Post date: July 15, 2024 | Blog
The Best Beard Shampoo and Conditioner Combo
If you’ve got a beard, then there are probably some beard products you’ve heard of before like beard oil and maybe even beard color. But, for some reason, not many men consider beard shampoo (or wash) out there. So, kudos to you for looking into it!
Beard shampoos (or beard washes) are becoming more and more popular among beard growers and enthusiasts. Most men think a warm shower and shampoo will do just as well to clean their beards, however, that can’t be further from the truth.
Today, let’s discover the differences between beard wash and hair shampoo, as well as what to look for in a high quality beard wash and conditioner that will help your beard grow as opposed to hindering it!
Beard Wash vs Shampoo
You might think that both beard wash and shampoo have to be the same thing. After all, they are both meant to clean hair, right? Well, technically yes, but also…no.
Here’s the thing: beard hair is NOT the same as the hair on your head.
Beard hair is not only connected to a far more sensitive piece of skin on your body than your scalp hair is, but beard hair is also courser, curlier, and retains oils differently than the hair on your head.
This is mainly due to a difference in the nature of the hair follicles on your face as opposed to the follicles on your head. Hair follicles dictate the nature of the hair that grows from them, thus leading to differences in hair.
Let’s break it down now. Beards, due to their naturally thick and curly hair, need products that can clean the hair and soften it without drying it out. Shampoo tends to leave hair dryer than before, thus relying on additional moisturizers after the fact, like conditioner.
Because scalp hair is already softer than beard hair tends to be, the only thing shampoos are usually worried about is controlling excess oils to keep the hair clean. in this way, shampoos are much harsher and cause much more dryness than a beard wash would.
Beard washes are specifically designed to be used less often, 2-3 times per week, and will gently clean, but also soften the beard hair to make it more comfortable and resistant to tangles.
That’s why, if you care about your beard growth, you should definitely opt for a beard wash as opposed to using typical shampoo.
What To Look For In Beard Wash
When you’re on the market for beard wash, you’re going to see some buzz words. But, the big ones you want to watch out for is “sulfates.”
To put it shortly, sulfates are bad.
Sulfates are the chemically created manmade salts that act as foaming agents and cleaners. They are cheap, and clean really really well. Too well, in fact.
When you wash your beard, keep in mind that you do NOT want to strip away all the oils. Instead, you want to strip away the excess debris and buildup that the oils can cause occasionally.
Sebum, the natural oils that your skin produces, is there to help soften and protect your hair. This is a good thing, and shouldn’t be eliminated.
Using a beard wash (or shampoo) with sulfates will almost guarantee your beard gets dry, crusty, and cause skin flaking, dandruff, and irritation around your beard area.
Sulfate-free beard washes, like Volt’s beard and face wash, use sulfonates and not sulfates. They sound the same, but what are the differences?
Sulfonates vs Sulfates
Sulfonates are, for lack of better words, the natural versions of sulfates. They tend to be gentler, not as harsh when cleaning, and overall comprised of natural compounds.
For example, the sulfonates we use in our beard and face wash here at Volt are naturally derived from coconuts. Seriously.
When looking for a quality beard wash, stick with natural ingredients and avoid sulfonates.
The Best Beard Wash and Conditioner
When it comes to beard wash, you can’t get much better than a natural gentle wash made without sulfates, like we mentioned earlier. Take Volt’s beard wash for example.
But, what about conditioning? Your beard needs some of that too, right? Correct.
Just like conditioner helps your scalp recover from the loss of oils that shampoo strips away, you’re going to have to replenish some of those oils in your beard as well.
This is where everyone’s favorite beard oil comes in.
Beard oil, as well all know is the most popular beard grooming product on the planet, and we likely don’t have to tell you to just find one that’s natural. There are tons.
However, what you’ll find is that some beard oils rely too heavily on a single type of oil. Usually a “carrier” oil for other ingredients. This can cause the oil to feel sticky, nasty, and overall unpleasant to have in your beard, let alone on your hands.
You want a light-medium beard oil. These oils absorb and soften the beard and skin quickly, and leave it feeling light, natural, and moisturized without feeling tacky, sticky, or uncomfortable.
Take Volt Lube beard oil for example of a light beard oil.
However, if you want to live on the wild side and take a shot at styling your beard and mustache or taming crazy beard hairs, then try a product that both hydrates and styles your beard with natural oils, butters, and waxes.
Something like Volt’s beard balm comes to mind.
Conclusion
Overall, what you’ll find is that using a dedicated beard wash (not a shampoo) and a beard conditioner like beard oil or balm is going to help you keep your beard feeling and looking great all the time.
You’ll also be promoting beard health and growth by fighting tangles, split ends, and premature hair loss caused by similar issues.
Overall, if you’re curious about finding exactly the right product that you need, take the quiz below and answer some short questions so you can be shown exactly the product you’re looking for.
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