Stubble… 5 o’clock shadows… shadow beards... It has a lot of names, but this beard style is always rugged and masculine, helping to define your jawline without committing you to a beard.

Like other casual-and-cool looks, your beard stubble can take more effort than it appears. Aside from letting it grow out (for most men it takes up to 48 hours) and then trimming it back down to your length of choice, your 5 o’clock shadow needs maintenance to be clean, nourished, and healthy.

So how DO you take care of your shadow beard?

Once you’ve established your borderlines and short beard length, here’s the daily maintenance you’ll need to keep it looking its best.

Keep the perimeter clean.

Keep precise, even trim lines around your stubble beard to keep it from looking sloppy. Using a safety razor can help you navigate the neck area, which is tricky to shave due to its curves and multiple angles of hair growth. A good, natural, lather-heavy soap will help your razor glide close to the skin without stripping your face of its natural oils. Apply aftershave to hydrate and moisturize your skin and prevent irritation.

Pro Tip: After defining your stubble beard with a high-quality razor, use a high quality toner to prevent redness, bumps, and ingrown hairs.

Moisturize.

One of the most important parts of maintaining a healthy short beard is using beard oil after each wash to the hair itself and the skin around and underneath it. Beard oil both stimulates beard growth and softens the hair itself, lessening that “sandpaper” touch. It will also prevent itchiness as new beard hairs grow and give your beard a subtle cologne scent. Beard balm is another great moisturizer -- ours contains argan and jojoba oils, which promote beard growth, prevent breakage and allow your beard to grow in thick and healthy.

Brush your beard.

If short beards have a downside, it’s that they expose more of your skin, making it more vulnerable to dirt and grime and exposing any skin issues you may have. Brushing your shadow beard with a high-quality beard brush once a day will keep your skin exfoliated, preventing both ingrown hairs and flaky skin. We recommend a boar bristle beard brush -- it exfoliates AND helps distribute natural oils throughout your beard. We offer one in our store that is 100% cruelty-free.

Have a question about short beard maintenance, or a tip to share? Let us know in the comments.