How to Clean a Beard

Co-authored by Woody Lovell

Last Updated: July 8, 2022 References

How do you keep your beard looking clean and suave? While many people have beards, not all people know how to properly clean up their facial hair. A beard care routine can be remarkably easy, though! It just involves a bit of grooming, washing, and adding a small amount of product. We'll walk you through everything you need to know about proper beard care to keep your beard healthy and clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Beard

1
Shampoo your beard. Shampooing is one of the most important parts of cleaning your beard. Shampoo helps to loosen oil and grime, and generally clean your beard hair. As a result, you should commit yourself to a regular beard shampoo schedule.
- Shampoo your beard several times a week. The frequency depends on how dirty and oily your beard is. If you work outdoors, sweat a lot, and come into contact with dirt, you may need to shampoo every other day.
- Rinse your beard until all the shampoo is out.
- Purchase a shampoo formulated for beards.
- Don’t use regular hair shampoo, as this may dry the skin under your beard.
2
Use conditioner. After shampooing your beard, you should use a special beard conditioner.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Beard conditioners are formulated specifically for coarse beard hair. Conditioning your beard will soften your hair and moisturize the skin underneath. When conditioning, remember to:
- Shampoo first.
- Rub in the conditioner.
- Let it sit.
- Rinse it out.
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3
Avoid over washing. While you may think that washing or cleaning your beard every day is a good thing, over washing could cause a variety of problems. When determining how much to wash, remember that:
- Over washing could dry your skin and hair out.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marlon Rivas
  Facial Hair Specialist
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.}
- Everyone’s hair and skin is different. What might be too much washing for one person, might not be enough washing for someone else. Make sure to experiment and try to find the perfect balance for you.^{[3]
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4
Use baking soda to remove stains. Smokers or foodies might at some point develop nasty beard stains. Thankfully, you'll be able to remove those stains with a baking soda paste.
- Mix a 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of warm water.
- Apply the mixture -- now a paste -- to your beard.
- Allow the paste to sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse the mixture.
- Repeat as needed.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Special Products

1
Moisturize your face. Follow the directions of the moisturizing product. Make sure to rub or massage enough of the product into your beard. Ultimately, you’ll find that your face feels better and your beard is softer.
- There are a variety of products you can use to moisturize your facial skin and hair.
- Moisturizing will reduce itching and prevent flaky skin.
- Don't over moisturize. Your skin or hair could become very oily and you may develop acne or other skin problems.
2
Use a beard oil. Beard oil is intended to soften coarse, long beard hair. Without beard oil, your beard may feel rough and gritty. As a result, find a beard oil that suits your taste and budget.
- Some beard oils can be applied daily.
- Depending on the product, you will typically apply a beard oil after you’ve showered and washed your beard.
- Wash out your beard oil each day instead of letting it sit.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Woody Lovell
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
3
Locate an anti-flake beard shampoo, if you need one. Some people may need a product specially formulated to help prevent skin flaking. If you’re one of these people, you should get a special shampoo. Without it, your beard will not only appear dirty, but could harbor a lot of dead skin cells and bacteria.
- There are a variety of anti-flake beard shampoos commercially available. However, you may need to visit a specialty store or barber to find one you like.
- You may need to experiment with several shampoos until you find one that works for your skin type.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Grooming Your Beard

1
Shape your beard. Perhaps the most important part of managing and cleaning your beard is to make sure it is shaped. To do this, you’ll have to use a razor to maintain the lines, style, and design of your beard.
- Use a clean and sharp razor when shaping your beard.
- Wash your face and beard before shaping it.
- Make shaping a daily priority. For instance, use your razor to shave hair as it grows in. This way, you won’t need to deal with the task of creating a balanced and symmetrical beard every week.
2
Trim your beard. Use scissors or a beard trimmer to trim your beard to a desired length. Ultimately, cleaning your beard will be much harder if it is untrimmed and unkempt. When trimming your beard, remember:
- If you decide to use a trimmer, try to get a cordless model so you can move it around better.
- Don’t trim your beard when it’s wet.^{[7]
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3
Comb your beard. After trimming, combing is essential to cleaning your beard. Not only does brushing beard hair improve its appearance, it also helps you to remove dead and loose hair. By removing dead and loose hair, you’ll make sure your beard is cleaner and healthier.
- Use comb intended for beards. You can purchase this at just about any retailer.
- Comb your hair in the same direction.^{[8]
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