Maintaining a beard: the skin matters as much as the hair

Under a full beard the skin gets washed without being hydrated and rubbed without being soothed. Hence the first-month itching and the fine flaking.

Gentle cleansing, then a light moisturiser applied at the hair root, resolves most cases.

It is the thinnest, most mobile area: it tolerates an aggressive blade poorly. A blade designed to follow curves noticeably reduces nicks.

Setting the line too high ages the face; placing it just above the Adam's apple gives a natural result in nearly every case.

Edges every three to four days, length every two to three weeks. Trimming the length too often stops a beard evening out.

After each session, an alcohol-free soother prevents next-day redness, particularly on sensitive skin.