Heading to that party or a special event this evening? Take a look at a few handy tips by specialists on beard maintenance, hair products and spa services for men.  

How is a beard wash or oil different from a regular one?

There are 2 main categories of hair — head hair and body hair. Facial hair falls under body hair. It is very different from the hair on your head and vellus hair, which are much finer and lighter in colour. Androgenic or body hair is very much associated with levels of male hormones in your system. Because of this, typically men have more androgenic hair than women. Also, your beard hair tends to be much thicker and has a courser texture than the hair on your head. In addition, the growth cycles between active growth and dormancy of facial hair are much further apart. This is why your beard hair will never grow as fast or long as your head hair.

Now that we’ve established a biological difference between your head and facial hair, it is important to remember to not treat them the same. For instance, don’t use head hair shampoo and conditioner on your beard, as it tends to strip your natural oils and leaves a waxy build up. Keeping your beard moisturised with a premium quality beard oil is essential to beard awesomeness.

Share some tips on growing and maintaining beards of various lengths.  

Don’t hate, exfoliate

Exfoliation helps rid the skin of dead cells and cleanses the pores, allowing the natural secretion of sebum (skin oils), which in turn helps in follicular growth.

Frequent washing helps

Washing your face with warm water and a mild cleansing agent, like a face or beard , is highly recommended.

Diet your way to better fuzz

Just like sunlight is essential to a plant’s growth, the right diet is imperative for your beard’s growth and thickness. Increasing your consumption of vitamins and minerals like A, C, E and B Complex (B3, B5, B7) has been known to increase the body’s ability to generate hair follicles faster and more efficiently.

Manage ingrown hair

Ingrown hairs are follicles that curl and end up growing beneath the skin. This prevents your beard from growing evenly and can cause patchiness and scars. Preventing them is easy — a simple cleansing, toning and exfoliation formula will work wonders for you.

Use a good quality beard growth oil

Let’s face it, sometimes even Mother Nature needs a hand, when it comes to growing your beard. Beard growth oils contain the vitamins and trace minerals needed to stimulate hair follicle growth, and it is highly recommended that you use these in order to help boost the body’s ability to grow the necessary follicles.

Ashutosh Valani and Priyank Shah are Founders, Beardo

Why are manicures and pedicures important for men? Isn’t that stuff for women?

Manicures and pedicures do more than just improve the aesthetics of your hands and feet – they are key to improving overall hand and foot health. Given that your hands and feet are constantly exposed to dirt and muck while you are outdoors, or even just travelling from one place to another, regular cleansing is highly recommended. Poor hygiene can also lead to fungal and bacterial infections. Especially for men who mostly wear closed shoes, regular pedicures can go a long way in diminishing foot odour. In addition, one can’t discount the fact that manicures and pedicures provide for great relaxation, which should definitely not be restricted to just women.

The lady at the spa said I need to use sunscreen every day. Is it really that necessary for men? 

Absolutely. Application of sunscreen through the year is gender neutral and is extremely essential for both men and women. One of the most common myths surrounding sunscreens is that it should be used only during the hot summer months, but the fact is that a whopping 80 per cent of UV radiation can penetrate light cloud cover too. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, make sure to invest in and regularly apply a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF (sun protection factor) 30. Also, gel-based sunscreens are the best bet for oily skin.

Dr. Sangeeta Velaskar is Vice President and Head, Medical Services and R&D, Kaya Limited