How Often Should I Wash My Beard?

Today I’m going to answer one of the most common questions we get in our barbershop, and that is, “How often should I wash my Beard?” If you ask ten different people, you’ll probably get twelve different answers to that question. You’ll get answers from “every day” to “never”, and everything in between. I’m here to give you the definitive answer.

Why may you not want to wash your Beard every day? Washing it strips away the natural oils that help keep it healthy. Especially if you use the wrong product, washing it can dry out the hair and skin, causing damage to both.

Nobody knows all there is to know about Beards (or anything for that matter), but we know at least a little bit about them. In our barbershop, we’ve provided over 13,000 Beard trimming services. We’ve seen all kinds of Beards, from 5 o’clock shadow to ones that will cover your belt buckle. Short, long, coarse, fine, curly, straight, wavy, straight-wavy, patchy—you name it. We’ve seen every kind of Beard you can imagine, and probably a few you’ve never even imagined. With our extensive hands-on experience, I can say with confidence that I have the definitive answer to how often you should wash your Beard. And that answer is: it depends. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. Most people want an easy answer, a formula they can easily apply to themselves. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those answers. How often you should wash your Beard depends largely on three things: The type of hair and skin you have, the product you use, and your lifestyle.

First is the type of Beard and skin you have. If your Beard hair is thick and coarse, it’s more prone to drying out, and it needs more moisture than thinner, softer hair to stay healthy. If your skin is naturally dry, the hair will also not be as hydrated. It’s important to know your Beard and understand how it reacts to being washed.

The second factor is the product you use. If you wash with a harsh shampoo or cleanser, all the oils will be stripped from the hair, leaving it dry and potentially brittle. This is why it’s vital to use a cleanser that conditions.

The final main factor is your lifestyle. A lot of our clients WORK for a living. They’re machinists and welders, truck drivers and mechanics. After a long day of running a CNC machine or turning wrenches, when you get home with metal flakes or axle grease in your Beard, your only viable option is to wash it. Every day. Some guys can get away with going a few days between washings, but many can’t.

There really is no single answer that works for everyone. You’re going to have to take into account the factors I’ve talked about and experiment a little until you find out what works for you and your Beard. Does your lifestyle require that you wash it every day? If so, make sure you use a product with deep moisturizing properties. We formulated our Shampoo Bar with a vast array of conditioning oils to gently cleanse while helping to replace the natural oils that get washed away. Depending on how your hair and skin respond to any given cleanser, you may also need to use a product like our Beard Conditioner after washing. If you don’t need to wash your Beard every day, just give it a good rinse in the shower for a day or two and see how it responds. Try washing it every third day, or every other day with the Beard Conditioner afterward, or use the Shampoo Bar every day with the Beard Conditioner every other day. In the end, it comes down to what works for you and keeps your Beard healthy. If someone tries to tell you they know exactly what your Beard needs, run the other way. You and your Beard, considering the factors I’ve talked about, are the only ones who can possibly know the answer to that question. All we can do is provide some guidance and direction about how to answer the question for yourself.