your hair before you begin. Usually this involves taking a shower and using a shampoo that can naturally remove excess oils from your hair without completely stripping your hair of necessary oils.

Many shampoos will completely strip your hair of all of its oil, which will lead to problems when you try to style your hair. To combat this, use a conditioner. Even better, a leave-in conditioner

Just make sure your hair isn’t too oily. If your nickname was “oil slick” or “oil field”, or if someone has recently asked if you’ve combed your hair with buttered toast, your hair may be too greasy.

In this case, wash your hair thoroughly every day, and use a conditioner with Tea Tree Oil, a natural ingredient proven to absorb excess oil.

Applying Your Favorite Pomade

Now that you’ve found the pomade you want to use, and have washed your hair, it’s time to apply your pomade.

Before you begin, there are a few schools of thought as to when you should apply pomade. While your hair is still damp from the shower? What about completely dry hair?

In our experience, the most common and effective time to apply pomade is after you’ve towel dried your hair and when it is barely damp. You should have enough moisture to apply a healthy dose of pomade without overdoing it.

Certain styles will require applying to dry hair, however. Generally speaking, applying to dry hair will increase the hold of the product (since there is less water present to dilute it).

Begin by rubbing the product between both of your hands.

Take both your hands, and begin rubbing in the pomade near the roots of your hair. Start from your scalp and slowly work it into the ends of your hair. The reason you want to start near the roots is because that is where the direction of your hair comes from. The roots decide where that strand of hair goes, so if you can manipulate the roots, the rest of your hair will surely follow.

Styling Your Hair

Once your pomade is applied, start shifting hair in the direction you want it to go. For a clean-cut, formal look, use a higher-shine pomade and comb or brush your hair in the desired direction.

For slicked back hair, play to the strengths of your hair line. One option, for example, is to style the sides of your hair downward and the top of your hair backwards. This may take an extra dose of pomade, so don’t be afraid to grab more if you’re not achieving enough hold.

For a more casual look, comb or brush your hair first, then style with your hands and fingers. This method works very well with a matte finish, pliable texture paste pomade. Using your fingers after the comb or brush will allow your hair to lay more naturally.

Everyone’s hair is different, so styling is going to be unique to your specific head of hair and desired look. If you apply product correctly to the roots of your hair, you can usually get your hair to do whatever you want. At the end of the day, however, it’s usually best to consult a Barbetologist.

Blow Dry Your Hair (Optional)

Sometimes, you won’t have time to actually blow dry your hair after you’ve just styled with pomade, but if you do, we recommend blow drying afterwards as a grooming tip.

Think about what you’ve just done to your hair. The product that is now in your hair is currently weighing your hair down. A great way to lift your hair back up is with a hair dryer.

In addition to lifting your hair back up, it also helps lock in the style you just created. If you blow dry your hair, it will stay in its current style for longer because the hold will be much stronger. This could be especially useful if you’re using a pomade with lower hold.

Depending on your style, blow drying may or may not be necessary. For instance, if you like patted down and slicked back hair with a strong hold, a blow dry doesn’t fit into the equation.

But, if you’re using a water based pomade, have a slightly slicked hairstyle that needs some lift, and want an even stronger hold, blow drying may be perfect for you. Another added benefit to blow drying your hair after applying pomade is that it will make your hair appear thicker.

Pomade Can Be Ridiculously Awesome

Ideally, you’ve now got pomade in your hair, and you’re ready for your next date, family outing, work party, or other excursion.

Pomade is one of the best tools to look like a spiffy, well kempt individual. If you’ve showered, applied deodorant, put on snazzy clothes, and slapped some cologne on, the cherry on top is your pomade. Everything combined makes for the perfect look, for that important occasion.

Takeaway

We hope you enjoyed our guy’s guide to pomade. If you run into trouble, refer back to this guide to see where you may be going wrong. If you have any more questions about other types of men’s grooming products, we’d love to educate you more to become the ultimate groomed man.

We’ve teamed up with the Barbetologists at Men’s Ultimate Grooming for help with these tips. They’ve learned a thing or two from the tens of thousands of shaves performed at their shops.

Shaving is both an art and a science. While some people will have you believe that it’s the blade that matters, the truth is that the blade is only part of the equation, and it may be the least important part.

Sure, different types of blades may work better for your particular skin type, but following the right procedures will always give you a better shave, every time. What we are saying is that the type of razor you use isn’t nearly as important as following tried and true shaving procedures.

Some people think they need a straight razor for a close shave, but this isn’t always true. A straight razor may give you a close shave after years of practice, but it can also give you a horribly uncomfortable shave if you don’t know what you’re doing. We’ve found that straight razors perform best in the hands of the professionals.

If you need to get better at shaving now, learn more about what you may be doing right, and the potential mistakes you’re making. It’s much faster, and will likely help you much more than going all in on purchasing and slicing yourself with a straight razor.

What You’re Probably Doing Right

There’s a lot of things you may already be doing correctly when it comes to shaving. If you’re not doing these things, you should start now!

Shaving In or After the Shower

Shaving in or after the shower is one of the best things you can do when it comes to grooming your face.

A warm shower will loosen up your skin, open up your pores, and soften your facial hair. The steam from the shower will allow you to get a much closer shave than you would be able to otherwise.

Another great benefit of shaving immediately after you shower is having softer, cleaner skin. You’ll have naturally exfoliated most of the dead skin cells on your face, allowing your razor to only take off hair, rather than scooping up dead skin.

On top of all of that is the potential to avoid bacteria and infections. No matter how good you are at shaving, there’s always the potential to cut yourself. It happens, and when it does, you want to make sure there are no bacteria to get into those cuts.

Using Shaving Cream or Shaving Lotion

Most men use some type of cream or foam to lather their face before they shave. If you’re doing this, you’re headed in the right direction.

Does shaving cream do the job? Sometimes. Is it the best thing you can put on your face when shaving? Definitely not.

