Should I color my beard? An insight into beard dying

“Should I color my beard?”

As a stylist it’s a question I’ve had a few friends ask me lately — particularly as they start to notice the odd grey hair creeping into their facial ruffage.

It’s a bit of a complex question for most guys. On the one hand, there’s nothing wrong with dying your beard, your hair, or even your armpit hair if you feel like it. Yet, many men still have a weird taboo about using virtually any kind of “beauty” product.

Personally, I think dying your beard can be a good idea — depending on the situation. As long as you’re comfortable with the color you choose, a little dye could be all it takes to give you a serious boost in confidence.

Here’s what you need to know about dying your beard.

Should you dye your beard?

Hair dye (for any hair on your body), isn’t exactly a mandatory purchase. It’s something we use for self-esteem purposes. If you’re not happy with the way your beard looks already, a little hair color can be all it takes to get your face looking fresh again.

Dying your beard is no stranger than dying your hair — and yes, you can do that too. But men often feel as though it’s less “socially acceptable” for us to use dye products. I don’t agree. Women dye everything from their eyebrows to their eyelashes.

As a dude, you should be able to do anything you like to your beard. You grew it, after all.

The biggest downside to deciding you’re going to dye your beard, is maintaining your new look. Once you’ve colored your beard, you either need to keep on top of it, or allow your beard to return to its normal state.

Here are a few reasons why you might choose to take on the extra work:

• You’re going grey: A little grey in your hair can look sophisticated as hell. If you’re not ready to claim the “silver fox” look yet, a beard dye could come in handy.
• You want a confidence boost: Having your beard, eyebrows and hair all looking pristine can really help to tie your look together. It’s a major confidence boost in the right circumstances.
• You’re feeling daring: Want to stand out on social media or follow one of the latest trends? You can dye your beard pretty much any color you want.
• You want to impress someone: Dying your hair isn’t just a great way to attract the ladies, it can also make you look younger and more professional when applying for a job.
• You’re tired of bad genetics: Just because you want to grow an epic beard doesn’t mean your genetics are on the same boat. We’ve all seen guys with multi-colored beards — they don’t always look good.

The rules for dying your beard

Ultimately, the answer to “should I color my beard?” should always be: “If you want to.” It all comes down to you, your personal preferences, and what you want to get out of your facial hair. Some people will dye their beard to match their hair, while others will use dye to banish unwanted greys.

The good news is dying your beard can have a range of unexpected benefits — like making your hair look thicker, and even giving you a sharper overall look. On the other hand, dandruff also shows up more significantly in dark hair — so be careful if you’ve got dry skin.

To make sure you get the right results from your beard dying experience, remember:

• Choose the right color: Decide what kind of color you want to go with for your beard in advance. The hair on your face is a little thicker than the hair on your head. This means a lighter color is often a better choice, as it will be more intense.
• Use the right dye: No, you can’t just use hair dye on your face. Your beard hair is different, so make sure you treat it right. Look for a dye specifically intended for beards, and make sure you condition the crap out of your beard when you’re done.
• Get help: Not confident about dying your beard yourself? No worries, get a professional to do it for you. These days, there are a ton of salons with professionals who can happily get your beard looking great for you. You’re more likely to get a great finish this way.
• Look after it: Remember to wash the dye out of your hair thoroughly, apply moisturizer, and protect your beard after dying it. It’s also helpful to have some Vaseline handy to stop the hair dye from seeping into your skin.

Ready to dye your beard?

Choosing to color your beard can be a scary concept — but it’s not as terrifying as you might think.

The reality is a lot of guys are investing more cash into beard dye, hair dye, and even eyebrow dye these days. Why do you think there are so many men’s grooming products available? The big companies of the world wouldn’t keep selling them if people didn’t want to buy them.

Need more help preparing for the big color job? Check out the full version of this article on Blitz’d Magazine to get our top tips and some advice on which products to use.

Blitz yourself better!