The Best 9 Beard Washes We Tested, Used and Reviewed
Recently, I did a roundup of some of the Best Beard Oils I tested, used, and reviewed– over the previous year. All in the name of making sure you, dear bearded reader, had the opportunity to make the best-informed decision about which beard oil is best for you without picking through all the reviews individually.
Therefore, it made sense to do the same for beard washes after testing enough to keep a mile-long beard clean and fresh.
I will build on the info we put together in Choosing The Right Beard Wash – An Experience-Based Guide, so if you have time, I recommend going and checking that article out. However, if you just need a quick review roundup of the best beard washes I have used–this article should have you covered.
1. King C. Gillette Beard & Face Wash – Best Wash Overall
Brief Description and Features
First on our list is my everyday beard and face wash, and it is for a damn good reason.
We have a beard wash that also doubles as an overall face wash, which is something that I love because it is so much easier to soap my whole face rather than just my beard.
The soap is a liquid soap coming in a larger bottle (11 fl oz/350 ml). That large bottle does last. I’m just over halfway through the bottle, and I started reviewing this beard wash in December. So far it has lasted me four months at least. I would say that is a great investment.
The aroma is also nice. It isn’t great, but it isn’t bad. It has a soothing menthol aroma that wakes up your nose and refreshes the face. It goes away fast after the shower, so there is no clashing with other beard care products.
Star Ingredients
Performance
The sticky white fluid at first makes you think you will need more than you think, but actually, the beard wash lathers up pretty easily. Just one small squirt from the bottle should get you plenty of lather for your full place.
I would heavily recommend the use of a scrub brush or washcloth when cleaning with this beard wash
Things to like
- Soft subtle aroma
- Large volume bottle
- Creates a rich lather
- Available over the counter
Things to Dislike
- Menthol can harm sensitive skin
- Requires a Brush or Washcloth to build a full lather
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is my favorite product on this list. It is easy to use and feels great on my skin. It also lasts for a long time.
The low price point (I paid $10 USD from Amazon) makes this almost an automatic best, but if you have issues with menthol you mint in general you might want to skip out on this one.
2. Scotch Porter Moisturizing Beard Wash – Best Choice for Tough Beards
Brief Description and Features
Scotch Porter Beard Wash almost looks like honey when you pour it out onto your hands. It is a semi-solid gel with an amber color that could have come straight out of the honeycomb itself.
The comparison doesn’t stop at just the look and texture, though.
The aroma of Scotch Porter is very sweet, overwhelmingly so. It has a combination of vanilla and honey scent that slowly gives way to a floral honeysuckle-like scent. It can be overwhelming and might clash with other products.
Star Ingredients
Performance
Scotch Porter is designed for dense and curly hair along with skin that dries out easily. The texture can be somewhat heavy and requires some work to get into a lather, however, once it is there, it comes out as soft, gentle, and smooth.
This beard wash feels great on the skin and is one of my overall favorites.
Things to like
- Vegan Friendly
- Leaves skin both clean and moisturized
- Very gentle and smooth lather
Things to Dislike
- Scent can be cloyingly sweet
- Expensive
- Lather takes time to build
Final Thoughts
Second best only by a small margin, the only two points keeping Scotch Porter Beard Wash out of the top spot are the cloying scent and the price (I paid $20). You really can’t beat the price of King C Gillette.
However, if you have some extra cash to spend, I would highly recommend giving this one a try.
3. Medicine Man Beard Wash – The Natural Anti-Itch Option
Brief Description and Features
Third on our list today is a Beard Wash I thought I wasn’t going to like at all. However, after about a week’s worth of use, I grew to like it.
Medicine Man Beard Wash comes in a neat plastic bottle, which means it won’t shatter on you if dropped or treated roughly. Also the easy-to-use pump-top locks in place. This makes the beard wash perfect for travel as well.
In reality, what sells this beard oil is the natural and organic ingredients that are incredibly healthy for your skin. It eliminates beard itch and seriously encourages beard growth.
Though the Scent is an acquired taste. I grew to enjoy it, but I can see how it would be a turn-off for others.
Star Ingredients
Performance
The texture of Medicine Man is also a slight stumbling block for some. It’s very watery, with almost no texture. That means unless you have a brush or a washcloth, you are not going to get a good lather using just your hands. The wash is just going to leak through your fingers.
Even the lather is pretty thin, but it doesn’t have to be extremely foamy. When rinsed away though it leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean.
Things to like
- All Natural and Organic Ingredients
- Made for all Beard Types
- Rinses Clean and Easy
- Locking Pump Top
Things to Dislike
- Strongly Acquired Scent
- The texture is watery and runny
- The lather is very thin
Final Thoughts
For me, this is one of my favorite all-natural options I’ve used. It left my beard clean and my skin feeling refreshed.
