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How To Stop Beard Itch In 6 Easy Steps - Complete Guide
Beards have a lot to love. They add masculine sophistication and class, not only to your face, but also to your entire appearance.
You've decided to finally grow a beard, but soon enough you learn that beards have one big drawback, too.
They can be itchy, incredibly itchy.
Beard itchiness is an extremely common problem most guys face when growing a beard.
Even just two weeks of growth can be enough to cause a maddening, irritating itch.
If you have a beard, you’ve almost certainly experienced beard itch. For many guys, an itchy beard is unbearable to the point where grabbing the nearest safety razor and shaving the beard off entirely seems like the only solution.
DON'T give up. Give beard a chance.
The good news is that beard itch isn’t permanent! If your itchy beard is driving you absolutely bonkers, know that there are remedies for that.
How do you stop and prevent an itchy beard?
What specific techniques and products work best for beard care?
I've got all the info you need.
Say goodbye to beard itch and say hello to a smooth, clean beard.
Stop driving yourself crazy scratching!
Here are the six steps to deal with an itchy beard.
What Causes Beard Itch?
In order to stop and treat beard itch, you first need to understand the causes.
There are two main reasons for beard itch and they depend on the growth phase, i.e a beard that has just started to grow and a fully grown beard.
Itchiness & New Beards
New beards are especially prone to itchiness.
If you’ve been shaving your entire life, your skin is used to being hair free. Regular shaving leaves a sharp edge to each cut hair. The closer you shave, the sharper the edge.
As long as you're shaving regularly this is fine, the problems start when you stop shaving and start growing a beard.
As the hair grows, the sharp edges of the hair scrape against the edges of the follicle.
That’s a recipe for all-over itching. This itch occurs during the stubble phase.
Beard itch can be tough
Itchiness & Grown / Full Beards
The second reason for itchiness occurs after the beard has grown.
Wiry, poorly conditioned beard hair rubs against dry, caked skin and causes a persistent itch.
Dead skin cells and dry skin are a one-two punch which leads to a beard which is rough, coarse and irritating – and actually gets worse over time.
I'll explain exactly how to keep your beard healthy, moisturized and soft which will stop the itch and will make your beard look great.
I recommend getting a beard care kit that has all the products you need for a healthy, itch free beard. It will save you time and money.
Recommended Beard Kit: Zeus Deluxe Beard Grooming Kit
How to Stop Beard Itch - 6 Steps
Whether you're just starting to grow your beard or it's already fully grown, itchiness can be an issue.
Fortunately, combating itchiness is actually pretty easy.
Here are the six steps to keep your beard soft, healthy and itch-free. These techniques work on beards of any type, age and length.
Step One: Wash & Keep Your Beard Clean
The first step to an itch-free free beard is to keep it clean.
Every day we lose many dead skin cells, the beard traps them and prevents them from falling away. Trapped dead skin cells will make your skin itchy and irritated.
On top of that, throughout the day your beard will catch on dirt, left overs from your meals, and other types of debris.
This is why you must wash your beard and keep it clean. But you need to do it correctly.
Beard hair is androgenic. Which means it's affected by testosterone levels. Androgenic hair can’t be effectively cleaned in the same way as the hair on your head.
Avoid cleaning your beard with traditional hair shampoos or body soaps. They will strip the natural oils from your facial hair, dry your skin and make it itchy.
There are two ways to wash your beard:
Beard wash will keep your beard soft, fresh-smelling and clean. Avoid shampoos & soaps designed for hair care, they will dry your skin and beard.
Recommended Beard Wash: Professor Fuzzworthy's Beard SHAMPOO
Step Two: Condition Your Beard
A beard conditioner performs a similar function to hair conditioner.
The difference is that a beard conditioner uses ingredients designed for facial hair which is different from your hair, your face skin is also much more sensitive then the scalp.
Beard conditioners come in different forms, the most popular forms are balms/butters and in-shower conditioners.
When picking a conditioner, ingredients matter more than a brand. There are many essential / carrier oils and I know it can be confusing. To make it easy on you I recommend to pick a conditioner with either Argan or Jojoba as the primary ingredients.
Argan is an extract of the Argan tree which softens and thickens facial hair. Jojoba is a liquid wax which is similar to your skin's natural oils. Both ingredients will help with reducing tangles and breakage by thickening and strengthening hair.
A good conditioner will soften your beard, reduce the itch, detangle your facial hair, and hydrate & nourish your beard.
Depending on the conditioner you've picked: in-shower or balm. If it's a balm it will be a good idea to apply it before you go out for your day.
Regular use of a beard conditioner will keep your beard hair soft, smooth, tangle-free and itch-free.
Recommended conditioner for beard itch: Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner
Step Three: Moisturize Your Beard
While conditioners help nourish your beard, beard oil hydrates the skin underneath your beard, which is just as important!
The skin underneath your beard is susceptible to dandruff, dryness, irritation and more.
It must to be kept moisturized.
If the skin becomes too dry, your body will produce extra oil, which may lead to breakouts and itching.
This is where beard oil comes to play, beard oil is specially designed to nourish, hydrate and help maintaining a healthy looking beard.
You should always remember that the beard grows from the skin, so you want your skin to be healthy. It's very easy to forget about the skin beneath when growing a beard.
