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How Do I Care for a White Beard?

S. Reynolds
S. Reynolds

The best way to care for a white beard is to use bluing shampoos and to keep it moisturized and well groomed. Regular trims are necessary to keep the beard looking thick and even. White beard care is similar to white hair care, but beard hair tends to be more fragile than scalp hair. Aging, white, or silver beard hair tends to break off and dry out too much if left untended.

The lack of pigment in white hair causes it to be weaker than pigmented hair. Melanin gives hair its color, but it also protects it from sunlight and other harmful substances that break down the hair follicles. Without this protective barrier, hair is prone to product buildup and yellowing. Aging hair also is naturally weaker than the hair of a young person.

Multivitamins can help make hair strong.
Multivitamins can help make hair strong.

Washing a beard is important for a good hair care routine. Shampoos specially formulated for white hair contain a blue or purple pigment to counteract the yellowing that occurs over time. The shampoo needs to have a moisturizing property as well, to adequately hydrate the beard hair.

Conditioner for beards is an often-overlooked element. Since facial hair tends to be coarser and drier than scalp hair, one should make sure to keep it hydrated at all times. A simple leave-in conditioner after shampooing will help keep a white beard soft and tangle-free. Leave-in conditioners also can help keep a beard looking well groomed throughout the day, and can serve to tame a more wild or bushy beard. Conditioners that contain any type of alcohol should be avoided, as the ingredient can dry out hair and cause frizziness.

It is important to keep a white beard moisturized and well groomed.
It is important to keep a white beard moisturized and well groomed.

Another good way to keep one's beard from getting dry and yellow is to check for hard water. A hard water kit can detect any hard minerals that might affect hair texture. Soft water or neutral water is best, as it keeps beard — and scalp — hair soft and manageable.

Nutrition is just as important as genetics when it comes to hair and beard care. Multivitamins and mineral supplements provide hair with the necessary nutrition to grow long and strong. Drinking plenty of water also is helpful to keep skin and hair hydrated.

Regular trims are also important for keeping one's beard in good shape. Frequent brushing and trimming will prevent any mats or knots from forming. A long beard also can be knotted or braided at night to keep it from tangling if that becomes an issue.

Discussion Comments

Markus

@ellafarris - I go back and forth from time to time between clean shaven and full beard. In my opinion it's more work to maintain the beard than it is to shave, but with the right grooming kit, it doesn't take much time to keep it neat and clean.

My hair hasn't turned white yet so my beard is still pretty dark and doesn't require any special shampoos or conditioners. That's another thing your husband will have to consider since his beard is white.

ellafarris

After forty two years of being married to a well shaven man, my husband decides one day to grow a beard. In all the years I've known him he's never had facial hair and now he wants to grow a long white beard. He claims it'll be less work than shaving.

He's sixty seven years old and has a beautiful head of thick white hair that he has always taken good care of. I have a question for all you beard growers, is it really less work to maintain your beard than to just shave every day?

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    • Multivitamins can help make hair strong.
      By: pixelrobot
      Multivitamins can help make hair strong.
    • It is important to keep a white beard moisturized and well groomed.
      By: camrocker
      It is important to keep a white beard moisturized and well groomed.