Ah, the mysteries of beard maintenance! Your beard is your pride and joy, an extension of your personality, and the envy of baby-faced guys everywhere. It’s a testament to your ruggedness, grit, and determination.
But no two beards are created equal. Each one is a unique work of art, shaped by genetics, lifestyle, skin type, and more. There’s no one universal formula that’s perfect for all bearded men.
So, how often should you wash your glorious man mane? And do you wash it just like the hair on your head? We’re here to equip you with all the knowledge you need to create a beard-washing routine that’s just right for you.
How Often Should I Wash My Beard?
Washing your beard regularly prevents odors and keeps the beard hair and skin healthy. While there’s no one size fits all answer for every guy, most guys should use a gentle beard wash every day, along with a deep cleaning formula two or three times a week to prevent oil and product buildup.
We all know that hair gets oily when we don’t wash it. But what you may not know is that this oil, called sebum, is your body’s natural way of moisturizing your hair and skin - whether it’s on your head or your face. That’s why overwashing with harsh cleansers often leads to dry, coarse beard hairs and dehydrated, itchy skin.
However, washing your beard is essential for removing dirt, oil, and debris. It also helps to prevent issues like ingrown hairs, beard itch, odor, and clogged pores. Finding the perfect balance is key!
Factors That Influence How Often You Should Wash Your Beard.
Here are the key factors that come into play when deciding how often to wash your beard.
Environment
Depending on your environment, the climate can play a key role in the type of care your beard requires. For example, if your climate is humid and wet, your beard will likely collect more dirt, debris, and excess. Washing more frequently with a deep cleanser will be essential for keeping skin issues like acne at bay.
On the other hand, a dry climate can suck the moisture out of your beard and skin, and overwashing will just make matters worse. In this climate, you’ll need to stick to a gentle daily cleanser to avoid drying out your skin. You may only need to do a deep cleanse once or twice a week, and be sure to follow with beard conditioner to counteract any dryness.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle will be a significant factor here as well. If you work out a lot or work outdoors, you will need to wash your beard with a deep cleanser more often to prevent the buildup of bacteria and sweat, which can lead to beard odor, beard acne, and the dreaded itchy beard that plagues many a bearded man.
Beard Hair Type
Your beard hair type is also something to consider. You may need to wash your beard less often if you have fine, thin beard hair. This is because thicker beard hair will collect more dirt and oil, potentially leading to beard odor, beard itch, and skin issues.
Beard Length
A long beard is more likely to collect dirt and oil, so you may need to incorporate a deep cleanser more often. The same goes for thicker or fuller beards. Shorter, thinner beards generally require fewer washings and can sometimes get by using a beard brush to keep the beard hair healthy and clean.
Skin Type
You should also adjust your beard-washing routine according to your skin type for the best results. A gentle cleansing every day, along with a deeper cleanse twice a week, is a great starting point for most guys.
But this can change according to the season and how the weather affects your skin. For example, if you have dry skin that gets even drier in the winter, you may only need to do a deeper cleanse once a week to remove dead skin cells and product build-up, which can lead to beard dandruff.
On the other hand, if you’re skin is typically oily or becomes oilier in the warmer months, you may need to do a deep cleanse more often to prevent oily buildup, which can lead to beard odor and beard acne.
Can You Use Regular Shampoo to Wash Your Beard?
So, can you just use any old shampoo to wash your beard? Honestly, we don’t recommend it. You’ll get much better results if you use a high-quality beard wash instead. Here’s why.
A quality beard wash is specifically formulated for your facial hair. It’s designed to cleanse excess dirt and sebum from the beard and skin without stripping away the natural oils or drying out the hair and skin underneath.
You may wonder if there’s much difference between regular shampoo and beard wash, and the answer is a resounding yes! While it may seem like any shampoo will do, most regular shampoos are formulated with powerful detergents and surfactants, along with other unnecessary chemicals, which are too strong for the sensitive skin on your face and drying to your beard hair.
Exposing your face and beard hair to these harsh chemicals can lead to beard dandruff and cause your beard hair to become brittle. Dry, brittle beard hair is likelier to have split ends and breakage, which isn’t great if you’re trying to grow your beard. And it can leave your beard hair looking unmanageable and ungroomed. Definitely not the look most of us are going for.
A beard wash made from natural ingredients and formulated specifically for beard hair and the sensitive skin underneath is a much better option. Bonus points if it contains beneficial nutrients to promote healthy beard growth and target specific issues.
The Benefits of Washing Your Beard Regularly
Do you really need to wash your beard regularly? We think so. Take a look at the benefits, and we think you’ll agree.
Promotes Healthy Beard Growth
Washing your beard regularly and following it up with a solid beard care routine keeps the skin and beard hair healthy. Keeping the skin and hair follicles free of dead skin cells and oil provides a solid foundation for healthy beard hair growth.
Prevents Beard Itch
A good beard washing and grooming routine removes any bacteria or dirt from the skin and hair, preventing skin irritation that causes beard itch. Incorporating beard conditioner and following up with beard oil is essential to eliminate dryness that can contribute to beard itch, and for keeping your beard hair in good condition.