Applying beard oil will keep your beard hydrated, soft and itch free. You don't need to put
too much oil, actually few drops are enough. The perfect amount won't leave your beard looking oily and greasy - so you might need to do some trial & error here.
Don’t forget about the skin underneath your beard. The regular use of beard oil helps prevent itchiness while keeping your beard hydrated and healthy.
Recommended beard oil: The Gentleman’s Beard Oil
Step Four: Trim Your Beard
Regular trimming helps keep your beard looking neat and itch free.
When you first grow out your beard, you’ll want to avoid trimming for 8-12 weeks. That will give your beard enough time to develop thickness and fill out any patchy areas.
Beard scissors are great for detail work. Many men find their mustache grows a bit faster than the hair on their cheeks. Trimming the ‘stache with scissors is an easy way to create a uniform look across your entire face.
video explaining how different clipper settings produce different results
High-grade clippers with adjustable settings let you keep your beard at a set length.
A short, even cut is often a great look for a professional environment. When trimming your beard with clippers, start with a bigger clip number and work down based on personal preference.
Once your beard is fully grown, start trimming it.
When removing hair, always start smaller. You can always cut more hair as necessary.
Recommended beard trimmer: Panasonic Precision Hair and Beard Trimmer
Step Five: Comb & Brush Your Beard
Brushes and combs are your friends. (If they're not they need to be!)
Not only do they help keep your beard looking great, train it to grow in a single direction, they also promote beard health, reduce itching and scratching.
Plus, brushing your beard often feels fantastic! It's like a massage.
You want a brush with a solid, comfortable wooden handle. You also want the brush to be made from 100% boar’s hair. The unique structure of the boar bristle carries sebum from the skin to the end of the hair shaft.
Sebum is a natural oily substance created by the follicle. By spreading the sebum across the entire hair strand, boar bristles repair dry hair and add shine.
Only boar bristles have these benefits. Plastic or vinyl bristles have micro fissures which can damage your beard by causing snags. While a boar’s hair brush is often more expensive than
a plastic or vinyl one, most guys feel the extra up-front cost is worth it in the long run. Plus, a high-quality brush will usually last a lifetime.
Brush your beard before and after every wash. Brushing before washing loosens up any dirt, grime and other debris. Washing your beard will be much more effective after that.
I recommend brushing your beard after applying beard oil, it will help spreading the oil evenly throughout your beard.
Brush your beard briskly in the direction you want your beard to grow.
Brush your beard before and after each wash. It will keep you beard clean, healthy and tangle free. Brush your beard briskly in the direction you want your beard to grow.
Recommended beard brush & comb: Smooth Viking Beard Brush & Kent Beard Comb
Step Six: Eat & Live Healthy
Beard health starts from within. With a healthy body you'll get a healthy beard.
Good overall habits will help your beard achieve a full-bodied, luxurious look.
Eating Healthy
First, you want a diet rich with Beta-carotene, Vitamin D and Biotin.
Your body converts Beta-Carotene into Vitamin A, which promotes healthy sebum. Vitamin D stimulates new hair growth by creating new hair follicles. Finally, Biotin helps your body create keratin, which is a protein found in hair and nails.
You can find these nutrients in a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you’re not big on veggies, there are many supplements and vitamins on the market which will also work well.
Living Healthy
Healthy living helps create a healthy beard.
Beard health starts from within. Your beard won’t look at its best if you’re stressed, tired
and filled with junk food. Make healthy choices by giving your body plenty of nutrients, hydration and rest.
Bonus: Healthy Beard Routine
The steps above can be applied independently to stop and prevent beard itch.
I also want to share with you an easy beard grooming routine that will help you grow and maintain a healthy looking beard (and of course itch-free).
Daily beard maintenance doesn’t need to be extensive. Most men get the best results with a no-frills routine of washing and moisturizing.
Simply brushing your beard is an effective way to remove odors, dead skin and other “gunk.” Many guys brush their beards first thing in the morning and then again before bed.
The “with the grain” morning brush helps style your beard and also tame it.
A nightly brush gets rid of all the clutter, dust and city debris which can accumulate throughout the day.
At least once a day you’ll want to rinse your beard with warm water. As discussed above, avoid harsh soaps. Only use beard wash made specifically for androgenic, testosterone-derived beard hair.
Typical Beard Grooming Routine
A typical routine that can work for most guys, should look something like this:
Beard Grooming Kit - ALL in ONE
If you're new to the beard world or looking to buy some beard care products together to fight off beard itch or just want to take your beard to a new level, a beard grooming kit is probably what you're looking for.
The Zeus Deluxe Beard Grooming Kit includes beard oil, conditioner, shampoo, and 100% boar bristle brush.
This kit has everything you need for a healthy, itch free, great looking beard.
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Final Words
A beard is more than just a stylish addition to your face.
A beard can be a reflection of your personality. A full grown, well-maintained beard enhances masculinity, displays a commitment to completing goals and showcases your individuality.
Don’t let itchiness and irritation keep you from growing the beard you’ve always wanted.
The six steps above will help the growing process stay comfortable and easy starting from the very first day. Regular washing, moisturizing and conditioning will keep your beard and skin smooth and itch-free.
Growing a beard is a big commitment. But with the right preparation, you can avoid the major problems.
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