Dandruff is a common condition that affects around 50% of adults worldwide . While most of us associate it with a flaky scalp and the hair on your head, dandruff can affect your beard hair in the same way that it affects the hair on your head.
Living with beard dandruff can be uncomfortable and have an impact on your confidence. Beard dandruff can stop your facial hair from feeling well-groomed, and leave you with an itchy, flaky beard that doesn’t show off your best self. Thankfully, you don’t have to live with beard dandruff. There are several ways of managing the condition so you can carry on looking and feeling like the very best version of yourself.
Keep reading to find out more about what causes beard dandruff and the best ways for you to treat the condition.
What is Beard Dandruff?
Dandruff in beards looks very similar to the dandruff many people experience in the hair on their heads. It’s a common skin condition that affects the hair follicles in your beard. Beard dandruff causes small, white flakes of dead skin that can be visible in your beard and the surrounding skin.
Causes of Beard Dandruff
While you might not hear many guys talking about beard dandruff or flaky beards, it is a very common condition. Beard dandruff can be caused by a fungal microbe called Malassezia globosa, which naturally grows on areas of skin where there are lots of sebaceous glands, such as your scalp and your face. This microbe plays a key role in breaking down the sebum that can cause oily skin, but it can leave behind a substance known as oleic acid, which can be irritating to the skin, contributing to dandruff and a flaky beard.
Other causes of beard dandruff can include:
Dry skin due to conditions like eczema or psoriasis causing dryness and flaky beards
Stress reducing the function of the immune system and allowing fungal infections to thrive
Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) reducing moisture on the skin’s surface and leading to dry skin and flaky beards
Shampoo residue congealing and causing small white flakes similar to dandruff
Skin cells regenerating at a faster rate than every 30 days can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells
How to Get Rid of Beard Dandruff
If the question of how to get rid of beard dandruff is on your mind, then don’t worry, we have the answers for you.
How to Stop Beard Dandruff
To get rid of beard dandruff, a consistent routine is key, as is perseverance. If your efforts aren’t successful, you may want to speak to a dermatologist to get further advice on caring for your skin. You might also choose to shave off your beard completely - if that’s the case, the King C. Gillette Trimmer Pro is the perfect tool.
Use the beard trimmer to cut down longer beard hair before using our King C. Gillette Double Edge Safety Razor to get a clean shave across the rest of your face. Modelled on the iconic original safety razor launched by King Camp Gillette in 1901, this razor is designed to deliver a close, smooth shave.
However, if you do want to persevere with your beard, creating a routine around these five steps can help keep your beard dandruff under control:
5 Steps to Manage Beard Dandruff
1. Brush Your Beard If you are curious about how to get rid of beard dandruff, brushing your beard is a key first step. Starting your grooming routine by brushing your beard can help to exfoliate your skin before shaving, while bringing any dandruff to the surface, making it easier to wash out.
2. Cleanse Your Face After brushing, wash your beard and cleanse the sensitive skin underneath your facial hair, using warm water and our King C. Gillette Beard and Face Wash. Unlike scalp shampoo which can irritate the face, our beard shampoo combines patented hair conditioning technology with nourishing natural extracts, including argan oil, avocado oil and coconut water, to help target and relieve the effects of beard dandruff.
3. Exfoliate Your Skin It is important to take the time to exfoliate your skin properly after cleansing. Using a gentle facial scrub can help to remove any dead skin cells and dirt, oil and bacteria that could cause your beard to itch or even smell. Exfoliation helps reduce your chance of a flaky beard by removing dirt and large skin flakes that affect the way your beard looks.
4. Trim Your Facial Hair When your beard is properly clean, it’s ready for trimming. Use the King C. Gillette Trimmer Pro, which has a choice of three interchangeable combs and 11 different length settings to help you achieve your perfect look.
Regular beard trimming is essential, as dandruff in beards is more likely to show up in facial hair that’s longer, darker and thicker. Experiment with lengths over time to see how dandruff shows up in different styles and thicknesses of your beard.
5. Use a Beard Softener Always use a moisturising product as part of your post-shave routine to help to keep your skin and any remaining facial hair hydrated to stop it from drying out. Use our King C. Gillette Beard Oil or King C. Gillette Beard Softener to keep your facial hair and skin well-nourished.
Taking good care of the skin on your face helps it stay hydrated and reduces the chance of it flaking and appearing as dandruff. Our beard care bundle combines our specially designed beard wash, beard oil, and beard softener which help nourish the skin and hair on your face and potentially reduce beard dandruff.
Learn more about the benefits of introducing beard oil to your grooming routine here.
