Taking care of your hair, including the beard, is a must. A wide selection of products are available for your hair but only very few for your beard, making it hard to come up with a beard care regimen that works for you.
Many people resort to using normal hair shampoo on the beard, but is it advisable? This article will answer all your questions about why you shouldn’t use hair shampoo on your beard and what to use instead.
Hair Shampoo: Good or Bad for Your Beard?
Although hair shampoo may not have a negative impact on your beard, it is absolutely not good for the skin of your face. This is because hair shampoo is designed for the scalp, whereas beard shampoo is designed to be suitable for the sensitive skin of the face. (1)
If you continue to use hair shampoo on your beard, you will be at a higher risk of having dry skin on your face and beard-related problems such as dandruff.
Why Should You Not Use Hair Shampoo on Your Beard?
1. Beard hair and scalp hair are different
Beard hair is a lot thicker than scalp hair. Beard care products are generally much softer and gentler than the shampoos for your head hair. This is because the beard grows on your face and the skin on your face cannot handle aggressive products.
You might think that since both beard hair and head hair look the same, they can be taken care of by similar products, but that’s not the case. Beard hair and scalp hair grow on different types of skin with different textures. One grows on the face, whereas the other on the scalp.
Beard requires only mild products. Facial skin, being very sensitive, should not be exposed to harsh products that are meant for the scalp. (2)
2. Hair shampoo can be harmful to your face as it is not formulated for facial skin
Regular shampoo has been developed to get rid of excess oil production in the scalp to make the hair bouncy and less greasy. Beard shampoo is meant to do the same but in the least aggressive way possible.
Hair shampoos may strip the hair of natural oils, but beard shampoos, on the other hand, are gentler and retain the natural oils in the beard. This keeps your beard hydrated and healthy.
Using regular shampoo to wash your beard can lead to the development of dandruff, dryness, and itchiness. For this reason, keep your beard products separate from your head hair care products. (1)
Difference Between Hair Shampoo and Beard Shampoo
Here are some key differences between the mechanism of hair shampoo and beard shampoo.
Hair shampoo
Hair shampoo is specifically designed to clean the hair by removing dirt or pollution from the hair and scalp. Using shampoo will help ensure that your hair is healthy and beautiful because of the various active ingredients they possess. (3)
The ingredients in shampoos are mainly surfactants, which are chemically made molecules similar to soap and cover dirt particles that are not soluble in water such as oil and fat so that they can easily be removed when you shower. (4)
Using shampoo is very easy. All you have to do is take an amount that is sufficient for your hair length and thickness, then massage it on your scalp and the strands nicely, and finally rinse it off.
Shampoos are very creamy and can come in a lot of different colors based on the ingredients they have.
Some shampoos can go a long way and therefore only a small amount is needed, whereas others may require a little more. Shampoo will clean your hair and will not cause irritation to the scalp or hair roots, making them a very important and unavoidable part of your hair care regimen. (4)
The best part about shampoo is that there is one available for any kind of hair. There are shampoos specifically formulated for dry or curly hair. There are even shampoos that are medicated for dandruff or other problems such as hair breakage or thinning. (3)
Beard shampoo
Beard shampoos are formulated especially for your beard health and texture. The ingredients in a beard shampoo differ from those found in hair shampoo. Beard shampoos keep the natural oils intact, which is necessary for a healthy beard. They are also usually very gentle on the skin.
Beard shampoos don’t usually contain parabens and sulfates, and they are rich in natural ingredients including green tea and essential oils. (1) They are also abundant in vitamins such as vitamins B2 and E, which keep your skin and hair hydrated. They also promote the healthy growth of beard hair.
Moreover, beard shampoos contain ingredients that have antifungal and antibacterial properties, which are good for your face. (1)
Ways to Take Care of Your Beard
- When you shop for a beard shampoo, look for ingredients that are hydrating. Some of these include shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa powder. (5)
- Do wash your beard too often because this can strip the hair of nutrients. Always use beard shampoo instead of regular hair shampoo.
- You can also invest in a beard conditioner that you can use after washing your beard with a beard shampoo.
- It is also a good practice to use beard oil to keep your beard moisturized and nourished.
Most-Asked Questions About Beard Care
How many times should I wash my beard in a week?
There is no fixed frequency for how many times you have to wash your beard.
The best way is to wash it once or twice a week. However, if you have an active lifestyle where you spend a lot of time outdoors, you can increase the washing frequency of your beard. (1)
What ingredients should I look for in a beard shampoo?
When getting a beard shampoo, look for natural hydrating ingredients, not chemical ones. These include essential oils and vitamins. (1)
What are the important steps for beard care?
The three important steps that should be part of your beard care regimen are: (1)
Final Word
Using hair shampoo for your beard is not the most ideal way to clean and wash your beard. You have to make pay special attention to your beard because it grows on your face, and facial skin is much more sensitive than the scalp.
Moreover, beard hair grows differently from scalp hair. It is highly recommended to invest in the right products for your beard to get good results.