Can I use face wash on my beard? Short answer? Yeah, but should you? That’s where things get hairy. Long answer? Depends on your beard, your skin type, and whether you’re cool with walking around with a dry-ass brillo pad on your face. Let’s be real. At some point, every guy’s looked at his face wash and thought, “Eh, this’ll do” while scrubbing his beard. Maybe you’re in a rush. Maybe you don’t want to buy another product. Maybe you didn’t even know beard wash was a thing. But here’s the deal: face wash and a good beard wash aren’t the same, and using one in place of the other can seriously mess with your skin, your facial hair, or both. Let’s break it down properly.
Why Do You Need Separate Beard Washes?
First off: your beard isn’t just skin with extra stuff on it. It’s a whole other beast.
- Beard hair is thicker, coarser, drier than the hair on your head.
- The skin underneath? Harder to reach, more prone to getting irritated, and usually forgotten in every routine.
- And your face wash? It’s made to clean skin. Not moisturize, soften, detangle, or make you smell like a man who’s got his life together.
So when you use face wash on your beard, you’re kinda skipping a few steps and your beard knows it.
What Happens When You Use Face Wash On Your Beard?
Here’s the deal: face wash is made for skin, not hair. Even the nice gentle ones with “hydrating” plastered all over the label aren’t built to deal with the stuff that gets stuck in your beard – or the beard itself.
If your beard’s short? No big deal. A quick wash might do the trick. But the minute it grows out even a bit, face wash starts falling short. It doesn’t soften your beard. It doesn’t help with that wiry, scratchy feel. It doesn’t get deep enough to really clean the skin underneath, especially if there’s oil, sweat, food, or dead skin cells lurking in there. And it sure as hell doesn’t leave your beard feeling fresh and groomed.
It’s not that face wash is harsh. Most of them aren’t. It’s just that they’re not enough. They clean the surface. That’s it. Your beard needs something that actually gets through the hair, sorts out the skin underneath, and doesn’t leave it feeling dry or tight afterwards. So yeah, you can use face wash on your beard. But don’t expect it to actually do anything for your beard. It’s like brushing your teeth with regular shampoo. Wrong tool for the job.
Real Talk: What Happens If You Keep Using Face Wash?
You might be fine for a while. But eventually, this is what you’re gonna deal with:
- Dry beard that won’t lay flat no matter how much you comb it
- Split ends (yes, your beard can get them too)
- Flaky skin underneath that looks like beard snow
- Itchy patches that make you scratch like you’ve got fleas
- Ingrown hairs because you’re clogging pores or drying out the follicle
- And worst of all? The beard just looks off. Not terrible. Not great. Just… meh. Like you stopped trying. And if your beard’s gonna be on your face 24/7, it deserves a little effort.
So What Should You Use on Your Beard?
There’s a reason beard care products exist. It’s not a gimmick. It’s not just shampoo in a cooler bottle. Beard washes are made to:
- Clean your beard and your skin without stripping them bare
- Soften the hair so you don’t feel like you’re rubbing Velcro on your date’s face
- Prevent beard dandruff, flaking, beard itch, or all the weird crap that happens when you ignore beard hygiene
They’re usually made with stuff like argan oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, or aloe – all the good stuff that makes your beard feel like, well, hair again. Use it 2–3 times a week. More if you’re sweating a lot. Less if your skin’s naturally dry. And don’t forget: after the wash, comes the beard oil. Or beard balm. Or beard conditioner. Whatever keeps your beard from looking like a haystack taped to your chin.
What To Use To Wash Your Beard
Let’s keep it real: if your beard’s more than a couple days old, water alone isn’t cutting it. And using whatever’s lying around in the shower? That’s how you end up with a dry, itchy beard that looks like it gave up on life. So what should you actually be using? What are the right products for a well-groomed beard? Here’s what to use for best results:
Beard Shampoo
This is the one that’s actually made for the job. It’s not head shampoo. It’s not just a fancy label. Beard wash is built to handle everything your beard traps: oil, food, sweat, beard balm buildup, even the random dust and dirt you don’t notice until it’s too late. And it does all that without wrecking your skin. It’s usually lower in foam, less drying, and has stuff in it that softens your beard while it cleans – natural ingredients like aloe, glycerin, or jojoba oil. Basically, it keeps your beard clean and feeling like actual hair, not burnt straw. Why not just use shampoo? Because your beard isn’t your scalp. The skin under there doesn’t make as much oil, and beard hair is rougher. Shampoo’s usually too harsh. Face wash? Not strong enough to deal with what’s hiding in your beard. Beard wash sits in the middle and actually works.
