There comes a time in every man’s life when he wants to step up and take his manliness to the next level. Growing a beard is one way to accomplish this. Virtually every man can do it, no matter what background he comes from. It’s almost as simple as stopping your daily shaving routine, and then watching the magic happen.

To make your beard look its best, you’ll want to do more than just refuse to shave.

The guys with amazing beards don’t just stop shaving one day and hope for the best.

Instead, they’re prepared for the patience and maintenance it takes to grow a beard that will be the envy of men everywhere.

One of the first obstacles you’ll have to persevere is the itchiness of growing a beard. The itching can be intense, but if you can make it through that stage you’ll be well on your way. A pro tip is that you should start using beard oil as soon as your beard starts growing out, it moisturizes your skin and helps with the itch.

As you start seeing real growth around month 3, it’s time to call in the professionals. Go to a barber you trust and get a good trim to help even out any patchy spots and put you on a path for growing a full, even beard in the months to come.

to see what each stage of beard growth holds for you through your first year of growing out a beard and then get started on a beard of your own.