Beard Curls Under Your Chin? (Grooming, Training, and Styling Fixes!)
Your beard is growing out and looking good with one exception – what is up with all of the curls under your chin?
Beard hairs curling under your chin are a common occurrence as short beard hairs tend to be curly. In this case, time will often straighten your beard out. Facial hair follicles come in different shapes and dispersion which can cause irregular hair growth and patterns. Genetics and ethnicity can also affect the curliness of your beard.
If you want to learn why under chin beard curls happen and some possible fixes, read on!
Why does your beard curl under your chin?
Snowflakes, fingerprints, beards – you’ll never find two that are exactly the same. It’s common and normal to have some beard curls in one place but not the other.
Beard hair often curls under your chin due to length, genetic growth patterns, variation of follicles, and ethnicity.
The most common reasons for under-your-chin beard curls are:
- Length – Short hairs are going to curl and do some crazy things. If you are only seeing a few curly hairs sprinkled in, chances are they are temporary and will straighten as they grow.
- Genetic growth patterns – Your genes are the primary indicator of your facial hair growth. If your ancestors have curly beard hairs, you probably will too.
- Variation of follicles – Facial hair follicles are a lot more varied in shape than scalp hair follicles. The flatter the follicle, the curlier the hair. Face follicles can be dispersed so that the hairs grow at funky angles, too which can add to the curl factor.
- Ethnicity – Just like genes, your ethnicity can affect your facial hair growth. Black or bi-racial men tend to have curlier beards than other races while men of Asian descent have straighter hair.
Beard curls to one side
It really shouldn’t surprise us to see some curls in our beard because facial hair is androgenic just like pubic hair. Yep, those beard hairs are basically the same as your hair down there.
Beards that curl to one side are caused by the shape of hair follicles on one side being flatter than those on the other side. Follicles on our face, groin, and underarms tend to be more irregularly shaped than those on our scalp.
Hair follicles on our face, groin, and underarms also have more sebaceous glands which produce pheromones (smell signals). The hair growing in these three places share very similar characteristics including curl.
Fun fact: The word “puberty” or “pubic” comes from the Latin term “pubertatum” meaning “age of maturity.” In a nutshell, any hair that appears at puberty is pubic hair.
Beard curling outward
We tend to spend most of our grooming time on our faces. This is what we first see when we look in the mirror and what the world sees. Because of this, sometimes we neglect the neck, under the chin area.
Beards that curl outward under the chin are commonly caused by the shape of the hair follicles. They can also be caused because of dryness and neglect of the area.
By now you understand the fickleness of facial hair follicles. Flatter, oval-shaped follicles produce curlier hairs than round ones. Unruly beard hairs under the chin can also be exacerbated by neglect.
Forgetting to trim, brush, or hydrate this area can negatively affect your beard’s appearance. Dead skin cells can clog hair follicles causing ingrown hairs or weird growth.
Take care of the under chin area just like you would the face.
Steps to stop your beard from curling under the chin
Since curly beard hair is normal, you may decide to embrace the curls which is an awesome choice. If the curls are keeping you from your beard goals, there are some steps you can take to stop your beard from curling under the chin.
There are both low maintenance and high maintenance steps you can take to stop your beard from curling under the chin. Training by brushing, blowing dry, applying hydrating and styling products, and using a heat straightener can minimize curls.
Follow these 4 steps to keep your beard from curling under the chin:
- Train with a brush – A natural bristle brush (such as boar or badger) is essential for taming your curly hairs. Short hairs can be trained to grow down in the desired direction as they grow longer. Brush the curly under-the-chin hairs every day for best results.
- Blow it straight – A blow dryer is a useful tool to have in your beard arsenal to straighten out beard curls. If you have the time, applying low heat while brushing the beard hairs straight and then setting with a cool shot of air can help you achieve straight beard goals.
- Apply styling products – Your lasting results are only as good as your styling products. After training and straightening, apply beard balm or wax to make sure the hairs keep their shape.
- Use a straightener – If all of the above steps still haven’t tamed the curly beast, you may want to try a beard straightener. This tool also uses heat but is paired with pressure and tension to straighten out curly hairs. Make sure to use as low a heat as possible to avoid burning your hair.
Trimming and grooming
If you grow a beard, you have to maintain it to keep it looking its best.
Trimming and grooming can disguise and minimize curly beard hair under the chin. Letting the hair grow and then keeping it trimmed and shaped up should be done regularly.
Let it grow
This grooming tip is a patience-tester.
Sometimes the best course of action is to wait. If the hairs are short, they will look curlier.
Waiting 4-6 weeks can make a world of difference in the look of your beard.
Trim and shape
Once you let your beard grow out awhile, it’s time for a trim and overall shape-up.
The first time you get a trim is a great time to yield to the professionals. A barber trained in beard grooming can give you some awesome tips.
If you have beard goals in mind, take a picture for inspiration. They can also give you product and styling tips to keep those pesky curls at bay.
Recommended beard trimmers
You may not want to see a professional every time your beard is up for a trim. Investing in a good beard trimmer set will allow you to maintain it yourself.
If you are aiming for a shorter style, this Wahl Lithium Ion trimmer is an excellent choice. One reviewer said he liked “the wider head much better for the neck area”.
If long hair is more your speed, this highly-rated Braun trimmer adjusts to trim short, medium, and long lengths with precision.
Washing and beard care
All beards have imperfections. Following a regular washing and beard care routine will deflect unwanted attention to these flaws.
Keeping a beard clean, hydrated, and moisturized can reduce the appearance of curly beard hair under the chin by softening the hair.
Soft, hydrated hair has less frizz and damage resulting in straighter hair shafts.
Beard washing
Cleaning your beard with a gentle cleanser free of chemicals provides a perfect canvas to work with.
There is a fine balance between keeping your beard clean and overwashing. Be careful not to strip the hair of its natural oils.
Use a botanically-based beard wash instead of a regular shampoo.
Hydrate and moisturize
Dry, broken-off hairs look curly and wild. Keeping your beard hydrated will help tame the hair so it lays down more easily.
A softening beard conditioner or beard oil can lock moisture in and make your beard appear more uniform all over.
Styling
If you are fighting with curls and unruly hair, the way you style your beard is just as important as the grooming process.
You can tame curly beard hair by embracing styling methods. Blow drying, applying styling products, and combing and shaping can work together to keep errant beard hair in its place.
Drying
Blow dryers aren’t just for the female camp.
Low heat paired with a boar bristle brush can train your curly hairs to grow down straight. A few minutes of blow-dry maintenance every day can move your beard in the desired direction of growth.
Users like this all-in-one heated straightening brush.
Balms, waxes, and styling products
Once you are finished blow-drying and brushing, it’s time to set the hairs in place.
Balms and waxes provide hold to your beard style. Beard balms contain a light hold while waxes provide a strong hold for extra-wild hairs.
Try out one of these for a great hold:
Apply the styling product and brush through for even results.
Combing and shaping
Especially if you have a longer beard style, combing and shaping is an important step.
Long hairs can become a tangled mess and look wiry and curly. A wide-toothed beard comb can loosen the tangles and shape your beard into the desired style.
