How to exfoliate your beard the right way.

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from the surface of your skin, allowing the fresh, clean dermal layer beneath to peek through and breathe. Nearly every inch of your skin needs exfoliation—but many men forget to scrub the buildup out from under their beards.

Sound familiar? 

We get it. After all, to exfoliate beard hair, you need a gentle touch, suitable products, and the right self-care routine. Fortunately, we’re here to help make all that much easier. 

Stop living with clogged pores, oily roots, and other issues. Learn how to exfoliate beard hairs for the sharpest, cleanest facial hair in town.

Why beard exfoliation matters.

Since it takes such a prominent position on your face, your beard tends to accumulate oil, dirt, and debris. Plus, when sweat drips down your temples, cheeks, and the rest of your face, it builds up at your jawline, gathers around your pores, and absorbs into your beard.

While your thick, coarse hairs may make it hard to tell at first, a lack of exfoliation will eventually lead to gunk and grime buildup. By properly exfoliating your beard, however, you can prevent that gnarly buildup and its associated effects:

• Beard dandruff (beardruff) – Dandruff is flaky, dry skin that peels off your scalp. Its facial cousin, beardruff, can be just as annoying, messy, and embarrassing. From chronic dermal conditions like Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) to simple oil and skin cell buildup, there are various causes for beardruff. Regardless of the cause, proper exfoliation cleans away the dead cells before they have a chance to fall, exposing the skin underneath and reducing the chances of beardruff down the road.

• Itchiness – Dirt, debris, and oils don’t only lead to dandruff. They can also cause beard hairs to become greasy, matted, and tangled; clog pores; and result in overall discomfort. And all of this can lead to itchiness. Without proper exfoliation, you may find yourself scratching away at your beard hair, trying to remove the buildup that’s causing your irritation. 

• Ingrown hairs – Excess dead skin cells can block your pores and clog your follicles, preventing new hair from poking through. When new hairs fail to pierce your skin, they instead become larger and larger underneath the surface. This is known as ingrown hair. Ingrown hair can cause pain, swelling, and persistent irritation. Fortunately, regular exfoliation wipes away dead skin cells, helping your hair pierce through your skin in the way it’s supposed to.

Basically, learning how to exfoliate a beard is essential to the health of your facial hair and your own comfort. 

What happens if you skip exfoliation?

Your beard is with you all the time, helping you (literally) face the world. As you go through your day, you're bound to get your whiskers a little dirty—whether it’s with sweat, food, or anything else. 

If you fail to wash off this dirt and grime and exfoliate the skin underneath, you risk:

• Dead skin buildup – The main reason to exfoliate is to remove the mass of dead skin cells that naturally shed off your body. This, in turn, stimulates cell turnover, meaning more fresh, healthy skin cells for you. The result is a healthier, smoother appearance. Without exfoliation, those dead skin cells stay in place, block the new cells’ ability to form, and can cause your skin to feel itchy.

• Dryness and flakiness – Beards collect dirt and oil, hold it against your skin, and interfere with your tissue’s ability to maintain proper hydration. Skin already produces its own oil, known as sebum, which is generally sufficient for proper dermal hydration. However, once you add extra oil to the equation—especially from unclean sources like excessive sweating—you can actually dry out, rather than moisturize, the skin underneath your beard. 

• A patchy appearance – Dirt and oils don’t only mess with your skin—they also matt your beard hair, twist it into knots, and leave it tangled. Ingrown hairs, acne, and other skin issues can also prevent hair from growing in certain spots, leading your beard to appear patchy and uneven. Regular exfoliation removes the dirt and debris that prevents healthy growth, prompting your beard to grow more evenly across your face. 

Exfoliation is key to maintaining your beard’s health, evening out its appearance, and preventing dry, itchy skin underneath. 

So, how do you exfoliate with a beard? 

How to exfoliate with a beard (step by step).

Scraping away dead skin cells and freshening up your beard is only a matter of a few simple steps: 

1. Pick the right exfoliating products – Certain exfoliants claim to be for your whole body—including your beard and face—but can contain harsh, allergy-inducing dyes, fragrances, or preservatives. Choose a beard shampoo that’s crafted for sensitive skin to avoid itchiness and irritation.

2. Wet your beard thoroughly – Use plenty of warm water. The shower is the ideal spot for beard exfoliation since excess water and cleanser can drip down the drain, rather than onto your bathroom floor.

3. Massage the cleanser into your beard – Work the shampoo through your beard until you get all the grease, grime, and gunk out.

