We all know that awkward moment when you start to notice white flakes on the collar of your shirt. It can be embarrassing when it looks like you walked through snow in the middle of the summer, especially when the dandruff is coming off of your beard.
If you’ve experienced this before, you might be wondering how to make a DIY beard dandruff remedy.
The main trick to getting rid of dandruff is hydration of the skin. There are many ways to hydrate the skin, like using moisturizers. Still, a moisturizer might need a while before it shows any results. For faster results, there are many other DIY remedies such as lemon, honey, aloe vera, and aspirin.
Keep on reading to learn all about DIY beard dandruff remedies and how you should prep your beard before applying one of the remedies we’re about to shed light on.
Beard Prep
But before we get to the remedies, it’s important to start with a clean beard. This is easy; all you need is a beard comb and some face soap.
If you’re not sure which beard comb is the right one for you, check out this list of best beard combs for beginners.
Generally, it’s a good idea to start with a wooden comb. The bristles are gentle and the wood doesn’t absorb your natural oils.
To make sure you get the best results, follow these steps:
- Using a beard comb, gently go over your whole beard
- Get out as many dandruff flakes as you can
- With a little warm water and soap, wash your beard going against the grain
- Rinse out the soap
- Repeat until you can’t see any dandruff
While washing your beard, ensure that you don’t irritate your skin further. Your skin will already be sensitive and fragile, so go as slowly as you need to avoid any more damage to the skin.
If you’re looking for advice on how best to clean your beard, check out this article.
8 Best DIY Remedies for Beard Dandruff
Now that your beard is prepped, it’s time for the remedies! There are several at-home remedies that you can try to get rid of your beard dandruff in no time. Here are some of the most effective ones:
1. Aloe Vera Gel
Many of us have heard about the magical healing properties of aloe vera. Still, it’s not as mystical as you think. It’s all about hydration.
Aloe vera likes to grow in hot dry climates, similar to cacti. That means the outside of the plant has adapted to collect water. However, the most interesting part of the plant is the inside.
Inside a leaf, you’ll find clear aloe vera gel. This gel is exceptional at hydrating and locking moisture into the skin. Not only does it hydrate, but it also has antibacterial properties that help clear the skin.
To get the best effect out of aloe vera, it’s best to get it fresh. That means you need an aloe vera plant. All you would have to do is open one of the leaves and take out the gel. You can use the gel straight away without any processing.
However, if you don’t have an aloe vera plant at home, you can buy this organic aloe vera gel. You can use the fresh and store-bought aloe vera in the same way.
- Apply a generous amount of the aloe vera gel to your beard
- Work the gel into your beard
- Make sure to go all the way to the roots and skin
- Leave the aloe vera on for about 10-15 minutes
- Rinse out the gel using only water
Repeating this process three times a week can get rid of your dandruff in no time. It will also leave your skin feeling softer because of the Vitamin E in the aloe.
2. Coconut Oil
As more of us become more health-conscious, more and more people are using coconut oil every day. It has many healthy fats and nutrients that are good for you. Because of its fat content, coconut oil can be incredibly hydrating.
If you’re going to be using coconut oil on your face, you should use virgin coconut oil. This means that the oil is less processed, retaining more of its nutrients and vitamins. Virgin coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties that can disinfect your skin.
You can use coconut oil like the aloe vera gel. Massaging it into your beard daily can reduce dandruff quickly.
Skin isn’t the only part that benefits from coconut oil. Your hair can absorb coconut oil. So, after a while of use, your beard should look healthier and shinier than ever. To make sure your hair can absorb the oil, leave it on for an extra 10 minutes.
3. Sparkling Water
We all know sparkling water as a refreshing summer drink. Still, it has many other uses. You can use sparkling water to clean or even help you get rid of your dandruff.
A common cause of dandruff is sudden changes in the weather. These changes can affect the pH of your skin.
We also know sparkling water as carbonated water. This means we add carbon dioxide to the water. Water on its own has a neutral pH. Adding carbon dioxide makes the water slightly acidic.
So, using this slightly acidic water on your face can help restore your skin’s pH balance. With a balanced pH, your skin has a better defense system to stay hydrated.
The steps for this one are easy. All you have to do is use sparkling water to wash your beard once a day. You don’t need any special tools or products.
However, if you have especially dry skin, this method is probably not the best solution. Sparkling water should be safe to apply directly to the skin.
Still, if your skin is dry, adding an acidic element may cause more harm than good. That said, it’s a good idea to test out the sparkling water on your skin before you start using it daily.
Try rubbing a section of your arm with sparkling water and let it air dry. If your skin turns red or gets itchy, then avoid using sparkling water.
4. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice works in a similar way to sparkling water. Both are slightly acidic and we can use them to rebalance our skin pH.
Lemon juice also has antioxidants and Vitamin C that can help with the overall health of your skin.
Still, lemon is a little more acidic than sparkling water, which means it’ll have a stronger effect, so be careful not to use it excessively.
- Squeeze two to three tablespoons of lemon juice into a cup
- Add a cup of warm distilled water to the juice
- Rub the lemon water over your beard and skin
- Leave the water on your beard for 5 minutes
- Rinse your beard with soapy water
You can get distilled water at your local pharmacy, or if you prefer, you can make it at home. Boil tap water in a kettle and then let it cool before you use it.
Carry out this process once a day for about a week. Even if your dandruff clears up, it’s a good idea to complete the full week.
Since lemon juice is stronger than sparkling water, it can be even more drying on the skin. So, if you’re going to use this method, you may also want to invest in a good skin moisturizer.
