Beard shampoo or beard cleanser: the difference, and which to choose

In short. Beard shampoo and beard cleanser both wash the beard: no rule separates the two terms. On the shelf, a beard shampoo is usually a liquid that lathers. A beard cleanser, often a cream, lathers little and also washes the skin underneath. Short beard or tight skin: choose the one that lathers least.

In the chair, we often hear: "I wash it with shampoo." Hair shampoo, most of the time, or shower gel. Then the skin feels tight, the beard is coarse, and small white flakes fall when you run a hand through it. Before choosing between two labels, here is what they cover.

Are beard shampoo and beard cleanser the same thing?

Almost. Neither name is regulated: each brand chooses its own. On the shelves, you find two families.

• Beard shampoo: a liquid or solid wash that lathers, like a shampoo. It is generally formulated to be gentler than a hair shampoo.
• Beard cleanser: a broader term, covering any product made to wash the beard, whether gel, foam or cream. Many lather little and are designed as much for the skin underneath as for the hair.

So the word on the label matters less than what the product does to your skin. If it feels tight when you step out of the shower, the product strips too much.

Can you wash your beard with your shampoo or shower gel?

It washes, but it is not made for that. A hair shampoo is designed for the scalp, a shower gel for the skin of the body. On the face, they can dry out the skin and leave the hair coarse, and dead skin stays trapped between the hairs. As a stopgap, on a very short beard and skin that does not react, it will do. Every day, on skin that feels tight or itches, that is often where the problem starts.

Shower gel, shampoo, beard shampoo, beard cleanser: the comparison

Product	Made for	Lather	On the beard
Shower gel	The skin of the body	A lot	Can dry out the skin of the face. As a stopgap only.
Hair shampoo	The scalp and the hair	A lot	Can leave the hair coarse and the skin tight.
Beard shampoo	Beard hair and the skin of the face	Yes	Suitable. Follow the frequency stated on the bottle.
Cream beard cleanser	The beard and the skin underneath	Very little	Suitable, even on a short beard. Massage it down to the skin.

Does it have to lather to clean?

No. Lather is not a measure of cleaning. A product that lathers little washes properly, provided you massage it in: it is the massage, with your fingertips down to the skin, that loosens the dead skin trapped between the hairs. Rinsing does the rest.

Beard shampoo or beard cleanser: which should you choose for your beard?

• A few days' growth up to 3 cm: the skin is right under the hair. Choose a formula that lathers little and does not leave the skin tight. A small dab of product is enough.
• Beard over 3 cm: a beard shampoo or a cream cleanser both work, as long as you massage down to the skin and rinse well. On a long or dense beard, apply to a beard you have lightly squeezed out: the product is easier to work in.
• Tight skin, itching or small white flakes: avoid anything that lathers a lot and hydrate after washing. Our guide to dandruff in men has a section on the beard.

How to wash your beard in 4 steps

1. Wet your beard with lukewarm water.
2. Take a hazelnut-sized amount of product, or a small dab if your beard is short.
3. Massage for twenty seconds with your fingertips, down to the skin underneath.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water, then pat dry.

How often? For a beard shampoo that lathers, guides suggest two to four washes a week. A cleanser that does not strip can be used every day. Your skin remains the best guide: it should not feel tight after the shower.

The DAMERET beard cleanser: a cream, not a shampoo

We chose the second family. Our cream beard cleanser washes the hair and the skin underneath, lathers very little and lifts away the dead skin trapped in the beard, even a short one. Its formula contains aloe vera, provitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid. It is used every day in the shower and it rinses off. The 100 ml tube is made in Provence to the ISO 22716 standard and is also available in French pharmacies.

After washing, the next product depends on length. Under 3 cm, SÉRUM INSTINCT, our serum for short beards, fluid and non-greasy, hydrates the hair and the skin under the beard. Beyond 3 cm, HUILE VELOURS beard oil, a dry oil with five plant oils and vitamin E, goes on a clean, dry beard, three drops in the palms. All three are in our beard care for men. If your beard itches, read the beard routine to stop the itch too.

Beard shampoo or beard cleanser: the questions we get asked in the chair

What is the difference between a beard shampoo and a beard cleanser?

Both wash the beard and neither name is regulated. A beard shampoo is most often a wash that lathers, designed for the hair. Beard cleanser is a broader term: gel, foam or cream, often low-lather, designed for the skin underneath as well.

How often should you wash your beard?

For a beard shampoo that lathers, guides suggest two to four washes a week. A cleanser that does not strip can be used every day. If your skin feels tight after the shower, space out your washes or change product.

Should you wash three-day stubble?

Yes. The skin is right under the hair, and dead skin gets trapped between the hairs after just a few days of growth. A small dab of cleanser is enough, rinsed well.

Does a beard cleanser that doesn't lather really clean?

Yes. It is not the lather that cleans, it is the massage: twenty seconds with your fingertips, down to the skin, then a good rinse.

Can you shave with a beard cleanser?

It depends on the product. The DAMERET NETTOYANT BARBE can be used that way: wet beard, a hazelnut-sized amount, leave on for one minute, then shave in the direction of hair growth, without going over the same area twice.

What should you put on after washing your beard?

A product suited to the length. On a beard under 3 cm, a light serum to hydrate the skin underneath. Beyond 3 cm, a beard oil, on a clean, dry beard.

Guide written by the DAMERET team. DAMERET is a French men's grooming brand born in the salon. It was created by Jérôme Dameret, cosmetic formulator, and Nicolas Cervellon, who have run hair salons, barbershops and beauty salons since 2009. Up to 10,000 men a month have come through their salons.