Best Picks:
If you’re looking for the best beard shampoo, here are my top recommendations:
- Murdock London Beard Shampoo (£22.00): A pH-balanced, sulfate-free formula that cleanses beards and removes excess oil without causing any skin irritation. Available at Asos and John Lewis.
- Anthony Conditioning Beard Wash (£26.00): Enriched with coconut oil to moisturise your skin, condition your hair, and give you a clean beard that looks its best. Available at Boots
- Bulldog Original 2-in-1 Beard Shampoo And Conditioner (£6.00): A vegan 2-in-1- beard shampoo and conditioner to make your beard soft and clean in one go. Available at Boots and Superdrug
If You Don’t Have Beard Wash
You’ve got two options. They’re not ideal, but they’re better than using body wash or scrubbing with whatever’s closest.
1. A GENTLE FACIAL CLEANSER
Remember: a gentle cleanser only works if your beard is short. Think stubble or barely-there scruff. Pick something creamy, fragrance-free, and made for sensitive skin. You want something that removes grime, but does not strip skin of its natural oils entirely. Skip anything that foams like crazy or has acids in it. It’s not going to help, and your skin will probably just get mad.
2. PLAIN OLD CONDITIONER
This won’t clean anything, but if you’ve got longer beards or your beard feels like sandpaper, conditioner can help soften things up. Don’t use anything heavy or packed with perfume. Just something basic, apply it after rinsing, leave it in for a minute, and wash it out.
The Best Way To Use Beard Products
Most people just splash water on their beard, rub something in quick, rinse it out, and call it done. That’s why their beard’s dry, flaky, and always itching. Here’s how to actually wash and take care of it without doing the usual lazy rush job.
Washing Your Beard
- Get it properly wet: Don’t just flick water at it. Stand under lukewarm water (neither hot water nor cold water is ok) for a bit and let it soak through. It softens the hair and makes it easier to clean. Don’t skip this part. Trying to wash a dry beard is pointless.
- Use a small amount of beard wash: You don’t need to coat your whole hand in it. A small blob-like the size of a coin is enough for most beards. Add a little water and rub it between your palms before it goes on your face.
- Massage it in properly: Use your fingers to get into the hair and all the way down to the skin. Use circular motions. Most of the gunk is sitting at the roots-sweat, oil, product buildup, whatever. That’s what you’re trying to clean. Don’t just rub the ends and rinse.
- Rinse like you mean it: Don’t be lazy here. Beard hair holds onto stuff way more than it looks like. If you leave product in, it’s going to itch later or dry you out. Get all of it out.
- Dry it properly: No towel rubbing like you’re drying off your head. Just pat it down and gently press the water out. That’s enough. Rubbing messes up the hair and frizzes it out.
- Finally, use a beard brush or a beard comb to properly groom it.
Aftercare: Oil or Balm
Washing gets your beard clean, but now it needs moisture or it’ll just dry out and feel rough. Beard oil is light, easy to use, and good for softening the hair and keeping the skin underneath happy. Beard balm is thicker, gives some hold, and is better if your beard’s all over the place and needs a bit of shaping.
How to use it in your grooming routine:
- Don’t wait until your beard is completely dry. Damp is ideal.
- Put a few drops of oil (or a small scrape of balm) in your palms, rub it between your hands, then work it through your beard area. Get it into the roots too-, ot just the ends.
- Use your fingers or a comb to spread it through evenly. That’s it.
Can You Use Beard Wash Every Day?
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you should. If you’ve got oily skin or you’re sweating buckets every day, go for it. But if your skin leans dry, daily washing’s just gonna mess it up. Think dry skin, flakes, irritation. It really comes down to your skin type and what your beard’s dealing with. Most bearded men are fine washing it 2-3 times a week. Anything more than that? You better be following up with oil or balm or your face will hate you.
The Bottom Line
Yeah, you can use face wash on your beard. But it’s not really made for it and if your beard’s longer than stubble, it’s not doing much. It won’t clean it properly, won’t soften it, and won’t help the skin underneath either. If you want your beard to look good, feel soft, and stop itching all the time, use the right stuff. A proper beard wash. Some beard oil or balm after. That’s it.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
