How to prevent "Beardruff"
Growing a beard is a labor of love! That's because a fully-grown beard will take anywhere between 3 and 6 months to grow, and along the way there may be many parts of the process which can cause irritation, both mental and physical. One of the most common challenges is beard dandruff, otherwise known as 'beardruff'.
WHAT CAUSES BEARDRUFF?
There are 2 major contributors to beardruff: dry skin and fungal infections. Dry skin generally occurs when the skin under the beard has been washed with harsh cleansers or soaps. These products will clean your beard and the skin underneath, but they can also strip the oils from your skin and beard which keep it nourished and supple. Beardruff can also occur due to the environment: extreme cold and extreme warmth are both drying climates! Dry flaky skin is virtually impossible to avoid, it's just one of those things all people experience.
Less common, but still a significant factor, is fungal infections. These occur when yeast that lives on your skin is deprived of sunlight. Sunlight normally kills or slows fungal growth, but because there is now a beard blocking the sunlight, the fungus grows and causes the skin to dry and flake.
HOW TO REDUCE BEARDRUFF: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
This particular beard issue challenge can be solved fairly easily. We recommend implementing some, if not all, of these steps into your beard grooming routine.
" Wash your Beard
" Condition your Beard
" Dry your Beard properly
" Brush your Beard
" Use Beard Oils, Balms and other Beard Products
" If nothing seems to be stopping the flakes, see a Dermatologist
WASH YOUR BEARD
This one seems like a no brainer, but it is really important to regularly wash your beard. You do, however, need to make sure the product you use doesn't strip away the natural oils from your skin and face. Regular shampoo and soap that you use for the hair on your head or skin, doesn't cut it when it comes to washing your beard. Because beard facial hair is generally thicker and curlier than the hair on your head, you need a specific Beard and Face Wash. Blaze Beard Wash is specifically designed for facial hair and won't strip away your healthy and protective natural skin oils.
CONDITION YOUR BEARD
Your beard needs some TLC just like any other part of your body. Conditioning your beard with a product like our Beard Conditioner will add much-needed moisture back into the skin and beard. This helps facial hair grow healthier and keeps it from drying out. We recommend conditioning your beard at least once a week.
DRY YOUR BEARD PROPERLY
Leaving your beard wet after a shower or a walk in the rain isn't a good idea. Depending on the water's ph level, it might dry your beard out and simultaneously encourage certain types of fungal infections. It's also really important not to be too aggressive when drying your beard with a towel or hair dryer. Drying too long or with high heat can damage the hair follicles and, in-turn, lead to dryness. We recommend using the lowest setting for blow drying your beard. Meanwhile, using a towel to vigorously to dry your beard can damage the follicle root, which leads to breakage. So, be gentle and be careful!
BRUSH YOUR BEARD
Brushing your beard with a Comb or Brush not only feels wonderful but it also does wonders for beardruff and other beard problems. A brush will act as a great exfoliant and also encourages blood flow to the skin beneath the beard. It also allows you to assess how bad or good your beard dandruff situation is - think of your beard brush as an early beardruff detector. If you notice a lot of flakes while brushing, it's a bad sign.
USE BEARD OILS, BALMS AND OTHER BEARD PRODUCTS
Natural oils, like the ones that your skin produces, keep your skin from drying out and act as an antimicrobial barrier. Replacing lost or missing oils helps you fight off fungus and flaky skin. Products that contain oils such as coconut, jojoba and sunflower have been proven to not only restore moisture, but they also prevent fungus from spreading. Products like Blaze Beard Oils and Blaze Beard Balm are packed with these oils.
SEE A DERMATOLOGIST
If you've tried all the above and you're still having issues, it's time to escalate the situation and go see a dermatologist or other medical professional. There may be an underlying skin condition causing the dandruff.
BEST BEARD CARE ROUTINE TO PREVENT BEARD DANDRUFF
If you liked the tips above but want a routine to banish beard dandruff for good, try the following routine:
- Brush your beard when you wake to start the day right. Brushing will nicely exfoliate the beard, increase the blood flow AND give shape to your beard, so you don't look like you've just woken up.
- Use a Beard and Face Wash specifically designed for facial hair. It's most effective when you wash your beard at least every other day.
- Hydrate your beard. There are a few ways to quench your beard's thirst. Use a conditioner in the shower, like Beard and Scruff Softener. Or use some Beard Oil or Beard Balm, these can be applied to a wet or dry beard every day. These products not only give your beard the moisture it needs, but they also protect your beard from environmental elements.