14 Barber-Approved Shampoos That Could Help Grow Your Beard

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IF YOU HAVE a beard, you know how important it is to take care of it. The health and strength of your beard are a direct result of the grooming products and techniques you use, especially if you're trying to grow it out.

"Beard shampoo helps with hair growth because it makes the beard and skin softer, giving your beard the best possible chance to grow," says master barber Damond Bowers, owner of J.D.'s Grooming and The Hair Cave.

For the best beard care, you will want to use top quality beard products regularly in your grooming routine. Why, you may ask? The hair on your face and the hair on your head feel very different, so it makes sense that you would use separate products on your beard. "Hair shampoos are made with more harmful ingredients like sulfate and polyethylene glycols, which strip the oils and natural moisture out of your hair on your scalp," says Bowers. "If used on your beard, it will cause split ends and weaken the roots, and create itchiness to your beard."

Beard hair is typically more coarse, which is why many beard shampoos contain moisturizing ingredients that help to soften and condition your thick beard hair. These types of products would weigh down the hair on your head, making it appear less full. But when used on your beard, they can help tame rough, unruly beard hairs, reduce itchiness, and even encourage hair growth.

The best beard shampoo removes dirt and oil without stripping your beard (or the skin underneath it) of its beneficial natural oils. Just like our favorite face washes, these beard shampoos also leave your face smelling great and feeling fresh without that tight and dry sensation. To find the best beard shampoos to cleanse and treat your facial hair, our bearded editors tested more than 25 beard shampoos in the past year. We also consulted with one doctor and four barbers on what to look for in the best shampoos, from moisturizing formulas to sensitive skin saviors. Here are our top picks for the best beard shampoo.

Moisturizing Beard Wash

The best all-around beard shampoo is this one from Scotch Porter. It's nourishing without being too heavy. The men's grooming brand takes beard care seriously, and the ingredients are top notch. Use a few times per week, depending on your beard hair type.

Seriously, our editors have been using Scotch Porter's bestselling beard wash since 2020, and we haven't looked back since. "Somewhere between a face wash and a shampoo, this gentle cleanser uses ingredients like aloe and nettle leaf to gently remove dirt and oil from your whiskers and face without leaving your beard feeling dry or crispy," says MH Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, who gave this a 2023 Grooming Award.

Beard Wash

If you have coarse beard hair and you want a beard shampoo with a deep clean, look no further. It cuts through dirt and grime easily and then uses a combination of maracuja oil and shea butter to add some much-needed moisture back into your beard.

Our testers love how well it leathers, which makes for a quick, deep cleanse that also feels luxurious. While we're not picky about natural ingredients, we did find that SheaMoisture's formula felt less drying, more hydrating, and smell less chemical-y than other similarly priced washes.

Beard Shampoo

Glycerin is an incredibly hydrating ingredient, according to dermatologist, Dr. David Shafer, MD. That’s why he recommends Manscaped’s beard shampoo. The lightweight gel cleanser is also formulated to wash away dirt and oils that can easily get trapped in thick beards.

Also included: Vitamin B5, a natural water hydrator that makes your beard smooth, firm and easier to comb. Plus, its scent smells intensely good with notes of eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender essential oils.

Beard Shampoo

Looking for a beard shampoo that softens your hair and hydrates your skin? Check out Horace’s version. Not only is it safe to use for all skin types, but it's highly recommended by dermatologist, Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD.

“I recommend looking for gentle, natural ingredients that won't exacerbate dryness, cause redness, or clog pores,” she says. “Look for calming and hydrating ingredients that won't strip or dry out the skin.”

Plus, this features aloe vera, a herb that has soothing properties and promotes healthy beard growth.

Beard Wash

The best beard shampoos are part skincare, part haircare. This one leans more into the skincare category, which makes it great for dry skin. The extra-gentle formula removes dirt and oil while conditioning your hair and skin underneath.

Our testers are big fans of Jack Black's skincare products, and its beard wash is no exception. We love that this formula conditions the hair and skin underneath the beards. We found that this beard wash is so hydrating, that we didn't need to follow up with a beard conditioner.

This product comes especially in clutch during winter, when we need a deeply hydrating cleanser. Though like the rest of Jack Black's products, this one is heavy on the fragrance, so it might be too strong for super sensitive skin.

Beard + Face Wash

This 2-in-1 beard and face wash is gentle enough to use every day without being too harsh on your skin. Not only do the powerful natural ingredients reduce irritation and soften your beard hairs, but they also smell incredible. Normally we're not fans of heavy scents, but quite a few of our editors appreciated Every Man Jack's outdoorsy, musky fragrance, which added a touch of luxury to our daily beard care routine.

Plus, our testers also found that this formula was also deeply hydrating to our their skin, most likely thanks to its aloe vera and glycerin combo. In other words, this is a wash that's a feast for the senses.

Clean and Fresh Beard Wash

Reuzel’s gentle conditioning wash allows you to clean both your beard and face. Dr. Engelman gives her seal of approval for this option because it allows you to kill those two birds in one stone and also contains effective ingredients.

