Beard Itch: Why New Beards Itch and 3 Steps to Calm It
No Shave November, a new look, or simply because facial hair is cool: there are plenty of reasons to grow a beard. And there's one big reason guys give up in the first few weeks. The itch.
Why does a new beard itch?
- Sharp tips. When you shave, you cut each hair at an angle. As those blunt, sharp ends grow back, they curl against your skin and irritate it.
- Dry skin. Your face sheds skin cells every day. With a beard, those cells get trapped near the skin instead of washing away, and dry skin itches.
- The wrong wash. Bar soap and head shampoo can strip the skin under your beard and leave it tight and dry.
The good news: for most guys the worst of it passes in the first few weeks as the hairs get longer and softer. A good routine gets you there in comfort.
3 steps to calm beard itch
1. Wash your beard properly. Use a wash made for facial hair and the skin underneath, like our Original Beard Wash or Fresh Mint Beard Wash. Lather it all the way down to the skin to clear out trapped skin cells and oil, then rinse well.
2. Condition. Coarse beard hair needs conditioner to soften the tips that poke at your skin. Once or twice a week, give it three minutes of Wonder Beard Intensive Repair in the shower.
3. Moisturize every day. This is the step that makes the difference. A leave-in conditioner like Fresh Mint Beard Saver relieves beard itch and softens both your scruff and the skin underneath. A dab worked in from root to tip after you wash is plenty. It's the product we first cooked up in our own kitchen to get through the itchy stage.
And don't scratch. It only makes the skin angrier.
If the itch comes with a rash, bumps that hurt, or flaking that won't quit, check with a dermatologist. Some skin conditions look like ordinary beard itch.