Long Beard Hazards You Might Not Expect

By Jack Shaw (Guest Post) | Last updated 15th March 2024

Long beards are back in style as they display your wisdom, charisma and good looks. Catching people staring at my beard when I grow it out never gets old

However, growing your facial hair isn’t as easy as some people make it out to be. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a big mess on your hands. You also risk getting hurt if you don’t maintain your beard and take the proper precautions.

Your beard is typically safe daily, but you may occasionally encounter unexpected hazards that make life more complicated. What are these hazards?

What Hazards Might Affect Your Long Beard?

While you might not realise it, your beard is susceptible to potential problems in your daily life. They range in danger but are worth being aware of as you go about your day. Here are eight hazards to long beards you should consider for your safety.

1. Gym Equipment

Exercise is crucial for blood circulation and testosterone levels, thus promoting beard growth. While workouts are vital, you should consider how gym equipment can harm your facial hair if you aren’t careful.

Guys with long beards face hazards while working out, such as getting their facial hair caught under barbells or plates. The cardio machines aren’t much better, as you risk your beard getting stuck inside the moving parts of an elliptical or a treadmill.

Working out can already be painful, so the last thing you want is your beard to get stuck. These accidents can pull your hair out and cause serious harm.

It’s not just gym equipment that can hurt your beard — the pain can also come from other sources. Helmets and other facial gear can irritate your skin through friction if you wear them too long.

2. Health Care Facilities

You don’t often see medical professionals with long beards due to safety concerns. Some health care facilities forbid beards or limit their length.

While long beards are a fashion statement, they can be a liability inside the hospital, whether you’re a patient or an employee.

For instance, long beards could make you vulnerable if you need a respirator or an oxygen mask because of their tight seals. The equipment can make your face uncomfortable when wearing it for a while.

Your facial hair could also interfere with the device’s effectiveness if it can’t seal. You may expose yourself to contaminants, leading to unwanted health issues on top of your discomfort.

3. Power Tools

You may have weekend projects that require quality time with your drill, buzzsaw and wrenches. Building and refurbishing things bring great joy, but you must be careful with your beard around power tools.

Long beards are vulnerable to powerful equipment with rotating blades because your facial hair could get caught inside. It’s painful to imagine what it would feel like for my beard to get stuck inside a rotary saw or a grinder.

Minor issues could arise if your equipment causes debris to fly around. Wood shavings, sawdust and tiny pieces of metal could enter your beard and cause severe discomfort. Protecting your facial hair with coverings is essential for safety when working with power tools.

4. Dipping Sauces

Eating is a simple task people prioritise because macronutrients are necessary for proper beard growth. However, your facial hair could become susceptible to the food on your plate if you’re not careful.

Long beards may accidentally find their way onto the table and touch the various items around you. The last thing you want is to carry dipping sauces and crumbs with you after your meal.

The most dangerous concern for food in your long beard is bacterial growth. Trapped particles on your face can grow bacteria, so you must be careful while eating. Experts say bacteria can double once the temperature hits 4 degrees Celsius, and its growth will only be exponential from this point.

5. Buttons and Zippers

Dressing for work may mean wearing button-up shirts to look nice. Business-casual clothing could also include quarter-zip jackets for cooler days. What do these garments have in common? They could be a liability for your facial hair.

Once in a while, your long beard could get caught on the top button. Moving your head up and down causes the button to tug your facial hair, thus causing pain and even ripping out part of your beard. Zippers can be even more harmful because of the metal your hair gets caught in.

You can’t do much about the zippers and buttons, considering they’re integral to your clothing. Your best preventive measure is to remain aware when zipping and buttoning up to ensure your facial hair won’t get caught.

6. Seat Belts

Buckling up is second nature when entering vehicles and ensuring safety for the trip ahead. United Kingdom law says you must wear your seat belt if the car has one.

While wearing a seat belt is mandatory, this device can be bothersome and hazardous to your long beard. Buckling up can lead to your beard getting stuck if you’re not looking, thus causing massive discomfort until you release your facial hair.

Seat belts may also be uncomfortable on long rides if your beard constantly rubs against the material, thus creating irritation if too tight.

While most guys have no issues with their seat belts, you may need extra help to enhance your comfort. Consider seat belt covers to bring softness and make your trips more friendly to long beards.

