If I shave it could be trouble... But if it grows it could be double (in length). But also double trouble because I'd probably need some beard wax or something to keep it good. It's lookin' scraggly.
Needs tidying…
this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
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Take it down to 3/8 inch and square it up a bit. Let it grow out to a inch or.two and repeat.
I buzz mine once a month.
Trim it but keep beard
Are you shampooing and conditioning it? That may help with the scraggly look.
Tbh, wax is overkill.
The key to keeping a beard looking and feeling good is keeping it clean and well nourished.
Oils and balms offer a little help in that regard. Waxes are purely for shaping.
In your case, based solely on this one picture, it looks like you need to shape it a little take some of the length off, get it evened up, then start using a decent conditioner when you bathe. Avoid harsh shampoos, but you can use anything you'd use on your head hair in a pinch. A conditioner doesn't need to be one of the over priced beard products at all. I use Hask argan oil conditioner on mine after using the same sulfate free shampoo my buddy hooks me up with. He teaches cosmetology and just fills my bottles from his personal supply that he buys in bulk.
If you want to do more, you can. I use a beard specific "balm" that is a mix of oils with some wax if I'm dressing up and want a little control and shine. Any of them will do, just be aware that some of the scents used can be too strong. So you'll have to experiment. I use the brand I use because it's pretty much scent free, and has the right thickness for my preferences, not because it's magic or better than other options.
There's also oils. They provide a nice shine and softness. You can buy them, or make your own, or just slap on a little olive oil. Not even joking, it does the job just fine, doesn't smell much (if you get the light instead of evoo), and is cheaper per amount than the "fancier" stuff like jojoba, shea butter, or argan. Hell, a little cocoa butter can do fine in a pinch.
Only takes maybe at most a half teaspoon of oil for my entire beard, and mine is down to my chest, and is a full beard. Drops of oil would work for yours as it is in the pic.
Scraggly beards are scraggly because they're dry. Harsh shampoos strip too much oil out of the hair, and a lot of guys don't do anything to counter that. If you use a gentle shampoo, you don't even have to condition, it will be softer and healthier just from not being stripped. Doesn't even need to be done every time you bathe tbh. Every other is fine. But conditioners do make it feel softer for a while.
As to your title question, I say trim it neat and let it grow!