Beard itchiness is an extremely common problem most guys have when growing a beard.
Even just two weeks of growth can be enough to cause a maddening, irritating itch.

If you have a beard, you’ve almost certainly experienced beard itch. For many guys, an itchy beard is unbearable to the point where grabbing the nearest safety razor and shaving the beard off entirely seems like the only solution (don’t do it yet! GIVE me a chance to help you out).

The good news is that beard itch isn’t permanent! You can keep your beard without having to deal with itchy discomfort. If your itchy beard is driving you absolutely bonkers, know that relief is available.

How do you stop and prevent an itchy beard?
What specific techniques and products work best for beard care?

I’ve got all the info you need.

Say goodbye to beard itch and say hello to a smooth, clean beard.
Stop driving yourself crazy scratching!

Here are the six steps to deal with an itchy beard.

What Causes Beard Itch?

In order to fight and treat beard itch, you first need to understand the cause.
There are two major reasons why beards are itchy. The difference depends on whether your beard is first starting to grow or is already fully grown.

Itchiness and New Beards

A hair follicle is a small tube in the outer layer of skin. Follicles enclose the base of your hair as it grows. This provides a layer of protection.

Uncut hairs have a naturally tapered edge, which prevents friction against the follicle.
However, regular shaving leaves a sharp edge to each cut hair. The closer you shave, the sharper the edge.​

Unfortunately, this becomes an issue if you stop shaving and start growing a beard.
As the hair grows, the sharp edges of the hair scrape against the edges of the follicle.
When all the hairs on your face scrape against your respective follicles, that’s a recipe for all-over itching.​

Itchiness and Grown / Full Beards

The second reason for itchiness occurs after the beard is already grown out.

Wiry, poorly conditioned beard hair rubs against dry, caked skin and causes a persistent itch.
Dead skin cells and dry skin are a one-two punch which leads to a beard which is rough, coarse and irritating – and actually gets worse over time.

How to Stop Beard Itch – 6 Steps

Whether your beard is just starting or fully grown, itchiness can be an issue.
Fortunately, combating itchiness is actually pretty easy. Here the six steps to keep your beard comfortable and itch-free. These techniques work on beards of any type, age and length. Let’s take a look:

Step One: Wash & Keep It Clean

The first step to staying itch-free is to keep your beard and face clean.
Beard hair is androgenic. This is body hair which is affected by testosterone levels.
Androgenic hair can’t be effectively cleaned in the same way as the hair on your head.

Avoid cleaning your beard with traditional shampoo or soap. Both can dry your skin.
Shampoo and soap strip the natural oils from hair.

If the skin underneath your hair becomes dry, dead skin and hair are shed.
Normally, these dead skin cells simply fall away. But if you have a beard, those dead cells remain trapped close to your face.

There are two ways to wash your beard.

• The recommended way is a beard wash, which is a specially formulated to be gentle on beards.
• You can also get good results simply by cleaning your beard with water.
  Brush your beard thoroughly to loosen dead skin and other debris. Then rinse your beard with warm water.

Washing your beard will remove oil, dead skin and any other gunk which has accumulated in your facial hair.

Step Two: Condition Your Beard

Conditioners provide needed nutrients and moisture. All beards benefit from regular conditioning, but certain types of beards benefit more than others. If your beard is thick, coarse or wiry you’ll definitely need conditioning.​

You apply the conditioner following a wash. Take a small amount of conditioner and rub it in your hands. The heat from your hands will activate the conditioner. You want to spread the conditioner evenly throughout your beard.​

Ingredients matter more than any brand name. Select a conditioner with either Argan or Jojoba as the primary ingredients. Argan is an extract of the Argan tree which softens and thickens facial hair. Jojoba is a liquid wax which is similar to your body’s natural oils. Both ingredients help reduce tangles and breakage by thickening and strengthening hair.​

There are many different types of conditioners. Some have a consistency similar to regular hair conditioners. Others are oils, butter, balms or lotions.

Generally, oils and butter provide moisture which works well for dry skin. On the other hand, lotions are a better choice for skin which is prone to breakouts.​

Step Three: Use Moisturizer

This is where beard oil comes to play, beard oil is specially designed to nourish, hydrate and help maintaining a healthy looking beard especially as the hair strands grow longer.​

Applying beard oil will keep your beard hydrated, soft and itch free. You don’t need to put
too much oil, actually few drops are enough. 