A great substitute for shaving cream is a lotion-based shaving product that is lightweight (so it won’t gunk up your razor), gives you extreme shaving lubrication, and conditions your skin.

After all, properly lubricating your skin is the main reason you put anything on your face in the first place! One great thing about men’s conditioning lotion is its ability to hydrate and condition as well. Properly hydrated skin is much easier to cut hair off of due to minimal friction. Not to mention, the cause of most shaving irritation is dry skin.

Dry Your Razor out After Using

We really hope you’re doing this, because if you’re not, you put yourself at risk every time you shave.

Allowing your razor to sit in a damp area until the next time you use it allows it to accrue a ton of bacteria. If you’ve been leaving your razor in the shower, or in a wet spot near your shaving area, clean it off immediately.

Nobody wants an infection on their face. Be conscious of your hygiene before it comes back to bite you!

Shaving Mistakes You Probably Make

Nobody is perfect. Everyone has their own shaving rituals and habits, we get that.

But, if you’ll just hear us out, we can show you exactly what you’re doing wrong, and how to fix it.

Here’s the top 5 shaving mistakes you’re probably making, and how you can enhance your shaving experience by fixing them.

Shaving with Cool Water

Not only does warm water help soften the beard and skin, it also has a lower surface tension than cold water. This means that it feels slicker and allows the blade to glide more efficiently. That’s just science, dude.

Ideally, you’re shaving right when you get out of the shower when your skin is at its most moist. Splashing your face with warm water before you begin is also a great habit. If you’re wondering whether or not you can shave in the shower, you totally can!

Just make sure you soak in the shower for a few minutes before you begin, so your skin has time to loosen up.

Other than that, you’re going to need a mirror, and preferably one that repels water (also known as a fogless mirror). You can buy one on Amazon for about $30, and it could be a worthy investment if you need to get your shaving done in a jiffy.

So, whether you decide that shaving in the shower is the best for you, or shaving directly after the shower, just make sure you’re doing so with warm water.

Shaving Against The Grain First.

Generally speaking, you should always shave with the grain, especially for the first pass of the razor. If you start off by shaving against the grain, you may pull the hair and/or push it back into itself. This will cause irritation and ingrown hairs.

Irritation and ingrown hairs are more prone to infection, and can cause acne.

You may be asking, which way is the grain anyways? Usually, on your face the hair grows downward. Your neck is where it gets tricky. Some of it grows downward, some upward, and some to the side. This is why most shaving irritation occurs on the neck. You might be shaving against the grain without even knowing it!

Luckily, there’s a way to figure this out. Simply use your fingers to determine hair growth direction. If it feels smoother with less friction, that’s with the grain. If it feels rough with resistance, that’s against the grain.

When you get down to actually shaving, shave in the direction that your hair is growing in that area. Make sure your strokes aren’t too slow or too fast, and when it comes to how much pressure you should apply, use about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. If you feel any tugging or pulling, stop, relather, and try again from a different angle. Vary your stroke speed, length, and pressure until you feel the razor “glide.”

Once an area is complete, it should be completely free of hair and feel smooth. If not, you may need to consider changing your blade. If your face still has more stubble than you want and you need to go over it once more, consider going sideways across the grain or upwards against the grain to get the closest shave. Just make sure to apply more shaving lotion to avoid irritation.

When finished shaving, you should now use cool water on your face. This will help tighten the skin and close the pores.

Not Rinsing the Blade Often Enough.

This is not only for removing hair and cream from the blade, it also brings fresh, hot water to your face which helps protect the skin from irritation.

Another thing people often underestimate is the amount of dead skin you can pick up when using a razor. The closer of a shave you get, typically the more dead skin that gets exfoliated by the blade. If you look closely after your first stroke, you might be able to see some dead skin along with the hair you just shaved off.

If you don’t remove this hair, dead skin, and shave lotion after every stroke, your following strokes may get affected. Nothing should ever get in the way of your blade and your skin, unless it’s a lubricant that is aiding the shaving process.

Getting stroke-happy (No, not that. Get your mind out of the gutter).

Think of it this way, every pass of the blade removes a layer of protection and some of your skin’s surface. If you are using a triple-blade razor and pass over the same area 3 times, that’s 9 times a blade scraped across your skin.

The more strokes you make, the greater your chances of skin irritation.

For that reason, only use the amount of strokes needed to get the desired closeness. If you are using top-tier shaving lotion, have a fresh blade, and apply the perfect stroke, one pass should be enough.

Make sure you take your time also. We get it, you just hopped out of the shower and need to get to work. But it’s better to just slow down, get the shave done right, and look great at work rather than go fast and look like a fool with multiple cuts on your face.

Here’s a summary of tips for proper stroking:

• Don’t move too fast or too slow. Too slow may pull the hair, too fast may cause irritation.
• Your pressure should be about a 5 on a scale of 1-10.
• Your shaving stroke length should be 2-3 inches.
• Make sure your skin is tight, even pulling your skin back to tighten the shaving area.
• The more blades your razor has, the less you should need to stroke.

Not using a moisturizing post shave product.

When we demonstrate Conditioning Lotion at Men’s Ultimate Grooming, we make sure that every client realizes the importance of moisturizing their face after shaving.

This will heal your skin and replace the moisture that shaving with hot water extracted. If you use a quality post shave lotion, each successive shave will be more comfortable and your skin will look and feel better.

Like we said before, shaving cream can do the job, but a conditioning lotion that can be used for just about anything is the way to go. Not only can you use it on your face (before, during, and after shaving), or your body after a shower; you can even use it in your hair to keep your handsome locks nice and hydrated.

Takeaways

Hopefully, we’ve gone through some shaving mistakes that you can take to heart, and hopefully take with you when you’re getting ready for your next shave. Implementing these tips into your routine may be a challenge, or annoying at first, but it will pay off.

