Is it OK to dye your beard? Busting the myths!

Once your beard gets to a certain length you start to notice all sorts of colours in it. Personally, I have orange, grey, light brown, dark brown, and black beard hairs. Sometimes you just feel like you want to cover up some of those colours. Perhaps, you are greying and you want to find a beard dye to cover up the grey hairs that are slowly appearing throughout your beard. There is no doubt that dying a greybeard can be a great way to quickly take years off your age. In this article, we are going to look at all of the reasons why it’s okay to dye your beard and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about dying a beard.

Yes, it’s completely okay to dye your beard as long as you are using dedicated beard dyes. Beard dyes have been especially formulated to work well on your beard and as long as you don’t dye your beard too often you will be unlikely to suffer any side effects like a dry, thin, beard.

These days, dying your beard is safer than ever. In the past, you have to use a dye that was more suitable for your head hair then your beard hair. All of the beard dyes that exist today on the market have been formulated to make sure they dye your beard and also leave it in the best condition possible. This means making them skin friendly and long lasting whilst using organic ingredients which will not harm your beard hair.

Before you launch into dying your beard there are some things that you need to consider.

Some downsides to dying your beard

Dying your beard does not come completely risk-free. Even though beard dyes are friendly to the skin and the hair there are some aspects of dying your beard that you cannot escape. Before you launch into your beard here are some of the cons that you need to consider.

Beard hair damage

It’s normal that beard hair is a little bit dry and a little bit more brittle after dying it. Make sure that you give your hair plenty of conditioners and products especially formulated for colour treated beard hair. The products will restore the shine whilst also maintaining the coloured hair.

Anything you can do to combat the brittleness and improve the strength and state of your beard hair will mean that the dye last longer and you’ll experience significantly less beard hair fall after dying.

Thinner beard

Freshly coloured beard hair has a slightly thinner texture than normal. This is completely normal and can be remedied by adding a volumising product and using a deep hydration treatment at night. You can also use products like extra-virgin coconut oil and aloe vera gel to prevent the thinning of your beard hair and also improve the texture.

Anything to protect the outside cuticles (roof tile like scales) of your hair will mean that it looks better, shinier, and healthier. This means using good quality beard butters and balms as well as oils.

Different products needed

Perhaps you have been using a particular Beard maintenance regime for some time. If you are new to dying your beard hair you should consider swapping out for different products which will nourish and protect your beard better than your current products.

Look for products that have been especially formulated to contain a high amount of natural oils and butters to see if you can return your beard to its pre-dying days.

Having to do it regularly

Lastly, once you start dying your beard you will have to do it regularly. This is because beards will need to be dyed about every 6 to 8 weeks. This is when the roots of the beard will become obvious and the majority of the beard colour will start to wash off.

If you are buying beard dye once every 6 to 8 weeks this can quickly become expensive and if you miss an order your beard will look like it has a tidemark until you re-dye their hair. Here, are some of the best beard dyes for beards which you can consider using if you want to do it regularly.

What is the best hair dye for beards?

Finding the right beard dye for you is going to be very important for getting the perfect result. Everyone’s beard is different and therefore I recommend that you try to or three beard dies before settling on your favourite. Different methods of application for example pastes and creams may also work better for you.

In the list below I have collated some of the best beard dyes at our currently available on the market and have been proven to dye beard whilst also leaving it strong and damage free.

Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye

This beard dye is full of organic gradients and has been specifically designed to leave your beard looking as natural as possible. There are no crazy chemicals that could cause any sort of reaction or irritate your skin and also there are no additives which you will not recognise.

It is primarily made up of plant extracts and uses indigo and henna as a large portion of the dying active ingredients.

Cremo No Mix No Mess Hair and Beard Color

this product is a premixed no mess premium hair and beard colour. Unlike other options in this list it is a foam which may be easier for some people to apply. All you have to do is click together the two components pressed the button and the comb will start foaming. This means that no gloves are required and it easier to control and won’t get on your skin as much.

In terms of using a no fuss method to cover your beard – I think this is it. It lasts up to 6 weeks too.

Godefroy Professional Hair Color Tint Kit

This is a cream-based kits which means that there is no dripping and the application is much easier than a liquid. The great thing about this kit is that there are 20 premeasured capsules in the kit so it’s very easy-to-use and it takes the guesswork out of having to measure certain components for a good result.

Just For Men Mustache & Beard

Just for men is another great option if you want a beard dye from a tried and tested manufacturer. They offer 10 different shades ranging from blonde to jet black and they recommend that if you’re in doubt of which one you should choose always go with the lighter shade because you can add more. You can apply this product as often as you need to maintain your beard colour.

Now, let’s have a quick look at some of the aspects which you need to consider so that it’s okay for you to dye your beard regularly.

Is it safe to dye your beard every week?

