Best Products for a Daily Beard Care Routine

What you put on your face matters. Many grooming products are packed with cheap fillers and harsh chemicals that can leave your skin irritated and your beard feeling like straw. A truly great beard starts with high-performance ingredients that nourish from the source. The key is to focus on the health of the skin underneath, which is the foundation for everything. When you use formulas built on nutrient-rich, natural ingredients, you’re not just styling your beard; you’re actively making it healthier. We’ll show you how to build a regimen around quality, explaining why the best products for beard care routine are always the ones with ingredients that actually work.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on your skin first to stop itch: Beard itch and flakes are almost always skin problems, not hair problems. Applying a quality beard oil every day is the single best way to moisturize the skin underneath your beard and create a healthy foundation for growth.
• Use oil for skin and balm for hair: These two products have different jobs. Beard oil is a lightweight moisturizer designed to reach the skin and prevent dryness. Beard balm is a thicker conditioner that seals in moisture, tames flyaways, and provides a light hold for styling the hair itself.
• Build a simple, consistent routine: A great beard doesn't require a complicated process. The best results come from a consistent morning and evening routine using products with high-performance, natural ingredients that cleanse, hydrate, and protect without causing irritation.

Build Your Ultimate Daily Beard Care Routine

A great beard doesn’t just happen. It takes a consistent routine to keep it healthy, soft, and looking sharp. But it doesn't have to be complicated. Getting the fundamentals right is all it takes to stop the itch, tame stray hairs, and grow a beard you’re proud of. Here are the essential steps for building a daily regimen that actually works.

Start with a Proper Cleanse

Begin your routine by washing your beard two to three times a week. Regular shampoo and body wash are too harsh, stripping away the natural oils that keep your beard and skin healthy. A dedicated beard wash cleans away dirt, grime, and old product without causing dryness or irritation. Our tallow-based face and beard washes are formulated to cleanse effectively while nourishing the skin underneath, setting the perfect foundation for the rest of your routine.

Hydrate the Skin and Hair Daily

After washing (and on your off days), the next step is hydration. This is non-negotiable for stopping beard itch. Apply a few drops of beard oil daily to moisturize the skin beneath your beard, which is where dryness and flakiness start. Working the oil through your beard also softens the hair and gives it a healthy, clean shine. A high-performance beard oil is the single best tool for keeping your beard comfortable and looking its best.

Lock in Moisture and Add Control

While oil targets the skin, balm is for the beard itself. Beard balm is thicker, designed to deeply condition the hair, lock in moisture, and provide enough hold to tame flyaways and shape your beard. Use it daily after applying oil or whenever your beard feels unruly. Our nourishing beard balms are packed with beef tallow to soften coarse hairs and give you control without feeling stiff or greasy.

Detangle and Train Your Beard

Combing or brushing your beard every day is a simple step with big payoffs. It prevents tangles, exfoliates the skin underneath, and evenly distributes the natural oils (and the products you just applied). Over time, daily combing also helps train your beard hairs to grow in the direction you want, leading to a neater, more uniform shape. A quality wooden comb or a boar bristle brush works best for this.

Maintain the Shape with Regular Trims

Finally, keep your beard looking intentional with regular trims. Depending on how fast your hair grows, a light trim every week or two will maintain your desired shape and get rid of any split ends. This doesn't have to be a major reshaping every time. Just a quick cleanup of the neckline, cheek lines, and stray hairs makes a huge difference in keeping your beard looking sharp and well-maintained.

Why Choose DALYSMOOTH for Your Beard Care?

Finding the right beard care comes down to three things: effective ingredients, trustworthy quality, and a routine you actually enjoy. DALYSMOOTH is built on these principles, offering straightforward products that deliver real results without the fuss. If you’re looking for a simple way to get a healthier, better-looking beard, here’s why this is a great place to start.

Nourish with Nutrient-Rich Beef Tallow

Let’s talk about the powerhouse ingredient you might be missing: beef tallow. DALYSMOOTH uses premium, nutrient-rich tallow because it’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K. These are the essential building blocks for healthy skin and hair. This single ingredient works to deeply moisturize your beard and, just as importantly, the skin underneath it. By tackling dryness at the source, you can finally say goodbye to that frustrating itch and flakiness. It’s a traditional approach to grooming, backed by simple, effective nourishment that you can learn more about in the brand’s story.

