How To Dye Your Beard Like A Pro [Complete Guide]

There is a moment in most men’s life that this thought comes through our minds.

Is it time to dye my beard? Will I look ok or I will mess it up and everyone will laugh at me?

If you are on this page and you are wondering how to dye your beard properly, look awesome and get your lost confidence back you are in the right place!

In short, this is how you can color your beard:

  • Choose The Right Color
  • Perform A Patch Test
  • Wash And Dry Your Beard
  • Comb Your Beard
  • Apply petroleum gel outside your beard’s outline
  • Wear a pair of rubber gloves
  • Open and read the instructions of your beard dye carefully
  • Brush The Dye Onto Your Facial Hair
  • Follow the instructions carefully to determine how long you will need to have the dye on your beard.
  • Rinse with water
  • Check The Results
  • Apply beard oil and conditioner

This is the summary of the beard dyeing process however we have a whole lot more things to discuss. We will talk about types of dyes, natural ways of dyeing your beard, how to remove beard dyes, the best beard dyes and we will answer every question you possibly have.

Without further ado, let’s get straight into it!

Why Someone Would Want To Dye His Beard?

Benefits of dyeing a beard

  • To Look Younger
  • To Change His Style
  • To Make His Beard Look Thicker
  • To Fix A Beard With 2 Colors

As you can see dyeing a beard can be very beneficial for us if we do it properly.

Many men want to change the color of their beards to look younger. Gray hair can be attractive as well but undeniably makes you look older. Especially, if one gets gray hair from a very young age it is very common to dye his beard.

Other men just want to make a change. For instance, they might have brown beards and wanna try blonde or black beards and see how they look. You will be surprised by the number of men that experiment with beard colors.

Another huge advantage of dyeing your beard is that it will look thicker. Black color is the best to create the illusion of a thicker beard. It is close to the idea of beard fillers.

Read more about beard fillers here.

The final category of men that will benefit from dyeing their beards are men with two different colors in their beards. If you wanna learn more about why some men have red hairs in their brown/black beards click here.

Those men try to eliminate the lighter color and want their beards to look darker most of the time.

I won’t stay here longer and tire you cause we have a ton more things to say.

Permanent/ Temporary Dyes

black beard dye

Some men want to dye their beards permanently but others just wanna test some colors and see how they look. Therefore, there are 2 kinds of beard dyes.

Permanent dyes are not, in reality, permanent but they just tend to last longer.

Choosing The Right Color

Choosing the right color when you are interested in dyeing your beard is a real headache especially for those of you that are going to dye your beards for the first time.

If eventually, you don’t like the color you chose you can remove the dye and dye it again but it will take some days. Beard dyes and the process of removing beard dyes can be harmful if not done properly.

For instance, you CANNOT dye and remove the dye and dye your beard again in 1 day. You will stress your facial hair too much. You may start losing hair and more.

Therefore, choosing the right color is very important.

The best and safest color is a color similar to your natural one. For example, if you had a black beard but you now have some gray hairs in it you can safely dye it black.

If you want to make a complete change you take more risks. Dyeing your beard from brown to let’s say blonde is courageous. You need to understand that there is a chance it does not suit you.

With that being said, there is nothing wrong with dyeing your beard as you want.

Temporary Beard DyePermanent Beard Dye
Temporary beard dyes are easily available on the market, and you don’t need to do anything before you use them. You take out the product from the packaging and start applying it to your beard according to the instructions.On the other hand, permanent beard dyes unlike temporary beard dyes will contain two essential items. One is the beard dye color itself, and the second is the mixing agent. You have to mix them before you apply the dye to your beard.
The temporary beard dyeing process is not complicated at all. Just one item, use it to your beard, and you are good to go.Permanent beard dyes will consume a lot of time in comparison to the temporary beard dyeing process.
Depending on the temporary beard dye product, the color will last shorter (most likely till you wash your hair). Perfect for Santa Claus. Read our article on how to dye beard white here. Permanent beard dyes will easily last for up to two-three months. (maximum)
Temporary beard dyes are free from bleach and mostly contain temporary coloring agents.Permanent beard dye will contain ammonia and oxidizer, such as hydrogen peroxide. Some even contain bleach.
Temporary beard dye will start to wear off as you shampoo or apply water to your beard.Permanent beard dye will take its time to become lighter. It doesn’t get affected much when you shampoo or apply water to your beard.
Temporary beard dyes are suitable for those of you that want to try a dye and see how they look or want to use natural ways of dyeing.If you want your beard hair color to last for a longer period of time, permanent beard dyes are the right choice for you.

