Summer Beard Care Tips: How to Handle Heat, Humidity, Sweat & Dryness
Why Summer Is Actually Prime Beard Growth Season
(Vitamin D, activity levels, testosterone, and DHT)
Summer is bittersweet for beards and beard care because it’s normally the season when most men experience their best beard growth. That is normally related to being outside, getting vitamin D from the sun, being active and exercising, and just moving around more than during the cold months. In turn, that helps testosterone, which boosts DHT, which is essential for beard growth.
However, summer does come with unique challenges when it comes to heat, humidity, sweating, and dryness. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at those challenges, but also the best practices for conquering them. And for those beardsmen in the South, Texas, and Arizona, we hear you. Yes, we know summer is just called life for you, and these tips and tricks will translate very well.
Sweat and Your Beard
(Sweating, cooling effects, daily washing, and oil depletion)
In the summer, you’re likely going to sweat more, and that’s totally fine. Your beard can almost act like an air-conditioning unit when you have moisture in your beard and a breeze passes through. It can legitimately cool you down. Seeing as this is a human function, please don’t shy away from it. It’s something to embrace and lean into.
This does give us an emphasis on daily washing of the beard, if you’re not already doing that. Another factor to consider is that if you are sweating, you likely are drawing some of that oil, whether it’s your natural sebum oil or beard oil, away from your face. This could be causing additional dryness in the summer.
Because of that, I do not recommend using more oil per application, but you may need to do something like a midday application. If you feel your beard getting more dry in the middle of the day during summer, consider getting your beard damp and applying some beard oil. You may actually find yourself using less oil per application, especially if you’re coming from a dry winter into a humid summer.
Why Your Beard Feels Different in Humidity
(Frizz, curls, volume, styling challenges, and embracing the extra texture)
That seems like the perfect time to talk about humidity. This is a big one, and you are not alone if you’re frustrated with humidity and your beard. You leave a dry season where you feel like you just conquered your beard styling routine and got it down perfectly, and then humidity comes in and says, “Hold my beard oil.”
The challenge of humidity is that it introduces moisture that latches onto the beard hairs themselves. This can cause issues for styling. What happens is the hair wants to bunch up on itself, which is going to make it more curly. It’s also going to make it a lot more frizzy and just wild. I recommend, once again, leaning into it. Embrace the added volume and understand that where there is more moisture, your skin and hair are even happier.
Sun Exposure and Beard Health
(Benefits of vitamin D, UV damage, bleaching, and beard UV protection)
To talk about the heat and sun itself, it’s another situation that is bittersweet. When you’re out in the sun, vitamin D is fantastic for your health and especially your hair growth and health. However, UV rays are not great for your hair health. You can even experience what is called bleaching, where the hair lightens in color, and it’s a mild form of damage. Not to worry, though. It will come back, especially if you live in an area where you experience cold, dry seasons.
The key here, like most things in life, is moderation. Being out in the sun is good, but not for too long. One cool aspect to keep in mind is that experts believe one of the main functions for humans with a beard is actually UV protection. Many people can prove this by showing how pale it is under their neck compared to the rest of their body. Can we call this the bearded man tan? Watch out, farmer tan.
Should You Adjust Your Beard Care Routine for Summer
Not much should change with your beard care routine when it turns summer, but there are some factors and variables to keep in mind as you’re trying to optimize your experience. Beard wash and beard oil are going to be your key teammates during this wonderful summer. Enjoy the sun, my friends, and keep that beard going strong at a time when many trim or shave.