Get Quality You Can Trust with USA-Made Formulas

Knowing where your products come from matters, especially for something you use on your face every day. All DALYSMOOTH formulas are proudly made in the USA, which means they meet high standards for quality and safety. This commitment ensures that every ingredient is responsibly sourced and every batch is crafted with care. You can feel confident that you’re using clean, effective products designed for performance. When you’re ready to build a routine you can rely on, you can explore the full line of DALYSMOOTH products and see the quality for yourself.

Find a Signature Scent That Fits Your Style

Your grooming routine should feel like your own, and scent plays a huge role in that. DALYSMOOTH offers a range of signature scents designed to match your personal style, without being overpowering. Whether you prefer something clean and fresh for the morning or something warm and rich for the evening, there’s an option for you. For a crisp, invigorating scent, check out the First Tee Smooth Set. If you lean toward a classic, woodsy aroma, the Sandalwood Bourbon Smooth Set is a perfect fit. Finding your signature scent makes the daily routine something to look forward to.

Start with Beard Oil to Stop Itch and Dryness

If you’re going to use just one product on your beard, make it a high-quality beard oil. Think of it as the foundation of your entire routine. While many guys focus on the hair itself, the real work starts with the skin underneath. An itchy, flaky beard isn’t a beard problem; it’s a skin problem. Beard oil is designed to target the source, delivering moisture directly to your skin to keep it healthy, hydrated, and comfortable.

A good oil does more than just stop the itch. It softens coarse whiskers, gives your beard a healthy sheen without looking greasy, and makes it much more manageable. By creating a better environment for growth, it helps your beard look and feel its best. Whether you’re just starting your journey or you’re a seasoned pro, incorporating a beard oil from one of our curated collections is the single most effective step you can take for a better beard.

How to Prevent Itchiness at the Source

That persistent itch, especially in the early stages of growth, is usually your skin crying out for moisture. Your beard hair wicks away the natural oils from your skin, leaving it dry, tight, and irritated. This is what leads to "beardruff" and that constant urge to scratch. As one bearded veteran on Reddit put it, "Beard oil is very important. It helps keep the skin under your beard from getting dry, itchy, or flaky."

The key is to replenish that lost moisture. Applying beard oil daily gets right to the skin, delivering the hydration needed to calm irritation and stop flaking. It creates a protective barrier that keeps your skin nourished all day long. Using a complete system like the First Tee Smooth Set ensures both your beard and the skin beneath it get the consistent care they need.

Understand Why Natural Ingredients Matter

What you put on your face matters. Many mass-market grooming products are loaded with silicones, parabens, and synthetic fragrances that can irritate the skin and clog pores, making dryness and itchiness even worse. Natural ingredients, on the other hand, work in harmony with your body. Our commitment to clean formulas is built on this principle.

High-performance oils and butters are packed with vitamins and fatty acids that your skin and hair recognize and absorb easily. Nutrient-dense beef tallow, for example, is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. When you choose products made with thoughtfully sourced, natural ingredients, you’re not just styling your beard; you’re actively nourishing it for better long-term health.

What to Look for in a High-Performance Beard Oil

Not all beard oils are created equal. The secret to a great formula lies in its carrier oils, which make up the bulk of the product. You want to look for oils that closely mimic your skin’s natural sebum, like jojoba and argan oil. Other powerhouse ingredients include castor oil, which promotes thickness, and almond oil for its softening properties. A good oil should absorb quickly without leaving a greasy residue.

When you’re checking the label, look for a blend of these effective oils. For example, The Full Swing Bundle features products formulated with a precise combination of premium ingredients designed to deliver moisture and nutrients where you need them most. Avoid oils that list generic "fragrance" or mineral oil, as these can be irritating and offer no real benefits for your skin or beard.

Use Beard Balm to Shape, Style, and Nourish

Once you’ve addressed the skin under your beard with a quality oil, it’s time to focus on the hair itself. This is where beard balm comes in. Think of it as the ultimate styling product that also doubles as a leave-in conditioner. A great balm tames stray hairs, helps you shape your beard into a clean style, and locks in moisture to keep it looking healthy and sharp all day long. It’s the key to turning a decent beard into a great one.

