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6 Best Beard Washes & Shampoos -
For a Clean & Healthy Facial Hair
Buzzfeed recently shocked the life out of bearded men when it explicitly stated that beards Are Covered In The Same Bacteria That's Found In Poop
Before you make a dash for that razor to get rid of the supposed poop covered facial hair, I should put some things in context.
The analysis was conducted by KOAT, a TV station that’s affiliated to ABC and apparently analyzed the bacteria often found in men’s beard when it’s not cleaned.
Knowing that it’s a TV station, we could very well take that with a grain of salt since this is not a scientific research.
But, if there’s one thing that we all can take away from this, is this:
Your beards need to be cleaned regularly irrespective of whether it contains poop or not.
That’s where beard washes, shampoos and soaps come into the picture.
Top 3 Picks - Best Shampoos & Washes
Why Do You Need a Beard Shampoo
Using beard shampoo has a lot of benefits, some of these are:
Growing a beard may seem similar to growing the hair on your head but the two are poles apart.
The scalp has a very tough and resilient skin whereas the skin on your face is soft and sensitive. Ironically, the hair on the scalp is a lot softer whereas the hair on the facial skin is tough, coarse and curly.
They are called terminal hairs, these hairs are thick, long, and dark. They can be difficult to manage.
When you start to grow facial hair, the skin suddenly finds itself unable to cope with the additional demand to secrete enough sebum to coat the new hairs. As a result, the facial hair starts to become scruffy and tough.
The skin under the beard also starts to dry out and flakiness sets in. This is followed by itchiness and is undoubtedly one of the worst phases of beard growth.
Most men think that the phase is temporary and will just pass off. But the constant exposure to moisture and sweat only make matters worse.
A moist and dark place like the beard suddenly becomes the perfect haven for bacterial and fungal infections. To add to it, food particles, dust and dirt start to get trapped in it.
Beard Wash serves many purposes. It contains a blend of oils that nourish and hydrate the skin and facial hair. The hydrating ingredients also help in softening the beard strands.
But most importantly, it will wash the beard without affecting the skin’s natural oil secretion. If anything, it will help to regulate the oil production, an excess of which can lead to acne and other skin problems.
A complete beard care routine includes a beard wash, beard conditioner, beard oil and possibly even beard balm. Like some wise bearded person once said, ‘Good beards don’t grow. They need to be nurtured’ and a good beard shampoo is one of the prerequisites that will get you there.
But what makes a good beard shampoo?
How to Pick The Right Beard Shampoo
when picking beard oils and balms for beards, we follow a very simple set of rules. Use only natural products. Anything with a synthetic ingredient on the label is automatically disqualified.
With a beard shampoo and beard wash it's different, because every shampoo needs a foaming agent for lather. Otherwise, it just doesn’t form as much lather as you’d like.
So, this time I'm making an exemption to the all-natural rule slightly. That’s only a slight modification though. The focus still remains on finding beard washes that contain at least 99% organic and natural ingredients with a few foaming agents added in. Please note that there are shampoos that are 100% natural.
You can also handpick beard washes according to the problem that you are facing during beard growth.
That’s why you need to analyze the product label carefully. Lets look at what you need to pay attention to.
Patchy Beard Growth
If you have patchy growth then it's probably genetics you need to blame.
But you can pick beard washes with ingredients that can help improve the rate of beard growth and make your beard look fuller and thicker. (this is easier said then done)
Beard washes with Pro Vitamin B5 and Pine Tar oil are good choices.
Beard Dandruff / Beard Itch
The dreaded dandruff or 'beardruff' is one of the most annoying problems that one can experience during any stage of beard growth.
You need a beard wash with a good carrier oil blend to hydrate the beard. Essential oils with antimicrobial properties will help with preventing infections.
Tea tree oil, rosemary, eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil are good choices and very effective against flaking.
Cleaning
Almost every beard shampoo and wash will clean your beard.
