IS THE BEARD TREND FINALLY OVER?

We've seen a great deal of beards popping up since the facial hair boom back in 2013, but is this grooming trend now coming to its inevitable end? Well, that's what the industry insiders seem to be saying. 

The beard has without doubt been the most popular grooming trend over the past few years, with facial hair styles shaping up the image of the industry. Beard growing has become so popular that facial hair care products have dwarfed shaving products by an incredible 3-1. The beard trend has also seen the dramatic rise in beard care brands, all aiming to cash in during this lucrative period, with beard oils, creams, shampoos and styling gels leading the way.

So, now that this trend has reached it peak, are we about to see a major decline in beards? The answer is yes, according to sources from the popular male grooming eRetailer, Your Next Remedy: 

"We saw an incredible rise in beard product sales at the end of 2013, which resulted in the dramatic decline in shaving product sales during the same period. Beard creams, oils and shampoos were outselling shaving products by more than three to one, which was pretty insane when you consider how popular our shaving products were. We also discovered a ridiculous amount of new beard brands popping up left, right and centre selling a bunch of beard oils and shampoos, trying to cash in on the trend while it was hot. Even the iconic Movember season was dwarfed by new bearded charity events such as Decembeard and No Shave November. But since early 2015, we've definitely seen a steady decline in beard care product sales, with shaving products on the up. Like all trends, everything comes to an end, and the beard is no exception." 

What started out as a unique look has now turned into a mass fashion trend, which even the most seasoned beard wearers are getting fed up of seeing. When it comes to style and fashion, there is one key factor that dictates how long a trend can last - When a trend gets too popular it loses its uniqueness, therefore expect to see the steady decline of the beard in the coming months.

It certainly was fun while it lasted!

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BEARD SEASON: BLACKLABEL BEARD COMPANY

With the continued rise in beards, it's no surprise that beard care is the fastest growing sector in the male grooming market.  With a wide array of beard oils, shampoos, soaps and conditioners making their way onto the market, The Male Grooming Review takes a look at a company that covers every aspect of the beard that you can think of - BlackLabel Beard Company.

Made in USA, BlackLabel Beard Company covers a wide range of beard care products that includes beard oils, beard balms, moustache wax, soaps, shaving products, bath and body, beard combs and brushes.  If you are currently wearing a beard, long or short, you can be sure BlackLabel Beard Company has it covered.  

BlackLabel Beard Company were kind enough to send us a few of their products via their UK seller Unique Men, to try out for review.  The products sent to us were: Black Tie Beard Oil, Citrus Blend Beard Oil, Nude Beard Oil, Beardface Beard Oil, Conditioning Beard Balm.  All these products are made from 100% natural ingredients, which is always a great thing when you consider you are using these formulas against your skin.

The Conditioning Beard Balm is without one of the best beard balms you will come across.  The unscented formula is thick and grainy in texture and applies exceptionally well into the facial hair.  The problem with most beard balms is that they tend to be a little sticky in texture and overpowering in scent, but BlackLabel Beard Company Conditioning Beard Balm stands out from the conventional beard balm.  If you're looking to shape, thicken and texturise your beard, then this beard balm is definitely worth a try.

The great thing about BlackLabel Beard Company is that as a customer, you are able to choose a selection of sample beard oils of your choice in order to get a clearer idea of what scent most tickles your fancy.  This is especially convenient as BlackLabel Beard Company do have a rather large range of beard oils to pick from.  

The naturally formulated beard oils are also very impressive.  The Black Tie Beard Oil is not dissimilar to a classy cologne, leaving your face feeling and smelling a notch or two up from your usual standards - it's a great beard oil to wear on a night out.  The Citrus Blend Beard Oil is pretty similar to the Tea Tree Beard Oil that you can also find in this collection, but slightly more subtle - If you're into your sweeter scented beard oils then this could be the right one for you.  Nude Beard Oil is an unscented formula which is great for men looking to purely condition their facial hair without any scented formula.  Beardface Beard Oil has a very strong minty, zesty scent to it.  If you're keen on refreshing toothpaste/mouthwash type scents then this is the beard oil for you to try.

All BlackLabel Beard Company beard oils are fine in quality and excellent in texture.  If you're looking for a good range of beard oils to try out on your fuzz this beard season, then get on over to BlackLabel Beard Company today and find yourself a gem.

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BEARDBRAND: STYLE FOR THE MODERN BEARDSMAN

There have been quite a few facial hair product/brand reviews and features in The Male Grooming Review this year, therefore this latest beard care instalment will be the last for a while.  So, let's get straight to our latest beard care discovery - Beardbrand.  

Based in the beautiful north western state of Washington, Beardbrand is an exceptional facial hair care range of products that mixes modern style with a classic twist. 