Know the Difference: Beard Oil vs. Balm

It’s easy to get beard oil and balm confused, but they have very different jobs. Beard oil is all about the skin. Its main purpose is to moisturize the skin beneath your beard, preventing the itchiness and flakes that can drive you crazy. It keeps the foundation of your beard healthy.

Beard balm, on the other hand, is designed for your beard hair. It’s thicker than oil because it contains ingredients like beef tallow and beeswax, which provide a light hold for styling. While it offers some nourishing benefits, its primary role is to give your beard shape, control flyaways, and seal in moisture. Our First Tee Smooth Set includes both, giving you the perfect one-two punch for skin and hair health.

Decide When to Use Balm or Oil in Your Routine

For the best results, you’ll want to use both oil and balm in your daily routine. The order matters. Always apply beard oil first, preferably right after a warm shower when your pores are open. Work it deep into your beard to make sure it reaches the skin underneath. Give it a minute or two to absorb.

Then, it’s time for the balm. Scoop a small amount out, warm it between your palms until it melts, and then work it through your beard. Use your hands or a comb to style your beard into your desired shape. The balm will tame unruly hairs and provide a light hold that lasts all day. This simple sequence is the foundation of a solid grooming routine.

Find the Right Balm for Your Desired Hold

Not all beard balms are created equal. The level of hold depends on the formula, particularly the amount of wax in it. You want a balm that offers enough control to shape your beard without leaving it feeling stiff, heavy, or greasy. The goal is a natural look that holds its shape.

A high-performance balm should also nourish your beard. Our balms are formulated with a premium beef tallow base, which is rich in vitamins that soften and strengthen beard hair while providing a flexible, lasting hold. When you’re looking at different products, always check the ingredients to make sure you’re getting something that styles and conditions at the same time.

Find the Right Beard Wash for a Better Clean

Keeping your beard clean is fundamental, but the product you use makes all the difference. The skin on your face is more sensitive than your scalp, and your beard hair is coarser than the hair on your head. Grabbing whatever shampoo is in the shower might seem convenient, but it can create more problems than it solves, from irritating the skin underneath to leaving your beard feeling like straw. A dedicated beard wash is designed to handle the unique needs of your beard and face, cleaning away grime without stripping away essential moisture. It’s the first real step toward a healthier, more comfortable beard.

Learn Why Regular Shampoo Damages Your Beard

You wouldn’t wash a leather jacket with laundry detergent, so why use harsh hair shampoo on your beard? Most regular shampoos are formulated with strong detergents, like sulfates, designed to deep clean your scalp, which produces a lot of oil. When used on your face, these ingredients strip away the natural oils that keep your beard and skin hydrated. As one beard care guide notes, "Regular shampoo can be too harsh and dry it out." This leads to that dreaded beard itch, flaky skin (beardruff), and brittle hair that’s prone to breakage. A proper beard wash is gentler and pH-balanced for your face, ensuring a clean that supports skin health instead of undermining it.

Discover the Benefits of a Tallow-Based Wash

For a wash that cleans and deeply nourishes, look for formulas built around high-quality, natural ingredients. A tallow-based wash is a game-changer because beef tallow is uniquely compatible with our skin. It’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, and its fatty acid profile closely mimics our skin’s natural oils. This means that while it’s cleansing your beard, it’s also delivering vital nutrients that moisturize the skin and soften the hair. Instead of stripping moisture, it replenishes it, helping to fortify your skin barrier. The Daly Clean Collection features a tallow-based wash that leaves your beard feeling clean, soft, and healthy, not tight and dry.

What to Look for in a Gentle, Effective Formula

A great beard wash should be both gentle and effective. The key is to find a formula that cleans thoroughly without causing irritation. As grooming experts suggest, you should wash your beard "2-3 times a week (or more if it gets dirty) with a sulfate-free beard wash." Sulfates are harsh detergents that create a big lather but can leave your skin and beard feeling parched. Instead, look for cleansers made with natural, nourishing ingredients that support hydration. A formula that’s free of parabens and synthetic chemicals is always a better choice for the sensitive skin on your face. This approach ensures you’re removing dirt and buildup while protecting your beard’s natural strength and softness.

