In Memory of Ben Affleck's Beard

Did Ben Affleck get tired of grooming his beard? The actor/director decided to celebrate his Oscar win with a clean shave, which to us seems like a waste of perfectly good facial hair!

The beard has been having a strong moment. At last Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, all the A-listers from George Clooney to Hugh Jackman pulled off magnificent specimens.
If you're lucky enough to have the density required to grow a full beard (unlike me), there are only a few rules to follow to keep it pretty.

Like the hair on top of your head, your beard must be washed and conditioned regularly to avoid nasty smells, dry skin flakes, and worst of all, bread crumbs. Beardley's Ultra Shampoo and Ultra Conditioner are specifically designed for beards ($10.98 each). The shampoo will leave your facial hair clean, and the conditioner will reduce puffiness and slim it down. For a light exfoliation, you can even rub the hair of your beard on your skin while you wash it.

To keep everything tidy, shape your beard with small scissors. Shorter styles can use an electric trimmer like the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler ($14.99, at Target). Make sure your look stays natural: Keep the hair long on the chin and jaw area, and slightly shorter under the jawline.

Once your beard is dry, comb it with a folding Kent Pocket Comb ($14, at Barber & Supply). You may want to add a drop of Tobacco Beard Oil by Portland General Store ($68 for 1oz; a little goes a long way) to add shine and fragrance to your foliage.

Finally, the more adventurous of you can attempt elaborate styling with Gold-Dach's Bartwichse Hungarian Moustache Wax ($28, 0.5oz), the same wax that Salvador Dali used on his famous whiskers. Not so difficult, right? I wonder what Ben Affleck's beard has to say about that.