Beard Care for Men Over 40: What Changes and What to Do About It

A beard over 40 is a different beast to the one you grew at 25. The hair gets coarser, the greys come through, and the skin underneath tends to run drier. None of that is a problem. It just means your routine needs a few tweaks.

Our founder is over 50 himself, so this one's written from experience.

What changes

• Coarser hair. Beard hair often gets thicker and more wiry with age, especially the greys. It tangles more and can stick out in all directions.
• Drier skin. The skin under your beard generally gets drier as you get older, which means more itch and flakes if you don't look after it.
• Greys. Grey and white hairs often have a different texture to the rest of your beard and can look rougher.

How to adjust your routine

1. Go gentler on washing

Skip regular shampoo and soap. Use a sulfate-free wash like Eleven Mile 3 to 4 times a week, with lukewarm water. It's made for the beard and the skin underneath.

2. Oil every day, no exceptions

Daily Iron Beard Oil softens coarse hair and stops the skin drying out. Work it into the skin first, then through the beard.

3. Add a butter

For coarse or wiry beards, Iron Beard Butter gives deeper conditioning than oil alone. Use it after a shower or at night, a few times a week, or every day if your beard needs it.

4. Brush to tame the strays

A boar bristle brush spreads the oil and trains wiry hairs to sit flat. Use it every morning.

5. Keep it trimmed

A neat, well-shaped beard looks sharp at any age. Tidy the neckline and cheeks regularly, and trim off the odd wild grey that won't behave.

Wear the grey with pride

A well-kept grey beard looks distinguished. A neglected one looks old. The difference is a two-minute routine. Start with the Starter Kit, or go the Complete Kit for the full routine. Free shipping Australia-wide.