We all use shampoo, right? Well, at least I hope so. Or at least I hope people use shampoo every other day. The point is, you should use shampoo so your hair doesn’t eventually smell like a wet dog due to the day to day activities.
But what if you have a beard? I remember one day I was with an ex-girlfriend, and she told me my beard smelled bad. Defensively, I told her it wasn’t possible, but then after thinking about it, I said, when was the last time I shampooed my beard? And I thought, how would my hair smell if I never shampooed it?
Should you use shampoo on your beard?
If you read the introduction, you can already imagine my answer. Yes, in a nutshell, you should use beard shampoo. Now, let’s go into more detail on the subject. I don’t think you should use it every day, but if you do, it wouldn’t be wrong. If you’re in close contact with a lot of people everyday and your beard is very long, then I do recommend considering using it almost every day. You don’t want to be told, like I was, that my beard smelled bad one day. Even though I think soap may be okay, it’s not optimal.
Can you use regular shampoo on your beard?
You can certainly use the same shampoo you use for your hair on your beard, but I think there’s value in just using a dedicated beard shampoo. If you’ve read one of my longer posts (How to Grow Your Hair), you’ll know I’m not a fan of regular hair shampoos, as they have chemicals that may not create an optimal environment for growth and could even cause hair loss (key word, could).
One of the main reasons why I wouldn’t use hair shampoo on my beard is because of the chemicals and scent that I wouldn’t like to have on my beard. I think you should use something with a masculine scent, especially if you’re going to use it before going out with your partner.
Which is the best beard shampoo?
In theory, you could make your own beard shampoo with Castile soap and essential oils, but the truth is, I have enough going on with making my own hair shampoo, and I wouldn’t want to have the same scent or use essential oils that block DHT in my beard (blocking DHT might be important for scalp hair growth, but not for beards). For these reasons, I buy a beard shampoo with menthol, which will make your beard smell masculine and fresh. Beard shampoos usually have masculine scents, and this is definitely the most important thing.
Should you use it every day?
I generally recommend what I do, but you don’t have to do what I do. I don’t use, nor do I think you should use, beard shampoo every day, since every other day is enough to combat the odor and texture of your beard. It’s also fine to use it on days when you have a date or are going out, since you want to smell good. But I don’t think it’s necessary on a daily basis. What you should do everyday is wash your face, thus washing your beard with soap at least.
You also have to consider the length of your beard as a factor in how often you use beard shampoo. If you have a very long beard, you’ll definitely need to use it at least every other day to maintain optimal hygiene and a pleasant smell. If your beard is very short, just using beard soap and shampoo when you go out or on special occasions is enough. If you live with your partner, you can ask them about your scent and adjust accordingly.
How to use beard shampoo
- Rinse your beard with water.
- Apply the necessary amount depending on the length of your beard (you won’t need much).
- Wash and rinse well.
- Dry with a towel or let it air dry.
- (Optional) Moisturize and style your beard with essential oils or a special balm.
And that’s it, thanks to my ex who gave me the feedback so I wouldn’t give off bad odors to my new dates, and I hope it helped you. I definitely think it’s valuable advice and a valuable tip for dates and hygiene.