Do you rock a beard but often shave your face completely due to itching?
You'd be surprised at how many men have this complaint. They say a beard makes the man, but try telling that to someone who has never suffered through an itchy one.
Chances are the reason for your itchy beard side effect is something simple, like not conditioning it enough or just not brushing it. You might think you're keeping up with basic beard hygiene when you actually aren't.
Here are just a couple of ways you can enjoy your nice bushy beard without the annoying itch
1. Keep It Clean
Hair's original purpose is to stop any harmful particles from entering your body, so you can imagine how much dirt your beard can gather. Washing your beard on a regular basis can stop these particles from gathering and making your face itch.
Make sure you use a shampoo that is specially made for beards. Your normal one can sap out its moisture which causes an itchy beard. Strive to wash it around 1-2 times a week.
2. Conditioner Is Your Best Friend
While you want to shampoo only a few times a week, you want to use conditioner way more often. Again, you might want to get a beard conditioner that is specially made to be used on your beard.
Conditioner brings life back into a beard by providing it with all the nutrients it needs to hydrate your face and keep it from getting irritated.
3. Keep It Moisturized
On top of using conditioner make sure you're using beard oil to keep it soft. You can use it after conditioner or just by itself as part of your daily routine.
Make sure you do careful research on different beard oils before deciding on one. Each company uses different ingredients, and if you just buy any old one you could do more harm than good.
Some oils can do some serious damage if overused. You're trying to avoid beard itch so the last thing you want to do is burn your skin and cause more itching.
4. Rinse and Dry It Thoroughly
Like with most hair, you need to make sure you get all of the shampoo and conditioner out of it. Any leftover residue can dry into your skin and cause irritation.
This is something simple that you can overlook if you're in a hurry to get ready for work in the morning.
Letting water stay locked into your beard can cause the hair to become brittle and not only itchy to you but will have your partner pushing away from kisses.
Thoroughly pat your beard dry. If you're too rough, you might damage it.
5. Take Care of Any Damage
Eventually, you'll find that you may come victim to painful ingrown hairs. You can tackle these when they first appear by pulling them out with tweezers. Sometimes tweezers won't work.
Just because the tweezers don't work doesn't mean the situation is impossible though. If your skin is already too far gone, you can apply a small layer of Cortizone to get a little relief. Take note that if you do use Cortizone, a little goes a long way.
6. Make Sure the Beard Stays Well Trimmed
If you're growing a beard from a completely bare face, don't trim it for about 12 weeks. This will let you get a nice layer of thick facial hair to work with.
Beard scissors will let you come closest to a customized look, and cutting it fairly often will keep it from getting tangled. It's the same as trimming your hair every once in a while to avoid split-ends.
7. Brush It
This might sound weird, but one of the best ways to avoid an itchy beard is to brush it. This will help you get rid of any hairs that are clinging to your face for dear life.
Brushing will make your beard look clean, keep it smooth, and train your hairs to grow in the direction that you want. Believe it or not, this small thing can stop it from getting scratchy and keep those painful ingrown hairs from happening. Give it a brush after every wash and every application of beard oil.
8. Stay Away from Harmful Chemicals
When using shaving foams, lotions, or washes, make sure that it's free of any harmful chemicals. You want gentle, natural ingredients that are good for not only your hair but your skin as well.
Always check the back of the bottle to see what you're going to be absorbing into your face.
9. You Wear What You Eat
Did you know that a healthy diet equals a healthy beard? If you add a bit of Beta-carotene, vitamin D, and biotin you can actually create new hair follicles to stimulate your hair growth. Not only that, but biotin allows your body to make keratin.
These ingredients are in most fruits and veggies, and if you don't want to get them that way, then supplements are another way to add them to your diet.
Don't Suffer Through an Itchy Beard
Having an itchy beard is not only uncomfortable for you but for your partner as well. Make sure to wash, condition, and moisturize your beard correctly to keep your hair, and the skin underneath it healthy and itch free.
Beard oil is an absolute must for grooming. If you're not sure what kind to get, visit our blog for the best brands the market has to offer.