But if you are looking for deep cleansing or removing dead skin cells trapped in the beard, then you might want to look at a beard wash with exfoliating ingredients.
Some beard soaps provide better exfoliation as compared to beard shampoos.
Some people also expect the beard shampoo to act as the conditioner. But I recommend using beard conditioners for that.
Does it Lather?
While you do not want to end up with a face full of foam, lather will help the shampoo to penetrate into the beard and clean it from within.
For this reason, beard shampoos that don’t lather are not ideal choices.
If it does not lather, then look for one that has a diluted texture, that lets you coat the beard easily.
Is It a Trusted Brand?
The market is teeming with choices due to the popularity of men’s grooming products.
There are many new and promising brands with impressive products. But still, I recommend sticking to brands that have been around for a while and have consistent quality and good feedbacks.
How Long Will the Bottle Last?
One of the biggest rookie mistakes is to over wash your beard.
I recommend washing not more than twice a week for a beard that is at least 2 inches long and once a week for anything shorter.
If you have an outdoor job that exposes your beard to hard conditions, then you can increase that by one more wash a week.
Ideally, you’d expect a bottle of beard shampoo to last for at least a couple of months.
That’s approximately 16-20 showers. If you're running out of shampoo in just 6-8 showers, then it may turn out to be an expensive purchase.
Each one of the shampoos that I've picked for this list are generous sized bottles and should easily last more than two months.
Is It Handmade?
Handmade usually translates into better quality because the manufacturer makes the products in smaller batches making it easier to exercise quality control.
But you’d also want to know where it is manufactured.
I usually steer away from anything that is handmade in China for obvious reasons.
Products that are handmade in the US or UK usually complies with the regulations of the cosmetics industry.
How to Get the Best Beard Shampoo
Try to buy the shampoo that best suits your needs, usually these will be:
Other things to pay attention to:
6 Best Beard Shampoos & Washes - Reviews
Here's my pick for the top 6 beard washes and shampoos on the market.
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Professor Fuzzworthy’s Beard Shampoo is considered one of the top rated beard washes on the market by several websites.
It's near 100% positive feedback Amazon is a good proof for that.
This square shaped shampoo bar (oh yes, it’s like a bar of soap) brings to you a blend of natural ingredients from down under.
The bar is sized perfectly and fits right into your palm.
It will retain the natural oils of the skin, prevent excessive sebum production, hydrate and nourish the skin and beard hair, soften it, reduce frizz and the Leatherwood Beeswax makes the beard manageable.
The exfoliating ingredients give it a slightly rough texture which ensures that it doesn’t slip even if you rub it directly on your beard.
You can rub it on your palms first to form a rich lather which you can apply on the beard.
Ingredients
Coconut oil, Castor oil, Tasmanian Seaweed, Cocoa powder, Leatherwood honey, all blended using the pristine spring water from Mount Wellington.
Now that’s one of the purest and safest beard care recipes in the world.
SCENT
The fragrance from Tasmanian Kunzea oil is comparable to the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus.
Lavender oil provides the perfect finishing touch to the recipe. The aroma is very subtle and is almost not noticeable unless someone decides to poke his nose into your beard.
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
Great for skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema and of course, beard dandruff.
WHY I LIKE IT?
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
My 2nd pick is the beard wash from Mountaineer Brand.
It will help you deep cleanse your beard and remove any dirt, food particles and dead skin.
It's handmade from completely natural ingredients. Since it does not contain botanical butters, it has a very light texture. But it lathers instantly and you can cover your beard even with a wee bit of shampoo.
The oils in the formula soften your beard and the essential oils prevent dryness and beard itch.
Ingredients
Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, essential oils: Cedar and Fir Needle.
SCENT
You have 4 recipes to choose from:
1) A citrus and spice version
2) A WV charcoal version, which has a smoky, woodsy aroma.
3) Coal
4) Timber
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
Great for beard itch & bearddruff.