Maybe you’re just starting to grow your beard out again. Or maybe you’ve had a beard for as long as you can remember. Regardless of how long your beard has been in the picture, how are you taking care of it?

Contrary to popular belief, if you want to grow a strong, ridiculously serious beard, you need to put some more care into it than just growing it out and letting it be. Beards need to be washed, trimmed, conditioned, brushed, and more.

There’s also something else to consider: If not properly cared for, a man’s beard may carry more germs than a dog’s coat.

That’s pretty disgusting isn’t it?

So dudes, to reduce the microbial counts in your beard, you need to start taking better care of it, and with the right products. Not just any beard wash, beard balm or beard oil will do, you need products with antimicrobial properties.

As a rule of thumb, if you can smell your beard, your significant other can definitely smell your beard. That goes for any part of your body too. If you smell under your armpits, or anywhere else, it’s almost guaranteed someone next to you can smell you even more.

Are you starting to feel overwhelmed or confused? Don’t be! Taking care of your beard doesn’t have to be difficult, and it’s something you can learn how to do pretty easily. But if you want a soft and smooth, good smelling, and awesome looking beard, you need to learn how to take care of it.

Lucky for you, here at Woodlee’s, we’re here to help. Keep reading to learn exactly how to take care of your beard, the right way.

The Steps to a Happy and Healthy Beard

Hopefully, you’re ready to start caring for and nurturing your beard, because we’re about to break it down for you step by step. Follow these steps to bring your beard to life with strength and style.

Grow Your Beard

We’re going to start by assuming you’ve got a beard but it’s not at your desired length. Before you get to the trimming phases as well as the beard oil phase, you need to grow it out.

If you’ve already got an impressively long beard, move on to the next step. If not, here are some tips you can use to grow your beard fuller and faster:

• Don’t trim it. This may seem difficult, especially if you have patchy stages, but push through until you have some thickness and length.
• Use a beard balm or beard oil. Most beard products contain healthy vitamins that promote growth. While there is no magic pill or concoction that will directly grow your beard for you, products like these can facilitate healthy hair follicles.
• Eat a lot of meat, and other foods high in fat. Not all fat is bad, and you can actually eat healthy fats that will help boost your testosterone naturally.
• Take your daily vitamins. Vitamin supplements should have everything you need to help you grow hair without any hiccups.
• Be patient. Growing a beard takes time for some people, especially those who don’t grow fast, or inconsistently. If you just stay calm, your beard will come naturally.
• Have some faith. Just because a patchy spot is there today doesn’t mean it will be there in a couple months. Time is the best way to grow a beard, there’s no other way around it.

Wash Your Beard

In case you didn’t know, beards can hold a lot of germs. For that reason, and because no one wants a nasty beard, you need to wash it!

You may be wondering what soap you should be using during your beard washes. You shouldn’t use face soap on your hair, so don’t get lazy and use it on your beard.

The best option is a beard-specific cleanser. Find one that smells good, since the smell will likely linger right under your nose. In a pinch, you can use a hair shampoo for your beard rather than a facial cleanser.

When it comes to washing your beard, you don’t want to overdo it. If you wash your beard too often, you might run into really dry hair and skin, especially if you’re already prone to it.

This can lead to flaky skin, and the dreaded “beardruff.” That’s why it is so important to keep your skin and beard hydrated. The best way to do this is to use a specifically formulated leave in conditioner that hydrates your skin and beard.

On the other hand, if you don’t wash enough, your beard is going to start smelling funky, and will grow bacteria on it that can cause acne and other gnarly issues.

You’ll need to put some thought into finding the balance of washing and not washing your beard. This depends on factors such as how oily your face/beard gets, and whether or not your face gets dirty every day.

Condition Your Beard

Once your beard has been washed and is squeaky clean, it’s time to condition it. Shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils, so it’s important to replenish your beard with a good conditioning after each wash.

Using a beard conditioner is your best option. Some conditioners will need to be rinsed out, while others are designed to be left in to nourish your beard all day long. We are definitely partial to the leave-in conditioner kind.

Conditioning your beard is the best way to keep it soft, so that you don’t find yourself getting frustrated with a scratchy, uncomfortable beard.

A good conditioner moisturizes your beard, leaving it feeling nice and healthy. A well-conditioned beard will also be more manageable and easier to style. If you’re in the business of having your face close to another’s face, you’re going to want a great smelling face, right?

Not to mention, nobody wants to smell two-day-old Big Mac grease emanating from your beard. We know, that’s disgusting, but if we don’t tell you, who will?

Use a Beard Oil or Beard Balm

Odds are you need a good beard oil or beard balm. Sure, there’s the chance that you’re a beach dweller that uses the ocean to wash your body and hair and never takes a shower, we get that and respect that, but also your beard stinks dude.

For most of us, especially during the winter months, our beards get dry, itchy, and downright annoying. If this is the case for you, be sure to massage your beard with some beard oil or beard balm.

But, again, not all beard products are equal. Many beard oils are way too oily and many beard balms have suspect ingredients. You want natural, hydrating, and antimicrobial ingredients in your beard products. Also, these products should benefit not only your beard, but the skin underneath.

The climate you’re in plays a huge role in the amount and frequency of your beard product applications. For dryer areas, sometimes you’ll need to apply beard oil or beard balm a few times per day. In moist areas, once per day may be plenty.

Not only does the climate play a part in using beard oil and beard balm, so do your pores. Not everyone has the same level of oil-producing pores. If you have a naturally oily face, obviously less beard oil is recommended. In this case, a beard balm may be better.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t use it all though, because the essential oils found in quality beard oils and beard balms are actually a healthy substitute for your natural face oils that you just stripped off in the shower.

Trim Your Beard

Just like the hair on top of your head, you need to give your beard regular trims to keep it healthy. It is important to realize that your beard hair probably isn’t going to grow perfectly even, so trimming it is a great way to even things out. You also have the freedom to give your beard some new style with a trim.