Natural Ways Vs Beard Dyes

natural beard dyes

Another important thing you should know when it comes to dyeing your beard is that most beard dyes do have chemicals. Obviously, the most popular brands create dyes that are very safe for you.

But because some of you do not trust these dyes easily or have very sensitive skin or known allergies we also want to inform you that there are also natural ways of dyeing your beard.

The natural ways to dye your beard are simple, and they won’t cause any damage to your facial hair at all. Some of the most popular natural ways to dye a beard are by using:

  • Beet juice
  • Carrot juice
  • Henna
  • Coffee
  • Cinnamon
  • Sage
  • Black tea

The problem with natural dyes is that they don’t last very much. They tend to wear off quickly. If that’s not a problem for you you can test them out and see the results.

Also, natural dyes will be awesome to cover your white hair and also change your beard color a little bit but don’t expect that your beard will go from total white to total black with tea or coffee for example.

This is a bit too optimistic.

In my opinion, beard dyes are safe and more effective, and most if not all of you won’t have any problems with them. Furthermore, we always do a patch test before using them.

If you have any allergies, you either test a different dye or go for a natural way of dyeing your beard.

In this article, we will let you literally everything there is to know about dyeing a beard. A to Z. We don’t want you to have to read anything else online.

How To Dye Your Beard Step By Step

how to dye a beard

Dyeing your beard is not that difficult, to be honest with you. However, as with anything in life, you need to repeat the process sometimes before you become a master.

This is a very detailed guide so you hopefully do not need to read anything else. We try to teach you literally everything we know and make sure you won’t repeat our mistakes.

Coming back.

Things You Will Need

Beard Dye
A pair of gloves
Petroleum gel
An old/unwanted T-shirt (for obvious reasons)
A Beard Comb
Beard Oil And Conditioner (optional but highly recommended)
An Old Towel

Now that you have collected everything you need, here is how to dye your beard step by step:

  1. Do A Patch Test
  2. Wash and comb your beard
  3. Dry your beard completely
  4. Apply petroleum gel outside your beard’s outline
  5. Wear a pair of rubber gloves
  6. Open and read the instructions of your beard dye carefully
  7. Prepare the dye
  8. Do A Patch Test
  9. Apply the dye
  10. Follow the instructions carefully to determine how long you will need to have the dye on your beard.
  11. Rinse with cool water (definitely not hot, it is very important)
  12. Shampoo your beard without rubbing it
  13. Apply beard oil and conditioner

These are, in short, the necessary steps to dye a beard.

I have written them in detail but the reality is that the process is not that difficult. If you repeat it 2-3 times it will become really easy for you.

Before you apply anything to your face, make sure you are not allergic to it. How do we do that? We perform a patch test the night before the day we wanna dye our beard.

We rub a drop of dye inside our elbow and let it sit there for some hours or overnight. If nothing happens, the dye is safe to use. Otherwise, switch to a hypoallergic beard dye.

Washing, combing, and drying your beard is very straightforward. You should do it anyway.

The petroleum gel is used to help you not dye areas on your face that you don’t wanna dye. (High on the cheeks, maybe near ears, etc)

Just for men dye and many others need some preparation. Nothing special. A simple mix of 2 ingredients most of the time. Just follow the instructions the product you have bought already includes.

Once, you have finished all of these little steps you are ready to apply the dye. Everyone may apply the dye differently depending on the color of the dye and the beard.

