If you want to let your beard grow or continue to grow, that might be new territory for you. You can then use products for beard care that help your beard grow better and more beautifully and keep your facial skin in perfect condition. One of those remedies is beard shampoo. What does such a shampoo do for you? And what is the difference with a regular shampoo? Read it here.
The difference with a regular shampoo
It's a fact that you need to wash your beard occasionally. Beards attract more food residues, bacteria, odors, and allergens than other facial hair. This is not only unhealthy but can also cause an unpleasant smell (think 'wet dog'). The joke about 'smelling your own upper lip' suddenly becomes a serious issue.
So washing is necessary. But don't treat your beard the same as your head hair! The skin on your chin, lips, and cheeks has a very different structure than your scalp. For example, it is softer, more vulnerable, and produces less natural, protective skin oil. As a result, the area around your beard dries out much more easily.
Because regular shampoo is made to clean and care for your scalp, it is actually not suitable for your beard. It dries out your beard hairs and the skin around your mouth by washing away the natural skin oil, allowing water to evaporate from your skin indefinitely.
This can cause severe itching, red skin, and flakes. Your beard becomes more prickly, your skin is constantly irritated, and you keep picking and rubbing your beard, which makes the problems even worse.
Is it really necessary to use a beard shampoo?
In short: yes. You should always use a special shampoo to clean your beard. Even if you're going for the 'Canadian lumberjack look'.
This shampoo is designed to optimally clean and care for the bearded skin. In this shampoo, you won't find the harsh chemicals that allow regular shampoo to clean your tough scalp.
The beard shampoo contains milder cleansing agents that do not damage your skin. It also contains natural oils that provide a protective layer to prevent your skin from drying out. These oils also make the coarse beard hairs softer, more flexible, and more beautiful to look at.
Good shampoos often contain vitamins A and E, which nourish your skin cells and ensure that your beard hair can grow in tip-top condition.
How often should you use a beard shampoo?
Just like your head hair, you don't need to wash your beard every day. If you do, you not only remove dirt and bacteria but also that protective layer of oil. A good rule of thumb is to give your beard a nice cleaning every 2 or 3 days. This also depends a bit on the situation:
- How thick your beard is. A thicker beard should be washed less often than a thinner beard, even though it sounds illogical. The skin under your grown-out beard produces even less protective skin oil, causing it to dry out faster.
- What your lifestyle is. Very simple: if you are constantly running Viking Runs, being outdoors, or doing a lot of sports, your beard and facial skin will get dirty faster due to sweat, dust, and other dirt. Then it's nice to clean your skin and pores well after your exertion.
- What type of skin you have. If you have oily skin, it's fine to keep the hairs clean a bit more often. If you have a dry skin type, it's a good idea to wash your beard less often, but take good care of it.
What should you pay attention to when buying a beard shampoo?
So don't use a regular shampoo for your beard care, but buy a special beard shampoo. And first check if it contains the following ingredients – these are real recommendations.
- Natural oils protect your skin from drying out. Jojoba and argan oil are known as an excellent choice.
- Vitamins A and E nourish your skin and your hair.
- Menthol soothes your skin and makes it more supple.
- Rosemary stimulates hair growth.
- Aloe Vera calms your skin and softens your beard hair.
- Algae extract cleanses your pores and nourishes your skin.
Of course, you don't have to do all the research yourself. We have already prepared our top 3 best beard shampoo's for you.
Top 3 Beard Shampoo's
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