The best way to trim your beard is with a quality beard trimmer. Most beard trimmers come with a series of attachments that can help you control your trim. This control can prevent you from giving yourself a horribly uneven cut or unfortunate bald spot, making a good beard trimmer well worth the investment.

Brush Your Beard

To keep your beard from looking unruly and all out of whack, brush it daily. Get a brush that is made specifically for use on your beard, so that you can keep your beard in check.

Brushing your beard can also help to disperse your beard oil, beard conditioner, or beard balm throughout your beard, keeping it nice and healthy looking.

Style Your Beard

Styling your beard is the best way to make it look sharp and fresh all day long. There are a variety of styling products you can try depending on the look you are going for. In this case, again, beard-specific products are best, but many high-quality hair styling products work just as well.

It may take some trial and error to find the product(s) that are right for you, and you might find that the product you use depends on the occasion.

Now It’s Your Turn

Now that you’ve heard our tips, it’s time to start taking care of your own beard. If you take the time to care for your beard (and do it well) you can have a ridiculously healthy and stylish looking beard. It’s not just you who benefits either. Anyone who comes into direct contact with your beard is going to take notice and appreciate your efforts.

Can You Grow A Beard Viking Style?

We know you’re interested in viking beards, and we know you want to grow one.

But can you?

Even for fully bearded men, attaining the viking beard style is difficult. There’s a lot more to it than you think, and vikings back in the day put a lot more effort into their beards than we previously thought.

Seriously! You probably thought Vikings were savage people who never bathed or took care of themselves.

This is only half true.

While vikings did slaughter, pillage, and conquer, they actually took a considerable amount of care of their personal hygiene. Sure, they didn’t shower every day, or brush their teeth, but they did clean their beards and their skin frequently.

If you keep reading, towards the end of the blog we discuss a fun fact of how they actually cleaned themselves, and it’s kind of disgusting.

Vikings cared so much about their beard that they even brought a comb with them wherever they went to properly style their facial hair.

So, don’t even think for a second that a viking beard is easy to have. It’s not, and it requires dedication.

A Quick History Lesson About Vikings And Their Style

Before you consider adding a viking beard style into your life, it’s important you know more about who vikings are, their values, and their overall look.

History knows vikings mainly by their raids of northwestern Europe in the 8th to 11th century.

They came from Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden, and Iceland in the form of longships, which were some of the most superior boats at the time and gave them combat advantages.

What started as small raids on European coastal villages grew into larger scale raids that occurred in inland European towns.

Most people thought Vikings wore horned helmets and were extremely tall, but this is actually false. It is likely that vikings did not wear helmets and let their hair flow freely.

European documentation, both western and eastern, describe Vikings in various ways. Some described the vikings as sculpted looking with tattoos, where others described them as having clean hair and makeup.

So, on account of many different recordings from that time, it can be said with certainty that:

• They had many tattoos.
• They braided their hair and beards.
• Viking men strived for large muscles.
• They loved jewelry and frequently wore it, both males and females.
• Their beards and skin were almost always clean and well kempt.

How to Grow a Viking Beard?

Now that you know some more about The Viking Age, and the fantastic beards and hygiene that came with it, how do you actually grow a viking beard?

There’s a few markers you have to hit before you grow a viking style beard.

Size

This one is pretty obvious, you need a large beard to properly style it. Either in length or thickness, and preferably both. The longer your beard, the easier it will be to braid it.

A thicker beard will make your braided/styled beard look more full, so paired with a long beard, you’re well on your way to the viking beard of your dreams.

Don’t be discouraged if your beard is smaller than you’d like, you can still braid a smaller beard. It will just be more difficult, and might take more time to get down correctly.

Groom Yourself Frequently

So, you’ve got a big and long beard, but are you managing it? You’re going to need beard oil if you don’t already. This will make your beard easier to style and manage when you’re on your journey of the viking beard style.

If beard oil isn’t your thing, but you still need moisture, consider a leave in conditioner that will keep you smelling and feeling fresh.

Carry a comb too. Viking men were known to carry combs on them to brush their facial hair and their beard.

The combs they used were often made from bone, but you can more than likely find one at your local walmart that is just as efficient. A bone comb sure would look cool, but you may scare some of your family and friends in the process.

Viking Beard Styles

So, before we start our list of the different viking beard styles, make sure you’ve got the hair and grooming habits to do it.

The ideal length for beard braids is 4-5 inches at the least, with a longer beard being easier to manage.

Before you start your braid/style, make sure you’ve put in a beard tonic, it will smooth your beard out and make it much easier to style.

So, here are 4 viking beard styles that will scare even the mightiest of Anglo Saxons away.

Long Beard

Here’s a style where the name is the perfect description of it.

If you’re going for a more berserk style, this is the one you want.

Keep growing your beard and don’t trim it until it’s at your desired length. Once you’ve got your beard where you want it, trim your beard up and add some beard oil to keep it looking slick.

There’s really no rules to this one. The longer and thicker the beard, the better. A well kempt long and thick beard will have you looking like the fiercest of berserkers.

Single Braid

The single braid is definitely the most common type of braid, and is your safest bet when starting out with a beard braid.

This look is probably the most palatable if you’re looking for a modern style while still showing off your inner viking. It’s not too flashy, but still shows your substantial beard length and effort that went into making your braid.

Double Braid

Here’s a style that has some pnash to it. The double braid not only makes you look like a seasoned berserker, it also shows people how much effort you put in.

The beard in the photo is somewhat longer than your average beard, but don’t let that discourage you from trying this style out. You can achieve this look with a much shorter beard.

Triple Braid

And how could we forget, the triple braid. This is a style where you’re going to need some of the most facial hair to pull off.

Getting your hair into one braid is tricky. Getting it into two? Very tricky. Getting it into three braids? If you’ve got the hair for this one, you’re a bearded legend.