Add Conditioner and Butter for Softer Hair

Once you’ve nailed your cleansing and oiling routine, you might think you’re all set. But if you’re chasing next-level softness and a beard that feels as good as it looks, it’s time to bring in the heavy hitters: conditioners and butters. Think of beard oil as your daily moisturizer; conditioners and butters are the deep-conditioning treatments that repair, protect, and soften your beard hair from the inside out. They work to seal in moisture, tame unruly flyaways, and provide a healthy, subtle sheen that looks natural, not greasy.

Using the right products makes a huge difference in your beard care, especially when it comes to preventing breakage and maintaining a healthy texture. While a dedicated beard conditioner is great for in-shower use, a high-quality beard balm can pull double duty. It not only styles your beard but also delivers nourishing ingredients that condition the hair all day long. This step is what separates a decent beard from a truly great one, giving you that final touch of polish and control.

Protect Your Beard from Daily Damage

Your beard puts up with a lot. From harsh weather and sun exposure to you just stroking it while you think, it’s constantly facing potential damage. This daily wear and tear can lead to split ends, breakage, and a coarse, wiry texture. A conditioning product acts like a protective shield for your hair follicles. It smooths the hair cuticle, which locks in moisture and reduces friction between strands. This simple step makes your beard more resilient and less prone to damage over time. By incorporating a nourishing balm from a collection like the Sandalwood Bourbon Smooth Set, you’re not just styling; you’re actively defending your beard.

Know When to Add Beard Butter to Your Routine

So, where does a beard butter or balm fit into your daily lineup? Think of it as the final step in your grooming process. After you’ve washed your face and applied beard oil to the skin underneath, a balm comes in to handle the hair itself. Its thicker consistency is perfect for taming flyaways and giving your beard a bit of shape without the stiffness of a wax. A good balm makes your beard incredibly soft and helps you style it. Use it in the morning to set your look for the day, or apply a small amount before bed to let it work its conditioning magic overnight.

Choose a Conditioner That Deeply Nourishes

When you’re looking for a product to soften your beard, the ingredients are everything. You want formulas packed with natural moisturizers that won’t just sit on top of the hair. This is where nutrient-dense ingredients like beef tallow truly shine. Tallow is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for healthy hair and skin. It mimics your skin’s natural oils, allowing it to absorb deeply and provide lasting hydration. Using a tallow-based wash and balm from The Daly Clean Collection ensures you’re conditioning your beard with every step, leaving it soft, manageable, and free from breakage.

What Does a Premium Beard Care Routine Cost?

Investing in a high-performance beard care routine is one of the best things you can do for your beard and the skin underneath. But "premium" doesn't have to mean overpriced. When you know what to look for, you can build an incredible routine that delivers serious results without draining your wallet. It’s all about understanding typical costs, finding great value, and choosing products that work as hard as you do. A quality routine is an investment in your confidence, and like any smart investment, it’s worth knowing the landscape before you jump in. Let’s break down what you can expect to spend and how to make every dollar count.

A Look at Typical Product Prices

When you’re just starting out, looking at grooming kits can give you a good idea of typical costs. You'll often find basic sets priced between $25 and $40. For example, you can find a range of beard care deals at major retailers that fall into this price bracket. While these can be a good entry point, premium, single-purchase products are often formulated with higher-quality ingredients that deliver more noticeable results. It's about balancing initial cost with the long-term benefits for your beard's health and appearance.

How to Get the Best Value from Your Products

Getting the most from your investment is about shopping smart. Always keep an eye out for promotions and special offers. Many brands will offer a discount for first-time customers, and signing up for their email or text list is the best way to stay in the loop. Seasonal sales are another great time to stock up. It’s not uncommon to find significant price drops on full kits, which can make premium care incredibly affordable. A little patience and planning can really pay off, allowing you to use top-tier products without paying top-tier prices.

Why Bundles Like The Full Swing Save You Money

One of the easiest ways to save money while building a complete routine is to go with a bundle. Buying products together in a curated set is almost always more cost-effective than purchasing each item separately. This is exactly why we created collections like The Full Swing Bundle. It gives you our powerhouse tallow-based wash, balm, and oil, covering all your bases for a healthy, great-looking beard at a better price. Beyond bundles, it’s also smart to check out a brand’s sales section. Some companies have a dedicated beard care clearance page where you can find excellent deals on seasonal products.