As a general rule, we advise you to take the small brush that is included inside the packaging, get a small quantity of dye and then try to brush your beard. Keep doing this again and again until you have dyed all your beard (if that’s what you wanna do)

What I mean by that is, that if let’s say you wanna dye your beard salt and pepper you ain’t going to dye your whole white beard black. You will need to do some touch-ups with the black dye in certain areas.

Once you’ve finished dyeing your beard you will have to wait for a period of time. The most usual one is 10-15 minutes however every dye is different so follow the instruction.

Tip: Every time you use a certain dye you understand more about it. For instance, it may recommend you use it for 15 minutes but you may want a slightly different shade that can be done in 10 minutes. Test it out.

Once you are done, it is to rinse with water. Keep in mind that the beard dye is still fresh. Even if it is winter do not use hot water because the color will fade off immediately.

Then, shampoo your beard carefully and slowly with a mild beard shampoo. When you are trying to dry it do not scrub it. Give it some love, don’t rush!

Read Also: How To Dye Short Beard Without Staining Your Skin

The final step of the whole process is to apply beard oil and conditioner. Beard dyeing stresses your facial hair therefore take care of it, let it calm down, and relax for a few days.

Can You Get Rid Of Beard Dye If Anything Goes Wrong?

This is another very significant topic that interests thousands of men. Because, ok, we dyed our beards but what if we don’t like the result? What if the color is bad? What if we dyed our facial hair the wrong way?

If anything of these ever happens to you, do not panic!

Removing beard dye is not that tough. In fact, we have created a complete article in which we discuss everything you need to know about removing beard dyes. You can read it by clicking here.

In short, you can get rid of your beard dye by using one of the following methods:

  • Soap And Water
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Toothpaste
  • Baking soda and dish soap
  • Redbook haircolor remover

The first four ways to remove a beard dye is by using stuff you already have without having to buy anything.

If you don’t wanna try them then buy the redbook haircolor remover and you will remove beard dye easily.

All of these work.

However, don’t overdo it. Beard dyes and haircolor removing products stress your facial hair. Give your beard some time to recover.

How To Maintain Your Beard After You Dye it

The effort you will put to maintain your beard’s color will have a big impact on how long it will eventually before fading off.

What I mean by that, is that if you shampoo and wash your beard many times a day but also dry it carelessly with a towel your beard’s color won’t last long.

This may sound obvious but it is not for many men especially for those that dye their beards for the first time.

Another important thing to consider is buying specific products that protect your beards’ color for instance beard shampoos for colored beards, according to Wikihow. These products are designed to be less harmful to the color of your beards.

Moving on, you will need to dye your beard when it starts to fade. By doing it early enough, only one round of dyeing will probably be needed. Remember, there aren’t permanent dyes.

This process will become second nature to you after you have done it a few times and you get the positive feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Dye Your Beard?

You should dye your beard when it starts to fade off. This timeframe depends on the way you dyed it, the type of beard dye, its application, how many times per week you wash your beard and more. Remember if you dye your beard often, it will not require 2 rounds of dyeing and much time to wait.

Can I Dye Beard At Home?

Of course. That’s the point. Otherwise, we would tell you to visit the barber and he will do everything for you. Dyeing your beard at home is very safe and straightforward. The only thing you can really mess up is the color. But once you find it, everything will be fine and easy for you.

Can I Dye My Beard With Hair Color?

Facial hair is more sensitive than head hair. But, hair dyes are very similar to beard dyes. They both contain paraphenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide. Hair dyes won’t probably contain a small brush that is used to easily dye our beards. You can use a toothbrush or something else though. All in all, you can dye your beard with hair dyes.

Is Beard Dyeing Safe?

Dyeing your beard is very safe. Some men make it even safer by dyeing their beards with natural ingredients such as coffee. Obvious, there is always someone that believes the opposite but it is fine. Beard dyes contain ingredients suitable for facial hair use. However, you should always make a patch test before using the dye, especially for the first time.

Should I Dye My Beard To Match My Hair?

