How to take care of your beard while traveling
The holidays are a time of year when many people travel. Whether you’re going home for the holidays or jaunting off for a tropical island getaway, one thing is for certain: Your beard is going with you wherever you go.
Some of the logistics of traveling can make taking care of your beard a little more difficult. If you’re going to a place where the weather is extremely different from what you’re used to, your beard care regimen may need to adjust. If you are traveling by plane, you may not be able to bring a big bottle of your favorite grooming products.
Here are a few tips to make your trip much smoother:
If you’re going to a cold place….
Cold temperatures are drying for the skin. As much as hot showers feel good in the winter, the effect of the hot temperature makes the skin even dryer. When you’re in a cold climate, take lukewarm showers. Use our Big Beard Soap to retain as much moisture as possible when you wash your beard. Use beard balm, beard oil, or both to increase the conditioning element of your beard care routine.
If you’re going to a hot place…
Hotter temperatures are a little more forgiving on the skin. The hot temperatures are not always drying, but they can present some challenges. Having a wooly beard on a hot day means that your face will be even hotter than everyone else’s. You’ll likely sweat far more than you’re used to. While it’s important to keep your beard moisturized, you don’t want to create a stale, moist environment in your beard, because that can leave the skin more susceptible to itchiness, fungus, and all kinds of other skin issues.
To combat the risk of having a way too sweaty beard, increase the frequency of your beard washes. Treat your beard just like the rest of the body. When you have the choice, you don’t sit around in sweaty clothes for long periods of time. If your beard is soaked in sweat, wash it. Really bad days may require washing more than once per day, but be sure to follow up with some beard oil to restore the moisture balance.
If you are going to be exposed to a lot of sunlight, be sure to use sunscreen on your beard, including the hair follicles closest to the roots. Some sunscreens are made to be used on skin and hair. This will be a great investment for your vacation. Since a beard can hide sunburn, moles, and other signs that the sun is damaging your skin, it is important to take preventative measures to make sure you’re blocking the effect of those harmful UV rays.
If you’re going by plane….
When you travel by plane, you need to follow TSA standards. Liquids need to be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less. Our beard oils are safe because they come in 2-ounce containers. For utility wash or any other products that you can’t live without, consider buying empty travel-size containers. These can be found in grocery stores, big-box stores, and even conveniences stores. That way you won’t have to change your beard care regime because a product is too big to take on a plane.
If you’re worried about shaving…
Especially for a short trip, it’s best to shave before you go. If you’re taking a longer trip or your are the kind of guy who loves cleaning up his edges every single day, invest in a good travel-size shaving kit.
Above all, remember to enjoy your trip!