Beard hygiene for a clean look

How do I wash my beard properly? And how do I stop the facial hair I’ve spent so long growing from smelling musty? Our beard expert and master barber Behar shares some tips on how to keep your look fresh and clean at all times!

First, the good news: a lot has to go wrong before a beard starts to smell. That’s not just an extreme case, but rather an extreme extreme case. Many men wash their beards regularly, but unknowingly make mistakes because they don’t know what to look out for when it comes to beard hygiene.

Washing your beard properly

The be-all and end-all of grooming is washing it correctly. When showering, you shouldn’t neglect your beard if you want to enjoy your healthy facial hair for a long time. Many men make their first mistake here by using normal shampoo on their beard hair and telling themselves: “Hair is hair, after all”. Yet the strands on the head are much thinner and finer than the coarse hairs of the beard. You can feel the difference straight away when you run your fingers through the different areas. The beard therefore needs to be washed more thoroughly, otherwise bacteria can build up.

The solution is a special beard shampoo, which, thanks to its formulation, removes bacteria and germs from the significantly thicker hair and effectively disinfects it. I always recommend washing your beard thoroughly with a suitable product every two to three days and then blow-drying it into the desired shape. Our beard shampoo from Eric:Barbier combines cleansing with an extra dose of care: The cold-pressed mahogany oil seals the hair cuticle, preventing unpleasant odours from the outset and imparting a well-groomed shine. Simply rub a hazelnut-sized amount between your palms, distribute it carefully and rinse out again after about five minutes.

Removing residue from grooming products

Another important aspect of beard washing is the styling products used, which leave behind residue. For example, if you style your beard with a beard wax in the morning, you should wash out the residue in the evening – otherwise it will end up on your pillow or on your jacket the next morning. With beard oil, this shouldn’t be a problem: a high-quality product is completely absorbed into the hair and the sensitive skin. However, even in between washes, you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable with your beard. In such cases, I recommend a quick wash, which works wonders!

Why is beard hygiene so important?

For me, keeping your beard as clean as possible is above all a matter of respect for your partner. The dense mass of hair provides a breeding ground for bacteria. To be more precise, they settle in tiny, rough patches on the surface and are therefore difficult to remove with a comb. However, it’s important not to forget that this is no reason to give up your beard – bacteria are everywhere and aren’t dangerous in themselves, as long as your facial hair is washed regularly.

I’d be happy to show you how to use the shampoo properly and maintain optimal beard hygiene during your next visit to our salons – you can book an appointment here. In the meantime, I recommend this post by master barber Anthony, in which he explains how our trainees acquire this knowledge about hairstyling and shaving.

Yours, Behar