You've probably asked yourself the question: "Why shouldn't I use the shampoo I use for my hair on my beard too!?". At first glance, that might sound logical, but the hair on your head usually requires completely different care than your beard hair. If, for example, you shampoo your beard with a shampoo for oily hair, your beard will quickly become dry and straw-like because the shampoo attacks your beard's natural sebum. Even the best beard oil won't be able to save it. So it's better not to let it get that far and use special care products like beard shampoo or beard soap, because your beard deserves it! But when should you use beard shampoo and when should you use beard soap? In the following sections, I'll explain the difference in more detail.
Beard shampoo
Styling products and grooming products such as beard pomade, beard wax, or beard oil leave residue in your beard. Even everyday dirt like dust, a bit of grease from your last schnitzel, crumbs, or whatever else you find in your beard should be thoroughly removed two to three times a week. Even if you think water isn't enough, this is especially true if the crumbs have mixed with the grease and are sticking to your beard hairs. Beard shampoo can help! Only a beard shampoo can gently bind and remove dirt without destroying your natural sebum. This way, you'll have a clean and fragrant beard again!
Beard soap
If you prefer a more adventurous approach and occasionally dig in the dirt, then beard soap is your friend and helper. It's also sufficient if you work in a manual profession that occasionally stirs up a lot of dust. Or maybe you've overdone it with beard wax or pomade, and your beard is already crying out for a wash. Especially for such stubborn cases, you should use a beard soap, which is significantly more effective in cleaning than beard shampoo. While it can tackle your beard's toughest enemies, it won't dry out your skin.
Application
There's no difference when it comes to using beard soap or shampoo, however. First, you should clean your beard under running water. You can do this either in the sink or, what I prefer, in the shower. Your beard should definitely be really wet before you pour some beard soap or shampoo into your hand and first work it into a good lather in your palms. Then you thoroughly distribute the lather through your beard, let the soap or shampoo work for a short while, and then rinse it all out under running water. Finally, pat your beard dry with a towel and, ideally, let it air dry. After that, you'll hardly recognize your beard! As a rule, it's enough to clean your beard with shampoo or soap two to three times a week. For an extra dose of care, apply some beard oil after washing, and women will be falling at your feet!
Let it grow!
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