The aroma and texture will be stumbling blocks to get over for your average user. However, the actual selling points in the organic ingredients and anti-itch properties make this something for everyone to try.
4. Suavecito Beard Wash – Best Wash for Beard Styling
Brief Description and Features
Next up we have a Beard Wash with some attitude.
Suavecito Beard Wash is a thick textured and heavy beard wash that smacks you in the face with a mint aroma. Let me tell you, it will wake you up in the morning the moment you open the bottle. It isn’t bad or off-putting, but very strong.
It comes in a large amber plastic bottle with a pop top so you can easily squeeze the beard wash out on your brush, washcloth, or hands. It is very easy to open and use. The large size also means you will be able to make this Beard Wash last.
The major downside of this is some of the ingredients (Menthol, Glycol Stearate) can irritate people with sensitive skin.
Star Ingredients
Performance
The texture is very much like a lotion. It is thick and heavy and tends to cling to your whiskers even after attempting to rinse it out.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because this beard wash is designed to give you a foundation for using other products like beard wax or beard balms to then style your beard in a specific way.
Things to like
- Prevents Acne and Ingrown hairs
- Long lasting Bottle
- Foundation for Styling Your Beard
Things to Dislike
- Extreme Menthol Scent
- Thin Lather
- Not good for Sensitive Skin
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a beard wash that is going to provide a foundation for styling a clean and healthy beard and is going to last you a long time for not a great deal of money? This beard wash is the ideal option for you.
However, if you have sensitive skin or you aren’t interested in beard styling you may want to look elsewhere.
I paid $13 USD for a bottle.
5. Grave Before Shave Beard Wash – For Adding Volume and Growth
Brief Description and Features
I mentioned in the Best of Beard Oil article that I liked Grave Before Shave’s style as a company. The Goth vibes are something I resonate with. In this case, it is less Victorian Goth and more Biker Goth-style.
This beard wash is less a liquid soap and more like a thick gel. That plays into its favor though, as it is designed for use with thicker and longer beards.
The aroma is one of the main sticking points for me, but it is a subjective taste matter. To me, it is something like an artificial cleaner, like someone was attempting to synthesize an orange in a lab and almost got it. Though other consumers do like it a great deal.
Star Ingredients
Performance
The thick and heavy texture makes this beard wash somewhat harder to lather than most other washes or shampoos. It takes some work to get a really good lather going and unfortunately runs out quickly.
Though it did make my beard feel full and clean. After about a week’s worth of using the shampoo, I noticed the health of my beard getting better.
Things to like
- Strengthens beard Hair
- Promotes Beard Growth
- Exfoliates the skin beneath the beard
Things to Dislike
- The very thick texture is hard to lather
- Smells artificial
- Ingredients List is dense and hard to read
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to build some more volume into your beard, then this could help you to grow that volume into a healthy beard. Obviously, the aroma wasn’t the best for me, but that is in the “nose of the beholder.”
You’ll pay $12 USD a tube or $20 USD if buying (I bought the pair) alongside the Grave Before Shave Conditioner.
6. Professor Fuzzyworth’s Beard Shampoo – Most Out of the Box Approach
Brief Description and Features
This beard wash stands out from the others on our list, partially because of its name, but also because it isn’t a liquid soap but a bar. It’s a strange green bar that looks like a movie or TV prop for kryptonite.
It is an artisanal-style shampoo designed to be lathered on a brush or washcloth.
The aroma is rather unique, with a slow movement from vinegar sour to a floral sweetness. However, the aroma doesn’t stick around and rinses easily so it won’t clash with other beard products.
Star Ingredients
$12 USD to $15 USD depending on the Aroma on Amazon, but a flat $15 USD on the Prof Fuzzyworth Website.
Performance
The only real problem I have with Prof Fuzzyworth is that it takes some work to build a lather. The cube design is not conducive to lathering on your skin on your hands.
Even when using a brush or washcloth, you need to make sure it is very damp and you put some elbow grease into the lathering process. It is much like a triple-milled soap like what is used in shaving soaps.
Once you have gotten a good lather though, it should be slight and smooth.
Things to like
- All-Natural Ingredient List
- Bar lasts a long time
- Light Texture
Things to Dislike
- Takes a long time to build a lather
- Singular and unique scent
Final Thoughts
The Professor is my backup when I don’t feel like using the King C Gillette beard and face wash. Mostly because I enjoy the variety, but also because it feels really good on my skin. I would consider this beard wash a good backup if you don’t feel like spending the money on Scotch Porter.
It can also make a great travel beard wash if you don’t want to spring for Maestro Classic.
