What exactly is beard shampoo?
Unlike regular shampoo or soap, the beard shampoo formula ensures that the natural moisture and sebum balance in the underlying skin and hair is not affected.
This way you will not experience tight skin, irritations or red spots.
Beard shampoo is a cleanser for the hair, but specially developed for the beard and underlying skin.
The formulas of quality beard shampoo are enriched with healthy minerals and vitamins and are mild in nature, unlike the more aggressive formulas of regular shampoo for the scalp and scalp hair.
The difference is in the retention of natural oils such as sebum.
Each hair follicle contains sebaceous glands that produce sebum. The sebaceous glands are located in your scalp, cheeks, neck and basically anywhere on your body where you have hair growth.
Sebum ensures that the skin and hair are provided with the necessary hydration, which in turn ensures a healthy shine and strong (beard) hair.
As soon as sebum is removed (by regular shampoo), the hair becomes brittle and the healthy shine is lost.
If sebum is missing too often or for too long, even the ends of the hair will split.
Sebum therefore ensures the optimal and natural functioning of the skin. Too much sebum clogs the pores, causing the skin to glow even more, so it’s okay to remove a little sebum.
And that is exactly what beard shampoo does: remove a small amount of sebum so that the beard is cleaned, but not too much so that the moisture balance in the underlying skin is disturbed.
Beard shampoo therefore contains ingredients that cleanse the beard hair and underlying skin but not all natural sebum.
These special formulas are formulated to maintain the natural moisture and sebum balance in the skin so that you can easily wash impurities from the beard without affecting the natural growth process.
→ Read more: The beard style inspiration guide of the moment
Top 5 Beard Shampoos
Finding the right beard shampoo for you is crucial. The beard shampoo you choose needs to fit your needs to be able to maximize its benefits.
If you already have a specific need in mind, maybe one of these products can help you:
- Best Beard Shampoo for Growth
- Best Anti-Itch Beard Shampoo
- Best Beard Shampoo for Exfoliating
- Best Beard Shampoo That’s Worth its Price
- Best Beard Shampoo for Travel
Otherwise, here are 5 beard shampoos that you could consider adding to your beard-care regime!
Professor Edward J Fuzzworthy's Gentleman's Beard Gloss Shampoo
All-Natural Shampoo Bar
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
Professor Edward J Fuzzworthy’s Gentleman’s Beard Glass Shampoo is one of the first shampoo bars for men and for beards.
Considering that it comes in the form of a bar, it might not be ideal for travel as it is harder to store. Unless you have a case you can use to store, then you’re pretty much covered.
All-natural, cost-saving, and great for sensitive skin. Go for it.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard types
- Not recommended for stubbles
- Not ideal for travel
Just for Men's The Best Face and Beard Wash Ever
Face & Beard Wash
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
Made with oatmeal, aloe, chamomile, and jojoba oil, Just For Men’s The Best Face & Beard Wash ever truly lives up to its name.
It is one of the best! With soothing and natural ingredients, The Best Face and Beard Wash by Just For Men helps prevent beard itching, calms and moisturizes your beard, and of course, does its job by cleansing your beard.
It has a liquid-like consistency instead of the usual thick paste that you get with regular shampoos. It also does not lather.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitabel for travel
- Suitabel for all beard types
- Suitabel for all beard lengths
- Doesn't lather
ArtNatural's Natural Beard Shampoo Wash
Paraben and Cruelty Free
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
Specially formulated for the needs of facial hair; Gently deep cleaning and moisturizing those thicker and more wiry beard/mustache hairs, it helps fight inflammation and promotes beard growth.
Artnaturals’ Natural Shampoo wash is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free, making it one of the best choices for those with curlier beards.
It also comes in an easy-to-dispense bottle that doesn’t require you to pick up the bottle itself. Just push down on the nozzle!
Pros & Cons
- Best for curly and thick beards
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Not suitable for travel
The Art of Shaving Beard Wash
Cleaning and Softening Beard Wash
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
With a fresh peppermint scent, The Art of Shaving’s Beard Wash leaves your beard hair with a clean and soft feel.
It also does great in removing any dirt, oil, residue, and impurities with every wash.
Coming in at only 4-ounces (120ml), it is a great companion for travel.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for travel
- No lather
Billy Jealousy's Beard Wash
Growth promoting Beard Wash
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
Coming in at 8-ounces (236ml), Billy Jealousy’s Beard Wash/Shampoo is sulfate-free and paraben-free making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
It cleans, softens, and even helps in detangling the wildest beards. With a light, woodsy, and fresh fragrance, Billy Jealousy’s Beard Wash will definitely encourage you to take good care of your beard!
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for travel skin
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Not suitable for stubbles
- No lather
Best Growth-Promoting Beard Shampoo
Polished Gentleman's Growth and Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Shampoo & Conditioner Set for Growth
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
For both shampoo and conditioner, you’re really getting something that’s worth its price with Polished Gentleman’s Beard Growth and Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.
Using natural and organic ingredients, you can be ensured that your beard/mustache will be well taken care of.
It’s also great for those with sensitive skin because of the ingredients used!
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Natural ingredients used
- Not suitable for travel
Best Anti-Itch Beard Wash
The goal of Medicine Man’s Itchy Beard Wash was clear and it was to help those struggling with an itchy beard.
It deep cleanses the beard & face from sebum and dead skin buildup that causes itchiness. It also helps relieve your beard from dandruff leaving you with a clean, soft, and manageable beard.
