Beard is still dry after using beard products? Read this!
Why is my beard still dry?
There are multiple reasons to use beard products. Many people look for products to help deal with their dry skin and beard hair. However, it’s important to understand that even if you’re diligently using the products, they might not necessarily solve your problems.
There are many factors at play when it comes to growing a healthy beard, and if your beard hair and skin are still dry after trying products, there are probably aspects you might be overlooking, although not intentionally.
Let’s dive in!
What you can expect from beard products
For a dry beard and dry skin, the best products to use are high-quality beard oil and beard shampoo. We suggest you look at the ingredients contained in your products, as some cheaper options cut corners and fill them up with things that can damage your skin and beard hair.
As a general rule, your beard oil should only contain natural ingredients. Oils that contain silicone will clog your pores and make your beard greasy, without truly hydrating the skin and hair.
For the beard shampoo, you should look for a product that contains no sulfate, a type of salt typically found in conventional hair shampoos, and has a neutral pH. Your facial skin is more sensitive than your scalp, hence why you should avoid hair shampoos entirely for your beard.
Dedicate yourself to the process
If you are using high-quality products, are you dedicating yourself to the process? It’s the same idea as wanting to get big arms, but only going to the gym once a week. You have to use the products every day, especially the oil if you want to see real results! This brings us to the next point: HOW are you applying your beard oil?
Properly using beard oil
After talking to many bearded men out there, we’ve heard quite a few methods of application, like putting drops directly in the beard, on the comb, on the brush, etc.
The best way to use beard oil is to apply a few drops directly in your palm, then rubbing your hands together to get the oil to the tip of your fingers. Then, reach the skin under your beard to hydrate it. Do this a few times until there’s barely any oil left in your palm, then apply the rest to the outside of your beard. It’s more important for your skin to receive the oil than the hairs themselves.
If you’ve been doing this correctly, but your skin and hair are still dry, your diet might be the culprit.
The importance of your diet
“You are what you eat”, or so they say. If you’ve never thought about what you’re eating and how it might affect your body, well now’s the time to reflect on that. It’s important that you get your vital nutrients to ensure your body is functioning well. If you don’t, your body starts taking those nutrients by sacrificing certain functions. For example, if you’re lacking calcium, your body will take it from your bones, which can lead to bone issues. Hair growth is not a priority for the body, therefore it might be one of the places that get raided for nutrients first. So, even if you’re using beard products, your body might just be taking away all that goodness to compensate for more important bodily functions.
Nutrients your body needs for healthy hair
Obviously, we’re not nutrition experts, but we do know a thing or two about what nutrients your body needs to help with the health of your hair. The best solution would be to talk to a specialist in the matter, who can then build a meal plan for you or even suggest supplements your body is lacking.
Vitamins
B5
Also known as pantothenic acid, it helps with making the hairs more flexible, strong and shiny. It can also potentially prevent hair loss and greying.
B6
This vitamin helps the body deal with dandruff.
B12
Helps with preventing hair loss by making the hair stronger.
Biotin
Biotin is part of the vitamin B complex and is related to hair loss. It is essential in metabolizing protein, fat, and carbs. If your body is metabolizing those nutrients poorly, your hair follicles will be undernourished, therefore more brittle. If you eat a lot of protein in your diet, you’re not at risk of deficiency, although vegans and vegetarians might be due to their diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential in the process of maintaining healthy collagen, the connective tissue found in hair follicles. It also protects the cells in the hair follicles and blood vessels.
Vitamin E
This vitamin with help your body promote healthy skin and hair and maintain the health of your hair follicles.
Beta-Carotene
This nutrient is very important for many bodily functions, especially hair growth. Your body converts it to vitamin A when in need, to promote healthy skin, hair, and proper bone development.
Micronutrients
Calcium, Iodine, Iron, and Zinc
These micronutrients are all essential for cellular health and eliminating free radicals, which cause damage to cells. Make sure you’re not lacking these as you can develop skin and hair problems.
Anti-oxidants
Vitamins A, C, and E are also antioxidants which are crucial for healthy skin cell turnover, the process where your body replaces dead skin that was shed, and collagen synthesis. They also limit the damage (to the skin structure) that is caused by free radicals and exposure to UV rays.
Amino acids
L-methionine and L-cysteine
These amino acids contain sulfur, which is required for healthy collagen formation. Your hair needs sulfur to ensure normal growth and appearance. A deficiency of these two amino acids is believed to be a factor in hair loss, and weak hair.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
These nutrients play an essential role in cell structure. They help reduce dry and flaky skin. Those who follow a low-fat diet are susceptible to hair loss as your body needs the fatty acids to maintain follicular health. A deficiency can lead to dry scalp and skin, and weak hair production.
Foods that might help with your beard’s health
Fish
Salmon amongst other fish are very beneficial for the health of hair. It provides omega-3 fatty acids, a good amount of protein, vitamin B12, and iron. These nutrients will help with maintaining skin health and strong hair.
Green veggies
You might’ve hated broccoli and spinach when you were younger, but now it’s time to relinquish your distaste for these food items because they will help with healthy sebum secretion, essential in keeping hair healthy and hydrated, due to their vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium content.
Legumes (beans)
If you want to strengthen your hair, a tasty bean salad will do the trick. They contain a good amount of protein, iron, zinc, and biotin.
Eggs
Eggs contain a lot of high-quality protein, which is essential in the production of hair. They also have cholesterol, a necessary element for natural testosterone production. Not only do eggs have almost all the essential micronutrients, but they also contain biotin.
Beef
Meat, due to its high content of protein, notably boosts testosterone production. It also contains a lot of saturated fats, which are essential for the synthesis of testosterone.
Coffee
You might not have known that your caffeine intake could help with growing a nicer beard, but it’s true! Studies have been shown that it boosts testosterone production.
Water
The liquid of life doesn’t directly help with beard health, but it’s essential in maintaining a healthy body. Make sure you’re getting your daily water intake!
Exercise and rest
If you’re not already moving, start moving! You don’t need to become a world-class athlete, you just need to get your blood pumping. This will help your body oxygenate itself, and produce more testosterone, very important for healthy hair production.
After all that exercising, it’s important to make sure your body is getting enough rest to repair itself. Just make it a general rule for yourself to sleep for at least 7 hours!
Conclusion
As you now understand, your beard is dependant on many factors. It’s not because you use beard products that you will solve all your beard issues. Often, the solution comes through a holistic approach, you have to consider your whole body’s general health. A dry beard can be indicative of something larger that has to be addressed.
Stay Brave!
Leave a comment