ScarfFace wrote:

BourbonNcigars wrote:
Agreed! I never thought otherwise. Only real difference anything has done for me is washing with soap less than every day.

I wash with hair soap every few days
Rinse with hot water every shower, almost always twice a day
BLOW DRY AFTER EVERY SHOWER OH MY GOD NO HE DOESN'T?! But I do...
Apply argan oil every now and then just because it's fun, or some form of scented oil...because it's fun..and smells good for about 30 seconds

Never seen a split end, my hair is still attached to my face, and the roof is still on my house. I only came to all this after trying all the other crap, though.

EDIT:  Would like to add that I'll almost gaurantee well over half the members here have a buildup of too much oil/balm in their beard.  I did the same thing.

 

I always appreciate your bluntness and sarcasm BourbonNcigars!

here is my experience-
I have been using products not solve a problem, but because the advice I got here told me to.  I keep using them, and experimenting with different amounts to find my best routine.  I know FOR SURE there have been times where I have had a buildup of product in my beard.  This was especially true when I was using a petroleum jelly based beard balm.  Later I started making my own natural balm and things improved.  Due to a major plumbing problem in our only bathroom in our 105 year old house a week ago, we were forced into a complete bathroom remodel which has prohibited me from showering.  What I have been doing now is combing my dry beard with a comb that i run under cold water several times and then apply a little oil (I was using too much before).  I havent used balm in a week and I really like the way my beard feels.  Of course, I also havent used shampoo or soap in my beard for well over 3 months now and do not find it difficult at all to keep those things out of my beard even in the shower.
I think when my shower is back to operational, I might just experiment to see what happens when I stop using products for a while.

I'd think a lot of it has to do with the type of hair one has.  I can only speak for the relatively straight beard hair type.  Yours appears to be very curly.  I'd have to imagine that what works on mine would be very different than what works for you or other curly haired people.  I'd think straight hair might lend itself to being more susceptible to the effects of products, whether it's build up or just being weighted down by oil or balm.  Curly hair would seem to be supported by other hairs more, leading to a beard that "stays in place" more so than a straight one.

When I look at a curly beard, it appears that the owner could grab it and and tug it...then it would snap back into place.  On my beard, with the straight hair, I can literally "shape" it by pulling it to one side or pressing it down, fluffing it up, etc...and it will somewhat stay that way.  I've seen many curly haired men with beards that you just couldn't mess up.  I can mess mine up big time, and quite easily.  But, we all have varying opinions on just what "messed up" means for our beards.

Of course, I could just be compelety wrong...
 

Currently trying to break the trimming habit.