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If you’re not shampooing your beard, it’s time to start.
IF YOU have a beard, you know how important it is to take care of it. The health and strength of your beard are a direct result of the grooming products and techniques you use, especially if you’re trying to grow it out.
“Beard shampoo helps with hair growth because it makes the beard and skin softer, giving your beard the best possible chance to grow,” says master barber Damond Bowers, owner of J.D.’s Grooming and The Hair Cave.
For the best beard care, you will want to use top quality beard products regularly in your grooming routine. Why, you may ask? The hair on your face and the hair on your head feel very different, so it makes sense that you would use separate products on your beard.
“Hair shampoos are made with more harmful ingredients like sulfate and polyethylene glycols, which strip the oils and natural moisture out of your hair on your scalp,” says Bowers. “If used on your beard, it will cause split ends and weaken the roots, and create itchiness to your beard.”
Beard hair is typically more coarse, which is why many beard shampoos contain moisturizing ingredients that help to soften and condition your thick beard hair. These types of products would weigh down the hair on your head, making it appear less full. But when used on your beard, they can help tame rough, unruly beard hairs, reduce itchiness, and even encourage hair growth.
The best beard shampoo removes dirt and oil without stripping your beard (or the skin underneath it) of its beneficial natural oils. Just like our favorite face washes, these beard shampoos also leave your face smelling great and feeling fresh without that tight and dry sensation.
Looking for the best beard shampoos to cleanse and treat your facial hair? From moisturizing formulas to sensitive skin saviors, here are our top picks for the best beard shampoo.
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The best all-around beard shampoo is this one from Scotch Porter. It’s nourishing without being too heavy. The men’s grooming brand takes beard care seriously, and the ingredients are top notch. Use a few times per week, depending on your beard hair type.
If you have coarse beard hair and you want a beard shampoo with a deep clean, look no further. It cuts through dirt and grime easily and then uses a combination of maracuja oil and shea butter to add some much-needed moisture back into your beard.
The best beard shampoos are part skincare, part haircare. This one leans more into the skincare category, which makes it great for dry skin. The extra-gentle formula removes dirt and oil while conditioning your hair and skin underneath.
This 2-in-1 beard and face wash is gentle enough to use every day without being too harsh on your skin. Not only do the powerful natural ingredients reduce irritation and soften your beard hairs, but they also smell incredible.
This one lathers up nicely, leaving your face feeling clean and soft. The oils moisturize without making your face or beard feel greasy, and a little amount goes a long way, so this 11 ounce bottle is sure to last you awhile. For under $10, it’s absolutely worth it.
They don’t call this the Best Damn Beard Wash for nothing. While it didn’t snag the top spot, it was definitely in the running. It’s made with plant-based ingredients that nourish your skin and beard, encouraging beard growth and thickness. Plus, proceeds from each sale goes towards helping U.S. Veterans, so it’s a purchase you can feel good about.
Guys with sensitive skin often have a hard time caring for their beard, since the skin underneath is easily irritated. This beard shampoo is full of sensitive skin-friendly ingredients like black currant, rosemary, and coconut oil to soothe dry skin while softening beard hairs.
This pH-balanced shampoo is specially formulated to help rid you of dreaded “beard dandruff.” It cleanses without stripping the skin and lightly conditions your beard hair to prevent flakeage.
A lot of men’s grooming products claim to be 2-in-1 but are subpar in both at best. This. 2-in-1 beard shampoo and conditioner is the exception. It does a fantastic job of cleansing and conditioning, so your beard looks and feels well-groomed.
For a fresh, invigorating shampooing experience, this beard wash from The Art Of Shaving will wake you up and put some pep in your step. It lathers up nicely and leaves your face feeling refreshed and cool.
For the past two years, we consulted with Men’s Health’s Grooming editors and writers on the best beard shampoos for men. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, put a number of beard shampoos to the test and evaluated their ingredients, scent, feel, and value. We also considered top-reviewed beard shampoos that had high customer ratings on e-commerce websites we trust.