Why is my beard itchy and dry?
So you’ve grown a magnificent beard, and you haven’t been so proud since you won your first athletics carnival at school. But just when you thought the itchiness of growing it out was through, you find your hands levitating towards your face to scratch at your chin and neck all too often throughout the day. To add insult to injury, your skin has become dry and flaky, speckling your luscious beard with white debris. But you haven’t worked this hard to give up on your beard now! We take a look at some of the common causes of dry and itchy beards, and how to banish dreaded beard dandruff.
The cause of dry skin under your beard.
Dry skin and dandruff can appear beneath your beard for several reasons. The top contenders, however, are an imbalance in skin oils, a change in the weather and residual shampoo and conditioner lingering in the beard and on the skin.
Cold, dry climates cultivate beard dandruff. So if you live somewhere that’s prone to high winds that
cause your hands to dry out and crack, you can bet the same is happening to your facial skin. Many men experience itchy beards, and beard dandruff is all too common. But there are ways that you can eradicate both.
How to treat beard dandruff.
So let’s begin with the nastiest and most obvious issue; beard dandruff. It isn’t sexy and no one wants to talk about it, but the problem is all too real. Here are a few steps you can take to get rid of it.
If you aren’t washing your beard with shampoo, you need to start now. Get yourself a decent
beard shampoo and give that bad boy a good scrub when you’re in the shower. Don’t try and use shampoo designed for head hair on your beard; the two types of hair are completely different and require specific products to keep them healthy.
When you wash your beard with a product, make sure you rinse it thoroughly. Beards do need to be washed, but residue product buildup can also cause beard dandruff.
Just remember that you most likely won’t see results overnight. Sometimes it can take weeks to get rid of beard dandruff, so persistence is key! The most critical thing is to stick to an effective beard care routine and make sure you wash it every day. But you also need to ensure that it’s receiving enough moisture; the next step in maintaining a healthy beard.
How to treat an itchy beard.
After you have washed your beard of all the day’s dirt and grime, you need to moisturise both the skin and the hair to keep it from drying out. This is best done by combing or brushing (depending on the length and thickness of your beard hair)
beard oil through the hair and massaging it into the skin.
Choose an organic beard oil that contains natural essential oils such as aloe vera, argan oil or jojoba oil, as these will nourish the skin and hair follicles without causing irritation. For more information on how to use beard oil,
see our guide here.
The best beard care routine for you.
Eradicating and preventing a dry and itchy beard is all about following an effective beard care routine, as outlined above. If you want your beard looking ship shape every day, you’ll need to
take a little time each morning and evening to groom it properly. Once you get into the habit, it will simply become second nature and can actually be quite therapeutic. Deciding when you will carry out this routine depends on the type of lifestyle you lead. If you work in a naturally dirty environment (perhaps in a trade or outdoors), you’ll want to wash your beard in the evening. You can choose to use beard oil twice a day; to give your beard a little moisture before you step out into high winds that have the potential to dry it out, and then again in the evening after you have washed it. Alternatively, if you work in an office and like to exercise in the morning, you may choose to wash it before you head to work and simply comb a little oil through before you head to bed to let all the nourishing ingredients soak in overnight. It’s all about what works best for you.
The best beard products.
So you know that you need to wash your beard with shampoo, rinse thoroughly and work a natural beard oil through it once its dry. But what brands and ingredients should you be using to get the best results?
Beard shampoo
Zeus Verbena Lime Beard Shampoo
This shampoo by renowned beard care brand Zeus is paraben and sulfate free. It doesn’t contain any of those nasty chemicals that can easily irritate your skin. It removes excess oils and any dirt and debris, without stripping away moisture. The combination of dragon’s blood, chamomile and green tea is soothing on the skin and provides nourishment for a healthier, cleaner beard.
Zeus Verbena Lime Beard Conditioner
If you wish to go the whole nine yards while you’re at it, you can choose to follow up your shampoo with a good dose of
Zeus Verbena Lime Beard Conditioner. It assists in preventing brittleness or breakages by incorporating jojoba and avocado oils, and the use of pro-vitamin B5 and aloe vera moisturise to prevent dandruff. While shampoo will make your beard hair squeaky clean, the conditioner will assist in softening it afterwards. However, it’s up to you if you want to use it, as a beard oil applied after your shower will also act as an effective moisturiser.
Beard oil
The Bearded Bastard Beard Oil Range
All of The Bearded Bastard beard oils are handmade in Austin, Texas and are jam-packed with only the highest quality, natural ingredients. The lineup includes sweet almond oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, natural fragrance oils, olive oil, and castor oil. The range includes scents that vary from rich and punchy to subtle and soft. Their ‘woodsman’ scent is a firm favourite amongst fans and has easily stood the tests of time on The Brotique’s shelves.
The Hudson & Armitage Beard Oil Range
Here at The Brotique, we can’t rave enough about
Hudson & Armitage. It may have something to do with the fact that the brand was conceived, and is produced solely in Scotland, but it’s also because they simply make damn good beard oils! All are handmade in small batches, with natural ingredients and a careful attention to detail. Hudson & Armitage don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Each of their beard oils is made to target specific skin problems and types. We highly recommend
The Aviator for anyone experiencing a dry, itchy beard with dandruff. The argan oil, castor oil, frankincense and juniper berry essential oils perfectly combat these ailments.
Browse their range to determine which is best for your skin.
Please note: everyone's beard and skin is different, and what may work for one person will not for another. If you've been washing and moisturising your beard for a few weeks and still have dry and irritated skin, it may be best to consult your doctor or a pharmacist. Beard dandruff can also be a result of dermatitis and may need medical attention.