The dapper beardsman begins with beard care products. Beard oil softens the beard, gives it a nice shine, and makes it smell delightful. Mustache wax will help style your mustache; while soaps, combs, and brushes help keep your beard looking fresh and neat. Beardbrand is the leader in beard grooming products and carries only the best.

Beardbrand kindly sent me two of their leading products to feature in The Male Grooming Review - I was impressed, to say the least!  Luckily, I happen to be sporting a fairly decent beard at the moment, which will be my last beard phase until the colder months kick in later this year.  The Beardbrand products that were sent to me are:  The Tea Tree Beard Oil and the Tea Tree Mustache Wax.

Cultivated by months of research and made with only the finest natural blends of oils, this is the best beard oil on the market.  The Beardbrand beard oil is designed to be very lightweight and will help keep your beard conditioned and shiny. Because it's a lightweight blend, it won't weigh down your beard or feel greasy. The only thing left behind is the intoxicating fragrance.

The Tea Tree blend is the most crisp and fresh-smelling blend. Imagine living on a Swiss mountaintop and taking a step outside into the brisk morning air. Breathe in that air and you will experience the same feeling as this fragrance. A very cool, clean, and crisp scent that you can wear any day.

I have to say, along with the exceptional J. Nicholas Lime Beard Oil, Beardbrand Tea Tree Beard Oil is one of the nicest smelling beard oils I have come across.  It's refreshing and it applies wonderfully onto the facial hair due to its smooth texture and grease free formulation.  I absolutely love how this beard oil comes packaged in an attractive mini amber hip flask, giving it that added vintage look and feel.

Look, mustache wax is good for nothing unless you have easy access to it. This pocketable tube is filled with only all natural awesome ingredients. Y'all know what beeswax and jojoba oil is, but for those who don't know what lanolin is - it's pretty much wool juice. They squeeze the shaven hair from sheep and out comes this magical waxy substance called lanolin. It's quite expensive, but I'd much rather put that near my whiskers than petroleum jelly. From one hair to another.

This mustache wax is a medium hold and is perfect for a natural style or even a handlebar mustache. The scent matches the Tea Tree Beard Oil and has a nice subtle aroma. Scrape off a bit of wax with your thumbnail and warm between fingers (It's also easier if you keep it warm in your pants pocket). Once the wax has been warmed, apply it to mustache and be awesome.

Again, I absolutely love the scent and the packaging of this product.  The tube offers something a little different and functional from the conventional 'in a jar' waxes that you'll commonly find on the market.  The texture of this wax is perfect - not too stiff and not too soft, allowing for easy application and minimum fuss.

Beardbrand also offer a further range of handy beard care products including shaving soaps, scissors, combs, beard softeners and other variations of oils and waxes.  To find out more about Beardbrand, you can visit their official website: www.Beardbrand.com 

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GET INVOLVED: NO SHAVE NOVEMBER

WHAT IS NO SHAVE NOVEMBER?

Like our beards, No Shave November continues to grow! What began as a light-hearted wager among co-workers at Warner Music Nashville is now an annual event engaging Music Row, County Radio, and individuals across the nation. In its first two years, No Shave November raised more than $175,000 for the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Our 2013 goal is to raise more than $150,000.  3rd Annual No Shave November: to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

ABOUT THE EVENT

With a $30 donation, good-hearted, clean-shaven individuals can register to enter the challenge. It begins with a date-stamped "before" picture posted on the event Facebook page and ends with a wild and wooly "after" shot. At the annual Beard Bash in Nashville, prizes are awarded and a No Shave November is crowned.

KEY LINKS

Bearditon's home website
St. Jude registration site

If you're based in the UK or throughout Europe, then why not take part anyway? It's for a great cause, and if you're lucky Beardition may send out a tweet of your beard.



UK Supplier of Beardition facial hair products: Your Next Remedy

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ENHANCE YOUR BEARDLINESS WITH BEARDITION

There is no doubt about it, beard care products is one of the fastest growing sectors within the male grooming industry. Why is this, you may ask? Well, it's simple - beards have never had as much appeal as they do now.

The simple fact of the matter is, they just look bloody good! The most popular product of beard conditioning is the classic beard oil - a form of which you can find in a growing number of mens skincare and hair care brands.

But, what many bearded gurus have failed to realise is that there is in actual fact far a more diverse range of products out there that are specifically formulated to condition your facial hair, helping to keep it in the best possible shape.

I managed to get my hands on the exciting new beard product range, Beardition. Beardition is the home of an all natural men's facial hair products company based in the mighty USA - the kings of awesome looking beards!

Beardition owners Mark Williams and Kristin Schleihs, officially launched this innovative new beard product range in November 2012. I have to say, from first impressions, I was simply blown away by the constructive thought behind each and every product, along with the efficient execution within this versatile brand. 

