David Beckham, Hugh Grant, and Matt LeBlanc all had something in common – they dyed their beards. The reasons varied, whether it was for an acting role, to camouflage color differences, or hide gray hairs. But we’re not sure that any of them could tell you the best beard dye for sensitive skin. That’s something we had to find out for ourselves.
So, what is the safest beard dye for sensitive skin? Is it possible to dye a beard without irritation? These are the questions we researched. Let’s start with the claim that you can use hair dye on your beard.
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Can you color a beard with hair dye?
Box dyes for hair are likely to wreck your beard and the results will look unnatural. They create an opaque, uniform color that will make facial hair look fake. However, beard dye is made to camouflage color differences and still look natural.
Furthermore, hair dye is likely to irritate your face, but a hypoallergenic beard dye shouldn’t cause a problem for sensitive skin.
Is it hard to dye a beard at home?
Don’t get discouraged because it’s going to take a little time and effort to dye your beard. On the bright side, you have options, and some products are easier to use than others.
Traditional beard dyes require that you mix ingredients, don gloves, and carefully brush the color through your facial hair. Then, you have to wait a certain amount of time before washing it out. Since the dye is permanent, it may stain if it gets on your skin. However, wiping it off with rubbing alcohol usually works – but you have to wait until the dye sets.
On the other hand, temporary beard dye is faster and easier to apply. It’s like using a marker with a brush tip, or a mascara brush. That means you can touch up just the gray hairs instead of doing all the facial hair at once. On the downside, it only lasts for a day or two.
Tips for choosing the best beard dye if you have sensitive skin
Unless you have a reason for wanting a dramatic change in appearance, choose a beard dye that’s close to your natural hair color.
Also, try to match your skin tone. For example, there are three skin tone types: warm, cool, and neutral. Check the veins in your wrist. If they look greenish, you have a warm tone. If they are bluish or purplish, you have a cool tone. And if it’s a mix of both, you’re neutral.
Lastly, don’t forget your eyebrows, mustache, or sideburns. You might need to touch them up, too.
Check out the best beard dyes below to learn more.
| The best beard dyes for sensitive skin | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye - Organic & Natural |
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| The Henna Guys 100% Pure Hair & Beard Dye |
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| Just For Men Mustache & Beard |
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| Just For Men Control GX Grey Reducing Beard Wash |
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| Cremo No Mess Hair and Beard Color |
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| VOLT Grooming Instant Beard Color |
|
Best Beard Dyes for Sensitive Skin in 2023
Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye – Organic & Natural
Here is our favorite organic beard dye for sensitive skin. It’s 100% chemical-free and hypoallergenic. Unless you have a specific allergy to one of the herbal powders (neem, henna, indigo, false daisy, and emblic), you’re good to go. It’s a truly natural alternative to drugstore beard dye.
What’s the catch? Well, you’ll need to decide which color to use. Luckily, there are only three shades: light, natural, and dark brown. The good news is that none of the colors are solid and opaque like box dye. Whichever you pick will leave your beard with true-to-life shades. Plus, the color is permanent and will last for two weeks or longer while it fades slowly and naturally.
The package comes with just over three ounces of the dye and just over an ounce of the base, and you have to mix them. It includes instructions in English and other languages as well as an applicator brush.
In short, all you need is water and some time to work. Mix the appropriate amounts of dye and base with water to make a paste (the amount depends on the length of your beard). Brush it through the beard with the applicator and wait 10 to 30 minutes for the dye to take. Then wash and let the color oxidize overnight. Don’t panic because the color will look greenish or reddish at first, but the oxidation over the next few hours will result in a normal-looking brown.
Reviewers say the dye creates a natural variation in color depending on the beard’s coarseness. Moreover, the dye doesn’t dry out the hair or irritate the skin. Even the smell isn’t obnoxious – it’s just herbal, like green tea.
Plan on repeating the process every two weeks to one month to maintain the color.
Pros:
- Organic beard dye is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, with no harsh chemicals
- Comes with applicator, instructions in multiple languages, base, and dye
- Available in light, natural, and dark brown shades
- Mild herbal odor
Cons:
- Takes approximately an hour from start to finish
- May last only two weeks to a month
The Henna Guys 100% Pure INDIGO POWDER Hair & Beard Dye
Here’s another natural beard dye that’s based on henna, indigo, and botanicals. It’s safe for most guys who would otherwise be allergic to chemical hair dyes. What’s more, there’s no pungent odor, at least until you rinse out the henna with vinegar.
It’s available in shades like auburn, burgundy, brown, and deep brown. They all cover up gray hairs perfectly. However, none of the shades will lighten or bleach hair color. Also, the reddish shades tend to bleed, hence the need for a vinegar rinse to set the dye.
Similar to the beard dye above, you’ll need to mix a paste and apply it to the facial hair. Take note that dark hair might require two treatments.
