How To Soften Beard: Do’s and Don’ts
Socially distancing from the razor has become the new norm in the pandemic. Little did most men know, growing a healthy beard is not an easy feat—and softness is one defining factor. But what is the secret to learning how to soften beards?
Hair grows differently on different body parts, so it is ideal not to use a particular product for all of your hairy needs. Also, there is a broad selection of human hair types, wherein some strands can grow more finely than the others, and some can be more porous and dry than the others.
When it comes to growing and achieving a healthy, manageable, soft, and compliment-worthy beard, here is what you will have to understand:
Causes of Dry Beards
Prolonged exposure under the sun increases the risks of having dry beards.
A healthy beard is easy to get along with. It is soft and tameable. Meaning it follows your styling leads. So, if your beard gets tangled a lot and is coarse or prickly to the touch, you may be growing it the wrong way. That is why it is becoming dry.
Dry beards are a big problem for men. They are itchy and can make you look like you do not know how to care for yourself. Sporting a clean-shaven beard would be a better option than to let a dry beard be.
We get it. Not all men have been blessed with type A hair, with fine, straight strands all over their bodies. Plus, thick and prickly hair strands are common on other areas of the body that are not your head.
But, if you have genetically fine hair and still have a stubborn beard, you may have to check on your grooming routine. Are you using the same shampoo for your crown? Are you using artificial means to dry your beard out? Or maybe, you really don’t care about beard care at all.
Your hair type, the products you use, your beard care, and sometimes, your diet can all affect how much moisture stays n your beard. And moisture is the key to keeping hair, no matter where it is, soft and healthy.
Not enough moisture
You can have dry hair if your hair cannot hold or keep enough moisture, hence the frizzy, coarse, and dull appearance. It also can mean that your hair does not have enough oils that make it look shiny and lustrous.
Too much sun
Although vitamin D from the sun can help beard growth, too much sun exposure can dry beard hair. That is why if you are living in a country with a dry and hot climate, you may notice that your beard gets more brittle and dull during the hottest days.
Age matters
Your body goes through different changes that are not only reflected on fine lines and wrinkles. Hair ages too, as well as you do. As you get older, your hair does not produce as much oil as it did when you were younger. Your hair gets less lustrous, and it also becomes dry.
However, if all seems well, it would be best to consult with a dermatologist and see if you have any underlying health conditions that can cause dryness on your hair and beard.
How to Soften Dry Beards
While you are still trying to figure out which of the reasons above best apply to your dry beard situation, let us put more focus on the products you need to use. After all, it can be hard to form a strong bond with a stubborn mane if you do not have the essentials.
So, here are the dos and don’ts of how to soften dry beards:
Shampoo
Do: Use a beard shampoo
Don’t: Use your hair shampoo or soap and wash your beard every day
Naked Amor's Thor Shampoo & Body Wash's ingredients are specifically chosen to be safe and compatible for beard care.
If there is a big no-no in washing dry hair—moreover a dry beard—it is washing it every day. Lucy Chen, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology, says to Brightly that “those with a dryer scalp, can go a few days without washing their hair.”
It makes sense because shower water can make your hair drier than it already is. Shower water contains mineral residues that can react to hair products, like shampoo and conditioner, resulting in salt formation. These salts can reduce the effectiveness of moisturizers in your hair.
And when you wash your dry beard, please refrain from using the same shampoo you use on your hair, on your beard. The hair on your face is more sensitive than the hair on your body because they grow with the help of male hormones and your skin’s natural sebum is their primary source of nourishment.
Case in point, your hair shampoo will not work on your beard as well as it does on your hair. Instead, it may even dry your beard more.
What you would need to get is a shampoo like, Naked Armor’s Thor Body Wash and Shampoo. It is made of organic and natural materials that are gentle and nourishing for the hair on every part of the body. Crown, face, and body, this all-in-one shampoo will give your skin and hair the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, moisturized, and lustrous.
Conditioning
Do: Use a beard conditioner
Don’t: Forget to condition and use an ordinary hair conditioner
Using deep conditioning products, like a beard balm, is crucial to ensure your beard is soft and healthy.
The same rule for washing a beard also applies to conditioning a dry beard. It is crucial to follow the shampoo with a beard conditioner and follow it as more than a routine, but a habit.
Shampoos are great for cleansing and getting rid of dirt debris on the skin under your beard. Sadly, it can strip away the natural oils of the hair. If you have a dry beard, this is what you want to avoid the most: losing whatever moisture is left on your hair, no matter how small.
Using a conditioner, especially for beards, will guarantee that your hair gets more than enough nutrients it needs. Naked Armor’s Beard Balm is the best one out there because it will make your beard more manageable and condition it too because it also acts as a leave-in conditioner for your beard.
Moisturizing
Do: Invest in a beard oil
Don’t: Think conditioning is enough; or apply too much
Argan Oil is excellent for giving and locking moisture in your beard for a velvety touch.
The problem is some men tend to be lazy when it comes to grooming. Meanwhile, the ladies will have a 10-step skincare routine. So, when they grow a beard out, men can get surprised that beards are pretty high-maintenance.
And no, applying a conditioner is not enough to keep a dry beard hydrated all day. You need to get beard oil to help seal in the moisture and prevent it from drying out.
Plus, beard oils come in handy. If you get a natural one, free of artificial extracts and fragrances, like Naked Armor’s Solomon Argan Conditioning Beard Oil, or plain old castor oil, you can use it to moisturize your skin too once you decide to shave your mane off.
Do remember that too much can be harmful. Hence, only apply enough that can cover all of your beard. A few drops of beard oil or a penny-sized amount will do. Too much oil can cause the follicles of your hair to clog up. It can also prevent the skin underneath from producing natural sebum.
Styling
Do: Use a balm
Don’t: Use a wax
Naked Armor's Thor Beard and Mustache Balm guarantees a strong styling hold without drying the beard.
When it comes to styling hair, many men use wax because they have a strong hold. The problem is it feels rugged to the touch, and that crunch is all too familiar—both of the things you do not want on your beard.
Beards are comforting to touch. That is why you caress them now and then when you are stressed, thinking, or just because you want to. To keep your beards soft without compromising style, using a beard balm is the best way to go.
Unlike hair wax, beard balms use nature’s power to provide hold to your beard. They are natural, so more gentle to the hair. Naked Armor’s Thor Beard and Mustache Balm is made with natural candelilla wax, and mango and kokum butter that can tame your beard to follow your styling leads without feeling too brittle—a perfect find for styling dry beards.
Products to Avoid
Following the green road for your beard grooming needs may seem over the top, but it is the secret to learn how to soften beards. After all, those artificial chemicals might be too harsh on your beard and the skin underneath.
When you are on a lookout for beard care products for dry beards, stay away from products that have these ingredients:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Denat Alcohol
- Artificial scents
- Phthalates
- Benzene
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- Triethanolamine (TEA)
- Formaldehyde
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Mineral oil
- Petroleum
- Retinol
- Synthetic colors
These ingredients can irritate the skin and damage hair. They can disrupt the natural sebum production of your hair, despite being good at removing dirt and grime.
It cannot be stressed enough that unhealthy hair leads to dry, brittle, coarse, tangled, and stubborn beards. To soften dry beards, it would be best to use a more natural approach to avoid damaging your hair totally.
Get all the essentials you need for getting a soft beard from Naked Armor’s latest collections below.
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