Why do you need beard shampoos?
If you are growing a beard, then taking care of it naturally comes into play. Much of the maintenance of your beard can be done by yourself. For precise beard management, you do need to use the right beard products. You use beard oil to care for the skin under the beard. Beard balm is handy for styling and keeping the full beard in shape. We always say here: 'What you put in, must also come out.' To keep your beard nice and clean, you should regularly cleanse it with a beard shampoo. Many customers ask us: 'Beard shampoo, is that necessary? Can't you just use regular shampoo?' In this blog, we explain why special beard shampoos are better for your facial skin and your beard.
Why is beard shampoo better for your beard?
What is shampoo and what does it contain? Regular hair shampoos contain surfactants that remove sebum, dead skin cells, sweat, and dirt from the scalp and your hair. Often, these hair products also contain synthetic fragrances and colorants. What you often encounter are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Both are synthetic detergents. SLS and SLES clean the hair very well and create a lot of lather. Oils, fats, and sebum dissolve in combination with water and SLS or SLES.
The major downside of these ingredients is that, in addition to removing sebum and dirt, they also easily strip the natural oils from your skin and hair. If you regularly use regular shampoos, you will notice that your beard starts to feel dry and coarse. You may also experience a dry, flaky, and moisture-deprived facial skin. Many shampoos contain synthetic fragrances. These ingredients can further irritate the possibly slightly irritated or sensitive skin under the beard.
Most beard shampoos or beard washes are specially developed to cleanse, soften, and hydrate your skin and beard. These beard care products do not contain artificial substances like SLS but mainly consist of natural ingredients. Instead of SLS, some beard shampoos contain so-called natural saponins, such as soap bark extract. Saponins have a cleansing and foaming effect.
Below is a list of the main natural ingredients found in beard shampoos:
- Soap bark extract - cleansing effect and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
- Aloe vera - nourishing and skin-repairing effect
- Xanthan gum - emulsifier and thickening agent
- Ricinus communis (Castor oil) - hydrating and nourishing effect
- Quillaja saponaria - contains so-called saponins (soap substances) with cleansing and hydrating properties
- Juniperus virginiana (Cedarwood oil) - pain-relieving, disinfecting, and anti-inflammatory properties
- Moringa extract - contains many vitamins (vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and C) and has a nourishing effect
- Argan oil - contains fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E. It is well absorbed by the beard hairs. It softens the hairs and provides a protective layer. Vitamin E stimulates the skin's healing ability.
In the beginning of your beard journey, you may experience a dry, flaky skin and red, itchy spots under the beard. In case of sensitive skin or skin irritations, it is better to avoid fragrances as much as possible. Many beard shampoos contain little to no synthetic fragrances. In many cases, essential oils are used for scent. Very popular are Eucalyptus oil, Mint oil, Bergamot oil, Sandalwood oil, and Cedarwood oil.
In short, beard care is not complete without beard shampoo. Caring for your beard starts and ends with these special shampoos. After cleaning the beard, you care for your skin with beard oil and shape it again with beard balm. Throughout the day, your beard gets dirty from food, dust, and air pollution. At the end of the day or after a few days, you need to clean your beard again. This ultimately results in a nice, fresh, and healthy beard.
