I've been bearded for a few years, chest length beard too.. Comb it just to get the knots out, but use a beard brush to get it looking good.And brush it when you feel like it man, obviously 100 times a day is stupid, but a couple time a day is harmless. Don't wash it with shampoo unless it's a must , like beer all in her. Shampoo is designed for your scalp, which has way more hair follicles than your beard, it'll strip the oils from the hair and dry it out. And conditioner pretty much coats the hair with silicone, and beard needs to breath, use a shampoo or softener that is designed just for a beard, you can buy them anywhere now, don't wash it every day unless it's nasty either. I know it's hard but keep your hands out of it. Trim it once in a while, you can do it without removing hardly any length, just for the dead end or it will start looking raspy at the end. Beard oil once a day is a commandment to me, but I prefer my beard to be healthy and to look decent, without oil it won't thrive like it deserves too. Beard balm just keeps it neat, but it's not a must have. And the best advice I can give you my man, somedays your beard will be perfect, and some days it's gonna look like shit, nothing you can really do but embrace the fact that your a bearded man. If you can put it through the "Yeard" the first full year letting it grow all the way out, you'll see the world a little different.... Happy growing my friend, cuz it's a good life when your beard swings low