WHY I LIKE IT?
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Grave Before Shave...Gotta love their brand name.
It's a great beard wash for those suffering from a dry beard, it'll make your beard very hydrated.
On top of that it works on all hair types, so you're free to use it for other body areas, like your head.
It will wash off any oil or balm residues you had on your beard.
This wash Lathers easily, one drop is all you need to wash your beard. Taking into account the bottle size, this beard wash can last for long!
A downside to this shampoo is that it's not 100% natural and contains very few chemicals, if you have a sensitive skin it might not be the best option for you. ( I recommend to look at the ingredients list)
Ingredients
Aragan oil, Soybean Oil, Fruit Oil
SCENT
It has a mild barely noticeable masculine scent, that fades away after washing.
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
Great for a dry beard & beard itch. Not good for those with sensitive skin as this shampoo is not 100% natural.
WHY I LIKE IT?
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Zeus is a well known name in the beard industry, you can't really go wrong when buying their products. Their beard kit is amazing.
This beard wash is made with a blend of organic ingredients, and it will make your beard shine.
The antioxidants in the formula will fight off beard itch and bearddruff. This shampoo will protect your skin cells and will prevent inflammation that often occurs when growing a beard.
It has a good consistency and it lathers up easily and washed easily.
Ingredients
Antioxidant blend of Dragon's Blood, Green Tea, and Chamomile
SCENT
You can choose from the available in 3 scents:
1) Vanilla Rum: A creamy vanilla note over a sweet, woodsy base
2) Sandalwood: Spicy woodsy notes with light vanilla
3) Verbena Lime: Soft vanilla with citrus notes
It may smell strong, but after the wash it's not very noticeable.
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
Great for a dry beard & beard itch. Will make your beard soft.
WHY I LIKE IT?
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Kave is a recent entrant into the world of beard washes and while I'm usually skeptical about new product that promises to transform your beard out of the box, I did a good research and the results are very good.
According to reviews, the Kave beard wash stopped the itching and flaking in just one wash. Within a week, the beard was a lot softer too.
The bottle is a tad difficult to use considering that you will be all wet in the shower and you’d have to remove the cap and press on the nozzle to dispense the shampoo.
The consistency is thick and shampoo like. It lathers in minutes too which is definitely a plus.
Ingredients
All-natural blend of essential oils and carrier oils.
SCENT
The aroma is not exactly subtle or mild. It has very cologne like smell which I'm less fond of.
But thankfully, it dissipates soon after you rinse it off and step out of the shower.
I use beard oil after the shower anyway and that masks the aroma of the shampoo.
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
If you are struggling with dry and irritated skin underneath the beard that has started to flake or even if you are seeing huge dandruff flakes, give this beard shampoo a shot.
WHY I LIKE IT?
SPECS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Mr. Rugged has a great formula which is a combination of a shampoo and a conditioner.
It controls and regulates the production of sebum in the skin, thereby helping curb acne. If you have acne prone skin, then growing a beard can often make it worse or make it extremely itchy.
The Mr. Rugged Beard Wash helps to soothe the itch and prevents the acne from aggravating making the beard more manageable.
The organic aloe hydrates the beard strands and taming it.
Ingredients
Pro Vitamin B5, Jojoba oil, Tea Tree oil and wheat proteins.
SCENT
Essential oils that include roman chamomile and peppermint leave a mild but refreshing aroma on the beard.
WHO IS IT BEST FOR?
Rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamin E and antioxidants, the Mr. Rugged Shampoo and conditioner is the perfect choice for all-round beard maintenance if you have sensitive or acne prone skin.
WHY I LIKE IT?
Final Thoughts
In this article I wrote about the importance of beard wash and shampoo, how to pick the right one for you. If you pick best beard shampoo for your beard's current condition, you'll be able to keep it hydrated, soft and manageable.
I hope this guide will help you pick the best one for yourself.
Please Let me know how this worked for you in the comments below.
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