The triple braid is our personal favorite when it comes to viking beard styles because, well, three is better than two! Three braids shows off just how much facial hair you have in a very intricate and exciting way.

The Goatee Braid

This is one of our favorite braids because of how naturally it blends in with the rest of your beard. Ideally you’ll have enough hair coming from your goatee to pull this one off, because you’re not using any hair from your chin for this braid.

Viking Fun Facts

By now, you’ve either gone full viking, or you haven’t. Either way, we want to share some fun facts about vikings so you can impress your friends if the subject ever comes up! You may be surprised at what subverts your expectations!

• Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets, or any helmets in general.
• Vikings were pagans who believed in Norse Mythology, with gods like Odin, Thor, Freya, and Loki.
• Leif Erikson, a famous viking explorer, was actually the first European to land in North America, not Christopher Columbus.
• Viking longships were well ahead of their time, and were superior vessels that inspired ship design for years to come.
• Skiing was a common mode of transportation among Vikings. They even worshiped a God Ullr, who was an excellent huntsman, archer, and skier.
• Vikings used a communal bowl of water to wash themselves in. The bowl itself was rarely cleaned until it was finished being used.
• The word “Viking” means a pirate or a wealth seeker in Scandinavian languages.
• Not all Vikings had blonde hair, oftentimes it was red, but it was very common for vikings to bleach their hair blonde, as well as their beard!
• Vikings didn’t exclusively raid. They were mostly farmers and traders who lived throughout inland Europe.

Go Get Your Viking on!

We hope you liked our post about viking culture, beards, and fun facts about Vikings. By now you should have a really good idea of what the Vikings did. At the very least, we hope we dispelled some of the common misconceptions of Vikings.

By now you probably have realized that it’s hard to look like a viking. They put more thought into their overall style and hygiene than you think. What’s even more difficult is pulling it off in a modern looking way.

Hopefully, you’ve got a picture of where you want to go from here. Think about how long you can grow your beard, and whether or not carrying a comb made out of bones will get you kicked out of the office or not.

Just because you sport a beard, it doesn’t mean you can ignore the rest of your face and not take care of the skin underneath. You are making a huge mistake if you care for your beard and not for your face. What’s the point of having an immaculate beard if the skin underneath is wrinkly, dry, blemished, cracked or flaky?

To sustain good health, men’s grooming is important. You need to have a personal hygiene and men’s skincare routine to help prevent problems and premature signs of aging caused by dry skin, oily skin, sun damage, etc. Washing your face twice a day, in the morning and evening will help rid your face of dirt, germs and dead skin cells. Using products specifically for your face, preferably fragrance-free, with moisturizers, is also best. If you have a beard, applying beard oil on a regular basis will keep your beard shiny, soft and healthy. Wintertime is especially important for using moisturizing products, but in the summertime, sunscreen should be used.

Basic Men’s Skin Care Tips You Should Know

Washing your face twice a day will help you achieve clear skin. If you are still experiencing oily skin and pimples, try applying a toner to your forehead, nose and chin on a daily basis. Exfoliate, or scrub your face once a week to get rid of dead skin cells. Applying moisturizer or sunscreen to your face will help protect your face if you have dry, flaky skin.

Keeping your body healthy, drinking 8 glasses of water a day and eating fruits and vegetable will also keep your skin looking fresh. When it comes to men’s skin care, remember the following:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Moisturize
4. Protect

If you want to achieve the best results, then you need the best grooming products. Most drugstore brand products contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, parabens and other unnatural ingredients that are harmful to your beard and skin. Many men damage their skin experimenting with different products. If you are looking for the perfect product that will care for both your skin and your beard, then be sure to check out products made by Woodlee’s. Woodlee’s is dedicated to giving you the highest quality men’s grooming products for your face and beard that contain natural and effective ingredients. Using products from Woodlee’s will ensure your shaving and men’s skin care experience to be second to none.

Woodlee’s is the exclusive product line from Men’s Ultimate Grooming (MUG). MUG reinvented the barbershop by creating the ultimate place for a haircut and shave, and now they’ve reinvented men’s grooming products by developing the ultimate shaving and beard brand. MUG offers a relaxing atmosphere with incredible barbers and/or stylists who are trained in the art of Barbetology; and Woodlee’s “Ridiculously Serious” Supply Co. was created for those who demand only the best shaving and beard products.

Shaving and Beard Products

Some of those “Ridiculously Serious” Woodlee’s products that are available to use are the following:

Woodlee’s Shave Formula

• Contains a unique formula of ingredients which include Aloe, Shea Butter and Tea Tree Oil.
• Ingredients provide moisture for your skin and beard and help prevent cuts when shaving.
• Is white when applied so you can see where you’re shaving, then it becomes transparent.
• Rinses well because it is lightweight.

TO USE: Apply two – four pumps with warm water and massage into your face. If
you missed a spot shaving, you can reactivate it with warm water. Your
final step is to rinse with cool water.

Woodlee’s Post Shave Balm

• Contains the ingredients of Grape Seed Oil, Rosemary and Witch Hazel.
• Is lightweight and absorbs quickly, which helps heal your skin and fight any bacteria that is on your skin.
• Helps prevent razor burn, bumps, and redness that may occur from shaving.

TO USE: For healthy, conditioned skin after shaving, apply two – three pumps
into your hands and massage into your face and neck.

Woodlee’s Beard Tonic

• Contains the natural ingredients of Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Seed and Vitamin E.
• Strengthens, adds shine and is great for both your skin and your beard.

TO USE: Apply one pump (or more, if needed) and massage into your beard for
added protection, softening and conditioning. For maximum results, use
this daily.

Woodlee’s Products are all concentrated so you don’t need to use as much; therefore, they will last longer and save you money in the long run.