7. Aggressive Pets

Pets are among the biggest joys in life because they make your days so much better. Health experts say pets decrease blood pressure and anxiety symptoms, making them a crucial part of your family.

However, they can be a nuisance to your long beard. Playful cats and dogs may see your facial hair as something to play with and think it’s OK to bite.

While they don’t mean to harm you, your pets can be dangerous if they tug, swat or bite your beard. The best way to prevent these accidents is to train your pets not to play with your facial hair or swing their paws toward humans.

This method may be easier to use on dogs than cats, though.

8. Open Flames

Imagine it’s a cool autumn evening and the vibes are just right for a campfire. You gather your friends for a celebratory night with a hot flame, good food and fun conversations.

Everything about this event sounds enjoyable until the campfire affects your long beard. The most immediate concern is the flames touching your beard and causing it to catch fire.

Facial hair is flammable, so your bonfire can seriously harm your face with burns. Experts advise staying 3 to 10 feet from the fire to maintain safety.

The same principle applies to all open flames, including candles, grills and other fire sources. Even if the flames don’t reach your beard, you may encounter adverse effects like having it dry out.

Open flames are a major safety hazard beyond just compromising your beard’s appearance and health, so protect it from the fire as much as possible.

How Can You Protect Your Long Beard?

While your beard may be at risk, there are some ways you can protect yourself from various hazards. Try these six strategies for advanced safeguarding from daily threats.

Regular Trims

Growing a long beard means you won’t touch the scissors or clippers often, but the occasional trim will improve your safety. Take a few minutes each week to cut your split ends because they make your beard more vulnerable to hazards.

Your beard will appear much neater when out and about, and you’ll protect your facial hair from the most common threats.

Combing

Another tactic you should employ is combing your beard. This is essential for protection because you’ll remove loose facial hair and improve your beard’s appearance. Plus, you’ll eliminate tangles before anything else can affect it that day.

You also have the option of using a beard brush. This tool quickly tames long facial hair, making your beard look healthy and organised. Consider the pearwood and ox horn brush made from renewable resources like raw horn. I always keep one handy to ensure my beard has protection whenever I need it.

Products

You can also add layers of protection by using the proper beard care products. For example, a high-quality beard shampoo will keep your hair healthy and prevent it from drying out. Therefore, your beard will be less susceptible to snags, split ends and other nuisances.

My favourite beard product is the cocoa beard shampoo because of its cedarwood scent. Using it means my beard stays hydrated and ready for the day. I also prioritise beard balm because it makes my facial hair less frizzy and vulnerable to the objects around me. 

Braids

Long beards can be unruly if you don’t trim them, so one solution is to braid your facial hair. This organises your long beard and makes it less likely you’ll encounter an accident.

A contained beard is safer from getting tangled among objects like seat belts and power tools. You can even make your facial hair look more fashionable if you style it appropriately for your head.

Nets

You need extra protection for your facial hair if you work in food service or a manufacturing-related industry. Consider net covers because they safeguard your beard while working and prevent common hazards from affecting your face.

Your employer may already provide beard nets for workers with facial hair, but bringing your own wouldn’t hurt if it’s permissible. Find disposable nets to ensure you get a fresh start each day and prevent contaminants from getting into your beard.

Bibs

Are you a messy eater? Controlling your food is hard sometimes, especially when diving into a sauce-heavy product like chicken wings.

If food messes are concerning, consider a beard bib. These items hang from your ear and wrap around your beard, thus protecting your facial hair from droppings or the food below.

Find one that’s durable, washable and comfortable for your beard if you use it often. While it may appear odd, a beard bib could be necessary to safeguard your facial hair.

Protecting Long Beards for Good Health

Growing a long beard makes many guys feel more manly, wise and comfortable in their skin. The difference in your appearance can be night and day after you take time for your facial hair.

While big beards are fashionable, you must recognise the dangers of long facial hair. Going to work, restaurants or the gym could be cumbersome if you don’t prepare beforehand, so use these tips for protecting your beard.

Beard nets and bibs may look silly, but they’re game-changers when safeguarding your facial hair from daily hazards.

Author Bio

Jack Shaw is a writer, editor and grooming enthusiast. His explorations of men’s health, fitness and fashion can all be found on Modded, a men’s lifestyle publication on which he serves as the senior writer.