Surely one of the first things you learn when you delve into beard care is that you should use a beard shampoo or beard soap. And by beard shampoo, of course, we always mean a shampoo that is actually made for the beard. Never a regular shampoo for the hair on your head.
Why not a regular shampoo for the beard?
Beard hair and underlying skin require different care and are also a lot more sensitive. A normal shampoo contains more aggressive ingredients. Often a lot of chemical ingredients as well. If you use this for your beard, you will end up with a very dry, hard and unkempt beard. The underlying skin will itch and give off flakes that will end up in the beard. It will leave you looking very unkempt.
A beard shampoo often contains more natural ingredients. It also contains nutrients specifically meant for the beard hairs and underlying skin. Of course, scent is also important. A beard shampoo often has a scent that is very masculine and makes the beard smell nice.
This does not mean that every beard shampoo is of equal quality. There are quite a few differences in quality and price. To make sure you buy a good beard shampoo and get the best care for your beard, we'll tell you what to look for when buying a beard shampoo.
Always check the ingredients of beard shampoo
You can always tell the quality of a beard shampoo by the ingredients it contains. A good beard shampoo has many natural ingredients. If all you see are chemical ingredients, it's better to leave it alone. Especially if you have sensitive skin that gets dry or oily easily. The reason that a composition with many natural ingredients is better is that they do not wash away the body's own oils and nutrients from the hair and skin. Also, natural ingredients often actually have nourishing properties that help keep the beard extra nourished and hydrated.
Natural ingredients often found in a good beard shampoo are: Water, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Soy Wax, Beeswax, Seaweed Extract, Honey, Cocoa Powder, Aloe Vera Juice, Chamomile Extract, Essential Oils.
Although you want to avoid as many chemical ingredients as possible you will find some ingredients in most beard shampoos that are of a chemical nature. Now you don't have to be put off by these right away. For example, these are anti-inflammatory, prevent acne or make the product less flammable.
Chemical ingredients that do no harm
Cocamide DIPA, Decyl-Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5).
Ingredients to avoid
Ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Chloride, Di-ethanol-amine (DEA) and Tri-ethanol-amine (TEA), Formaldehyde, Propylene Glycol, Propyl-paraben, Methyl-paraben and synthetic fragrances.
These ingredients dry out the skin and hair and remove the good essential oils. So not really a good contribution to your beard care. Basically, a good beard shampoo for men with sensitive skin or very dry beard hair, for example, should always be free of parabens and sulfates.
Don't pay more than necessary
A more expensive beard shampoo is not always better. Therefore, always compare the price with the ingredients in it. A beard shampoo full of nice natural ingredients is often a bit more expensive. A cheaper beard shampoo is not necessarily bad. Look at the brand and what is said about it. The packaging it comes in often affects the price as well. Also look at the brand you are buying the product from. Whether it is well regarded. That often says a lot about the product.
Which beard shampoo we recommend.
At The Alpha Men, we sell plenty of beard shampoos in different price ranges. To make it as easy as possible for you, we give you a selection of beard shampoos that we think are the best. Then you won't have to look at the label. Scents and packaging remain personal preference, of course.
Anthony - Conditioning Beard Wash
That this product works well is not all that surprising to us. In fact, Anthony's products are always of high quality. This beard shampoo from Anthony contains natural ingredients that cleanse, exfoliate and make the beard silky smooth. A very complete product. A fingertip of this beard shampoo is enough to care for your beard.
Mr. Natty - Face Forest Soap
Do you easily suffer from dry underlying skin or dandruff? Then this is the perfect choice. The Mr. Natty Face Forest Soap is a beard soap that contains Shea Butter and intensely moisturizes the skin. Your skin will be less irritated. With a handful of antioxidants, this is one of the best products to wash your beard.
OAK Beard Wash
Berlin-based OAK Beard Care is not yet known worldwide but deserves a spot among the best beard care products as far as we are concerned. The beard shampoo consists of natural ingredients including coconut oil, malt and grapefruit and has a lovely masculine scent. The packaging has a modern premium look.