Beard Brush vs. Beard Comb Comparison: Which Should You Use for Combing Your Beard?
Almost every beard in existence will need to be tamed at some point, leading men everywhere to that eternal question — beard comb or brush? In comparing a beard brush vs. beard comb, both offer significant benefits for your beard care routine. So, which should you use? And what's the difference between a comb and a brush?
We're here to fill beardsmen everywhere in on these two pieces of hardware that are crucial for trimming and grooming your beard. Whether you've recently hit a couple of months of growth or you're just looking to tame some gnarly morning beard, we'll help settle the comb vs. brush debate and give you all the beard grooming basics you need to look like the badass beardsman you know you are.
Article Content
- What Is a Beard Comb?
- What Is a Beard Brush?
- Key Differences Between a Beard Comb vs. Brush
- The Benefits of Brushing and Combing Your Beard
- When Should I Brush or Comb My Beard?
- Beard Brush vs. Comb — Which Do You Need?
What Is a Beard Comb?
A beard comb is a vital tool for grooming your facial hair. Like a brush, it helps to keep your beard clean and healthy, spreading sebum and beard oil across your face. It also aids in the styling process and can help to maintain the look of your mustache, too. The construction is simple, with only a body and teeth in various sizes. However, there are also folding beard combs available that utilize handles.
Teeth signify the main difference between a comb and brush for your beard. Their look, feel and function differ greatly from bristles. Beard combs can be made of wood, horn (like ox horn), plastic/synthetic material or metal. However, it's widely accepted by experts and beardsmen that wooden beard combs are the best beard combs to use since they are durable and less likely to snag and produce static.
What Is a Beard Brush?
A beard brush is just like an average hairbrush, but it's meant for beards. It is a tool used for beard care and grooming, helping men keep their beards soft, clean and healthy. It stimulates the skin to release natural oils, spreading them along with any beard oil you add. It consists of the following elements:
- Bristles — usually made of natural boar/horse hair or a synthetic material
- Body — either elongated, circular or rectangular; made of plastic/synthetic material or wood
- Handle — optional
The bristles are the distinguishing factor of a beard brush. Many experts recommend boar's hair beard brushes, or at least those with natural hair, because they can spread your body's sebum oil and any additional beard oil more effectively. However, there are quality synthetic options on the market for those who prefer to avoid using animal products — but avoiding those with hard, rough edges is crucial.
In terms of size, a thick, long beard typically needs a brush with longer, firmer bristles, while a short beard requires a brush with short, soft bristles.
Key Differences Between a Beard Comb vs. Brush
When comparing a beard brush vs. comb, as mentioned, the main difference comes down to bristles vs. teeth. This affects the two tools in the following ways:
- Look — Brushes are typically bulkier to accommodate the bristles, whereas combs tend to be smaller and easier to take on the go.
- Feel — Bristles and teeth feel very different on your face, with bristles feeling more like a stimulating scratch and teeth feeling more like a smooth massage.
- Function — The bristles of a brush are great for stimulating blood flow and the release of natural oils, while the teeth of a comb are primed for styling and detangling. (However, note that both can do all of these things; they're just a little more specialized.)
While both can help with trimming your beard, the difference between a comb and brush is that combs allow you to hold your hair in place precisely while you trim, whereas brushes can only make the hair stand up before trimming.
Brushes and combs are similar in that they offer numerous benefits for beard growth and care; they just have different specialties.
The Benefits of Brushing and Combing Your Beard
There are tons of benefits of brushing and combing your beard, so it is best to do both. In general, beard brushes and beard combs both help to clean your facial hair and keep it healthy.
Benefits of Brushing Your Beard
The benefits of brushing your beard include the following:
- Beard brushes stimulate your skin and hair follicles.
- Brushing encourages the release of natural sebum oil which conditions and moisturizes your beard.
- Brushes help distribute beard oil evenly.
- Brushing before trimming makes your beard hair stand up.
- Using a beard brush (especially one with natural animal hair) conditions and cleans, removing dirt from your hair, dead cells from your skin and more.
- Brushing regularly during your beard grooming routine helps train your hair to get the style you want.
Benefits of Combing Your Beard
We have discussed the significant benefits of combing a beard before, but let's review them, particularly those that differ from brushing:
- Beard combs are incredible for detangling your facial hair, and you can select one with teeth spaced appropriately for either a long beard (wide-tooth comb) or short beard (small- or medium-tooth comb).
- Combs distribute beard oil effectively.
- Combing a beard is great for precision styling, especially for longer beards.
- Beard combing prevents ingrown hairs.
- Beard combs help you trim your beard with scissors.
- You can use a beard comb on wet or damp hair if you like, whereas you should only use brushes on dry hair.
- You can take a beard comb anywhere (and even keep it in your pocket).
Once your beard has gotten to a certain length (about three inches or three months of beard growth), you really need to comb it every day.
When Should I Brush or Comb My Beard?
This question can be taken two ways: When do I need to brush or comb my beard based on its length, and what time should I brush or comb my beard? We'll do our best to cover both of these.
- You want to comb your beard after you take a shower or wash it, preferably while it's still damp but has air dried slightly — and after you've applied beard oil. This will let you detangle and style your beard, distributing the beard oil evenly.
- Brush your beard after combing it to finish the styling process while further spreading the beard oil and stimulating the skin underneath to allow for the continued release of natural oils.
- You should comb and brush your beard every day as part of your daily beard grooming routine, though you may do it more often based on preference and the length of your beard.
- If you have a short beard, use a brush and possibly a small- or medium-tooth comb.
- If you have a long beard, you need to use a wide-tooth comb.
- Brush your beard before trimming it to get the hairs to stand up, then use a comb for precision scissor trimming.
Beard Brush vs. Comb — Which Do You Need?
Some men want a definitive answer in the beard brush vs. beard comb debate, but the honest answer is that you need to use what's best for you — and that likely includes both tools. More specifically, you need to use a beard comb or brush that is made with the best materials — that means a durable wood body (and natural hair if you're getting a brush).
Both offer similar benefits for beard grooming, but to us, beard combs are essential, especially if you have a longer beard, while brushes are optional (but highly recommended).
Harness All the Benefits of Combing Your Beard With MEAN BEARD
So, you understand the difference between a comb and a brush for your beard. You've thoroughly compared a beard comb vs. brush. Now it's time to start reaping the benefits. Shop MEAN BEARD for combs and other beard care products today.