The Wrap-Up

For your added benefit, Woodlee’s has a Serious “How-To” Guide that will introduce you to all of their products and will walk you through how to use them and answer any questions you may have. There are also many different articles, such as “Personal Care For Men”, “Men’s Grooming Tips For 2018”, “Safety Razor vs. Straight Razor”, “The Do’s and Don’ts of Shaving”, and many other articles of interest to help in maintaining the best skin care you desire to have. If you want to be “Ridiculously Serious” in your mens skin care and men’s grooming routine, Woodlee’s products are for you.

It’s important that every man knows what they should be doing to uphold their personal hygiene and care. After all, personal hygiene is an important aspect of your health to maintain and uphold. Here are a few tips you should be using for every day men’s grooming.

1. Regular Barber Visits

Going to the barber or salon every month, if not every other week, is important to do. Although these trips can add up by the end of the month, it’s essential to your overall appearance. Unkempt hair, beard, and neck hair is a surefire way to look like a guy who doesn’t care about his appearance.

2. Find “Your” Hair Products

During your barber visit, you should find the hair products that suit your needs. The type of hair products you use depends on the length, texture and what you want to do with it. For example, if you have thick hair you want to style, consider using hair wax to do so. A good stylist or barber will be able to tell you exactly what will work best for your hair and style.

3. Find Your Designated Scent

Explore a few different cologne scents and discover which one fits you best. Colognes can interact with your individual pheromones making the resulting scent unique to you. Just don’t overdo it, one pump is usually enough.

4. Using Electric Toothbrush

Although standard toothbrushes are more affordable, electric toothbrushes are better for your health in the long run. Electric toothbrushes are packed with features and are more fun to use. The sooner you make the switch, the sooner you can optimize your personal care and oral health.

5. Manscape Properly

Although this is up to personal opinion, you should consider manscaping. If you plan to manscape, however, it’s important you do it properly. This means using a good razor and plenty of shaving gel or cream to prevent rashes from shaving. Also, for safety purposes, you don’t always need to go down to bare skin. A beard trimmer on the lowest guard setting can get pretty close while protecting you from cuts.

6. Wash Face Daily

You should be washing your face with facial soap and water in the morning and evening. This will help get rid of dead skin cells, dirt, and grime. Be sure to use a moisturizing, fragrance-free soap specifically made for the face. Otherwise, you run the risk of drying out your skin which can lead to premature lines and wrinkles.

7. Manage Facial Hair

If you are sporting a beard of any length, it is important to properly maintain it and trim it as needed. Be sure to use a moisturizing beard oil everyday to keep your beard healthy and shiny.

8. Become an Expert at Shaving – Or Visit A Professional

It’s not hard to become a shaving expert, but if you don’t have the time or energy to shave, considering visiting a professional to shave you instead. Some men absolutely love getting shaved by a professional as it relaxing and revitalizing. However, keep in mind that getting shaved by a professional will make your visit to the barbershop or men’s salon a little longer, so be sure to schedule the appropriate amount of time.

9. Feet Care: Removing Dead Skin

Although it may not sound important to you, removing dead skin from your feet is essential to your personal health. Too much dead skin can lead to future health problems and is generally nasty to look at when you’re rockin your flip flops. Remove dead skin from your feet twice a month using a foot exfoliator.

10. Hand/Fingernail Care

It is also an important part of men’s care to maintain your hands and fingernails. This involves washing your hands multiple time per day and cutting your nails at least once a week. You should also consider consuming supplements to improve your nail growth and hone up on your nail cutting skills if you find yourself experiencing ingrown nails frequently.

11. Avoid Uni-Brow

To avoid a uni-brow you should consider plucking your eyebrows at least once a week or visiting a men’s salon to get it waxed. Although the frequency of how often you pluck your brows depends on how quickly your hair grows back, you should work on doing it at least once a week to avoid a uni-brow from forming.

12. Moisturize Daily

Taking care of your skin also means moisturizing every day. Especially during cold, dry months, it’s important to invest in good moisturizer to maintain healthy skin. Plus, no one enjoys patches of dry skin flaking off their face and arms throughout the day. Many of the good post shave lotions also moisturize. Just be sure not to use a cheap, drugstore brand post shave since this may actually dry out your skin.

13. Wear Sunscreen

During the summer, you should especially wear sunscreen outside. However, during the fall, winter, and spring, you should also consider wearing sunscreen indoors and out, since UV rays can penetrate the windows. Most also come with a built-in moisturizer so you can kill two birds with one stone.

It’s important that you use these tips every day to maintain your physical and mental health. Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you can start taking care of your personal health today.

Some men look better bald. Jason Statham, Michael Jordan, The Rock are just a few examples. But just in case you aren’t ready to join the bald and the beautiful just yet, here are some tips for holding on to your hair, and growing more of what’s there.

Low Level Treatment Combs

Men’s grooming tools don’t have many bells and whistles. A simple comb is the gold standard. But every once and awhile, something new comes along to shake things up. If you’re interested in brushing away your hair loss concerns, it might be time to ditch your old comb and invest in light therapy. Low level treatment combs treat the loss of hair with low power lasers. This light stimulation is used to awaken weaker hair follicles and encourage regrowth. The comb itself looks like a regular old comb, just a little chunkier, and of course, it emits lasers. So take a few minutes to comb your hair with a little tender lighting care. Your hair will thank you for it.

Natural Treatment: Supplements

Your doctor always told you to take your vitamins. Now’s your chance to up the ante. Vitamins can help keep your body healthy, and supplements help keep your hair healthy. First, look to the alphabet. Vitamins A and C are both supplements to take if you notice your hair thinning. You can take the vitamins in a concentrated capsule form, or you can beef up your diet with some beef liver. It’s high in Vitamin A! But if that’s not your idea of a tasty treat, you can just easily load up on carrots or sweet potatoes. Vitamin C is found in oranges, strawberries and brussel sprouts. Make sure you get all the way to Z for Zinc when supplementing for hair growth. Zinc is vital to cell reproduction and hormonal stability, both of which influence hair quality. So stock up on some zinc, but be sure to take only recommended amounts. Once you’ve had your fill of the vitamins, you can add folic acid to the mix either in pill form or with some hearty lentils or asparagus.

