I had to learn this tip for myself recently. I decided I wanted to let my beard grow out a little beyond the “5 o’clock shadow” length.
Shortly after my beard started growing, it started feeling like a million cactus spikes were unmercifully jabbing into my face. My skin got irritated. I broke out in acne. One day was so aggravating I went home from the office as mad as a pit bull. So I lowered the notch on my shaver and went back to the former length.
My barber said this was common with all men who grow out their beards. He explained how the hair curles to the point where the ends turn inward on the face and jab into the skin. Only when the curl has gone “full circle” will the jabbing stop. But how to make it through the irritation of that “cactus spike” phase without losing your mind?
“Put some baby oil on it for exactly one week” my barber said. Shampoo and condition it and immediately after drying off your face, rub some baby oil on it. The hair will absorb the oil and your face will be a bit slick, which won’t allow it to get a foothold as it pokes. After a week, the curl should be complete and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.
Turns out, he was right. The baby oil worked great. No break outs, no “fire-face”.
