Beard star Civil Justus on how Black men can grow healthy beards

Black men have their own challenges for growing a full, healthy beard. The Daily Dot spoke with Justus on what a full beard says about a man, the all-important relationship a man has with his barber, and the must-know tips for other Black men about growing full, healthy beards. Illustration by Max Fleishman, The Daily Dot. — Black men have their own challenges for growing a full, healthy beard. Illustration of Civil Justus by Max Fleishman, The Daily Dot.

No-Shave November is the perfect time to get inspired by the many beards around us. And if you love a Black man with a beard, the Internet has got you covered. Just look at the many social platforms devoted to the beauty of Black men’s beards: Bearded and Black and Black & Bearded on Tumblr, Black Men with Beards and Post Bad Beards on Instagram, Travis The Maverick’s Black and Bearded on Pinterest, and Big Beard Business on YouTube.

But not every man can grow a full and healthy beards in the same timeframe, length and style. In particular, Black men have different types of hair textures and challenges—ingrown hairs, hair bumps, irritation, patchiness and dryness—which means taking on slightly different processes.

If anyone is a master at the art of Black men’s beard grooming, though, it’s Civil Justus, an activist, rapper/musician and all-around social media #beardporn star. His Twitter and Instagram are filled with photos of his impressive facial hair, which has lead to a partnership with the men’s grooming brand Scotch Porter.

The Daily Dot spoke with Justus on what a full beard says about a man, the all-important relationship a man has with his barber, and the must-know tips for other Black men about growing full, healthy beards.

This interview was edited for clarity and length. To our knowledge as of Aug. 10, 2025., the original article was removed from The Daily Dot. Using Wayback Machine, here’s a PDF version with the full interview.