5 Common Beard Problems + How to Solve Them

Alright Kingsmen, we know that maintaining your glorious beard isn’t all peaches and rainbows. Sometimes, a wrench is thrown in the works and daily beardsmanship can become a pain in the old tuchus. You’ll be happy to know, though, that every problem you might encounter on the road to a magnificent mane has a solution. Let’s take a look at some of the most common complaints that come with growing your whiskers. 

Common Beard Complaints

1. Patchy beard
2. Beard itch
3. Beardruff
4. Control
5. Masks 

My Beard is Patchy

If you search Google for beard care, you’ll be inundated with beardsmen like yourself asking how to fix a patchy beard. This question is everywhere and it feels like every guy who ever tried to grow a big, bushy beard has struggled with this very issue. The great news is that there are things you can do about this. It is not a lost cause. 

Sometimes a fella’s beard can be patchy because he’s still young. You might be surprised to learn that you were born with all the hair follicles on your face that you’re ever going to have. They’re there when you’re an infant. They’re present when you’re a kid. What happens when you hit puberty is that those dormant hair follicles suddenly awaken. The problem is that some awaken faster than others. Sometimes years faster. This causes patchiness, but it’s not permanent! Sometimes all you need to fix your patchy beard is a little more time. 

You could also have some blocked follicles in the patchy areas. Skin and beard care product build-up, dead skin cells, and your natural oils can all cause build-up around the base of the hair. A weekly exfoliation of the skin can do wonders to relieve this problem. A regular regimen of beard care making use of products specifically designed for your whiskers will also clear the junk from around the follicles and free the hair so it can grow as it pleases.  

My beard is itchy

This is almost always a result of dry skin. As such, there’s a pretty simple solution: hydrate! This is much more than just applying moisturizing agents, however. First, you have to ensure you’re properly cleaning your beard and ridding it of any product and dead skin build-up. For this, you need a beard wash. You should never use hair shampoo on your beard as it is far too stripping for your beautiful whiskers. You should also invest in a good beard conditioner to make sure that any of the natural oils you’ve lost throughout the day are replaced while the shower is steamy and your beard is ready to absorb. Next, apply beard oil. If you do this while your beard is still damp, you’ll get the best results. Regular use of beard butter and beard balm can help as well. Of course, you’ll want to supplement your moisturizing beard care with inner hydration as well. Drink your water, Kingsman! Your beard will thank you!

Sometimes, however, your beard might be itchy due to an irritant. If you find that your beard reaches a glorious level of hydration and it’s still itchy, try cutting out each product you use on your beard one at a time. If all else fails, a visit to the allergist can help. Sometimes it’s the pollen in the air or something you’re eating that can cause itchiness but only your doc is going to be able to tell you for sure.  

I have “Beardruff”

It is so common to experience the horrifying and embarrassing white flakes falling from your beard. So, the first thing to note is that you are not alone. The second is that this is also often the result of dryness and using the wrong products. You want to make sure you’re using beard balms and beard butters with high quality, all-natural ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil. These are packed with nutrients and moisture to fight that beardruff. Equally as important, however, is to make sure you’re cleaning your beard on a regular basis as well. Product and dead skin can build up and flake off without regular washing. However, using shampoo for the hair on your head can actually cause beardruff if you use it in your whiskers. Same with bar soap or shower gel or even hand soap. To wash your beard, you need a gentle beard wash designed specifically for the unique needs of the hair on your face. Regular use of this, combined with moisturizing products like beard oil, beard balm and beard butter, and drinking lots and lots of H2O will all work together to get rid of the white stuff. Time to put your black shirts back into the rotation! 

I Can’t Control My Beard

If you’re struggling to control your flyaways and shape your beard the way you want, you might not be using the right products to get the result you want. First, beard oil is not a styling product. Although you can smooth down flyaways with it upon initial application, those stubborn hairs are going to stand up again in no time. For longer-lasting control, you’ll want to use beard butter or beard balm. If you’re going for a really complicated, gravity-defying style, you might want to bring in more staying power. That’s going to come in the form of mustache wax, of course. Don’t worry, it’s called mustache wax but you can use it to style your majestic mane, too. If you’re still struggling to maintain control over your beard, you might need a good beard wash first and then apply some heat with a hairdryer or a heated beard brush. 

My Mask is Crimping My Beard

Every beardsman on planet earth is struggling with this right now, but there are solutions! The first thing you can do for your mane is buy a mask specifically designed for beards. This type of mask drapes down over your whiskers instead of cinching up under the chin. It’s sort of like a balaclava. You can also brush your beard against the crimp caused by your mask a few times to dull its appearance or apply heat from a hairdryer or a heated beard brush to get rid of the crimp in a cinch. 

The five common complaints we hear from Kingsmen are pretty frustrating to say the least. We hope the solutions we’ve provided can ease the annoyance and renew the joy of growing a beard once again. 

Do you know of any solutions to these problems we may have missed? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for more beard care solutions!