This Is How To Use a Beard Straightener To Tame Your Facial Hair

You’ve spent all of No-Shave November working toward growing your beard, so it’s a substantial length. The only thing is, now you’re left with facial hair that requires a bit more work than you realized. A longer beard necessitates a bit of finessing in order to look its best—you can’t just roll out of bed and expect your facial hair to be tame and polished. Fortunately, with the help of a beard straightener, you can flat iron your beard for a neatly-groomed appearance. Ahead, we’re detailing all there is to know about the heated straightening comb, including what it is and how to use one as part of your grooming routine.

What Is a Beard Straightener?

A men’s beard straightener, sometimes referred to as a beard straightening brush, is exactly what it sounds like—a tool that is used to smooth and straighten your beard. Instead of the two-plated flat iron that you may have seen your girlfriend, sister, or mother use to style their mane, a beard straightener resembles a small hairbrush. It features bristles that can be heated and easily combed through your beard, resulting in a smooth, straight appearance.

Do Beard Straighteners Really Work?

Beard straighteners are the real deal—they work to seamlessly tame an unruly beard in a few short minutes. Thanks to the bristles that make up the beard straightening brush, each strand is separated and smoothed for a well-groomed look. Of course, it’s important to use one correctly in order to achieve the results you’re looking for (more on that later).

Do Beard Straighteners Damage Your Beard?

After spending the time to grow out your beard, there’s a strong chance you don’t want the hair to become damaged. Luckily, you can protect against damage when using a beard straightener. Just like when styling the hair on your head, it’s necessary to apply a heat protectant to shield your beard from heat damage. Make sure to do this prior to reaching for a beard straightening brush.

You can use a heat protection spray or opt for a cream formula. Either way, you’ll want to look for a facial hair-specific protectant to get the best results.

How To Straighten Your Beard with a Beard Straightener

If you’re interested in using a men’s beard straightener as part of your grooming routine, we’re here to help. Follow the steps below to learn how to straighten your beard.

Step #1. Apply Heat Protectant

Like we mentioned, you should always use a heat protectant before using hot tools on your hair. It’s an essential step to keep your beard straightener from damaging your strands. Apply one that can shield against the temperature you plan to use. The product you’re using should indicate how high of heat it can protect against.

Step #2. Comb Through Your Beard

Use a beard comb or brush to detangle your beard and ensure there are no knots or tangles. This will also help evenly distribute the heat protectant you applied.

Step #3. Grab Your Beard Straightener

Reach for the tool in question. Plug in your beard straightening brush and give it a few minutes to heat up. Then, slowly run the brush through your beard as if you were brushing the hair. Start at the top of your beard and work your way toward the end in small sections. Continue to comb through your beard with the beard straightener until it’s sleek and straight.

Step #4. Smooth On a Beard Cream

To help seal in your style and create an even more polished look, use a hair cream that’s meant for your beard. Try the L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Hair and Beard Cream. Take a dime-sized amount onto your fingertips and smooth it over the hair in a downward motion, following the shape of your straightened beard. The lightweight cream will moisturize, provide a light hold, and leave your beard with a natural-looking shine.

Next up: If you’re not sure a long beard is right for you, click over to our article, Contouring For Men: How To Choose The Best Beard For Your Face Shape.