Sport Dandruff-Free Beard With These Effective Tips
You spend all this time carefully growing your beard to a point where you’re happy. And then you spot white flakes of dandruff on your face, and life comes to a stop.
Who would have thought that you might find dandruff on your beard hair? It seems too weird to even sound true, but it is. The sad reality is that dandruff can affect your beard as much as your scalp hair. Those flakes that you find on your shoulder could actually be from your beard, not your head.
But don’t let it make you reach for the razor and shave away your hard work. Every problem has a reason and an eventual solution. All you need to do is understand the cause of dandruff and find out what you can do to get rid of beard dandruff forever.
Beard dandruff is the same as your scalp dandruff. It is caused by a fungus called Malassezia Globosa, which feeds on oil or sebum. It breaks down the natural oils that are secreted by our skin and creates Oleic acid. This acts as an irritant for almost half the world and leads to an outbreak of dandruff. The white flakes occur when there is a build-up of dead skin cells that begin to shed.
But there is a difference between dry skin and dandruff. Even extreme weather changes can dry out your face. And just growing out your beard can cause some amount of itchiness. Thus, identifying the symptoms is important in understanding your ailments. Look for the following:
- White or yellow flakes
- Greasy skin
- Patches of redness under your beard
- Stubborn itching
A flaky beard is the outcome of poor hair hygiene. Sometimes it can be a severe case, which might require medical intervention. But most often, it’s because you ignored your beard and let it get to this point.
We sweat quite often from our faces, and don’t realise where that goes. Even if you wash your face with a face wash, that water drains into your beard. You might put some water in it, thinking the job is done. But that dirty water just washed all your face dirt into your beard. Add pollution and dust from our surroundings, and you have the perfect cocktail for disaster. All of these elements can aggravate dandruff, making you run for a beard dandruff treatment.
The biggest contributor is our hands. People who grow their beards will constantly touch it, trying to shape it in a particular manner. But by doing so, you invariably have transferred all the dirt and oil present on your hands, to your beard. It’s almost as if everything you’re doing is to cause more headache for your beard. All of this can aggravate your underlying dandruff conditions, leading to that flaky beard
Shampoo
- It’s probably the first thing you thought of. Your beard is also hair, and it requires shampoo to clean all the dirt and oil which gets trapped there. But excessive shampoo can strip away your natural oils and dry out your beard, leading to even more itching.
Oil
- Use essential oils like Argan oil or even coconut oil for beard dandruff. These can soften the hair, preventing dirt from getting trapped in your beard. But don’t overdo it as that will just worsen the problem.
Conditioners
- If you don’t like oils, use a beard conditioner to soften the hair. Using it after shampoo can moisturise the hair strands and prevent your skin from drying out as well. Avoid hot water as this can dry out your skin and aggravate your dandruff.
Aloe Vera
- One of the best dandruff home remedies, applying Aloe Vera gel to your beard can instantly soothe your itching. Its natural anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties also help get rid of your beard dandruff.
Good sleep and good diet
- These are important in reducing the effect of dandruff on your hair. Studies have shown that your lifestyle can directly impact the amount of dandruff you find on your head and face.
Don’t scratch excessively
- This can lead to damaged hair follicles and potentially leave scars as well.
Reduce the amount of product
- Certain harsh chemicals can dry out your beard and clog your hair follicles, even leading to inflammation.
When it comes to the question of how to get rid of dandruff, it’s important to understand your face isn’t the same as your scalp. So, to treat beard dandruff, you can’t use the same amount of product that you use for your hair. Ensure that you use smaller amounts of products to help with your flaky beard, based on the length of your beard. Use a reputed shampoo to keep your face clear of dandruff, combining them with the right oil and conditioner.
There are various solutions available for your beard dandruff. But everything begins with you wanting to take care of it. If you bring good beard-hygiene to your life, you’ll finally create a beard worth envying.