I had no idea looking after your beard could be so complex, yet enjoyable at the same time!

A passion for beards: Mark Williams and Kristin Schleihs

The full Beardition range consists of five main products - each one specifically formulated to enhance and condition your facial hair as part of a regular beard grooming routine.

With the help of my trusted bearded friend (his beard is so impressive you'll wish yours was half as good as his), we dipped straight into the Beardition collection and got to work...

First up..... The Really Good Beard Shampoo

'In need of a little bearditioning? Our really good shampoo and even better conditioner are sure to enhance your beardliness. Trust us, we know beards. Does wonders for the hair on top of your head too.'

There are actually a number of beard shampoos scattered around the market, so it's just a case of finding the right one that works best for you. Beardition Beard Shampoo is definitely up there with the best I've tried. This formula is so good that you can even use it effectively on your head hair!

First and foremost, I always want a shampoo to contain a consistent texture, along with the ability to cleanse the hair properly. A decent scent in a shampoo is always an added bonus and Beardition Beard Shampoo certainly ticks all these boxes. This naturally made shampoo has a stunning scent to it that gives you that refreshing, cleansed feeling above any other product of its kind.

What a great opening to the brand - We just can't wait to try the others...

Next up it's..... The Even Better Beard Conditioner

A good beard conditioner is actually harder to find than you may think.

Beardition Beard Conditioner is a great beard conditioner that compliments the Beardition Shampoo. For those of you looking to take that extra step in beard maintenance, this terrific conditioner is a vital addition to the grooming cabinet.

Again, the scent of this stuff is just so refreshing and the texture is soothing and penetrates well into the hair, whilst helping to look after the skin. This excellent formula helps to soften and condition the beard, prepping it up for the finer details of beard maintenance, still to come.

Now it's time for..... The Styling & Profiling Shave Cream

'Magical. Highly concentrated, a little goes a long way...'

ORDER HERE

It's back to basics with this next product, but with a slight twist. Beardition have added the very necessary Styling & Profiling Shave Cream into the mix. If you're a beard brand that wants to cover every aspect of beard grooming, then a good shave cream is a vital addition to any worthy facial hair range.

Again, like with the previous two products mentioned, this shave cream has an excellent soft texture to it with a highly invigorating scent. The key to any successful brand is the consistency throughout each and every product, which Beardition does well to execute.

The texture is so advanced that you can actually shape and style your beard as you shave. This formula feels great on the skin and leaves you feeling refreshed after a good shaving session. Beardition Styling & Profiling Shave Cream is the perfect solution for beard sculpting and shaping.

Are you ready for.... The Legitimately cool after shave...

'Who doesn't like a bit of cool relief after a good ole shave? Well, the name speaks for itself.'

I just love, love, love this after shave! This liquid substance is just perfect for that refreshing feeling you crave for after a wet razor shave.

Whether you can grow a beard or not, I would highly recommend Beardition After Shave to anyone that wet shaves. This soothing, insanely refreshing after shave formula helps to cool and calm the skin after the vigorous effects of razor shaving.

Again, the smell of this winning after shave is enough to want to make you stock a years supply at a time. It stays consistent and true to the rest of the Beardition brand.

And finally.... The Soft & Sweet Beard Oil

'The anti-frizz of the beard world. Tame those crazy fly-aways before you head out the door and on your way. Concentrated, a little goes a long way.'

Beardition Beard Oil is another fantastic addition to this very impressive collection of facial hair grooming products.

I'm actually a big fan of beard oils, and with so many available on the market, there are quite a few that have impressed me. Beardition Beard Oil is up there with the best of them. The texture of this oil is of perfect consistency and of course the scent stays consistent with the other products within this brand - with a slight sweet, zesty twist.

After shampooing and conditioning the beard, Beardition Beard Oil is the perfectly substance to use on the facial hair in helping you achieve a healthier looking beard. If you want a simple cure for the irritating itchiness that comes with growing a full on beard, then Beardition Beard Oil is most definitely for you.

Surprisingly, it also works well on eye brows, but just make sure you don't get any in your eyes.

BEARDITION: THE BRANDING

Coming from an advertising and branding background, I have to say the Beardition branding is absolutely spot on! The products are all beautifully labelled in a very simple yet effective format. The logo is potentially iconic and I just love the varying colours with each and every product - a nice little touch.

Beardition, as a brand, comes across as fun, quirky, cool and totally passionate about the ever growing popularity of facial hair grooming.

I would certainly be proud to display this awesome range of products on my very prestigious bathroom shelf!

For more information on Beardition - you can visit the official Beardition Website here - www.beardition.com 

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