Step Four: Trim Your Beard

Scissors are great for detail work. Many men find their mustache grows a bit faster than the hair on their cheeks. Trimming the ‘stache with scissors is an easy way to create a uniform look across your entire face.

video explaining how different clipper settings produce different results

High-grade clippers with adjustable settings let you keep your beard at a set length.
A short, even cut is often a great look for a professional environment. When trimming  your beard with clippers, start with a bigger clip number and work down based on personal preference.

Step Five: Comb & Brush Your Beard

You want a brush with a solid, comfortable wooden handle. You also want the brush to be made from 100% boar’s hair. The unique structure of the boar bristle carries sebum from the skin to the end of the hair shaft.

Sebum is a natural oily substance created by the follicle.
By spreading the sebum across the entire hair strand, boar bristles repair dry hair and add shine.

Only boar bristles have these benefits. Plastic or vinyl bristles have micro fissures which can damage your beard by causing snags. While a boar’s hair brush is often more expensive than
a plastic or vinyl one, most guys feel the extra up-front cost is worth it in the long run. Plus, a high-quality brush will usually last a lifetime.

Brush your beard before and after every wash. Brushing before washing loosens up any dirt, grime and other debris. Running water and a beard wash is then more effective. Brushing your beard after washing it helps your beard stay soft and tangle-free. Always brush your beard briskly in the direction of hair growth.

Step Six: Eat & Live Healthy

Eating Healthy

First, you want a diet rich with Beta-carotene, Vitamin D and Biotin.

Your body converts Beta-Carotene into Vitamin A, which promotes healthy sebum.  Vitamin D stimulates new hair growth by creating new hair follicles. Finally, Biotin helps your body create keratin, which is a protein found in hair and nails.

You can find these nutrients in a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you’re not big on veggies, there are many supplements and vitamins on the market which will also work well.

Living Healthy

Healthy living helps create a healthy beard.

• Avoid excess stress
• Get plenty of rest
• Drink lots of water
• Avoid smoking. Not only is smoking terrible for your health, but the stinky cigarette
  odors can become trapped in your beard hair long after the cigarette is extinguished

Bonus: Healthy Beard Routine

The steps above can be applied independently to stop and prevent beard itch. But I also want to share with you an easy beard grooming routine that will help you grow and maintain a healthy looking beard (and of course itch-free).

Daily beard maintenance doesn’t need to be extensive. Most men get the best results with a no-frills routine of washing and moisturizing.

Simply brushing your beard is an effective way to remove odors, dead skin and other “gunk.” Many guys brush their beards first thing in the morning and then again before bed.
The “with the grain” morning brush helps style your beard and also tame it.

A nightly brushing gets rid of all the clutter, dust and city debris which can accumulate throughout the day.

At least once a day you’ll want to rinse your beard with warm water. As discussed above, avoid harsh soaps. Only use beard wash made specifically for androgenic, testosterone-derived beard hair.

Typical Routine

A typical routine which works for many guys is as follows:

• Wake up, brush beard thoroughly
• Take a shower, rinse beard with warm water
• Avoid using head shampoo or soap for your beard
• Towel dry beard
• Apply beard oil & beard balm
• Brush beard again to style and shape

Beard Grooming Kit – ALL in ONE

If you’re new to the beard world or looking to buy some beard care products together to fight off beard itch or just want to take your beard to a new level, I think a beard grooming kit would be a perfect match.

The Zeus Deluxe Beard Grooming Kit includes beard oil, conditioner, shampoo, and 100% boar bristle brush.

This kit has everything you need for a healthy, itch free, great looking beard.

Infographic

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Final Thoughts

A beard is more than just a stylish addition to your face. Instead, a beard can be a reflection of your personality. A full grown, well-maintained beard enhances masculinity, displays a commitment to completing goals and showcases your individuality.

Don’t let itchiness and irritation keep you from growing the beard you’ve always wanted.
The six steps above will help the growing process stay comfortable and easy starting from the very first day. Regular washing, moisturizing and conditioning will keep your beard and skin smooth and itch-free.

Growing a beard is a big commitment. But with information and preparation, you can avoid the major problems.

Best of luck with your new (or old) facial hair and may all of your beard dreams come true!