I have thought of going for it a few times, but every time I get a bit of length to it, I become allergic to my own beard. It’s like god made me handsome AF, but allergic to handsome!
What do you guys do to reduce irritation?
WTF is causing my skin to break out (my wrist breaks out, when I scratch my wrist with my beard)?
Am I too oily? Too dry?
Do I need to buy special stuff to properly make this fly?
Good lord, there’s a lot of “that’s what she said” in there.
Does your nose bleed once a month? Do you feel bloated?
face it: the bear-life just isn’t for you
I have no idea what is going on with your wrist itching. However, I went thru the same thing when it comes to my face being itchy AF. I was told to push thru it and eventually my face will adjust and it will go away. That’s what happened with me. It honestly took me 2 to 3 months to get to that point. It was during COVID so I had a mask on during the awkward inbetween stage.
Now that I have let it grow out and gotten over the hump, I feel fine and my beard grows back much faster than the first time (if I cut it). Just think of the initial beard as a one time sacrifice.
Same. Takes me a few weeks to adjust but as I prepare for growth season (that’s what she said) I know it’s gonna itch.
Want to make the ladies swoon in the meantime and take care of your beard and face? Get beard wash and nice smelling oil. Don’t cheap out with junk either. Look on Reddit for some good reviews.
And remember: scratching makes it itch worse.
As one who has had a beard for over 30yrs I don’t recall if I dealt with the scratching issue.
My wife has made a beard conditioner for me for years now, it works great with sculpting the beard and treats the skin at the same time. I would definitely find something as Nate points out, to help treat the beard/skin.
I often grow a winter beard because I’m a michigander.
Itch goes away with some length, it’s the sharp ends from shaving curling back and getting you.
Beard oil etc is a good idea to keep things nice for the ladies. Same with running a comb through, which might mean natty takes a trip to the drugstore to buy one.
My beard has been pretty low-maintenance. I could probably get rid of the dry skin under it with some kind of conditioner, but it hasn’t bothered me enough for that. I comb beard oil into it once or twice a week depending on how unruly it has been. Beyond that combing it before I go to bed and after showering has kept out the tangles.
There is the awkward in-between phase to push through. If you’re being pricked by facial hair on your wrist, that suggests two things… you have soft skin and course hair. It’s a thing. We all vary a bit on how tough our skin is and how fine/coarse our hair is. Some can have fine hair on their head, but a coarse beard.
Anyhow, since we know you don’t have shampoo or conditioner at home, you might give them a try. I’ll tell you that the new Old Spice Fiji shampoo/conditioner is pleasant and will do well to hydrate your beard, softening it.
I agree with the push through it advice. It gets easier.
Also, get some fancy ass conditioner. The good stuff that you’re girl buys and the price makes your eyes water. You’ll only be using a tiny bit so it will last forever but it will make your beard sooooo much softer. Like salon level stuff.
You guys crack me up. I feel like I’m in a salon parlor getting a pedicure with a bunch of women.
I personally do the real man, cowboy thing.
This… Grew mine out for “no shave November” a few years ago and kept it going until April. Everyone I knew hated it 
I finally let my daughter shave it off. It takes some time to adjust, but combing and beard oil made it soft and tolerable
I’m most likely the outlier here
I do literally nothing…. I let it grow and get it trimmed as needed. I do use oil, sparingly, now and then…
I don’t use any soap or shampoo whatsoever as it’s all man made crap and simply bad for your skin. I wash with water…. Nothing else
I thought she was your beard.
In order to care for her, she must be fed three times a day. In order to have her grow, you have to feed her like a Canadian, which is six times a day.
Take one of those hot tub test strips and have her use it down there. Her alkalinity might be out of whack. Also, check her filter isn’t full of gunk.
I’m like you I literally do nothing other than wash it with water in the shower I have a beard all year I kept it short in the summer and let it grow in the fall/winter. No oil no combing just let it grow. My neck used to get irritated but like others said your body gets used to it and it goes away
I couldn’t do no-soap if I wanted to. I get a weird skin condition when I go too long without washing it. I either have to keep it super short or wash it literally every other day.
Here’s what I do when I have a longer beard - I use an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week and the other days I use either a homemade liquid Castile based beard wash, or one I get from Detroit Grooming. Then I’ll use an old to soften the skin and a balm or butter to control/shape it.
Call me a dandy if you want, but I think I’m doing pretty good in the looks department for my age. Here’s the full beard/short beard cycle I go through every other year or so. (I actually just wanted a chance to show off my Ratledge inspired mullet 
)
