Best Beard Washes, Shampoos & Conditioners, & Softeners 2020

Last Updated on Jul 23, 2020

If your beard is itchy and coarse, I bet you’re using hair shampoo on it.

Stop it. You’re drying out your skin and facial hair. It’s not pretty.

Switch to the best beard washes, shampoos, conditioners, and softeners.

A few minutes of shopping online will help you have a well-groomed yet manly beard.

It will be touchably soft and manageable, which is pleasant for you and those who love you.

What Is the Best Beard Shampoo and Conditioner?

The hair on your face is different from the hair on your head.

Regular shampoo strips oils. It will make your beard brittle.

Instead, strengthen your facial hair with a beard wash that adds moisture while it cleanses.

Then follow up with a leave-in conditioner, oil, balm, or beard softener.

They will smooth the cuticle, make the beard easier to style, and take care of your skin, too.

At a minimum, wash your beard and condition it every other day (1).

Can You Use Hair Conditioner on a Beard?

At a minimum, using hair conditioner on your beard is better than not moisturizing it at all.

But since you’re reading this article, I can tell you’re interested in more than the minimum.

How Soon Should You Start Using Beard Wash, Conditioner, and Softener?

Beard wash products are made to take care of your face, too. It’s never too soon to start using them.

Take care of your scruff from day one.

Minimize itchiness while your beard starts to grow by conditioning it.

Grooming Is Worth the Effort

Your beard is likely the first thing people will notice when they see you.

Therefore, take the time to wash, condition, and groom your facial hair.

Good grooming also encourages hair growth. Start brushing or combing your beard right away to stimulate circulation and help the hairs grow straight.

Check out our article on the best beard growth kits to learn more about maintaining your beard.

Now let’s review the top beard shampoos, conditioners, and softeners.

Viking Revolution Beard Wash & Beard Conditioner Set

We’ll begin with Viking Revolution’s wash and conditioner set. It lathers away beard dandruff and leaves the hair soft and shiny.

In fact, if you want to use this on your head, it will take good care of your hair and scalp.

Two of the critical ingredients are jojoba and argan oils that moisturize both hair and skin. They won’t clog pores, either.

Both liquids have a pleasant sandalwood scent.

Moreover, the company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Beard Oil Conditioner by Viking Revolution

After you’ve rinsed and toweled off the excess water from your beard, soften it with beard oil.

The formula reduces frizz and split ends, plus it helps with thin patches.

Again, the main components are argan and jojoba oils.

Beard Balm by Viking Revolution

It’s easier to tame wiry manes with beard balm. It’s made of jojoba and argan oils, plus beeswax and mango butter, but it doesn’t feel greasy.

Smooth Viking Beard Balm with Leave-in Conditioner

Don’t be deceived by the similar name. The Smooth Viking beard balm comes from a different company, but it’s still made in the USA.

This is a lightweight formula that stimulates beard growth and makes facial hair appear thicker.

It’s based on olive, safflower, and other plant oils along with beeswax and shea butter. But it also has pumpkin seed oil. This ingredient was clinically proven to reverse hair loss caused by male pattern baldness (2).

Keep in mind, the clinical study was done on head hair, not beards.

Beard Growth Shampoo and Conditioner Set by Polished Gentleman

Polished Gentleman offers a shampoo and conditioner set that’s rich in hair growth ingredients and moisturizers.

The label lists biotin, a vitamin that’s essential for beard growth. It also calms itchy skin.

Next, eucalyptus and tea tree oils stimulate follicles and make facial hair more lustrous. Meanwhile, rosemary oil prevents hair loss and boosts circulation. It also clears up dandruff.

Finally, argan oil is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to make hair and skin healthier.

Cremo Beard & Scruff Softener, 30-Second Beard Softener

Cremo knows you’re impatient to get on with your day. Their beard softener is a conditioner that only takes 30 seconds to penetrate coarse hair. It adds moisture and shine plus a mild fresh scent.