“This wash gently cleanses, hydrates, and softens with its hardworking formula containing calendula extract, shea butter, and apricot oil,” she says. “It is also non-comedogenic, suitable for all beard and skin types, and is free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.” Our editors love how easily the creamy consistency lathers and boasts a citrus mint scent.

Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Dr. Shafer swears by Olaplex's Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo because of its hydrating ingredients. The formula contains amino acid-based surfactants like potassium cocoyl glycinate and sodium cocoyl glutamate, which effectively remove dirt and oil without causing irritation on the skin.

It’s worth noting that banana extract and sunflower seed oil are also in the mix to prevent breakage and seal in moisture. Another bonus: this formula is designed with an intense patented treatment to boost hydration and nourish the hair. A small quantity is all you need to wash, so this bottle will last a long time.

Conditioning Beard Wash

Guys with sensitive skin often have a hard time caring for their beard, since the skin underneath is easily irritated. Taking that into consideration, this beard shampoo is formulated with safe ingredients like black currant, rosemary, and coconut oil, which soothe dry skin and softening beard hairs. Plus, sugarcane extract as a gentle exfoliator to remove any lingering flakes.

Gentle Skin Cleanser

Although it’s not marketed as a beard shampoo, Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser comes as a recommendation by dermatologist, Dr. Ali Shahbaz, MD. “[It] is gentle enough for sensitive facial skin and can be used on the beard,” he says. “It's fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, suitable for those with acne-prone skin.”

We can also get behind this formula because it contains glycerin, which acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the hair and skin—keeping them hydrated. Plus, it’s enriched with skin essential vitamins B5 (panthenol) and B3 (niacinamide), which support hair growth and overall hair health.

Beard Shampoo and Conditioner

A lot of men's grooming products claim to be 2-in-1 but are subpar in both at best. This. 2-in-1 beard shampoo and conditioner is the exception. It does a fantastic job of cleansing and conditioning, so your beard looks and feels well-groomed.

Best Beard Wash

They don't call this the Best Damn Beard Wash for nothing. While it didn't snag the top spot, it was definitely in the running. It's made with plant-based ingredients that nourish your skin and beard, encouraging beard growth and thickness.

Plus, proceeds from each sale goes towards helping U.S. Veterans, so it's a purchase you can feel good about. Though our testers did note that this wash didn't hydrate as deeply as other options on this list, so make sure to follow this up with a quality beard conditioner.

Beard Wash

This one lathers up nicely, leaving your face feeling clean and soft. The oils moisturize without making your face or beard feel greasy, and a little amount goes a long way, so this 11 ounce bottle is sure to last you awhile. For under $10, it's absolutely worth it. One tester says that his face never smelled better than after using this beard wash.

Sweet Tobacco Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash

Emmy Shirk, barber and owner of Em's Classic Barbershop in Centennial, OH, has been using this beard wash on her clients since 2021. She loves that it's a "purpose shower" that deeply cleanses, and can be used on the rest of your body. "This is something we love to supplement every few days as a quick all over clean. I love that it doesn't leave the skin feeling "soapy". The scent lasts all day through all kinds of events!"

Shirk says she recommends this product on guys with super hairy beards. "It lathers fast and hard, and a little goes a long way," she says. "I think it would mostly benefit those with a slightly longer beard! A tiny dab will get the entire body squeaky clean!"

What to Look for in Beard Products

We know what you're thinking: why not just using the same shampoo for your head as for your mug? Not so fast, according to the experts we spoke with.

"Beard shampoos are different from normal scalp shampoos," says Dr. Michael Wolfeld, MD FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in hair restoration. "Using a scalp shampoo on the beard hair can remove or strip the sebum or natural oils away leading to more brittle hair and dry, itchy skin underneath. The sebum is secreted by the glands on your face and this sebum is important to moisturize your beard and protect the underlying skin. Beard shampoos are gentler, so they do not remove these oils."

Ingredients: In general, Dr. Wolfeld says to look for formulas that don't contain sulfates, formaldehyde, or other residues that can irritate your skin. Barber Jackson says to look for ingredients that are deeply hydrating, such as jojoba oil, aloe, Vitamin E, etc. If they have anti inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, even better, as that can help fight beard dandruff, razor bumps, or ingrown hairs.

Scent: "Obviously scent is hugely important as well, so don't be afraid to open the bottle and take a big sniff before you purchase and take it home for your partner to smell every day," says Shirk.

How We Selected

For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the best beard shampoos for men. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, put a number of beard shampoos to the test and evaluated their ingredients, scent, feel, and value. We also considered top-reviewed beard shampoos that had high customer ratings on e-commerce websites we trust.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. David Shafer, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue

• Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue

• Dr. Ali Shahbaz, MD FRCPC, a double board-certified dermatologist of Westlake Dermatology

• Damond Bowers, owner of J.D.'s Grooming and The Hair Cave in Southfield, MI

• Emmy Shirk, barber and owner of Em's Classic Barbershop in Centennial, OH

• Eric Jackson, Lead Barber at Manifest Barbershop in Washington, D.C

• Dr. Michael Wolfeld, MD FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in hair restoration in New York City

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