Having a similar color is definitely a good and safe way to go. Obviously, beard and hair color hair can be different though, and still look amazing. For example, if you are blonde and you have a brown beard it will be fine. On the other hand, if you have white hair and you dye your beard black it will be a bit weird.

Best Beard Dyes

Just For Men Beard Dye

This is the bigger brand for beard dyes. Their dyes are very high-quality and they work perfectly fine for most men.

In reality, there is nothing I should say here. Sometimes, the products speak for themselves.

The vast majority of men that dye their beards use this specific dye. It is very affordable and safe.

However, everyone is different. The fact that it works for me and every single one I know DOES NOT mean that it will be 100% safe for you. If anything bad happens, visit your doctor and do not try this dye again.

Another thing I wanna mention is that Just For Men has many different dyes with many different ingredients and colors. So, please read the description carefully because they all look alike!

This beard dye is the most popular on the market. So, we have written a full honest review about Just For Men Beard dye that you can read here.

Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye – Organic & Natural

Grizzly claims to offer you the perfect blend of plants and herbs that, when mixed together, delivers a natural oxidization process that colors the exterior of your beard follicles.

This beard dye is even safer than Just For Men but it takes some practice and error to achieve the results you want.

Some men have tried the brown color on a whitish beard but it turned out green in the beginning. However, after they dyed their beard again after 24h they eventually got the color they wanted.

This dye needs a little bit more patience but it does not include the chemicals that Just For Men does. Some of you, unlike me, hate chemicals. If that’s the case try out this dye. You will not regret it.

Awesome natural look.

Cremo No Mix No Mess Hair and Beard Color 

This product is a little bit different and easier to use.

It consists of a lightweight foam formula that can be applied straight away.

You just press the button, get the foam and massage your beard. This dye restores your natural color for about 6 weeks.

It can also be used on your hair, not only on your beard. It works really fast, 5-10 minutes, depending on your needs.

At this point, I want to mention that few people have mentioned rash. If you have very sensitive skin don’t use these products.

I have also tried this myself and I didn’t face any problems but as I have mentioned before the fact that it works for me and the people I know does not mean that other people that claim to face rash are lying.

There are not that many great beard dyes. These are the best ones.

At the end of the day, dyes are dirt cheap. Try them and form your own opinion.

The most commonly used dye is Just For Men. If you have very sensitive skin use Grizzly. And if you don’t like either of them use Cremo.

If none of these helps, then keep in mind there are some beard sprays that can dye your beard and also fill it.

Last but not least, you can use one of the natural ways we mentioned above.

To Sum Up

Today, we discussed a ton of things but this was the purpose of this article.

Normally, I write shorter articles but I wanted this to be the ultimate resource for men as far as beard dyeing is concerned.

Read Also: 6 Great Beard Dyes for Black Men

Today, we discussed not only the beard dyeing process step by step but also temporary and permanent dyes, natural ways of dyeing a beard, how to remove beard dyes if we don’t want them anymore, questions about beards and dyes, reasons that men dye their beards and also the best beard dyes on the market.

Dyeing a beard can boost your confidence and make you look younger. Don’t neglect yourselves, gentlemen. Women are spending a ton of time in front of their mirrors.

We are lucky enough to be able to get a nice beard, a nice haircut, do some workouts and look awesome no matter what age we are. Age is just a number if you take care of yourself.

Image Courtesy: Bored Panda

I have seen 60 or even 70-year-old men look epic with their white yeards and charm women 20 30 or 40 years younger. And no. It is not always the pocket. Many of them do not have anything.

But, they are masculine, strong, wise and they have beards!

All in all, don’t fear to dye your beards gentlemen if you want to. You can always remove the dye or dye it again if you don’t like it.

Don’t think about what can go wrong but focus on what can go well! And getting your beard’s color back is very very important sometimes.

Anyway, that’s it for today! I really hope you learned some useful things today.

If you have any questions or you just want to share your thoughts feel free to comment below and we will be more than happy to help.

Until next time,

Stay safe,

Tasos

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