It’s sadly very common for us to hear from bros eagerly growing out their beards that they’ve got ugly flakes all through their whiskers. Worse, those flakes shed onto their clothes, their food, their workspaces, and even their loved ones. To cap off the nightmare, their faces itch like crazy! Standby for a bevy of info and beardruff solutions and we’ll tell you How to Beat the Beardruff Blues!
What Is Beardruff?
Simple. Beardruff is flakes of dead skin. Just like dandruff in your hair is from flakes of dead scalp skin, beard dandruff comes from your face shedding little pieces of itself. It is especially common in the early stage of growing a new beard – that’s a big part of why a new beard itches!
Beardruff is a sign that the skin beneath your beard is dry and irritated. And your whiskers provide an ideal habitat for the flakes to cling and collect.
Why Do I Have Beardruff?
Again the answer is simple: not taking proper care of your beard, your face, and yourself. Being a rugged bro doesn’t mean just letting your facial hair go wild without any work or help. A beard is like a garden. When tended properly, it’s a thing of beauty. Left alone, it goes berserk, develops problems, and can look horrible.
The most common way dudes develop beard dandruff is from not using any beard grooming products at all. It’s also caused by harsh beard grooming products that strip essential oils/moisture, using head hair products on your beard, stress, poor sleep, yeast (fungus), extreme heat or cold, even illness.
If You Have Naturally Oily Skin…
That happens because sebaceous glands attached to hair follicles produce excess sebum oil. But beardruff happens to naturally oily skin too because when the hairs grow longer, that excess sebum isn’t actually sufficient to coat and nourish both your facial skin and the entire lengths of the hairs. When your beard whiskers take most of that sebum, your skin doesn’t retain enough of it and becomes dry, cracked, and flaky.
How to Beat the Beardruff Blues
Step 1Wash It Regularly with a Beard Shampoo
Put down the dandruff shampoo! This harsh stuff might work on your head but should never go near your face! The chemicals will dry your skin and make the beard dandruff problem worse.
A dedicated beard wash is a must. It won’t strip your skin. But this beard shampoo needs to be flush with Omega-6 and Omega-9 essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and organic oils (only organic), like Moroccan argan oil. Use beard shampoo two to three times a week, no more. Bring the shower temperature down a few degrees. Super hot water will dry your skin. Rub it in well, right down to skin to exfoliate it. Move the hair directions around. Rinse. Towel dry. We recommend not blow drying. Heat will dry your skin all over again and heat damage can damage/weaken the beard hairs.
Step 2 Use a Beard Moisturizer
If you don’t, you’ll likely keep on itching. Quality is everything with a beard moisturizer. It should contain the same kinds of fatty acids, antioxidants and organic oils as your beard shampoo, plus include plenty of vitamin E to soothe the itching and minimize flaking. Rub it in right down to the skin.
Step 3 Oil That Brush
Remember the sebaceous glands and sebum mentioned above? As your beard hairs lengthen, those glands stay the same and produce the same amount of sebum. i.e. not enough. A beard oil will ensure there’s enough good stuff to go around for your follicles, your skin, and your whiskers. On top of the beard conditioner shampoo and beard moisture beard oil is a major player in ending that beard dandruff. As the oil lovingly coats your whiskers and skin in nourishing essential oils, it has the added benefit of trapping moisture to make your beard sumptuously soft, glossy, and sexily touchable. Some oils have an irresistible scent, too.
By the way, the essential oils in good beard oil are literally essential” for another reason they have antibacterial and antifungal properties. So if yeast is a problem for you, chalk up another win for beard oil.
Step 4 Groom with a Great Beard Brush
Brushing serves several purposes: to distribute the oil and moisture evenly, to straighten out tangles, to help shape your beard, and to remove beardruff flakes, dust, and dirt.
But it can’t be any old brush. We recommend a wild boar hair bristle brush. These bristles are stiff yet flexible to provide a comfortable experience that stimulates blood flow to your follicles and will add the finishing touch to your skin exfoliation.
Never ever, ever use the same brush as you use on your head and never use a comb – unless you enjoy painful tugging on your whiskers. Ugh!
Step 5 Apply Beard Balm
Think beard balm is only for cosmetic purposes? Think again! Sure, it’s awesome for sculpting and styling your beard into the shape you want. But it also acts like a barrier and conditioner to hold those essential oils close to your hairs and your skin.
Again, quality matters. Your beard balm needs to be made from pure oils and butters, not synthetic kinds or silicone or mineral oils. A little natural beeswax seals the deal – literally – by holding the shape you like and holding the essential ingredients to your whiskers.
Other Important Weapons in Your Anti-Beardruff Arsenal
Drink more water. Plain water, not juice or soda or coffee or energy drinks. A properly hydrated body has clearer, moister, happier skin.
Lower your stress levels. Dandruff can increase with stress. That includes beardruff. Stress also causes skin inflammation, irritation, and breakouts.
Get good sleep. Lack of quality sleep does all kinds of damage, including sending your hormone levels out of whack, which will be reflected in your skin health.
Eat better. To be healthy and reduce beard dandruff, your skin needs foods that are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids to help sebum levels, maintain moisture, and repair damage.
Exercise regularly. It will help with the stress, your hormone levels, and your sleep. You’ll also drink more water.
Beware temperature extremes. Cold weather sucks moisture out of your skin, as you’ve noticed with your hands drying out and cracking in winter, which makes beard dandruff more likely. Also, watch out in a hot climate because sweating more can dehydrate you.
Conclusion
There you have it, bro your beardruff bible. Having a beard of true distinction doesn’t just happen, and neither does getting rid of beard dandruff Wisdom and work are needed. Think of your beard like an iceberg. 10% is what people see, while 90% of its awesomeness happens “below the surface or behind the scenes in your beard care routine.
FAQs
Q1: Can I use regular dandruff shampoo on my beard?
A: No, regular dandruff shampoos are too harsh for your face and can dry out your skin, making beardruff worse. Use a dedicated beard shampoo instead.
Q2: How often should I wash my beard?
A: Wash your beard two to three times a week with a quality beard shampoo to avoid drying out your skin and hair.
Q3: What type of beard brush should I use?
A: Use a wild boar hair bristle brush. It’s gentle yet effective at distributing oils, exfoliating skin, and detangling your beard.
Q4: Can I skip using beard oil if I use a moisturizer?
A: It’s best to use both. Beard oil provides essential nourishment and moisture that complements the hydration from your moisturizer, ensuring your beard and skin stay healthy.
Q5: How can I prevent beardruff if I have naturally oily skin?
A: Even with oily skin, beardruff can occur if the sebum doesn’t evenly coat your skin and beard. Regular washing, moisturizing, and using beard oil can help maintain balance and prevent dryness.