Although it is probably safe to dye your beard every week it does not leave your beard in the best condition possible. Even the most mild beard dyes can strip the natural oils out of the skin and hair and leave your beard hair dry and brittle.

How long does beard dye last for?

Beard dye typically lasts for between 4 to 6 weeks before you start notice the colour fading. If you notice your beard dye fading quicker it may be that you are washing your beard too frequently or the environment that your beard is in from day to day causes the colour to fade.

For example, if you are out in harsh sunlight and UV rays too often you may find that you have to apply your beard dye more often.

How often do you have to dye beard?

If you have started to dye your beard and you want to continue the look you should dye your beard every 6 to 8 weeks. You can reduce it to every four weeks but any more than that and you start risking damaging your beard hair from the harsh chemicals often used in beard dyes.

If you want to dye your beard more often than every six weeks you should consider using a product with only organic and natural ingredients.

If you only want to dye your beard for a couple of weeks or even less, you can temporarily dye your beard using products which do not have as harsh an effect on your beard. In the next section will cover all of the ways that you can temporarily dye your beard if you only want the colour to stick around for up to a week.

How to dye your beard

after you’ve chosen the right beard dye in terms of colour and application preference here are the steps that you need to go through:

  • firstly, test a small part of your body with the dye to make sure that it won’t irritate your skin on your face. You should aim to do a small coin sized area before launching into your full beard. Do this test on your forearm where the skin is a little bit more sensitive to make sure that you don’t get a reaction.
  • Do not wash your beard before colouring. Get rid of any obvious dirt about two days before but a good beard dye requires a little bit of natural oil in your skin for the beard dye to transfer properly. A dry and brittle beard is much harder to get to absorb the dye molecules.
  • Make sure that you wear and of T-shirt because the beard dye will stain everywhere that it touches. Also you could cover the area you have chosen to dye your beard with an old sheet or some cling wrap. This will keep everyone you share the bathroom with happy.
  • Use Vaseline on the lines of your beard (like cheek and necklines) where you do not want the beard dye to take. Some beard dyes can dye the skin as well as their hair and you do not want it to darken the skin and make the lines of the beard uneven.
  • Then use the product as recommended by the manufacturer. Follow all of the steps and wait for the appropriate amount of time for the dye to take.
  • Wash out your beard with water until the water runs clear. And then pat dry your beard with a towel. There may still be a little bit of dye left in the beard so you should use a towel that you don’t mind throwing out or reusing for beard dying.

If in doubt always follow the recommendations of the manufacturer and read the entire process before starting to make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to get the dye to take to your beard efficiently and give you the best results.

How you can temporarily dye your beard

temporarily dying your beard is a great option if you have an important event that you want your beard to look particularly well maintained at. Also, you may want to temporarily dye your beard a range of different colours. Green for Saint Patrick’s Day. White for Christmas. Or any other colour to support your local sports team.

I have a full article on the ways that you can make your beard white which will also work for a load of different colours. Click here to be taken to the article – 10 solutions for making your beard white.

Beard pencil

You can purchase a beard filler pencil which gives you a much darker beard. The great thing about using a commercially available beard filler is that you do not get any smudges and it is water and sweat resistance.

The process for using a beard pencil filler is to start by drawing on the contour of your beard and moustache so that you have defined the ages. Then you simply brush the product over the rest of your beard as if colouring in between the lines.

This product is great if you have a patchy beard as it will even out the colour and perceived thickness and density over your entire face. You can even use it on your eyebrows or other areas of your body hair that you want to appear thicker.

It has been designed with four tips on the top so that it’s easy to apply and get a well-defined edge.

Blackbeard for Men Formula

This is like a mascara for beards. It’s super easy to apply and can work for any length of beards. However, it works particularly well on short beards because of the way it is applied. On longer beards it will just take longer to get an even coverage.

You need to apply this every morning otherwise it will fade throughout the day and look dull after you wake up on the second day. If you touch your face a lot it will end up on your hands or clothes because it is not a permanent product. If you touch your beard often you should consider using a semipermanent dye to fix your beard colour.

Temporary Beard Color Stick

Temporarily beard sticks are like lipstick for your beard. It is portable and easily fits into your pocket and can change the colour of your beard in seconds. It is not a permanent dye and can be used for your moustache, beard, and side burns. This is perfect if you have the one or two grey hairs that you want to cover up quickly and it can easily be washed out with soap and shampoo.

You can use a locking spray to make the product darker and to stop it from transferring to your skin and clothes. Like the other options in this temporary Beard dye section if you touch your face a lot you should consider using a semipermanent beard dying solution otherwise it can easily end up on your hands and clothes.

Here are some frequently asked questions about beard dyes.

Frequently asked beard dye questions

Dying your beard reproducibility and effectively means adhering to some basic rules. However, it can get a little bit confusing with all of the different recommendations that you can find online.

Should I wash my beard before dying it?