Pros:
- Natural beard dye with botanical ingredients and no metallic salts
- Non-irritating for sensitive skin, no chemicals
- Available in auburn, burgundy, brown, and deep brown
Cons:
- Doesn’t work for black hair
- Might require two applications for darker shades
- Takes time to mix and apply
Just For Men Mustache & Beard
We were frankly shocked about all the complaints we saw regarding JFM beard dye irritating the skin – causing breakouts, causing burns, etc. This put us in a quandary because Just For Men has the best selection of shades (blonde to jet black) and the color enters longer than herbal dyes. It’s advertised as lasting “until the gray grows out”.
What’s more, the dye takes effect within five minutes. It doesn’t need to sit on your beard overnight to develop color. Although you’ll still need to mix the developer with the color base and brush on the mixture. It’s a good thing they include gloves in the box to keep the hands from getting stained.
The dye is supposed to condition the hair with vitamin E, protein, chamomile, and aloe. At least it doesn’t smell as terrible as regular hair dye because it’s ammonia-free. However, we recommend following the instructions and doing an allergy test on the skin two days before you plan to use the product.
Each box is good for three applications, depending on the length of the beard.
Pros:
- Available in a dozen shades from blonde to jet black
- Only takes five minutes to cover up gray hairs
- Long-lasting, permanent dye
- Has conditioning ingredients like vitamin E and chamomile
- Ammonia-free, has a decent fragrance
- Each box is good for multiple applications
Cons:
- Several reviewers claim that they suffered from skin irritation and/or blisters
Just For Men Control GX Grey Reducing Beard Wash
If you’re not ready to commit to beard dye, this shampoo will color facial hair gradually. It’s perfect if you’d like to hide the fact that you’re coloring your beard because there’s no drastic change. But it’s not the best solution if you’re in a hurry.
Here’s how it works. Treat it like shampoo and work it into your beard and mustache while they are wet. Wait for up to five minutes before rinsing. Dry off with an old towel and wash your hands carefully with soap and water.
The more you use it, the better it works. Still, it may take up to two weeks of daily washes to notice a big color difference.
It’s tempting to use the shampoo in the bath, but remember this is still dye and it will stain the shower and any towel you use. It’s also likely to stain fingernails, so we suggest using gloves.
Reviewers say it leaves the hair with a natural variation in color. It doesn’t stink of ammonia and doesn’t contain peroxide so it’s gentle on the hair. Plus, the universal beard wash works on all hair shades because all it does is make the gray less noticeable. (Be sure to get the beard shampoo for light shades if you have a blonde beard).
Pros:
- Hides gray hairs, gradually deepens color
- Takes five minutes or less
- Cleanses facial hair as it dyes
- Ammonia-free, no strong odor
Cons:
- May stain the sink or bathtub if not wiped up immediately
- Requires frequent applications
Cremo No Mess Hair and Beard Color
Cremo is one of our favorite grooming brands, so we were delighted to review its beard dye with the built-in brush applicator on the tube. There’s no mixing needed – it’s ready to use right out of the box. Even better, the permanent dye should last about six weeks.
The shades range from light brown to deep black. Choose a color that’s similar to your natural shade, or go a little darker. Going lighter doesn’t work as well.
How does it work? Snap the brush onto the canister and shake it for five seconds. Press the button on the back of the applicator to dispense foam until the bristles are covered. Wait a couple of seconds before brushing the color through the hair. (Wearing gloves is a good idea).
Use the detailing tool to touch up your mustache if needed then rinse both tools with warm water. Wait five minutes before shampooing your beard and styling. The good news is that the formula smells decent and it’s paraben-free.
Pros:
- No mixing needed – ready to use immediately
- Takes only five minutes to dye facial hair
- Comes with a detailing tool and brush applicator
- Shades from light brown to deep black
- Color lasts six weeks
Cons:
- If you have known allergies, check the ingredients list
VOLT Grooming Instant Beard Color
What if you just want to see if your beard looks good colored without the commitment of permanent dye? Then try this instant brush-on color that comes in colors ranging from sand to black. It’s handy whether you want to camouflage gray hairs or fill in a patchy beard.
It’s resistant to rain, sweat, and smudging so it lasts all day, or until you wash the next morning. Moreover, this hypoallergenic beard dye is cruelty-free and made in the USA.
It comes with a beard comb, applicator brush, carrying pouch, instructions, and a prep and cleaning solution. In theory, you could touch up your beard with it at a gas station bathroom. If you give it at least ten minutes to dry, it shouldn’t rub off on clothing or a mask.
Pros:
- Wide range of shades to camouflage gray hairs and fill in patchy spots
- Water-resistant and smudge-resistant if it has at least ten minutes to dry
- Hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and made in the USA
Cons:
- Requires daily application to renew the color
Conclusion
There are beard dyes for sensitive skin, and not all of them are herbal solutions. You have a lot of options when it comes to colors and how permanent the dye is.
We hope our reviews helped you choose the right grooming product today. If it’s working out for you, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
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