Topical Treatment: Rogaine

Rogaine is a common name in the world of hair regrowth. In fact, it might be one of the most recognizable treatments out there. This liquid or foam hair product is made with a chemical called minoxidil which helps to reactivate the loss of hair that is caused by small and weakened hair follicles. You apply the product to your scalp twice a day and wait for your hair follicles to get the minoxidil message. It could take a couple of months to see results, but if you stick with the routine, you will be rewarded. At first your hair will come in wispy and a little lighter than your natural color. But with continued use, you should see it become thicker and darker to your natural shade.

Pills: Propecia

Propecia, otherwise known as finasteride, is an oral medication you can take to prevent losing your hair. This type of treatment isn’t available without a prescription from your doctor, so be sure to raise your hair loss concerns at your next appointment. Propecia has to be taken every day in order to see results, so it might not be for someone who has a hard time maintaining the needed dosage. Unlike topical treatments, Propecia works from the inside out by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT has been linked to male pattern baldness, so the idea is that if you block DHT, you’ll block going bald.

Surgery: Hair Transplant

If you’re ready for a bigger step, hair transplant surgery might be the treatment for you. This type of procedure has been around for more than fifty years, but the advances it has made in recent years make it anything but old. This procedure is done at a doctors office and requires a little bit of recovery time. During your appointment, your doctor will surgically remove hair from an area where it’s plentiful, to a place where it’s not as populated. You’ll be a little sore for a few days, but eventually your new (old!) hair should grow healthily in its new environment.

This year, build your confidence by taking better care of yourself. Your appearance can say a lot about you to potential employers, dates, and new friends. Lucky for you, there are many things you can do to help yourself look and feel more attractive. Here are the top men’s grooming tips for 2022:

Replace Toothbrush More Often

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Even if you’re teeth aren’t perfect, you can have a healthy smile with a new toothbrush. Old ones have built up bacteria and broken bristles that can’t clean as well. By replacing your toothbrush every 2-3 months, your mouth will look and feel cleaner.

Take Cold Showers

While warm water may feel better, cold showers result in more benefits. When you lower the temperature, your hair and skin will keep natural oils. Your follicles will remain flat and keep a tighter grip on your scalp, meaning your hair will appear shinier and stronger.

Don’t Use Too Much Shampoo

A shampoo is used to cleanse the hair and eliminate build-up, but if you use too much you’ll be stripping your natural oils away. Those oils are the same ones that you’re trying to protect by taking cold showers. Your hair will grow faster and stronger the less shampoo you use, it will also result in shinier and stronger hair.

Shave With Better Products

Many men think that by simply using more blades, it will result in a better shave. The truth is, you should be using quality shaving products to achieve a smoother face without irritation. Nobody likes nicks and razor burn. Balms and shaving creams with a higher concentration of natural and active ingredients will result in the best outcome.

Care For Your Beard & The Skin Under It

A healthy beard can make you look masculine and improve your appearance. A beard oil will soften and condition your facial hair and the skin underneath. A good tonic will restore natural oils and leave your beard smelling good also. By caring for it, you’ll improve your overall appearance without having to shave.

Visit Dermatologist For Healthier Skin

Your skin can be affected by diet, routine, and stubborn genetics. Battle the acne away with a trip to a dermatologist. These skin care doctors can prescribe exactly what you need to eliminate problems and boost your confidence. Stop stressing about your skin care problems by partnering with a dermatologist and finding the solution that’s right for you.

Care For Cracked, Calloused Feet

Many people forget to take care of their feet, resulting in cracked and calloused skin. While it may not be on your mind most of the time, it will be the moment you kick off your shoes in public. You can use Epsom salt baths to soften your skin and eliminate calluses caused by long days on your feet. Another trick to soften your cracked skin is to slip on a pair of Vaseline filled socks at night.

Maintain Your Beard

When beards are well-groomed, they attract the right type of attention. You should always use oils and products to keep the hair shiny and clean, but you should also visit a barber to receive a fresh trimming for a professional appearance. When beards grow too long and straggly, they begin to give off the impression that you don’t care about how you appear.

Your appearance often represents your first impression to the world around you. By creating and following a grooming routine, you’re taking time to show people that you care. Take pride in the way you look by following these men’s grooming tips along with other things that fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re improving your skin with cold showers, improving your smile with a new toothbrush, or maintaining a beard the right way, there are multiple ways you can build your confidence and improve your overall appearance.

Five Reasons Why Your Grooming Routine Can Make You Break Out

No guy wants a face full of pimples. A lot of men with acne assume that their unsightly breakouts are due to their genetics. It’s true that some people are predisposed to acne, but breakouts aren’t always natural. They may be a result of common mistakes in your grooming routine.

If you want smoother skin, it might be time to look closely at your grooming routine, particularly how you shave. To help you say goodbye to unsightly blemishes once and for all, here are the five men’s grooming mistakes that can make you break out and what you can do to fix it.

Reason One: Your Blade Is Terrible

If you’re one of those guys who reach for the same old dull, cheap razor and uses it until it stops doing the job, then it’s no wonder that you’re breaking out. An old and dirty razor is a hotbed of bacteria, and bacteria is one of the biggest culprits behind breakouts. Furthermore, an old razor can create razor burn and bumps, which aren’t technically acne but are just as ugly as blemishes.

When you shave, you should be using a clean, sharp blade. You can use a disposable razor, just make sure it’s a quality blade and that you throw it out at the first sight of dullness or grime buildup. Most quality disposable blade cartridges will give you about 15-20 good shaves.

Reason Two: Your Beard Is Full Of Blemish-Causing Oil and Bacteria

If you sport a beard, then reason one probably doesn’t apply to you. However, it’s not just the clean shaven guys who break out. When a bearded guy breaks out on or around his beard, his beard maintenance routine is usually to blame.

