Beard hairs are coarser than scalp hairs because the follicles are individually thicker than the head follicles. This means facial hairs can trap more germs, dirt, fungi, and particles, making them more prone to becoming dirtier than head hairs.

The skin under beard hair is also different than the skin on your head and body. Your scalp or skin under your head hair tends to be more oily than facial skin. Using shampoos intended for scalp skin and head hair can often remove excess oil but strip too much on the face and beard, resulting in harsh, dry beard and skin underneath.

CONCLUSION:

In short, beard hair is androgenic and controlled by hormones – which means these follicles desperately need natural sebum oils. Scalp-hair is non-androgenic and doesn’t need hormones to grow, which means those follicles are not dependent on natural sebum oils.

Beard hair is drastically different and distinct than the hair on the head, requiring very different kinds of care and grooming.

SHAMPOO VS. BEARD WASH

Since beard hair is distinctly different than head hair, a different approach must be taken to care for your beard.

Regular hair shampoos are specifically formulated to cleanse the hairs on the scalp, as well as the skin on the scalp. Because of their specific texture and makeup, the scalp and hair follicles tend to be oilier. Therefore, shampoos require a more concentrated solution in their formulations to properly cleanse hair strands – to capture and lift away dirt, remove or strip excess oils and help eliminate product buildup from the scalp and hair, all to make hair not look greasy or oily. These formulations tend to be harsh and excessively drying, which can be problematic if used on beards and face.

Using a regular shampoo can also cause additional irritation to the skin on the face, making it become dry, inflamed and scaly, leading to beard itch and dandruff.

Same goes for dandruff-fighting shampoos. Many guys already suffering with beard dandruff think it makes sense to use a dandruff formula shampoo on their beards to help rid the flakes. But the formulations for a dandruff-shampoo can be even more harsh and drying than regular shampoos and can make the problem worse. These shampoos are only designed with the scalp and oily hair in mind. Using them on the more sensitive skin on the face and drier beard hairs can run the risk of drying out skin, further irritation, more flakes and itching.

On the flip side of the equation, beard washes tend to be gentler in their composition and are the more appropriate choice to cleanse the beard and face. Typically, beard washes are formulated with more naturally based, hydrating ingredients, and less drying agents. Beard washes won’t strip away the natural sebum oils which are vital for maintaining proper hydration balance in both your beard and skin.

One of the key benefits to using a beard wash is it can help keep beard dandruff away, too! Beard washes not only contain super hydrating properties, but their natural ingredients help eliminate beard itch, and gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin underneath your beard removing any excess dead skin cells left behind. This helps reduce skin irritation and prevent other skin problems from arising. Beard washes can also help aid in the anti-inflammatory process and soften hair so it’s less coarse and wiry to the touch.

IN SUMMARY - WHEN IT COMES TO GROWING
YOUR BEARD THE SMART WAY:

Beard Washes = GOOD. Good beard wash brands are made with the beard hair and face skin as top priority. They have high quantities of natural oils, hydrating ingredients and only a very small amount of chemical cleaning agents. (Yes, a small amount of some chemicals in your beard wash is actually a good thing when it comes to a clean beard). A good beard wash will leave natural oils intact, reduce beard dandruff, soften beard hairs and help cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin underneath your beard.

Hair Shampoos = BAD. Most contain man-made chemicals, harsh detergents, parabens, sulfates and strong cleaning agents with few natural oils. They can strip almost all of the natural sebum oils, suppress testosterone and DHT, which is key for beard hairs, cause split ends from drying out hairs and can dry skin under facial hair resulting in more beard dandruff.