5. Aspirin
This might be one of the weirder options on our list. When you think of aspirin, you think of painkillers, but it’s a lot more than that.
Aspirin is a painkiller you take for a slight fever or headache. It works by reducing inflammation and thinning the blood. Both of these effects can be useful when you’re trying to find a solution for dandruff.
Using aspirin to help with dandruff isn’t as easy as swallowing a pill. You’ll want to apply the aspirin directly to your beard for it to be effective.
- Crush two or three aspirin tablets into powder
- Dissolve the powder in a cup of distilled water
- Work the solution into your beard and skin
- Leave the aspirin solution on for about 15 minutes
- Rinse your face and beard thoroughly
When you crush the tablets, there are going to be aspirin particles of different sizes. These particles can act as a scrub to help remove dandruff. Aspirin also has antibacterial properties that can help clean out the skin.
You should only use the aspirin solution on your face one or two times a week. Using aspirin too often can damage your skin.
In addition, some people may be allergic to the active ingredient in aspirin. So, it might be best to check your skin before using the solution.
Dab a few drops of the solution onto your arm. Wait 10-15 minutes and see if your skin reacts. If no reaction happens, it’s usually safe to go ahead with this method.
6. Honey
This is by far the messiest remedy on our list. Still, we grew up listening to how good honey is for your health, so it’s worth the hassle.
Honey is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories. Not only that, but it also has strong anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Moreover, because honey has such a thick consistency, it can help trap moisture in your skin and beard.
You can use any type of honey, but the best type for your beard is raw honey. Processed honey can still work well, but it’s less effective and can take longer to take effect.
- Fill a glass with warm water
- Add honey until the consistency matches a thin pancake batter
- Apply the honey solution to your beard
- Leave the solution on for 10 to 20 minutes
- Rinse with soapy water
Repeat this process three to four times every week. Weirdly enough, this is one of the most effective methods on the list. It shows some of the fastest results when it comes to removing beard dandruff.
Still, you have to be ok with your face being sticky. We water down the honey, but as it dries, your face will feel sticky and stiff. However, on the bright side, your beard will taste sweet!
7. Medicated Dandruff Shampoo
A surefire way of getting rid of your beard dandruff is using a medicated dandruff shampoo. The best thing about this method is that you can use any dandruff shampoo. It doesn’t need to be specific for your beard.
All dandruff shampoos work on hydrating the skin and fixing any underlying condition. So, not only will it get rid of dandruff, but your skin will also get much softer.
Another benefit of the shampoo is that it usually takes less time to take effect. Usually, within a wash or two, you’ll notice the difference.
You can use a medicated shampoo exactly like you would use your normal shampoo. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
Still, since all medical shampoos are different, it’s best to follow the instructions that come on the box.
8. Shaving
Many of us have been perfecting our beards ever since we were able to grow one. It can be such a blow when you have to shave off your beard because of how much time it would take to grow back. Moreover, many people don’t like the way they look without a beard.
Nonetheless, you have to remember that it’s just hair, and the overall health of your skin is more important.
If your dandruff is persistent, you may want to shave it off. This allows you to take care of the skin underneath. After you shave, make sure to moisturize your face daily.
What Is Beard Dandruff?
Most people think of dandruff as the white flakes that fall out of hair when it’s dry outside, but there’s actually more to it.
Dandruff is a skin condition that can affect any part of your body that grows hair. Yet, it usually affects the skin under your hair and beard. This skin condition causes your skin to dry out.
Drying out the skin can cause it to harden, and the skin layers will separate. Then the top layer, or the epidermis, will start to break apart and flake. This flaking is what causes the awkward snowfall from your head.
This on its own doesn’t have any real health hazards. Your skin may get irritated and a little itchy. Still, it can be incredibly embarrassing when your scalp or beard is raining on your shirt.
If your skin gets inflamed and painful, it’s always a good idea to contact your doctor. Don’t wait until it escalates. Leaving dandruff untreated can cause a more serious problem like seborrhoeic dermatitis.
What Causes Beard Dandruff?
We don’t know the exact cause of dandruff. Dandruff usually starts showing around puberty and carries on to your late fifties. Depending on your skin, there can be a variety of causes.
Dandruff will usually affect males more often than it does females. Male skin tends to be tougher and dryer. Still, more causes can lead to dandruff.
Most of the time, the reason will be environmental, such as:
- Extremely high and low temperatures
- Low levels of humidity in the air
- High levels of air pollution
There are also a few more internal causes that have to do with your overall health that can affect your scalp. These factors can include:
- Amount of water you consume per day
- Your nutrition and the quality of food you eat
- How of you wash your hair and face
- Type of products you apply to your hair
- Your hormone levels
- Stress factors in your daily life
Those are some of the causes of dandruff. There has also been some evidence to suggest that dandruff may be hereditary, so it might just be in your genes.
Even though it might be genetic, you can still try all the remedies on our list. Using them consistently can clear up your dandruff in no time.
Still, just because there’s a solution doesn’t mean you want to go through the process. So, it may be a good idea to try to prevent dandruff altogether. Check out this video on how to prevent beard dandruff.
Wrapping Up
Having beard dandruff can put a huge damper on your confidence. It can be embarrassing and there’s very little you can do to hide it. Instead of living with dandruff, you can ask how to make a DIY beard dandruff remedy.
There are many remedies you can try. You can try aloe vera, aspirin, or honey. These home remedies are effective and can help you get rid of dandruff in no time. Still, if your dandruff is persistent, you can try medical shampoos.
A great way to avoid dandruff altogether is to use a beard conditioner. Check out this list of the best leave-in beard conditioners.