No, you should not wash your beard before dying it. Many manufacturers recommend that you wash your beard a couple of days before dying. This is because dry beard hair does not absorb the oils and dye molecules as readily as well conditioned and hydrated beard hair.

If your beard is a little bit dirty before dying you can simply brush out the debris and grime before applying the beard dye.

Does dying your beard stain your face?

Yes, dying your beard can stain your face. You should consider using Vaseline to protect the areas of your face that you do not want to be dyed. Also, you should protect other parts of your body such as your hands with gloves.

The area around where you are dying your beard also needs to be protected in case any of the beard dye comes into contact with the surfaces of your bathroom. Some dyes can be very potent and even the smallest amount of time in contact with a surface will leave it permanently stained. Be very careful when using beard dye!

How do you make homemade beard dye?

There are a number of ways to make home-made beard dye and I have been through the entire process in my other article – how can I naturally darken my beard? – Click here to be taken to the article.

You can naturally darken your beard by using dyes such as Henna, Amla powder and even things like cocoa powder black tea and coffee and a number of people have had particular success using things like black walnuts.

Quite often it is as simple as buying the henna powder, the black walnut powder and mixing it with a small amount of water to form a paste. You then leave that paste in your beard for about one hour and then rinse it out.

Doing it naturally can be an awesome option for people that have particular issues with sensitive skin on their face.

Some of my favourite recipes are:

Black Walnuts

You can purchase black walnut hull powder to make this process much easier for yourself rather than using whole walnuts.

Here is the process for using the powder to dye your beard:

  • Boil about 5 cups of water and add 5 tablespoons of the black walnut powder. Allow it to sit for about one hour.
  • Once the solution has cooled down you can apply it throughout your beard evenly.
  • Allow it to sit in your beard for at least 15 minutes and allow it to air dry for 3 to 4 hours after applying the paste.
  • You may want to apply heat to the hair as the walnuts hair dye sits in it as there is some evidence to suggest that it results in a darker colour for your beard. You can also take your beard out into the sun while it has the black walnut paste in it for a similar result.

If you find that the paste is a little bit too thin you can thicken it with some cornstarch.

Some people want to darken their beard hair without using dyes. In the next section you can talk about your options for darkening your beard hair using products which don’t actively dye the hair fibres.

Henna

All you have to do with a pack is to prepare the mixture using warm tapwater as indicated on the packet. Then you evenly apply throughout your beard and wait for a minimum of two hours. A lot of people wrap their beard in cling wrap to make sure that there are no drips which stain your clothes or your furniture. Two hours is quite a lot of time to be walking around with dye in your beard.

If you decide to buy henna as a dry powder you can also find tune the mixture so that your hair can be more auburn, orange, chestnut brown, or burgundy. This takes a little bit more preparation but here are the basic steps:

  • Before getting started remember that henna will dye anything it touches on this includes your skin. Remember to wear gloves and protect the area in which you will be applying it to your beard.
  • You will need about 50 g for short beards and about 100 g if your beard is wizard in length. All you need to do is mixing hot tap water slowly until you create a paste that is the consistency of cake batter.
  • Allow the mixture to sit for about 12 hours with a plastic wrap on top. This will mean that the dye is a great consistency when you want to work with it. You’ll notice that the mixture will darken to a dark brown over time and this is an indication that is ready to use.
  • Apply the paste throughout your beard and spread as evenly as possible. You can’t use too much and if in doubt apply more.
  • If you get a dye on your skin wipe it quickly with a hot wet towel.
  • Wait for at least two hours for washing out the henna dye. The longer you leave the dye on the deeper the colour will be.
  • After two hours rinse out your beard over a sink. Do not be tempted to do this in the shower because the henna will stain your body and bathtub/shower cubicle.
  • Wash with shampoo and follow-up with conditioner and your beard is now darker!

You can add a range of different things to change the colour of your beard once you have applied henna. For example, assets like lemon juice and vinegar makes the dye more strawberry blonde. You can use coffee or tea to make it a darker colour and some people even use brandy to give it a more intense red colour.

Summary

Yes, is completely okay to dye your beard. As long as you use a dedicated beard dye you are unlikely to cause any significant damage to your beard. Another way that you can potentially damage your beard is if you dye your beard too often. Semipermanent beard dyes are designed to last from anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks and making sure that you do not use a die too often will mean your beard will not become thin or brittle.

This article was also covered some of the temporary ways to dye your beard if you do not want to commit to a permanent beard colour.

Happy beard growing and good luck with dying your beard!

The Author


Andy Stapleton

Andy is a writer and YouTuber with a PhD in science. He has written and/or produced videos for Science Alert, COSMOS magazine, and Australia's Science Channel among others. He is an avid beard grower and after many years of growing and trialling different beard styles, he started this blog to share the tips, tricks, and science that he has learned along the way!