Beards come in all shapes and sizes, from the Bondi Lumberjack to the tailored, trimmed and tidy. Some beards are so powerful they’ve been known to bring instant gratification, and even men to their knees.
“With great beard, comes great responsibility” – Uncle Ben ( well that’s what he meant to say anyway)
The one thing all beards have in common though is the need for care and maintenance. Christmas Day bauble styling is one thing, but no one wants to deal with a scene that looks like the Manger on Boxing Day. To keep beards looking their best, a whole beard care industry has sprung up in recent years, and we decided to try Aussie rising star The Bearded Chap.
For the complete Bearded Chap experience we picked up the Brawny Original Beard Wash and Original Beard Balm for daily use, and the Original Beard Oil for weekly use.
Popping open the Brawny Original Beard Wash was the first joy. Made with Lemongrass, Australian Sandal Wood and Himalayan Cedar Wood the beautiful scent has an unexpected calming quality, and I can’t help but smile every morning because of it. Made from 100% natural ingredients the foam is light, and the mix of ingredients creates a Lemon Myrtle scent that reminds me of the Australian bush and leaves you feeling clean, fresh… and wanting longer showers to savour the moment. It’s recommended to use daily and with a start like that, you’ll want to.
The Bearded Chap says it’s a “bloody good beard wash”, and yeah, it bloody well is.
Styling my beard using the Original Beard Balm was easily incorporated into my morning, and night out, ritual. The colour of bees wax and made with madagascan clove and hemp seed oil, the scent is ( i’ll admit satisfyingly) a little like you’ve just rolled a quality blunt, and is surprisingly strong. It doesn’t linger though, so there’s no risk of being added to the HR watch list or hit up on the street by strangers looking for a sneaky $50.
Handcrafted in small batches, the Beard Balm has the same calming vibe as the Beard Wash, adds a beautiful, lasting shine and nourishes your beard through the day with its all natural ingredients. Styled and looking sharp while rocking a chilled vibe, that’s a great start to the day.
I added the weekly Original Beard Oil treatment to my bedtime skin care routine. The oil is light and lightly scented with a citrus twist, and I have to say that my beard has felt much softer and healthier over the last month. Tested over a few different lengths my beard is also easier to manage and, as an added bonus, I don’t get that 4-5 day beard growth itch any more.
I also tried the newest product in the range, their Roll on Deodorant . Roll On’s are not my usual choice but, with a quality as high as the beard products, I stayed Lemon Myrtle fresh through morning gym sweat and dance floor nights. It definitely gave my usual deodorant some tough competition.
I’ll be honest, until now I’ve thought that Beard Care was just hipster sorcery, but occasionally I’m proven wrong, and even I’m ok with that this time. With the right products Beard Care is actually a real thing, with actual benefits that you start feeling, and seeing, fairly quickly. The Bearded Chap now has a permanent place in my skin care routine.
If you’ve never had a beard care routine, or even want to try something new, The Bearded Chap have a wide range of beard and body care products that, from packaging to quality, stand out from the crowd. The range of scents maybe small, but they are uniquely Australian, genuinely bespoke, and ridiculously satisfying.
Launched in 2013, this surprising brand from Brisbane Australia is one to watch, and one to try. And as the ancient proverb goes “Good beard game brings all the boys to yard,” so who wouldn’t want to be a Bearded Chap?
