How to Winter-Proof Your Beard: Cold Weather Beard Care for Canadian Men

Short answer: Winter beard care is a short routine that helps keep a beard and the skin under it moisturized in cold, dry weather: wash daily with a gentle cleanser, moisturize, add a few drops of beard oil, and finish with a little balm. Dry your beard before you go outside, and keep lip balm in your pocket.

Cold wind, freezing temperatures and dry indoor heating are hard on a beard. From late autumn to March, many Canadian men find their beard feels dry and rough, and the skin underneath feels tight. This guide covers what to change in your routine, what to add and what to keep simple.

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Key takeaways

• Winter air is dry both outdoors and indoors, so moisturize the skin under your beard as well as the hair.
• The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises washing your face and beard every day with a gentle, non-soap cleanser, rinsing with lukewarm water and patting dry.
• Use a few drops of beard oil on a slightly damp beard, then a little balm on top for light hold.
• Let your beard dry before you go outside in freezing weather, and keep lip balm in your pocket.
• If dryness, flaking or itching continues, see a doctor or dermatologist.

What does winter do to your beard and skin?

Winter air is dry, and the cold outdoors is only half of it. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and indoor heating can dry the air further, so your skin and beard spend months in low humidity. Wind adds to it, as does moving between freezing air and a heated room many times a day.

Many men notice the same things: a beard that feels dry and rough, skin underneath that feels tight, and a beard that looks dull even though they are doing the usual things. A beard often needs more moisture and a gentler routine in winter than in summer, which is what the rest of this guide covers.

How should you wash and moisturize your beard in winter?

Wash your face and beard every day with a gentle cleanser rather than soap, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises. For dry skin, which is common in winter, it recommends a hydrating, fragrance-free cleanser, and for sensitive skin a creamy, soap-free, fragrance-free one. Massage it in with your fingertips, rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry, leaving the skin slightly damp.

Then moisturize right away, while the skin is still damp. In the shower, the AAD suggests limiting baths and showers to five to ten minutes in warm water, so skip the very hot shower. Our guide to washing your beard properly covers the technique step by step.

How much beard oil should you use in winter?

Use a few drops, then add more only if you need to. The AAD says beard oil suits normal to dry skin and should be used sparingly, because you can always add more. For a short or medium beard, 3 to 5 drops is a sensible starting amount, and a longer or thicker beard may need a few more.

Warm the oil between your palms, work it into the skin underneath first, then through the hair, with the beard slightly damp after washing. If the beard still feels dry by evening, add a few more drops then. Our Organic Beard Oil | Classic is fragrance-free, and the scented oils come in Sandalwood, Cedarwood and African Musk. All are handcrafted in small batches in Toronto and made with certified organic ingredients, with no mineral oil, no parabens and no synthetic fragrance. See how to use beard oil for more.

Should you add beard balm in cold weather?

A little balm on top of the oil adds light hold and conditioning, which helps keep a longer beard neat in wind. Apply the oil first and let it absorb, then rub a small amount of balm between your palms until it melts and smooth it over the beard, shaping as you go.

Balm is optional on a short beard and most useful once there is enough length to style. Our organic beard balm comes in cedarwood, sandalwood, African musk and unscented, so you can match it to your oil for a consistent scent. If you are not sure whether you need oil, balm or both, beard balm vs beard oil explains what each one does.

What should you do about a wet beard in freezing weather?

A damp beard can freeze in very cold air, so let it dry before you go outside. After washing, pat the beard with a towel rather than rubbing it, because the AAD notes that roughly rubbing hair dry can cause damage. It also notes that wet hair is delicate, so use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush to detangle it.

If you are short on time, use a hair dryer on a low or medium heat setting; the AAD cautions that excessive heat can cause damage. Once the beard is dry, add your oil and balm. If snow or condensation wets your beard while you are out, pat it dry gently when you get indoors instead of rubbing, then add a few drops of oil.

How do you look after the skin under your beard when it feels dry?

Dry winter air can leave the skin under a beard feeling tight and flaky. Moisturizing is the main step: the AAD says beard oil suits normal to dry skin and recommends a fragrance-free moisturizer for sensitive skin. Be gentle while you wash and dry, and avoid scrubbing.

Add humidity at home: the AAD notes that a humidifier, including a portable one in the bedroom, can raise the humidity level, and says to clean it regularly. Keep showers short and warm. If dryness, flaking or itching continues after you have tried this routine, or the skin becomes painful, see a doctor or dermatologist. The AAD points out that dry skin can sometimes have an underlying cause, which is another reason to get it checked.

How do you look after your lips in winter?

Cold wind and dry indoor air are hard on lips as well as skin. The AAD suggests lip balm for lips, so keep one in your jacket pocket. Our Organic Lip Balm | Coconut Flavored has a light coconut scent, and the Organic Lip Balm | Vanilla Flavored has a subtle natural vanilla. Both moisturize and soften lips, and both are made in Canada.

Apply it before you head out, and again after eating or drinking, as often as you need. Lip balm is for your lips only, so use beard oil or balm on the beard itself, and keep a spare in a coat pocket or a bag so one is always within reach.

What does a complete winter beard routine look like?

Most of the routine is the same all year; winter just asks for a little more moisture and a little more care with water and heat. This table puts the steps in order.

Which products make up a winter beard kit?

You do not need to overhaul your shelf. The core is a beard oil, a beard balm and a lip balm, used consistently. Browse the organic beard oils and beard balms one by one, or take both in a single box with the Beard Growth Starter Kit, which holds a 30 ml beard oil and a 2 oz beard balm in the scent you choose.

If you are restocking several products at once, our beard care bundles and grooming bundles and gift sets put them together, and the full beard care collection is made in Canada with certified organic ingredients.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I wash my beard in winter?

Every day, with a gentle, non-soap cleanser, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry and moisturize while the skin is still slightly damp. Winter does not change the advice, but it makes the moisturizing step more important.

Should I use beard oil twice a day in winter?

Once after your morning wash is enough for many men. If your beard still feels dry by the evening, a few more drops then is fine, especially in the coldest weeks. The AAD advises using beard oil sparingly, since you can always add more, so start with a small amount and build up only if you need to.

Is beard oil or beard balm better for winter?

They do different jobs, so many men use both. Beard oil conditions the hair and moisturizes the skin underneath, and balm adds light hold on top. Apply the oil first, let it absorb, then add a small amount of balm to shape the beard.

Should I trim my beard in winter?

Yes, lightly. A longer beard can feel warmer, so many men trim less in winter, which is fine. A light tidy of the neckline and cheek line every few weeks keeps the shape from getting away from you without costing much length.

What should I do if the skin under my beard is flaking or itchy?

Start with the basics: wash daily with a gentle cleanser, moisturize while the skin is slightly damp, keep showers short and warm, and consider a humidifier. Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics, not a treatment for skin conditions. If the flaking or itching continues, or the skin becomes painful, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology: A dermatologist's top tips for a healthy beard
• American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin
• American Academy of Dermatology: Tips for healthy hair