Written by Menswear Style in Grooming on the 13th January 2016

So you’ve decided to keep your stache after Movember. Perhaps you caught sight of yourself in the mirror and liked what you saw, or maybe you just like the way it’s keeping your face warm during frosty January. Whatever your reason for sticking with your facial hair, you’ve made a big decision, and your big decision will need some crucial maintenance to keep it in top condition. So here are some essential maintenance tips and products for the post-Movember man.

Keep your skin clean 

If this is your first time growing a beard, you may have already noticed that it can put your skin under a little bit of stress. Acne appearing under a beard can happen for a number of different reasons, and one of the most effective ways to avoid or treat it is to make sure you keep your face clean less oily. There are a few products you can use to avoid beard acne, but a high quality toner should be at the top of your list. Our choice for a great toner is this Murad Clarifying Toner, which is great at removing excess skin oils and clearing your pores to avoid any unwanted blemishes. When used as part of a daily cleansing regime, this toner will keep your face clear and refreshed, and it’s easy to see why it was named Best Toner at the Glass Magazine Skincare Awards 2014.

If you shave, do it smoothly 

At some point, you may wish to dial your facial hair right back to your original tash, or you might want to go back to a clean shaven look. Before you do, it’s important to know that shaving off a lot of facial hair requires a little bit more effort than vanquishing a bit of five-o’clock shadow. Your skin will be subject to a greater risk of razor burn and tugging when shaving thicker hair due to the increased effort and vigour needed to cut through each strand. To make life easier, trim off any excess hair first before you think about shaving with a razor, and be sure to get yourself a good shaving oil, cream or gel to smoothen the transition back to being bald-faced. One of our favourite shaving oils is this product from King of Shaves, which is specialised for sensitive skin types. Their shaving oil is created to ensure the smoothest shave possible, reducing razor burn by delivering enhanced razor glide and excellent blade performance. This oil will reduce the stress on your skin and leave your face feeling fresh and clean.

Brush your beard 

While a regular trim will help keep your chosen shape, there are other grooming practices you should try out to keep your beard in check. You can begin to tame your beard by going over it once or twice a day with a good-quality beard brush or comb. Doing so will make sure that none of your hairs are out of place, and, in time, will encourage your hairs to grow downwards for a thicker covering. Regular brushing will also stimulate your skin’s natural oils and spread them along the growth of your beard, giving it a healthy shine. The high-quality boar hairs used in this Beardbrand Brush have a lot of great advantages over synthetic bristles, including being more effective at drawing out dust and other particles, and being easier to clean.

If it gets too long, trim it 

You may be tempted to go for the full Tom Hanks in Castaway look with your facial hair, which is perfectly fine if you live on a desert island, but at some point you are going to have to choose a style and stick to it. If your beard is getting a bit long or unkempt, you should think about trimming it back into its original style or a shape that is more manageable. You may be tempted to reach straight for the razor, but if you want to keep some length or it is quite thick, you should consider investing in a good pair of grooming scissors. We’ve chosen a pair from Grizzly Adam, which will help you to lighten the load on your face. They are made from high-quality stainless steel, with adjustable finger inserts to make sure you get the optimum level of control when trimming.

We provide Stache Maintenance tips and guidance along with advice on Essential Moustache Grooming Products.