4. Don’t forget the skin underneath – Gently rub the cleanser around the skin underneath your beard, scraping away dirt and dead skin as you wash. If you need extra exfoliation, use a face buffer to gently eliminate any stubborn buildup.

5. Repeat the process regularly – Exfoliate your beard two to three times a week to stay on top of dead skin and promote new cell growth. If your beard still seems gritty and oily, exfoliate more frequently until your face and skin feel fresh.

Knowing how to exfoliate beards is the key to keeping facial hair clean and sharp. But, before you can scrub out all that dead skin, you need the right men’s care products for the job.

The best tools and products for beard exfoliation.

A proper cleanser is the star player in your beard exfoliation lineup. Beard-safe exfoliating cleansers are made specifically for your face, meaning they’re suitable for the most sensitive skin on your body. 

Remember: Using the wrong cleanser can irritate your skin. While something like an all-purpose body wash may clear away dead cells, it can also strip away your body’s natural oils, resulting in dry, itchy skin.

A beard brush is another useful tool that can help you free stubborn grit and oils from your beard. Beard brushes often come in beard grooming kits—alongside electric razors and precision scissors, they can help you keep your beard trim and clean. A face buffer can also free up tangled hairs, matted, greasy clumps, and other stuck-on grime.

After you’ve scrubbed and exfoliated, keep your beard healthy and moisturized with:

• Beard oil – Beard oil contains essential nutrients to hydrate your beard and help it shine. Simply massage a bit into your clean, dry beard, and you're set.

• Beard conditioner – Beard conditioner is similar to beard oil in that it helps restore your facial hair’s natural moisture. Instead of applying it dry, however, rub a small amount into your beard while it’s still damp and let it dry naturally for lasting smoothness.

Beard exfoliation is a necessary part of maintaining clean, healthy facial hair. That’s why every man should understand how to keep a magnificent mane—and how to avoid common beard exfoliation pitfalls.

Beard exfoliation mistakes to avoid.

Exfoliation keeps your beard in tip-top shape—but these common mistakes can dry out your skin or tug at your beard hair unnecessarily:

• Over-exfoliating – Exfoliating too often strips away your skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry and sensitive. Exfoliate only a few times per week or, if you experience excessive skin buildup, more frequently until the issue is resolved. 

• Using harsh scrubs – Low-quality cleansers can dry out your skin, cause irritation, or even result in allergic reactions. Similarly, more abrasive scrubbing tools—such as those meant for your scalp or body—can tug at your coarse beard hairs and hurt the skin underneath.

• Forgetting about post-exfoliation hydration – A beard oil or conditioner helps you maintain that fresh, just-scrubbed feeling for longer. They also give your facial hair a natural, healthy sheen.

With the right products and techniques, you can optimize your beard exfoliation routine and experience the confidence that comes with sporting a nourished, healthy, exceptional-looking beard. 

And if you’re ready for your beard to look better than ever, start with our lineup of men’s care solutions.

Choose MANSCAPED® for expert exfoliation and beard care.

At MANSCAPED®, we don’t just exfoliate beards—we curate a collection of essential men’s skincare, grooming, and beard products for every guy, everywhere.

MANSCAPED® beard shampoo effectively tackles dirt and grime while leaving your face soft and touchable. Our beard oil and beard conditioner keep your facial hair healthy, hydrated, and smelling superb. Finally, our face buffer offers a gentle touch with just the right amount of abrasiveness to clear away dead cells without irritating your skin.

Plus, if you need a touch-up, the MANSCAPED® beard hedger creates perfectly straight lines, trims to 20 different lengths, and runs for a full hour between charges.

From exfoliators to beard washes, razors, and more, make MANSCAPED® your go-to for the ultimate in personal care.

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National Library of Medicine. Seborrheic Dermatitis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551707/. 

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National Library of Medicine. Intradermal Growing Hair: Two Case Reports. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6440291/. 

National Library of Medicine. Skincare Bootcamp: The Evolving Role of Skincare.. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5172479/. 

National Library of Medicine. Facial microbial flora in bearded versus nonbearded men in the operating room setting: A single-center cross-sectional STROBE-compliant observational study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9542990/. 

National Library of Medicine. Physiology, Sebaceous Glands. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499819/. 

National Library of Medicine. Preparing the hair follicle canal for hair shaft emergence. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33025661/. 

National Library of Medicine. CLEANSERS AND THEIR ROLE IN VARIOUS DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3088928/.. 

National Library of Medicine. The Prevalence of Sensitive Skin. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6533878/