What Are Guys Saying About Their New Routines?

You don’t have to take our word for it. Across forums and reviews, guys are sharing how switching to high-performance grooming products has completely changed their beard game. From finally kicking beard itch to achieving the perfect shape, the right routine makes a real, visible difference. It’s not about adding complicated steps; it’s about using better ingredients that actually work. The consensus is clear: quality products solve the most common beard frustrations, turning daily maintenance from a chore into a satisfying ritual.

This shift is about more than just looking good. It’s about feeling confident and in control of your appearance. When your beard is healthy, soft, and styled the way you want, it shows. The community of men dedicated to proper beard care is growing, and they’re vocal about what works. They’re tired of products that overpromise and underdeliver. Instead, they’re seeking out straightforward, effective formulas that address the root causes of their grooming issues, from dry skin to unruly hair. Let’s look at what guys are saying about the core components of a solid beard care routine.

Real Feedback on High-Performance Beard Oils

One of the most consistent pieces of advice you'll find is to never skip the beard oil. It’s the foundation of a healthy beard. As one user puts it, "Beard oil is very important. It helps keep the skin under your beard from getting dry, itchy, or flaky, and can prevent acne." This gets to the heart of why oil is essential. It’s not just for the hair; it’s for the skin underneath, which is where issues like beardruff and irritation start. A quality oil hydrates the skin and nourishes the follicles, creating the right environment for strong, healthy growth.

How Balms Help with Shaping and Styling

When you need to tame flyaways and give your beard some structure, balm is your go-to. While oil is for conditioning, balm is for control. Guys who use it explain that a good balm provides hold without feeling heavy or greasy. One user notes that balm "has wax and is more for styling, with some nourishment." This makes it perfect for shaping your beard in the morning and keeping it in place all day. For longer beards, a styling balm can be a total game-changer, offering a clean, polished look without the sticky residue of other products. It’s the final step that pulls your whole look together.

What Users Love About Tallow-Based Washes

Using the right wash is a non-negotiable for beard health. Many guys learn the hard way that regular hair shampoo is too harsh, stripping the natural oils from their beard and face. This leads to dryness, brittleness, and irritation. That’s why a dedicated, gentle beard wash is so critical. Users recommend a specialized wash to effectively remove dirt, buildup, and old product without causing damage. A pH-balanced formula is key. Our tallow-based face and beard washes in The Daly Clean Collection are designed to do just that, cleansing thoroughly while leaving your beard and skin nourished and hydrated.

Match Your Routine to Your Beard Type

A great beard care routine isn’t one-size-fits-all. The products and techniques that work best for you will depend on the length and texture of your beard. A short, new-growth beard has completely different needs than a long, thick one, and coarse hair requires a different approach than fine hair.

Understanding what your specific beard type needs is the key to solving common problems like itchiness, dryness, and unruly hairs. By matching your products to your beard, you can build a simple, effective routine that keeps both your hair and the skin underneath healthy and comfortable. Whether you’re just starting out or maintaining a legendary beard, a little targeted care goes a long way. Let’s break down what your beard needs to look and feel its best.

The Essentials for a Short Beard

If you’re rocking a short beard or just starting to grow one out, your main focus should be on the skin underneath. This is where itchiness and flakiness usually start. A high-performance beard oil is the most important product in your toolkit. It’s designed to absorb quickly to hydrate the skin, preventing the dryness that causes irritation. Applying it daily will not only soothe itchiness but also create a healthy foundation for strong growth. Think of it as the essential first step to ensure your beard grows in comfortable and healthy from day one.

Must-Haves for Maintaining a Long Beard

Once your beard has some serious length, your focus shifts from just the skin to nourishing the hair itself. Longer beard hair is older and more prone to drying out, which can lead to split ends and a brittle texture. This is where a quality beard balm becomes essential. While oil is great for the skin, a balm is thicker and formulated to coat the hair, locking in moisture and providing a light hold for styling. Using a balm from our First Tee Smooth Set will keep your beard soft, conditioned, and neatly shaped all day long.

