Why Does My Beard Smell Bad?

There are one too many problems when it comes to beard hair that ranges from being unable to grow a thick and luscious beard to facial hair turning a lighter shade over time to having a high beard neckline. Another common issue that is faced by many men is that of the beard hair smelling bad or having a weird odor.

A beard can smell bad because of various reasons such as bacteria, sweating, sebum, environmental factors, and food. Improper beard care and certain sketchy colognes and aftershaves can also be part of the reason.

In this article, we will enlighten you about the reasons your beard has an uncanny odor as well as solutions regarding it.

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Reasons Your Beard Smells Strange

There can be many reasons which answer your question about your beard smelling bad and these can stretch from either you missing something when it comes to beard care or just a natural, bodily cause.

Bacteria

The most common cause behind a beard smelling awful is bacteria. There are bacteria all around us on every surface, it is obvious that after touching something with bacteria on it you may also touch your face and hence, transfer the bacteria to your face in the process.

You can not get rid of bacteria fully ever, especially the ones that naturally live on your beard, but you can wash them off. If you don’t and continue to let them grow then they will combine with sweat, oil, and any other sort of gunk to create an unpleasant odor.

Bacteria and Sweat Combined

Sweating is a natural process and one can not do much about it. When it travels down your head to your face and beard, it can mix up with the bacteria that are already present there and create a strange smell.

This same phenomenon occurs in our armpits as well so it is nothing to fret over, although the smell in both regions is different from each other.

The smelly beard issue may be worse for you if you are bald because when you sweat, there is no hair on the scalp where the sweat can cling to so most of it just flows down freely to your face and neck without any hindrance. Hence, a word of advice, keep towels at hand when you go to the gym or are involved in other activities that involve intense sweating.

Sebum

If you are not familiar, sebum is an oily and waxy substance secreted by our hair follicles to keep our skin hydrated, moisturized, and conditioned. But an excess of sebum can make you oily and clog your pores.

In beard hair, an increased amount of sebum due to improper cleaning can build up and combine with the already present bacteria and sweat and ultimately lead you straight towards a smelly beard.

Environment

Many environmental aspects also play a role in making your beard smell unpleasant. These can be

• Smoking
• Vaping
• Pollution
• Dust
• Chemicals    

Food

You may think that we are talking about the food that you eat impacting your beard smell from the inside but it is actually from the outside. The food and drink you ingest will get into your beard, considering your whole mouth is surrounded by hair, and eventually leave it smelling weird.

To avoid such an issue, use cutlery and take smaller bites. If you are a messy eater then it would be wise to keep napkins and paper towels at hand.

Improper Beard Care

This would include not washing your beard frequently or using bad quality products or no products at all. Such products can include regular soap or two-in-one hair care products.  

Many products consist of harmful ingredients such as parabens, preservatives, silicon, synthetic oils, sulfates, phosphates, etc. Even if having fragrance, these products can get warmed in your facial hair and make them smell bad.

Certain Colognes and Aftershaves

A few sketchy colognes and aftershaves can also contain ingredients that make your beard smell awful in addition to them just smelling different on your skin compared to the bottle. Some fragrances just do not suit your skin so it’s better to buy one after doing your complete thorough research.

Ways to get Rid of a Smelly Beard

A beard that smells weird and unpleasant can make even the most confident man a bit self-conscious. But don’t worry, we got your back! To save you the trouble of searching for ways to get rid of bad odor, we have compiled them down below for you.

Daily Cleaning

To say goodbye to all bacteria growing in your beard or to the food crumbs stuck in it, clean it daily. This will ensure your beard stays fresh and healthy every day and you will be free of any smell.

Invest in a good beard wash that not only cleans out anything taking shelter in your beard but also hydrates your hair follicles. You need a wash that is gentle enough to be used daily to remove dirt, open up pores and get rid of unpleasant smells.

For an ideal routine, clean your beard every day with warm water and use a beard wash every two or three days. But this is to say only if you do not come in contact with any dusty atmosphere, smoke, or greasy food.

Proper Beard Care Products

The best products for the beard are the ones that are made up of 100% natural essential oils. This is because these oils are incredibly nourishing.

Avoid any products that have mineral oils, synthetic oils, sulfates, etc. Beard washes with natural aloe vera and natural essential oils are the best choice.

Use a Moisturizer

A moisturizer is not only important for your skin but also for your beard hair. Hence, it is better to invest in one as soon as possible, preferably one that consists of vitamin E, antioxidants, and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.

These ingredients keep your skin (that is the base of your beard), fresh, soft, pH-balanced, and free of dryness and irritation. The moisturizer smoothens out the skin and closes any cracks that act as entry points for bacteria. 

Beard Oil is Your Best Friend

Beard oils coat and lubricate your skin with moisture and provide protection against any bacteria and other gunk and grime present in the atmosphere. This way they don’t make a home inside your pores which result in bad odor.

Use the correct amount of it, do not overdo it. A lot of beard oil will make your face oily and greasy, which we do not need considering sebum already exists to do that job!

Brush Regularly

There is a huge emphasis on a brush and not a comb because a comb can get snagged and does not do anything in terms of bad odor. A brush, on the other hand, removes dust and other particles and helps to evenly spread the essential oils and hence, maintains a fresh scent in the beard.  

Brush your beard at least once a day and at any other time when you get food crumbs in it. Use a brush made from natural fibers to achieve the best results!

Maintain Good Hygiene

If you’re going to be taking part in extensive exercise, make sure to keep a sweat towel with you. Wipe your head, face, and neck frequently when you are sweating buckets.

If you are looking for a more convenient option then invest in a sweatband, it is a lot less work and hassle compared to a towel.

This goes without saying but a part of your hygiene is to keep your hands clean, especially since we all witnessed what went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an important step to prevent any bacteria from spreading from one surface to another and causing various problems.

Are mass-produced beard products bad for you?

Yes! Most of these products contain harmful chemicals such as preservatives and synthetic oils and these are just bad for your facial hair. The synthetic oils coat your skin and hair in a thin layer of plastic and that does not sound very good, does it?

What should I buy then?

You need to buy products that consist of 100% natural essential oils. These will hydrate and moisturize your skin and beard.

Stay away from products that have fragrance oils, synthetic oils, and mineral oils.

Why does my beard smell like cheese and vomit?

While essential oils are the best for your facial hair, there is one particular one that may not be the best for you. Some people’s hair and skin react very badly to fractionated coconut oil, causing your beard to smell cheesy or like vomit.

So, make sure you keep an eye out for this so your beard does not smell awful.  

Conclusion

A smelly beard can be due to many reasons ranging from bacteria, sebum, sweating, and environment to improper beard care, food, and bad colognes and aftershaves. All in all, it is nothing to fret over a lot, just follow our instructions and you will be good to go. We hope this guide provided you with the answers you were looking for regarding a smelly beard and tips to get rid of it!