These Beard Shampoos Are the Secret to a Great Beard
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Despite beards’ reputation as a mark of rugged manliness, it takes a considerable amount of delicate care to keep your beard looking and feeling its best. The most important weapon in every skilled beardsman’s bathroom cabinet? The best beard shampoo.
Beards weren’t a mainstream option for dapper dudes until a little over a decade ago. Some researchers attribute the modern rise of beards to the financial crisis of 2007-2008 when men needed a new way to look and feel masculine while navigating a tumultuous job market. Because serious beards are a relatively new trend (that seems here to stay), it can be tough to find the best beard shampoo. There are constant advances in formulas and dozens of great young brands vying for the attention of bearded men.
To help get your scruff looking and feeling its best, we’ve combed Amazon for the very best beard shampoos. Read on for our top picks.
What to Know Before Buying Beard Shampoo
Ingredients: The primary concern for beard shampoo shoppers is the formula. Firstly, check if a beard shampoo is natural. Parabens and chemicals might help your beard in the short term, but they’ll be detrimental after months or years of use.
The three main ingredients in most beard shampoos are carrier oils, essential oils and sometimes vitamins. Carrier oils, which soften and relieve beard itch, might take the form of jojoba, argan or castor oil, among others. Essential oils are mainly used for scent, but some beard shampoo users contend that essential oils also relax the skin and help growth. Vitamins (typically Vitamin B12/biotin or Vitamin E) are key agents for growth and strengthening.
Skin Type: Is your skin oily? Dry? Sensitive? Some beard shampoos are formulated for one type of skin, while others are universal or best for combination skin.
Scent: Scented beard shampoos can be a great confidence-booster, but some guys prefer an unscented beard shampoo. Most brands will note the scent of their beard shampoo (including strength) but reviewers are the best source for figuring out whether a scent is actually nice to wear.
Brand: Most of the best beard shampoos come from new brands that just handle beard grooming. Some brands have higher standards and much more intensive quality control than others. Also, it’s always helpful to have a brand that’s open for customer service in case of an adverse reaction.
1. Polished Gentleman Beard Shampoo and Conditioner
This beard shampoo and conditioner set is our Number One pick because it uses natural, effective ingredients, and Polished Gentleman is upfront about their formula. The beard shampoo delivers a variety of nutrients including vitamin-rich argan oil, stimulating tea tree oil and rosemary oil. The shampoo also utilizes biotin, a powerful ingredient capable of helping your beard grow while moisturizing and soothing the skin under your beard. Polished Gentleman also stays true to its name by acting like, well, a gentleman by eliminating all parabens, sulfates, alcohol and animal testing.
2. The Gentlemen’s Beard Wash Shampoo
Another great beard shampoo is this wash from The Gentlemen’s Beard. The Made in America beard shampoo uses an organic formula lead by argan seed oil and aloe vera. These ingredients, among a few others, help clean your beard, lock in moisture and nourish the skin underneath for a dandruff and itch-free experience. You can expect a fuller, chinchilla-soft beard in a couple of weeks. Also, The Gentlemen’s Beard claims that the shampoo has a light scent, but most users report that the beard shampoo is really fragrance-free.
3. Viking Revolution Beard Wash Shampoo
Viking Revolution is a U.S-based brand that has established itself as a reliable source for some of the best beard shampoos, conditioners and beard oils. Like all of the best beard shampoos, this one delivers hydration and nourishment, but it also has a couple tricks up its sleeve. Peppermint and eucalyptus rejuvenate the skin, acting as a ‘wake-up’ when you use the shampoo each morning. The Viking Revolution beard shampoo does have a noticeable scent due to the peppermint and eucalyptus. Most love the smell, but, as with anything scented, there is a chance you won’t like it.
4. Bulldog Beard Shampoo and Conditioner
Our favorite 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner is this bottle from Bulldog skincare. Bulldog was one of the first brands to kickstart the men’s grooming market back in 2006, offering straightforward products designed specifically for men’s skin and hair. The natural formula of aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea works with any beard – whether stubbly, straggly, dirty or flakey. Bulldog also stays true to their promise of simple formulas by foregoing any chemicals, parabens or synthetics.