Reduces Beard Dandruff
Beard dandruff is the bain of many a bearded man! Using beard wash regularly and following up with a beard conditioner can help to prevent and reduce beard dandruff. Beard wash helps to exfoliate away the dry skin that causes dandruff, while conditioner provides essential moisture to soften the beard hair and hydrate the skin.
Keeps Your Beard Fresh
As you’re probably already aware, your beard is like a filter on your face, capturing every crumb, dust particle, allergen, and speck of sweat that crosses your path.
A dirty beard isn’t going to smell great, and it’s not going to feel great either. It can also be a real turn-off for your partner. Using beard wash regularly keeps your beard smelling and feeling fresh and clean, and that makes you and your lady friend happy.
Maintains the Strength of Your Beard Hair
Beard hair breakage and split ends are very frustrating when trying to grow your beard. There are a few reasons beard hair becomes prone to breakage, but much of it boils down to your beard care routine.
Using harsh cleansers and surfactants is a leading cause, along with not using high-quality beard care products in general. Being too rough when drying your beard, using too much heat, or leading a less-than-healthy lifestyle also factor in.
Choosing the Best Beard Wash for Your Needs
Choosing the right beard wash is key to keeping your facial hair strong and healthy. We suggest keeping both a daily beard wash and a deep cleanser on hand for the best results.
Chuck’s Hog Wash is a gentle yet effective daily beard shampoo, formulated with all-natural ingredients to promote beard hair and skin health. It’s available in a variety of scents to match your favorite beard oil and is suitable for the face and body, as well.
On the other hand, our Badass Beard Wash is a deep cleansing formula infused with the refreshing scents of tea tree, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Use it every 3-4 days to prevent dirt, oil, and product build-up and keep the skin healthy and clear.
As you can see, the two products serve different purposes. Keeping both in your shower allows you to customize your routine based on the needs of your beard and skin each day.
What’s the Best Way to Wash Your Beard?
The process of washing your beard is pretty straightforward. But here are some guidelines to help you get the most out of your beard-washing routine if you’re new to the process or hoping to promote healthy beard growth.
Step One: Wet Your Beard with Warm Water
Whether you wash your beard at the sink or in the shower, the first step is to wet it thoroughly with warm water. We all love a steaming hot shower, but it’s not the best thing for your skin or beard because it strips away the natural oils and dries out the skin and hair.
Step Two: Wash Your Beard
Apply a dime-sized amount of your favorite beard wash into the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and then apply the wash evenly throughout your beard.
Focus most of your attention on the root of your beard hair and the skin, and don’t forget your mustache. Massage with your fingertips using circular motions for about 30 seconds to exfoliate away any dead skin cells, dirt, product, or excess sebum.
Step Three: Rinse Your Beard
Rinse your beard thoroughly with warm water, taking care to remove every last bit of beard wash. Any residue left behind could lead to itchiness, irritation, or beard dandruff.
Step Four: Condition Your Beard
Following up with our beard conditioner is essential for hydrating the beard hair and skin beneath it. Apply a dime-sized amount of beard conditioner evenly throughout the beard, massage it in, and allow it to sit for a minute or two before rinsing it with warm water.
Step Five: Dry Your Beard
Drying your beard is essential for preventing irritation, flakiness, and other common beard-related skin issues. The best way to dry your beard is to pat it gently with a towel. You can finish up with a blow dryer on a low heat setting, but never use high heat because it can dry out the hair and lead to breakage or split ends.
Step Six: Hydrate and Style Your Beard
Finish your beard-washing routine by applying Badass Beard Oil to rehydrate the beard hair and skin, relieve itch and dandruff, soften your beard, and give it a healthy shine.
Following beard oil with beard butter, balm, or wax will lock in moisture and provide hold to tame those annoying flyaways and help shape your beard. Use a beard brush to shape your beard, help distribute the products, and promote blood flow for healthy beard growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should You Wash Your Beard Every Day?
You absolutely can and should wash your beard every day to keep the beard hair healthy and free of buildup. Chuck’s Hog Wash is gentle enough for everyday use and works great alongside our beard conditioner and beard oil to keep your beard hair soft and manageable.
What is Co-Washing?
Co-washing is a fairly new concept that has gained popularity among guys with long, wavy, or curly beards that are more prone to breakage. It involves washing the beard with conditioner only. It probably isn’t for everyone, but it might be worth trying if your beard hair is brittle and dry from overwashing, heat styling, or chemical treatments.
Can I Wash My Beard With Water Only?
Yes, washing your beard with just water is possible, especially if your beard is short or your skin and beard hair are very dry. However, it’s probably best to find a balance between using a gentle, daily beard wash and a deep cleanser to keep your beard hair healthy and clean.
Wrapping Up
Ask ten different guys how often they wash their beards, and you’re likely to get ten different answers. Just like every man is different, so is every beard. The best way to know how often you should wash your beard is to pay attention to how your beard and skin look and feel.
If your beard is feeling rough, oily, or dirty, it’s probably time for a deeper cleanse. But if it’s itchy, dry, or the skin seems irritated, stick to a gentle, daily beard wash. Experiment to find what works for you, and feel free to adjust your routine as needed.
Shop our range of Badass Beard Washes, available in a variety of scents and formulated with gentle surfactants and hydrating oils to keep your beard fresh and hydrated. And be sure to join the Badass Beard Club for members-only benefits and freebies!
