How Often Should I Wash My Beard?

A well-kept beard does more than add to your appearance, it’s often a sign to others that you’re someone that you know how to take care of yourself. If you haven’t been taking care of your beard with proper, regular washes, this is your sign to start doing it. 

Unlike the rest of your body, your beard may not necessarily need to be washed every single day. The question of how often you should wash your beard will come down to your day to day routine, the environments you’re spending time in, and how much you’re sweating.

The importance of washing your beard

Washing your beard is a big part of personal hygiene and an even bigger part of beard care. 

Neglecting to wash your beard and you’ll soon find that there will be unwanted consequences ranging from beard dandruff to a bad beard smell. 

The reason for this? Your beard will collect debris and other types of substances over time. Food particles can get trapped in your bread hairs when eating, and sweat and oil from your skin can mix in with your facial hair follicles. Allowing this bacteria to develop is the perfect environment for irritation, itch, and general dirtyness.

The simple act of washing your beard will help to keep your beard clean from sweat, grime, and gunk that can build up.

How often should you wash your beard?

So, should you be washing your beard daily? Not necessarily - over washing can risk making your facial hair dry, by washing out all of the natural oils produced.

Like we’ve said above, there’s no hard and fast rule that applies across all types of beards when it comes to how often you should wash your beard. We’ll get into the specifics below, but just as a general guide, most beard experts agree that 1-3 times a week is a good wash frequency. 

Factors that influence how often you should wash your beard

Length of your beard

Longer beards have more surface area, and more surface area means that they’re more likely to trap more dirt and oil. This ultimately comes down to the style of beard that you’re rocking. Short beard styles like 5 o'clock shadows will need less frequent washing compared to longer facial hair.

This is also true for how thick your beard is — the thicker your beard, the more often you’ll need to give it a good scrub.

Skin type and sensitivity

If you have oily skin, you may need to wash your beard more often due to all the sebum (skin oil) that can collect around the root of your beard hairs. This is one of the biggest causes of beard dandruff, so if you find yourself developing white specks in your beard, that’s your sign that you need to wash it more often.  

For those with dry skin or sensitive skin, hold off on washing your beard too often. If you find that your skin is still becoming irritated despite toning down on your beard washes, you should consider using a beard wash product specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

Environmental factors

Pollution in the air, smoke, and dusty environments will cause your beard to collect more debris. If you frequent areas like these due to work or where you live, you will need to wash your beard more often. The same goes for sweat, whether it’s from a workout or the outside heat. 

Products that you use

Be sure that you’re using products that are specifically made for beard care. Your beard hair is different from your head hair, so you shouldn’t be using the same shampoo for both. Beard care washing products come with the right balance of ingredients to promote and protect your beard’s health, so use them to avoid having to wash your beard constantly.

How often should you use beard wash products?

Most beard wash products come with specific instructions outlining how often they should be used, and how to use them. For example, our Jericho 2 in 1 Beard Shampoo & Conditioner should be used 2-3 times a week. 

Simple tips to keep your beard healthy and lush

Now that you’re all up to speed on how often you should wash your beard, here are some practical tips to keep in mind to get the best results: 

• Brush regularly: Brushing your beard helps to distribute natural oils, remove dirt and debris, and stimulate blood circulation.
• Use beard oil: Apply a few drops of beard oil after your shower in the morning and before you go to sleep to keep your beard soft, manageable, and hydrated.
• Use beard balm: Best applied after a beard wash, a beard balm can moisturise your beard hair and help you style it. 
• Use beard conditioner: Beard conditioner helps to keep your beard hydrated and prevent it from drying out.
• Trim regularly: Trimming your beard regularly helps to keep it shaped and prevent split ends.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps to keep your skin and hair hydrated, including your beard hair.