Instead of acting like a balm or oil, it lathers up like shaving cream. Massage it in, then rinse.

Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner

After you wash, apply the Honest Amish beard balm leave-in conditioner. It’s handmade with a variety of plant-based oils and butters like pumpkin seed, argan, avocado, cocoa, aloe, and shea.

There are no preservatives, dyes, or artificial fragrances. Additionally, it’s packed in a recyclable metal tin.

Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm

The heavy-duty beard balm comes in a larger aluminum tin than the leave-in conditioner. It’s ideal for very coarse, unruly beards. It also soothes irritated skin.

Old Spice, Beard Kit for Men

Pro: Old Spice includes beard wash, leave-in conditioner, beard oil, and balm in this kit. The balm comes in handy for styling mustaches, too. And everything has the classic scent of Old Spice.

Con: each product has ingredients that could irritate sensitive skin like sulfates, artificial fragrances, and preservatives. The beard oil is silicone-based.

Beard Softener for Men by The American Beard Company

This beard softener works on all beard types for men of all ethnicities. It can help straighten and style curly, wiry hair.

Since it’s based on simple, organic ingredients, it’s excellent for sensitive skin. It also absorbs well into hair without making it oily.

The primary ingredients are jojoba and argan oils plus vitamin E.

Besides, the manufacturer offers a satisfaction guarantee.

Mr Rugged Beard Wash Shampoo and Conditioner

Mr Rugged’s 2-in-1 beard wash and conditioner tingles as it gets rid of acne and moisturizes flaky skin. Use it on your scalp as well as your face to save time.

Balmy Beards Premium Best Beard Balm for Men

This beard balm smells like citrus musk. It’s like a thick butter that tames unruly beards and mustaches.

It moisturizes hair and skin alike with grapeseed oil, shea butter, Vitamin E, frankincense oil, and more.

Spartans Den Premium Beard Oil

Spartans Den offers a 30-day money-back guarantee when you try their beard oil. It conditions and softens facial hair with jojoba, apricot, grape seed, and pumpkin seed oils.

After you apply it, it reduces itchiness, boosts growth, and repairs hairs.

Spartans Den Premium Beard Balm

The beard balm differs from the oil as it has a thick consistency similar to butter. It melts into facial hair to make it silky and easier to manage.

Beard Wash by Mountaineer Brand

Choose from a variety of fragrances when you buy the beard wash handmade by Mountaineer Brand. For example, this one smells like citrus and spice. But there are others like lime and sage or patchouli and peppermint.

There are no sulfates or artificial dyes in the bottle. Instead, the beard shampoo is based on glycerin, coconut oil, and essential oils. It’s gentle, and it leaves your hair and skin clean and moisturized.

Magic Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner by Mountaineer Band

Whether you have a soul patch or a beard like a lumberjack, this leave-in conditioner will keep the hair well-groomed. It’s handmade in the USA with natural ingredients like grapeseed oil and beeswax.

Also, it has no parabens, dyes, or artificial fragrances. The delicious scent comes from essential oils.

Beard Oil by Mountaineer Brand Variety Pack

For extra moisture and softening, apply the beard oil. It adds shine to whiskers while it conditions the skin underneath.

If you don’t want to drown out the scent of your cologne, grab the Barefoot unscented version.

GRAVE BEFORE SHAVE Beard Wash & Conditioner Pack

You don’t need to visit the barbershop if you have Grave Before Shave’s shampoo and conditioner pack. Both products contain argan oil to improve beard growth and strengthen existing hair. They also recommend them for your scalp and head hair.

GRAVE BEFORE SHAVE Leather/Cedarwood Scent Beard Balm

Yes, they call it the Aphrodisiac Beard Balm because it has an attractive masculine scent.

The balm softens and tames whiskers with coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, and other natural ingredients.