It costs $12 USD to $15 USD depending on the Aroma on Amazon, but a flat $15 USD on the Prof Fuzzyworth Website.
7. Best Damn Beard Wash – No Frills and Easy to Use Citrus Wash
Brief Description and Features
Avoiding the opinion I have of the marketing of Duke Cannon’s beard products, they did make a not-to-bad product here.
Duke Cannon’s Best Damn Beard Wash comes out as less of a shampoo and more of a cream. It honestly makes me think of a beard balm rather than a beard shampoo.
That being said, it is helpfully easy to spread on your washcloth or brush to build up a good soap lather.
Unfortunately for me, this scent misses the mark. It’s almost got a sour and bitter scent that comes from the hops and various citrus oils. Not enough that I don’t want to use it, but definitely not an aroma I miss.
Star Ingredients
Performance
I will say that while the texture is somewhat weird when it comes to shampoo, the fact that it is easy to spread on a cloth or brush and that it is easy to lather makes this Beard Wash extremely easy to use. Washing is quick and leaves the skin feeling healthy.
While there are no frills, I find it hard to come down on Duke Cannon in the performance department.
Things to like
- Inexpensive
- Nourishes and repairs the skin
- Soft texture
- Easy to lather and rinse
Things to Dislike
- The scent is sour and off-putting
- Dense and hard-to-read ingredient list
Final Thoughts
Cheap and easy to use, Duke Cannon’s Best Damn Beard Wash would probably be best for a guy who just wants something simple and doesn’t need too many bells and whistles. I would recommend it for a guy who is just getting into beard care as well.
A tube costs $15 USD from Amazon (check prices, though, as they change) but closer to $6 to $9 USD from brick-and-mortar stores like Target or Walmart.
8. Maestro Classic Beard Wash – Best Beard Wash for Travel
Brief Description and Features
Closer to a traditional shampoo, Maestro is a light-textured and soft-smelling beard shampoo that typically comes in the smallest bottles I could ever think of.
Honestly, I am somewhat surprised this one bottle lasted long enough for me to review it. It feels like there is nothing in there.
Though the small size can be a boon. I would highly recommend this as a travel companion. It fits into almost any small kit bag and is great for making sure your beard and face are taken care of on long trips.
It also comes in five different aromas that are incredibly creative in their way.
Star Ingredients
Performance
I found the light texture of this beard wash to be something of a double-edged sword. While it felt great on the skin, the extra time it took to lather was somewhat annoying.
At least the aroma didn’t clash with any beard oils or beard balms I was using at the time.
Things to like
- Light and Sudsy texture
- The aroma is light and doesn’t clash
- Perfect size to fit in a travel bag
- Vegan/Cruelty-Free
Things to Dislike
- Takes extra time to lather with
- On the Expensive side
Final Thoughts
If you travel often or want to try some beard washes with unique scents, then I could recommend this beard wash. However, there are better options that I feel give me more bang for my buck.
A bottle costs $13 USD for 2 fl oz/60 ml or $7 USD for 1 fl oz/30 ml.
9. Billy Jealousy Beard Wash – Highly Rated by Others
Brief Description and Features
Billy Jealousy Beard Wash was a wash I had high hopes for. I like the bottle and the art, and I find it easy to get open and use.
However, I just cannot get over the aroma. I know this is extremely subjective, but the scent is musky with almost no let-up until you wash it off. There is just no change or graduation over the length of the smell. There is no complexity or anything else other than just Musky flowers.
The texture leaves a great deal to be desired. I believe the term I used in the review was “Cold Snot.” It has a jelly-like consistency and feels very weird on the skin.
Also, my bottle tended to leak out and run all over my hands.
Star Ingredients
Performance
Does it do the job despite all my bad-mouthing above? Actually yes!
Billy Jealousy lathers up extremely well. It is rich and thick, and you can feel it cleaning up your beard and even strengthening your beard’s growth. My beard felt so clean and healthy after using this beard wash.
Things to like
- Rich Lather
- Easy to Use
- Promotes thick and strong beard growth
Things to Dislike
- The scent is an acquired taste.
- Bottle can leak easily
- Expensive
Final Thoughts
Overall, Billy Jealous works. It does the job with a rich lather and leaves my beard feeling awesome. The only reason it isn’t higher on this list is that I had a hard time with the aroma, but if you can get through that then you’ve got a pretty good beard wash here.
While I am not a big fan, I have included the best beard washes because other users are very happy with them. It’s not all about me and my tastes and expectations, and I am a harsh critic.
The cost of a bottle of Billy Jealousy is $20 USD for 8 fl oz/240 ml or $36 USD for 16 fl oz/470 ml.
That’s about it for now on the best beard wash roundup. I will be testing new beard shampoos over the coming year and adding any that deserve a spot above any of the above.