How to Handle Coarse vs. Fine Beard Hair

The texture of your beard hair dictates how you should groom it. If your beard is coarse and wiry, daily brushing is a must to prevent tangles and train the hairs to grow in the right direction. Using a boar bristle brush is particularly effective, as it helps distribute your skin’s natural oils and any products you apply, like balm, evenly through your beard. For those with finer beard hair, a lighter product application is key to avoid weighing it down. No matter your hair type, using a nourishing, tallow-based wash from The Daly Clean Collection will help soften the texture and make your beard more manageable.

Create Your Daily Beard Care Timeline

Consistency is the key to a great beard. Just like any other part of your grooming, having a solid timeline helps you get the best results without adding a ton of time to your day. A simple morning and evening routine ensures your beard and the skin underneath stay healthy, hydrated, and comfortable. It’s not about adding more steps; it’s about making the right steps a habit. This approach keeps your beard looking sharp and feeling great, so you can focus on your day.

Your Ideal Morning Routine

Start your day by setting your beard up for success. You don’t need to wash it with a cleanser every single day; two to three times a week is usually enough unless you’ve been working outside or hit the gym. On wash days, use a dedicated beard wash that cleans without stripping away natural oils. After rinsing, gently pat your beard dry and apply a few drops of beard oil. This is a critical step because it moisturizes the skin underneath, which stops itchiness and flakes before they start. For a complete morning refresh, The Daly Clean Collection has everything you need to wash and condition your beard properly.

How to Wind Down with an Evening Routine

Your evening routine is all about repair and deep conditioning. While you sleep, your body is in recovery mode, and your beard is no different. After washing your face, apply a beard balm or butter to your beard. This helps lock in moisture overnight, leaving your beard noticeably softer by morning. A quality balm also provides a light hold that can help train your beard hairs to grow in the right direction over time. Working a product like the balm from our First Tee Smooth Set through your beard before bed is a simple move that delivers major results, ensuring you wake up with a beard that’s nourished and ready to style.

Ingredients to Avoid for a Healthier Beard

Not all beard products are created equal. Many mass-market brands found in department stores use harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can irritate your skin and damage your beard hair over the long run. Sulfates, for example, can strip your beard of its natural oils, leading to dryness and breakage. It’s worth taking a moment to read the label. Look for formulas built on natural, nutrient-rich ingredients. We built DALYSMOOTH on the principle of using high-performance, clean ingredients like beef tallow because we know that what you put on your beard matters. You can learn more about our commitment to quality and why we skip the unnecessary additives.

Related Articles

• The Ultimate Beard Care Routine: A Step-by-Step Guide
• The 5-Step Morning Beard Routine for a Perfect Look
• 9 Steps to a Perfect Beard Care Routine at Home

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need both beard oil and beard balm? Yes, for the best results, you do. Think of it this way: beard oil is for the skin underneath your beard, and beard balm is for the hair itself. Oil is a lightweight moisturizer that stops itchiness and flakes at the source. Balm is a thicker conditioner that softens the hair, tames flyaways, and provides a light hold for shaping. They work together to cover all your bases.

How often should I actually wash my beard? You should aim to wash your beard about two to three times per week. Over-washing, especially with harsh shampoos, can strip away the natural oils that keep your beard and skin hydrated. This can lead to dryness, irritation, and brittle hair. Stick to a gentle, dedicated beard wash a few times a week, or more if your beard gets particularly dirty from work or a workout.

I'm new to this. What's the one product I should start with? If you're going to start with just one product, make it a high-performance beard oil. The most common complaints, like itchiness and "beardruff," are actually skin problems, not hair problems. Beard oil is designed to moisturize the skin beneath your beard, creating a healthy and comfortable foundation for growth. It's the single most important step you can take.

Why is beef tallow the main ingredient in your products? We use premium beef tallow because it's a powerhouse of nutrients that are incredibly compatible with your skin. It's naturally packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Because its fatty acid profile is so similar to our own natural oils, it absorbs deeply to provide serious moisture without leaving a greasy residue.

My beard is short and itchy. Will this routine still work for me? Absolutely. That itchiness is the main problem a good routine is meant to solve, especially in the early stages of growth. For a short beard, your most important tool is beard oil. Applying it daily will soothe the dry, tight skin underneath your new growth, making the entire process much more comfortable and setting you up for a healthy, long-term beard.