Beard Wash and Conditioner Bundle by Wild Willies

Wild Willies’ bundle of beard wash and conditioner invigorates your skin with eucalyptus and peppermint oils. While it tingles, it fortifies facial hair and moisturizes the skin.

Wild Willies Beard Oil

After your shower, use Wild Willies Beard Oil. It comes in a spray bottle for no-mess application. It’s also free of dyes and preservatives.

Wild Willie’s Beard Conditioner and Softener For Men

If your whiskers are rough, try Wild Willie’s Beard softener before you apply the beard oil. It sinks in down to the follicles to rejuvenate your skin and facial hair.

It has no sulfates or parabens, and the ingredients are 80% organic. The label lists aloe, castor oil, wheat protein, panthenol, glycerin, meadowfoam seed oil, and MCT oil.

Deluxe Beard Shampoo/Wash and Ultra Conditioner/Softener Value Set by Beardsley and Company

Beardsley and Company flavors their beard wash and conditioner. This is a significant bonus as I’m sure you know. Regular hair shampoo is just plain nasty.

Their beard shampoo smells and tastes like allspice and the conditioner like wild berry.

Wahl Beard Creme for Beard

Wahl makes a lotion for beards with aromatic scent. It’s created with botanical ingredients that soothe the skin and soften whiskers.

For best results, spray on the lotion, massage it in, then brush and style.

The water-based formula contains Manuka oil, meadowfoam seed oil, clove oil, jojoba seed oil, and more.

ZEUS Beard Shampoo and Conditioner Set

Zeus includes Dragon’s Blood in their shampoo and conditioner. No, this isn’t an ingredient lifted from Harry Potter.

Dragon’s blood is a resin from a South American tree used to regenerate skin.

Other ingredients include jojoba, aloe, and argan oils plus pro-vitamin B5 and aloe. Both formulas are free of sulfates and parabens. They come in three scents like vanilla rum, sandalwood, or verbena lime.

Zeus Conditioning Beard Balm for Men

This conditioning balm softens and relaxes facial hair to make it easier to style.

It adds shine with shea butter while aloe calms irritated skin and beeswax improves styleability.

ZEUS Refined Beard Oil

If you have skin that tends to break out easily, try this beard oil. It’s specifically designed for acne-prone skin.

The lightweight formula sinks in fast but won’t leave any residue behind. It’s based on soybean, avocado, argan, and almond oils. As a result, it also fights premature aging of the skin.

ZEUS Beard Oil made with Organic Oils

If you prefer organic products, this beard oil is ideal for you. It’s made of safflower seed, grapeseed, and argan oils along with Vitamin E and an all-natural fragrance.

Beard Wash Shampoo by Ranger Grooming Co by Leven Rose

Invigorate your skin and hair every time you wash with this beard shampoo. It features tea tree and peppermint oils to clear up beard dandruff and stop itching.

Furthermore, it’s pH-balanced to protect the skin and has coconut-derived cleansers that won’t strip natural oil. The ingredients are 73% organic.

Beard Wash Shampoo with Argan Oil

The Beard Wash Shampoo comes in a compact form and ideal to carry while traveling.

This beard wash is made of exotic ingredients from the United States. It has organic argan oil, natural oils, and aloe leaf extract.

It conditions while it cleanses, and won’t dry out your face or hair.

Happily, the beard balm also comes in solid form, so it’s easy to pack on a flight.

Related: Beard soap buyers guide

Conclusion

If you want a beard that will make every other man jealous, don’t cut corners. Indulge yourself and pamper those whiskers. You’ll soon see that it’s worth it.

The best beard washes and conditioners are those made specifically for facial hair.

Then, beard softeners are essential for styling and shine.

Let us know what your favorite beard grooming products are in the comments below.

Resources:

1. https://www.webmd.com/men/features/beard-care-tips#1 by R. Morgan Griffin, published March 24, 2015, accessed August 13, 2019

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017725/ by Young Hye Cho, et al., published April 23, 2014, accessed August 13, 2019