With its exfoliating power, it helps clear up your follicles thus promoting faster growth.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all skin lengths
- Can dry out the ends of your beards
Best Beard Shampoo for Exfoliating
Coming in at only 6 ounces (177ml), Grave Before Shave’s Beard Wash Shampoo is all about getting you beard clean.
It gently exfoliates while maintaining hydration and moisture in your beard. Grave Before Shave’s Beard Wash Shampoo transforms your beard from dry, frizzy, and flaky, to unbelievably soft and noticeably shiny.
It’s also sensitive-skin friendly and works for all beard types.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Mild and refreshing scent
- Not suitable for travel
Best Beard Shampoo that is Worth Its Price
Using natural ingredients, ManCave presents to you their Black Spice Beard Wash. One of the best beard shampoos that are definitely worth its price.
While some users may shy away from this product, we’re here to tell you that you should definitely consider ManCave’s Black Spice Beard Wash. It cleanses your beard thoroughly while still leaving it hydrated and healthy.
It’s also a great product to bring with you on your travels!
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Mild and refreshing scent
- Suitable for travel
- No lather
Best Beard Shampoo for Travel
Nivea Men's Deep Cleansing Beard and Face Wash
Cleansing
Hydrating
Scent
Freshness
Price
Nivea Men’s Deep Cleansing Beard and Face Wash thoroughly cleans both your skin and beard. With natural charcoal in its ingredients, it helps in hydration while ensuring that your beard is free from dirt and other impurities.
At only 3.3 ounces (100ml) per bottle, it’s easy to bring this product on the road with you. Easy to store and easy to dispense.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all kinds of travel
- May not be suitable for sensitive skin
The benefits of beard shampoo
By using beard shampoo you maintain the natural moisture and sebum balance in the beard hair and underlying skin.
This makes your beard easier to comb. And not only that but beard oil and conditioner are absorbed easier too, which in turn provides more intensive care for the underlying skin.
You also prevent the knots and tangles, making it easier to style your beard.
By cleaning every few days, beard shampoo creates an antibacterial effect and has a positive effect on the growth cycle.
In the meantime, the underlying skin will not flake or dry out.
Because beard shampoo is specially formulated to not aggressively cleanse, there is no irritation, red skin, or a tight feeling after use.
But the biggest advantage is that beard shampoo prevents the formation of redness and bumps on the edges of the beard, resulting in dandruff and itching.
Then, your beard grows at a healthy pace, has a healthy shine, and also a nice scent.
The result of beard shampoo
In short, you achieve the following results by using beard shampoo:
- The underlying skin is well cared for so that the skin does not flake or become irritated.
- The beard gets the desired hydration so that it stays shiny and healthy.
- The beard retains its natural oils (sebum). These oils ensure it remains strong and healthy.
- The beard does not have to deal with tangles or knots.
- The beard smells wonderful.
You can only achieve these results if you use special beard shampoo. Never use regular shampoo for your beard.
What should you pay attention to when choosing beard shampoo?
Beard shampoo is now available in many variants. When choosing the shampoo you should always look carefully at the ingredients present.
The following (chemical) ingredients can be used perfectly and have no negative influence on beard growth or health:
- Cocamide DIPA, Decyl-Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-10, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5).
The following (chemical) ingredients and additives do not immediately have a very negative effect on the health of the beard, but try to avoid them:
- 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 will, among other things, dry the beard out and remove the natural oils. You will not notice it immediately, but with regular use you may find that the underlying skin feels tight.
We would also like to mention formulas with silicone. Although Silicone is not necessarily bad, it is an ingredient that is not soluble in water.
Silicone-based beard shampoo is more difficult to wash out. So why is it still present in many beard shampoos? Because it makes hair shine after use, which is a desired result for many men.
Many good beard shampoos contain all kinds of natural ingredients. Aloe vera, Chamomile extract, essential oils, soy wax, water and olive oil are some examples here.
Always check the packaging to see what ingredients a shampoo contains.
How should you use beard shampoo?
Have you found or bought beard shampoo that contains the right ingredients? Then it is time to use it following the step-by-step plan below.
- Step 1: wet the beard hair (in the shower or at the sink).
- Step 2: take a small amount of beard shampoo in your hand, spread it between your palms and then rub it into the beard. Make sure to clean all of the beard, including the hairs on the edges of your beard.
- Step 3: let the shampoo soak for a moment and then rinse it out well.
- Step 4: pat the beard dry
- Step 5: when it’s dry, apply some beard oil if desired. In our view, beard shampoo and beard oil complement each other perfectly.
→ Also read our comprehensive guide with the beard oil top 5 at the moment
How often can I use beard shampoo?
The frequency with which you ‘should’ use beard shampoo depends entirely on your personal preference.
Do you work during the day in an environment where your beard gets dirty quickly? Then you clean your beard more often than average.
In any case, we advise not to use beard shampoo every day. Even though they are mild formulas, with each wash you get rid of a little bit of sebum. And you need to make sure your skin and hair have time to recover.
For example, wash your beard on the same day as your scalp hair about 1 to a maximum of 2 times a week.
Summary
Beard shampoos are mild, specially formulated formulas that don’t rid the skin and beard hair of the body’s own natural oils such as sebum.
A healthy moisture content in the underlying skin (due to sebum) ensures a healthy glow and optimal growth.
Beard shampoo is made to clean in a mild way so that the hairs remain in a healthy condition.
Use beard shampoo on a wet beard and spread the formula up to the underlying skin.
Let it soak for a while and then rinse well.
Certain ingredients are a little less good to use (see above), but in general most beard shampoos are fine to use these days.
