If you suffer from a dry beard, dry skin directly under the beard, a brittle feeling beard, or an itchy beard in general, you're going to want to read this through. A dry beard can cause much discomfort, and it might look not only bad but also feel bad. We will look at the leading causes of beard dryness and how to easily solve them.
Table of Contents
Not Grooming Properly
The first reason for a dry beard is incorrect grooming. If you don't brush or comb your beard, it can become scorched, especially if it's longer than 1 inch. If you're not combing or brushing the beard daily, you're missing out on spreading the natural oil on your skin throughout the beard. This doesn't need to be time-consuming; just run the comb or brush through your beard for a few minutes each day, and it will help.
Overwashing Or Washing With The Wrong Product
You shouldn't wash your beard every day like you shampoo your hair. Ideally, you should cleanse it with a specialist product such as a beard shampoo specifically formulated for beards, like our beard shampoo. Many men make the mistake of washing their beards with scalp shampoo or even baby shampoo. If you want to read more about why you should avoid them read this article, and it'll walk you through everything you need to know. Essentially scalp shampoo will lead to more beard dryness as it's not meant to be used on beard hairs.
Only wash two to three times a week and rinse very thoroughly after cleansing - this will remove any sweat, dirt, grime, or soap residue that has coated the hairs.
Your Showering With Hot Water
Hot water can dry out the beard because it strips away the natural oil from the skin, taking a long time to replenish. This is especially true if you're constantly washing your face with hot water every day. That's why we recommend that men who wash their face daily should do so with cold or lukewarm water as this won't harm the skin and beard. If you're used to only taking hot showers, slowly lower the temperature over time until you enjoy the temperature at lukewarm. Your skin and beard will look and feel less dried out as a result.
Bad Diet
An unhealthy diet is the cause of a lot of skin problems, including dry skin can also lead to your beard being dry. Avoid eating excess fast food and foods that are high in salt. Too much salt is not only terrible for you, but it can also cause skin irritation, and that includes issues for your beard. This can lead to your beard being dry or extremely brittle.
When you have a bad diet, you're going to miss out on vital nutrients, which can mean missing out on nutrition that helps your body produce sebum oil. When your body doesn't have all the nutrients it needs, it fails to produce this natural oil that you need. Sure, you can replace these with a beard oil like ours but eating healthier is a must for the bearded.
Eating ample protein, fibrous vegetables, and good fats are the way to go. Unsalted nuts are one of the best foods that you can eat.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Water is essential for our skin and beards. If we do not drink enough water, it can cause dehydration, leading to all kinds of skin and hair problems. Our skin needs water to stay healthy and hydrated as it's the best way for our skin cells to remove toxins.
This goes for your beard and the skin underneath. If you're not drinking enough water, it's going to show in your skin and beard. An easy way to get more water in your diet is to start your day off with 2 glasses when you first wake up. Trust me; it'll make staying hydrated much easier. If you need actual advice on water intake, check out this article by the Mayo Clinic.
Not Using Any Beard Care Products
If you're skipping out on using hydrating beard care products, your beard is going to get drier than it would if you'd simply use them. Too many men make the mistake of not using any products for their beard or skimping on them because it's "just a beard" when a few minutes of care a day would go a long way to making their beard feel better.
You can use anything from an oil (read about it here), balm (read about it here), or butter (read about it here). All 3 of those products help relieve dryness, itchiness, dandruff and make your beard and the skin underneath feel better.
Beard oil is a liquid that can be applied to your beard and is the lightest of all 3 beard care products, while butter and balm are heavier. Beard butter and beard balm are solid substances that can easily meltdown in your hand and apply to the beard and skin. If you want to read about the differences between butter and oil, read this and if you want to read the difference between balm and butter, read this.
Solutions Summed Up
So to conclude, fixing a dry beard can be summed up by doing the following.
- Comb or Brush The Beard Daily
- Wash The Beard With Beard Shampoo No More Than 2 -3 Times Per Week
- Avoid High Trans-Fatty and Salty Foods
- Avoid Hot Showers
- Drink Plenty Of Water
- Use Beard Care Products
Doing these things will greatly improve your beard health. It will also improve the overall look and feel of the beard.
This article is not medical advice and is intended for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, please contact your physician.