How to Overcome the Dreaded Brittle Beard

If you’re growing a beard, you want what most men want — a full and luscious beard that’s soft to the touch. You don’t want dry, brittle hair that breaks off, leaving unsightly split ends or, worse, bald patches. What causes your facial hair to become brittle, and what can you do to overcome the dreaded brittle beard?

A Variety of Causes

Preventing or overcoming the dreaded brittle beard starts with understanding what can cause your facial hair to get dry or brittle in the first place. Many different variables can impact your facial hair. Dry climate-controlled air — either air conditioning or heating — can sap the moisture from your hair. Changing your diet, eating poorly, using the wrong shampoo or even stress can all cause your beard hair to lose its lushness and softness. You may even have a genetic predisposition for dry hair, which will impact your beard. 

The length of your beard can also impact its texture. Your body naturally releases oil from your sebaceous gland, which helps protect and nourish your facial hair. The longer your beard becomes, the harder it becomes for the sebaceous gland to produce enough oil to nourish the length of the hair. Without outside intervention, this can lead to dry and brittle beard hair that is rough to the touch and breaks easily.

Overcoming the Brittle Beard

If your beard feels a bit brittle, what can you do to fix this problem? Overcoming the dreaded brittle beard is often a lot of trial and error to figure out what works best for your hair type. 

Start by switching up your washing supplies. Don’t use your regular shampoo or body wash on your beard. It’s not formulated for facial hair and could be drying it out. Opt for a beard wash instead. Some experts recommend using a beard-safe cleanser twice a day, plus after swimming or working out, to eliminate any salt or chlorine that could damage the hair.

Next, consider adding a beard conditioner and growth balm to your regimen. The latter needs to be brushed or combed through your facial hair to help moisturize both hair and face while promoting growth.

Finally, make sure you’re using beard oil, especially if your facial hair is on the longer side. Good high-quality beard oil will take the place of the natural oil your body releases, helping to nourish your facial hair.

The exact products you use will depend on your hair and sky types and what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment to figure out what offers the best results. 

Remember that overcoming a brittle beard is possible, but it’s not something that will happen overnight. Take your time, but stick to your routine for the best outcome.

Take Care of Your Facial Hair

Taking care of your facial hair — and overcoming that brittle beard — doesn’t have to add a ton of time to your morning or evening routine. Once you run your fingers through the soft and luscious beard you’ve always dreamed of, it’s worth the effort.