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Yoliswa Dube

NOTHING says macho like a man with a beard. I’m not talking about a couple of hairs sparsely distributed on different parts of the face. That’s a major turn off.

I see a lot of men struggling in that area. They’ll grow one or two hairs on their chins and call that a beard.

Well, technically it could be, but give us all a break and trim off those little hairs – embrace your clean face.

I don’t mean the Madzibaba kind of beard either, there’s nothing stylish about that one, no offence. It just grows haphazardly and too long, in my opinion.

I’m talking full blown – covering the cheeks and chin. I’m talking dense, dark facial hair meticulously trimmed and combed.

Of course you’re not any less of a man because your beard doesn’t grow thick – there’s nothing you could’ve done about it even if you tried – its genetics.

But let me talk about the #BeardFaceGang for a minute.

They’re quite the trending lot right now. I think it’s one hot and timeless look, if, of course, it’s done well.

This look says I’m confident and I know what I’m about. It says I’m conscious about my style and will put in some extra work to keep myself looking hot.

The beard could go well with a brush cut but I love it all the more with a bald head.

You’re one hell of a confident man if you can rock a bald head! And of course, your head has quite the good shape.

The beauty of this look is you can move from formal to smart casual and downright casual looking effortlessly chic.

Because it’s an elaborate look, you’ll court a lot of attention from people, especially the ladies.

I particularly like that by keeping your beard, you avoid a lot of skin problems associated with shaving off hair of that magnitude.

If you don’t offend your skin ever so often with shaving, you can avoid a lot of problems associated with ingrown hairs and pimples that arise as a result of shaving.

When you decide to join the #BeardFaceGang, please make sure your hygiene levels move along with the times.

Also take into consideration how you’ll keep the beard looking sleeker than sleek.

If you’re going to trim your beard yourself, you’ll need the right tools. You will have to decide whether to trim using scissors or a beard trimmer.

If you decide to trim primarily with scissors, consider purchasing a pair of professional barber’s scissors.

When considering beard trimmers, a rechargeable cordless model might be a good choice.

You should also have a good wide-toothed comb. Optionally, for the moustache, you might want to have a fine-toothed comb.

A good-sized wall mirror is usually indispensable. You might also benefit from a magnifying mirror and possibly a three-way mirror.

Do not trim a wet beard or moustache. Wet hair is longer. When it dries you may find you’ve trimmed too much.

After you’ve trimmed your beard and moustache, then you should maintain the shape of your beard.

Just like your hair, wash and shampoo your beard regularly. A mild shampoo is easier on your skin.

After shampooing, you may use a conditioner. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.

Failure to rinse sufficiently may result in flaking.

Because beard hairs are so coarse, conditioners will have less effect on the beard than on the hair on your head. But a conditioner will still help make your beard feel softer.

Gently pat and wipe your beard dry with a towel. Blow drying is not really necessary and can be harsh on your skin.

Comb your beard and moustache with a wide-toothed comb to remove tangles. Optionally, you can finish up by using a brush.

Feedback from “Anything wrong with a man purse”

Apart from the stylish element, which is key, I’ll gladly stick to the classic leather wallet and backpack. – @lizweC

Nice article but women don’t go for civilised men. Even man purse advocates. – @JeraZW

Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to catch up with me on Twitter handle @Yolisswa, visit my blog, www.stayera247.blogspot.com or like my Facebook page Pattern & Style.