A lot of guys avoid washing their beards, complaining that it dries out the hair. It’s true that a face wash can leave beard hairs feeling dry. To combat this, try Woodlee’s Beard Tonic. It’s packed full of natural emollients and vitamins, none of which cause blemishes. It will allow you to wash your beard thoroughly and then restore its health, moisture and shine.

Reason Three: Your Shave Cream Is Clogging Your Pores

When it comes to shaving creams, most guys are happy to reach for the boring old white foam available at the drugstore. However, this stuff is dirt cheap for a reason. It’s packed full of pore-clogging oils and chemicals that dry your skin out. Drying your skin might sound like a good idea if you struggle with oiliness, but the truth is that your skin can often produce more oil if it thinks it’s being dried out, which can cause breakouts. The foaming shaving products you find at the drugstore aren’t really meant to be good for your skin. Instead, they’re simply meant to create a rich foam that gives the illusion of moisture.

Switch to our Shave Formula, which is formulated with vitamins and oils that will hydrate and nourish your skin without clogging your pores. It doesn’t come out of the tube foamy the way those drugstore products do. However, if you can’t live without a foaming shave cream, simply use a shave brush to work the product in a thick, creamy lather.

Reason Four: You’re As Dry As The Sahara

Remember, drying out your skin doesn’t help to beat breakouts. Instead, it fools your skin into thinking that it’s going through a drought, which in turn causes your body to produce more oil and pore-clogging sebum. Hence, if you’re not using a hydrating product, that could be why you’re experiencing breakouts.

If you want to combat breakouts, try our Post Shave Balm. It’s a rich, hydrating balm with a great scent that will restore the moisture you lose during shaving back into the skin. You don’t have to wait until you’ve shaved to use it, either. Work a small amount into the skin anytime you’re feeling dry.

Reason Five: You Shave Dry

If wetting your skin to shave it involves you splashing barely any water on your face, then you’re probably seriously drying out and irritating your skin. The best skin for a shave is skin that’s been able to soak in water for a bit prior to the actual shave. Ideally, you should shave after stepping out of the shower. If showering wouldn’t be convenient for you, however, you can cheat your way to a moisturized face by holding a damp, warm washcloth over your face for five minutes before you start your shave.

You don’t have to live with irritation and breakouts. If you identify these five men’s grooming mistakes and correct them, you’ll gradually begin to see a major improvement in your complexion.

Beards have become very popular with men all over the world recently and are commonly used to help shape an individual’s unique style. Some men have gotten so used to having a beard they they cannot imagine themselves without one anymore.

There are some advantages for men who choose to grow their facial hair. Haters may not realize it, but there may be actual physical and mental health benefits that come with growing a beard. This article will highlight some of the well-known and lesser-known aspects of having a beard.

More Confidence

Men who have more confidence in themselves tend to be more successful in all aspects of their lives. According to Jebiga.com, a beard gives a man a sense of power and confidence that is readily evident to everyone around him. Therefore, making the decision to grow a beard is a way for a man to set a higher standard for his life and become more successful.

Confident men have more success, period. Growing a beard gives a man a sense of power and confidence that is noticeable to everyone around him. Deciding to grow a beard is like starting a new phase in your life and can be the start to your new found success.

Make A First Impression

There was a study recently where eight men shaved their beards off and then grew them back. Each participant took pictures of each stage while they were growing their beards back to record the progression.

Once the men have fully regrown their beards, the progression photos were analyzed and researchers found that the men’s beards were fuller and gave each man perceived as being more positive. Because of their full beards, these men were looked as being more mature, attractive and healthy.

Block Sun Rays

Scientific research has proven that full beards are capable of blocking out UV rays from the sun. Beards can protect your skin from sunburn and cancer.

Natural Filter

Men who have a moustache are able to keep microscopic allergens out of their nose. This reduces allergies and hay fever. If you have a beard, you are able to keep those same allergens and airborne bacteria out of your mouth. So if you have a moustache and a beard, you are on the track to better overall health and have facial air filters that a clear-faced male will lack.

Shaving May Cause Acne

Thoughcatalog.com says that shaving your face could help spread the bacteria that causes acne. Growing and maintaining a beard encourages strong, healthy skin. If you have an ongoing battle with acne, grow a beard.

Less Wrinkles

Growing a beard protects your face from the sun and protecting your face from the sun means less wrinkles. Everyone does not have the ability to grow a beard to take advantage of the beauty benefit that comes with it. If you are able to, stop cutting off your facial hair.

Fountain Of Youth

Because of all the protection it offers, a beard can help you appear younger. Facial hair keeps your skin clear of blemishes, growing a beard can reduce the acne and discoloration on your skin. A moustache and a beard keeps allergens out of your system, helping you feel and look younger.

Keeps Skin Moist

When you grow a beard, you can keep your skin clean and healthy. Shaving dries up your face by opening up your pores. Exposed pores during harsh summer or winter weather takes away the moisture from your face which can cause flakes. You are able to avoid all of this by growing a beard.

Protection From Gum Disease

We’ve already covered how a moustache and a beard can help keep airborne bacteria out of your mouth. Well a beard can help reduce your chances of getting gum disease. Now just because you have a beard does not mean that you should vacate brushing your teeth altogether, but beards do offer extra protection that cleared-face people will not benefit from.

Prevents Infections

The pores in your skin are naturally protected against bacteria that can cause an infection when you have a beard. Bacteria can originate from a variety of sources and can become deadly if it comes in contact with your skin. Shaving opens up your pores and makes it extremely easy for bacteria to settle in your skin. These pores are usually closed if you have a beard.

A beard is more than just an accessory for your face, it can be your best advocate to a healthy life. With all the health benefits that comes with growing a beard, more men should have hair on their faces by now. Remember to utilize the latest men’s grooming techniques to maintain your beard.