So, you see a little bit of salt and pepper color in your beard, but you're not quite ready to embrace that look. Should you or shouldn't you dye your beard?
Whether to dye your beard ultimately comes down to personal style. You can dye your beard, or you can choose to embrace the natural color of those hairs.
If you are choosing to dye your beard, you'll want to make sure you use a high-quality product that's made for beard hair.
What Are the 3 Best Beard Dyes on the Market?
Dying your beard requires you a dye that is specially made for the hair on your face rather than the hair on your head. Whether you're dying your beard to hide the salt and pepper look or are just trying to switch up your look, you can't go wrong with one of these three top choices.
Bigen EzColor For Men
Bigen EzColor is one of the most popular beard dyes on the market for a variety of reasons. The company has been in operation for over 100 years and has continued to be a trusted brand when it comes to dye products.
Their Bigen EzColor beard dye was explicitly designed for black men with coarse hair, but any man can use this product if they're looking to tame the grey hairs in their beard.
One of the most common issues men face when choosing to dye their beards is putting harsh chemicals directly on their faces. This product uses olive oil and other natural ingredients to dye your beard effectively. You have the choice between Natural Black, Dark Brown, and Brown Black dye.
Depending on how well you take care of the dye job and how often you wash your face, you may be able to squeeze two months out of one single dye session. Your beard may require touch-ups throughout that time, but you won't need to dye your hair every week with this product.
As with most dye, the longer you leave the product on, the darker your beard will get. Most men are happy with the result of leaving the beard color on for about five to ten minutes.
Pros:
- It effectively covers unwanted grey hairs
- It can last for up to two months if you take care of your beard properly
- You should only have to leave it on your beard for a maximum of ten minutes
Cons:
- The color develops very quickly and may results in too dark of color if not monitored
- It may cause skin irritation if you're not careful when applying the product
- It can be challenging to know which color to choose without seeing it in person
Softsheen-Carson Dark & Natural Hair Dye
If you're looking for an incredibly easy-to-use beard dye, the Softsheen-Carson beard dye is a great choice. This product is ideal for men with dark and thick natural beard hair but can also be used on other hair types.
When you're applying this beard color, it's easier than ever. The product is no drip, and the way you'll apply it to your beard is by shampooing it in. Once you've left the product in your beard for five minutes, you can shampoo it out and begin rocking a beard without any greys.
Since the product will finish working within five minutes, you don't need to worry about leaving any stains.
Like other beard dyes, the better you take care of your dye job, the longer it will last. It's possible to get a full six weeks out of one single dye job with this product.
Pros:
- It's one of the most affordable beard dyes on the market
- It lasts for about six weeks before needing a touch-up
- It won't leave stains on your skin even with their darkest color
Cons:
- It could cause skin irritation if you don't do a test patch before fully dying your beard
- The product will not work on wet hair
- It comes in a larger quantity, which may not be ideal for those who only need to dye a little bit of their beard or sideburns
Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye
One of the biggest fears men have when dying their beards is the potential allergic reactions when putting harsh chemicals on their faces. The Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye is all-natural and washes this worry away.
The powder product uses henna to ensure the perfect pigment in your beard. Using this product will leave you a grey-free beard that turns out in varying shades of dark brown.
You'll need to mix the powder into a paste before applying it to your beard, but it comes with a brush for easy application.
Pros:
- It's a permanent beard dye that uses natural ingredients like henna
- You won't have any stains or burning skin after using this dye
- The product lasts for longer since you only need to use as much powder as you need at a time
Cons:
- It's more costly than other beard dye
- It's hard to tell precisely what color your beard will be when you rinse the product out
- It can take up to 30 minutes for the dye to process
Beard Dye vs. Temporary Beard Color
When deciding to color your beard, you now have two options. You can choose between a traditional beard dye or a temporary beard color. There are advantages and disadvantages to both products and which one you choose will come down to personal preference.
Traditional beard dyes are the most common, and many people use them to cover unwanted grey hairs in a beard. These products provide a brush applicator and take significantly less amount of time to develop.
Depending on the product you choose, they will be a permanent or semi-permanent color. These products last for a few weeks at a time, so you won't need to reapply color every few days. The color holds up against water and tends to be smudge-resistant.
If you have a full beard, beard dyes are capable of handling a high volume of color that temporary beard color cannot. Be prepared when using beard dye, since it takes around 15 minutes to apply the color and then a maximum of 30 for the color to sit on your beard.
Temporary beard color is dye-free and does not stain your beard hair. These products will surround your hair with color, which can make your beard look fuller than it is.
When using a temporary beard dye, you can expect the results to last for about two days before it begins to fade or is completely worn off. While temporary beard color won't last as long as using beard dye, it takes a lot less time to apply.
If you have a patchy or a beard that's thinner than you would like, you can use temporary beard color on the skin to make it appear fuller. These are safe to use on your skin, unlike beard dyes. Temporary beard color is often used to prolong the lifespan of a dye job.
How Often Can You Dye Your Beard?
If you've dyed your beard and can't get enough of how it looks, you're going to want to keep up with the new color. But similar to dying the hair on your head, you need to be careful about how often you're dying it, especially depending on the products you're using.
If you're going the more natural dye route, such as using lemon juice, chamomile tea, or baking soda, you're going to be able to dye your beard more frequently than those using a product that has harsh chemicals.
When you're taking the natural approach, you can dye your beard every day if you so choose. You'll probably need to use these products for a few days in a row to achieve your desired look.
Now, if you're using legitimate beard dye, you do not want to be putting these chemical dyes on your beard every day. When using beard dye, you can dye it every few weeks to keep your beard color consistent. If you're using the same product every time, be sure to check the instructions.
The same goes for temporary beard color. You'll always want to check with the instructions to see how often you can dye your beard based on that specific product. But, with temporary beard color, you can dye your beard every couple of days.
How Long Does Beard Dye Last?
The answer to this question depends on the product you use. Traditional beard dyes will typically last in your beard for about one to two weeks before you'll start to see a drastic change in your beard's color.
However, there are beard dyes on the market that promote a longer-lasting color. Depending on how well you take care of your beard color, you may be able to get away without fully dying your beard for a month or two.
When working with temporary beard color, you'll probably notice a change in the color after about two days. Products work differently on everyone, so trial and error will be your best friend when deciding how long you can go in-between colors.
