Bearded men know that their beard hair is as sensitive as the hair on their head — if not more so. Regular shampoo strips away oils to keep your hair from looking oily and limp. But the stiff hair in your beard needs some oil to keep it soft and shiny. If you use your regular shampoo on it, you’re going to be defeating your own efforts to keep your beard healthy.
 
Instead, you need to use a beard wash — and possibly a conditioner — that will clean out the dead skin cells, reduce itching, and leave your beard soft, shiny, and fresh smelling. Some beard washes contain a specific scent, while others wash away any odor and leave your beard with its own natural, healthy scent. In addition, the ingredients in beard washes can vary significantly from one product to the next.