How To Soften Your Beard: 3 Pro Tips for Silky Facial Hair

Maybe you’re here to get your face as soft and silky as possible for yourself. Perhaps, you’re here because of a significant other who doesn’t want your face attacking them every time they come in close for a hug or kiss. Either way, you’re at the end of your rope and ready to tackle this head-on.

What’s on the line here isn’t just comfort, however; it’s also the health of your facial hair. Dandruff, coarseness, and needless scratching all lead to a malnourished and dehydrated beard. Issues like these are what cause beards to feel so uncomfortable.

Our goal is to revitalize your facial hair and prevent your future growth from inheriting the same problems. Not meeting the issues head-on could take a toll on your beard and make you want to shave it all off. Don’t give up, though!

You’re in the best place to learn everything you need to know about softening your beard and getting that silky facial hair you want. We will walk through the causes of your troubled follicles and teach you some preventative measures to combat these. Then, we will handle the immediate issue of saving the hair already on your face.

A soft and healthy beard needs as much tender love and care as the rest of your body. Don’t neglect the scruff. If you treat it right, it will pay you back for your efforts! 

We went ahead and took the liberty to pull together all the research for you so that you don’t need to go scouring the web for answers.

What Causes a Scratchy Beard?

How did things get this way?

There are many causes for your itchy, brittle beard, and you must know what poor practices and environmental effects are your enemies. That rough, scratchy beard didn’t just get that way on its own.

Too Much Heat

First of all, the way you take care of your beard over time can either have a positive effect or a negative effect. We don’t think anyone is actively trying to make their beard rougher and drier — but there are things you might do that you may not realize have an adverse effect.

If you use a hair dryer, you need to be especially careful because not only is all that heat potentially damaging for the hair on your head, but it can hurt your facial hair too. Drying your beard roughly with a towel can also spell bad results. 

The Wrong Products

Many men might not think to use beard products and let their beards go wild. This chaotic and “natural” approach can often be found lacking and does not account for genetics and modern environments. Using cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, and oils is essential to making sure your beard stays healthy.

On the other hand, some men do use beard products — they just use the wrong products. 

As a rule, avoid any kind of moisturizer that has alcohol in it because that pesky ingredient can dry out your skin and cause dandruff that itches and clogs your pores.

How Do You Soften a Scratchy Beard?

Knowing the causes of your rough hair strands and how to soften them will go a long way in helping your beard.

Beard care doesn’t stop with prevention. You need consistent upkeep to get the gloriously soft beard you want.

1. Stick to a Facial and Beard Washing Routine

If you don’t already have a face and beard-washing routine, then there is no time like the present to start! Avoid any cleansers or shampoos with sulfates or alcohol in them because they can damage your skin. Also, a beard-friendly facial cleanser is a must.

A key reason for that itchiness under your beard is — you guessed it — dandruff. If you’re dealing with a buildup of dead skin cells, a facial cleanser is your best friend. Facial cleansers can be used with clean washcloths to exfoliate. This process gets rid of the dead skin cells that clog your pores and make your face itchy.

In addition to your facial cleanser, you should also use a gentle Beard Shampoo. The ingredients in this product are specifically meant for your facial hair and will do wonders to clean and soften it. Follow this step up with conditioner (or use a simple 2-in-1 Beard Shampoo and Conditioner).

Finally, you need to moisturize your face. This step prevents your skin from getting too oily and succumbing to breakouts.

2. Brush in Beard Oil and Balm

Next, your beard needs some nourishing Cedar Beard Oil. 

After you strip the moisture and natural oils in your beard with your cleansing routine, it is essential you replace that with healthy oils. Touch your beard with your hands as little as possible unless they’re covered with the right oil.

Try out several oils that use natural ingredients and choose whichever one you like the smell and feel of the best. Jojoba and almond oils are key ingredients to look for here. In addition, always use a Beard Comb or Boar's Hair Beard Brush to spread out the oil evenly. The brushing also helps soften your beard.

Another phenomenal product to apply to your beard is Sandalwood Beard Balm. While beard oil is a nourisher, beard balm is a protector. Coating your beard hairs with balm can protect them from UV rays and make them softer for styling. When using the balm, your comb is ideal for spreading the product around and getting that silky look.

3. Trim on a Regular Basis

The final step towards a softer beard is trimming. As mentioned earlier, a beard can often develop split ends over time. When this inevitably happens, you need to literally cut your losses. Don’t let the hairs keep splitting!

Trimming off the splitting heads will not only make your beard softer to the touch, but it will make your beard look better as well. A solid method for trimming is to first comb out your beard. This way, you have a better look at any potential split ends. 

Then, grab a pair of scissors or your Beard Trimmer and snip away any split ends. Do this after any normal trimming and upkeep, which might automatically take care of the problem before you even need to worry about it.

Keep That Beard Soft

Growing a beard can take time and some hard work, but the process is well worth it. With some consistent grooming and care, you’ll get the results you’re looking for before you know it. 

No matter who you are, a dry, itchy beard is a struggle that you might encounter along the way. While you might be discouraged by these problems at first, they’re easy to resolve with the tips listed in this article.

However, revitalizing your beard won’t happen overnight. You’ll need plenty of patience to see the results that you really want. Make beard care an integral part of your daily routine, and you’ll never regret it.

Finally, remember this: a man with a soft beard is a man with a healthy beard — and a man with a healthy beard is a confident man. We wish you well on your beard journey, and we at The Beard Club are always here to point you in the right direction.

Sources:

Don’t Fear the Beard: Facial Hair Grooming & Care | Ogle School

Caring for Your Skin | Yale Medicine

Heat-Damaged Hair: How to Repair It Without a Haircut | Healthline

What May Be Causing Your Itchy Beard | Cleveland Clinic