Image: Unsplash
Even the best beards can have dry skin hiding beneath.
When the skin beneath an impressive mane is malnourished, flecks and flakes can form due to a lack of moisture.
Even though facial hair acts as a defence against the sun, it can create a barrier to a necessary skincare regimen, which would otherwise keep the face nourished and smooth. Beard dandruff is a sneaky ailment that can affect even the most veteran facial hair authorities, so it's important for all bearded men to make a few small adjustments to their regularly scheduled regimen.
We spoke to Darry Pitman, Dear Barber's resident award-winning barber, about how to treat the problem and prevent further flaking.
"[Beard dandruff] is a lot more common than you would actually think, due to a lack of understanding, from the consumer, and a lack of education and specific training provided for the barber or hair stylist," explains Pitman.
“Failure to wash or rinse your beard is one of the main causes of dandruff in hair and beards.”
The first thing you should do when you spot flakeage is exfoliate with a beard brush. The brush will tame strays, detangle knots and exfoliate the skin underneath your beard. It also helps keep the hairs growing downwards, rather than outwards, allowing for a more tamed finish.
Straight after brushing, jump into the shower and cleanse with a shampoo. And then, go again.
“To prevent dandruff, the hair must be thoroughly cleansed with shampoo twice, rinsing between each shampoo. The reason that you shampoo twice, is the first shampoo will remove any product and natural oils from the area being cleansed. The second shampoo thoroughly cleanses the area,” says Pitman. “Conditioner will then soften the beard/hair, strengthen and prolong the condition of growth. I recommend Dear Barber shampoo and conditioner for this.”
Lastly, it’s important to nourish your hair (and skin underneath) with a beard oil to hydrate and soften the facial hair.
“To add additional conditioning benefits, I’d recommend Dear Barber Beard Oil as the argan oil component within the product help accentuate a more supple & conditioning feel to the beard,” adds Pitman.
Comb through the oil so it distributes through your whole mane. The oil should seep past the hair and coat the skin, thus fortifying it to prevent further flaking.
[Via GQ Australia]
Related Topics: