Growing a beard & it f'in itches!

[deaner33]

Anything I can do about it? It feels like ants crawling on my face...

 

[mhardy6647]

shave it off or wait a day or two.
You are at the point I refer to as the test of faith for growing a beard: the wino stage. If you can get past looking (and possibly feeling) like a wino for a day or so (or, in some cases, a week or more), you'll be in calm water

FWIW, I've never had problems with a beard feeling itchy when it is growing in.

 

[jaymanaa]

Mines in the itchy stage right now too. If it's long enough, try combing it with a fine tooth comb. That seems to help me anyhow. I hate having a beard, but I have to have one in the winter. Lots of my work is outdoors and sometimes on roofs. That and deer hunting, make having a beard a smart choice.

 

[usedto]

Tell her to quit complaining.

 

[soundweasel]

Shave.

Seriously, I've had a beard since for thirty years, and, having shaved it off and grown it back a few times, I've learned a few tricks.

If your wife will tolerate it, rub some Vicks Vapor Rub on your face before going to bed. It chills the itch down a little.

Exfoliate every other day or so using this:
http://www.aveeno.com/productDetail.do?prodid=3672

It helps remove the layers of dead skin typically removed by the blade when shaving, thus reducing "face dandruff" and the resulting itch. :yuck:

Don't use alcohol on your face as it will dry out and irritate your skin even more.

Wash it daily like you would the hair on your head, unless you need documentation of what you've eaten during the day/week/month.

People think it's easier to grow a beard than shave. Not true. In addition to the daily cleaning routine, it should be trimmed at least once a week once it reaches the length you desire. Learn to do this yourself. It's cheaper than a weekly visit to the barber.

Keep it neat and the chicks will dig you. Trust me. :yes:

 

[mhardy6647]

Mrs. H complains that it is prickly under certain circumstances when mine is freshly trimmed. Enough said on this particular topic

Another free tip. When and if your mustache gets long enough to chew on... trim it.

 

[soundweasel]

Mrs. H complains that it is prickly under certain circumstances when mine is freshly trimmed.

Tell her to wear long pants and it won't be a problem.

 

[deaner33]

Shave.

Seriously, I've had a beard since for thirty years, and, having shaved it off and grown it back a few times, I've learned a few tricks.

If your wife will tolerate it, rub some Vicks Vapor Rub on your face before going to bed. It chills the itch down a little.

Exfoliate every other day or so using this:
http://www.aveeno.com/productDetail.do?prodid=3672

It helps remove the layers of dead skin typically removed by the blade when shaving, thus reducing "face dandruff" and the resulting itch. :yuck:

Don't use alcohol on your face as it will dry out and irritate your skin even more.

Wash it daily like you would the hair on your head, unless you need documentation of what you've eaten during the day/week/month.

People think it's easier to grow a beard than shave. Not true. In addition to the daily cleaning routine, it should be trimmed at least once a week once it reaches the length you desire. Learn to do this yourself. It's cheaper than a weekly visit to the barber.

Keep it neat and the chicks will dig you. Trust me. :yes:

Great tips. I've had beards before, but they get shaved off quick when the temp gets up in the 90's. Still this in between stage drives me nuts.

 

[soundweasel]

Great tips. I've had beards before, but they get shaved off quick when the temp gets up in the 90's. Still this in between stage drives me nuts.

Solutions 1 and 2 will get you through the "tween" stage. :yes:

 

[Fisherdude]

It's my understanding that it isn't the newly growing beard that itches, it's your face healing now that you're not scraping skin off it every day with that sharp piece of steel.

Give it a coupla days. It'll stop. When I decided to grow one while on vacation a few years ago, I didn't even notice the itch.

 

[Redboy]

Peanut butter. What you need to do is spread peanut butter on it. Don't skimp - lay it on thick, all over your face, just like you're making a PB sandwich.

:thmbsp:

 

[dokblues]

I too have had a beard for over 30 years on and off. In the heat and humidity, the cold and snow and the Real Heat 115+. I exfoliate every other day and use a moisturizer once a week, helps with the itchy in the first stages and keeps the Beardruff at Bay. Keep it nicely trimed at least once a week and if you gat a really bad case of Beardruff use some Listerine on it first thing in the morning or evening a hour or so before you shower. That kills the Beardruff. Exfoliate and Moisturize,Moisturize.

 

[Red Stick]

I too have had beards off and on over the years, and have never had the itch phase either. On a possible related item, wool against my skin (socks, blankets, etc.) does not bother me either. Possible relation??? :scratch2:

 

[John James]

Peanut butter. What you need to do is spread peanut butter on it. Don't skimp - lay it on thick, all over your face, just like you're making a PB sandwich.

:thmbsp:

Use the crunchy kind. You can rub it around and the nut pieces will help scratch your itch. :yes:

 

[mhardy6647]

coupla comments (if I might):

I have never in 51 years on this planet, observed men using the word exfoliate about their own faces and without irony. Maybe in 'Nam in the context of Agent Orange, but that's another kettle of fish entirely

;-)

The wool-itch thing is different; it's an allergic response to the sheep protein.

 

[Brian]

Since moving to Canada I generally grow a beard in the winter and have gone through the itch stage. This last year I did not shave it off and within a couple of weeks the itch totally disappeared and has not come back. I do not do anything other than wash it when I shower like I do my hair.

I did notice that each fall when I started the itch seemed less so it may be a conditioning. This year it is long enough so I can hire out as a newbie Santa. Only problem is that I need to go for a passport renewal so I suspect it will come off for the photos.

 

[Redboy]

I have never in 51 years on this planet, observed men using the word exfoliate about their own faces and without irony.

I do my best exfoliation with a natural, organically grown loofa sponge! :thmbsp:





Crap, my post content has really slipped. :sigh:

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Crap, my post content has really slipped. :sigh:

You'll probably find them over in VideoKarma. :yes:

 

[fotno]

I've been growing a beard since I was able (about 30 years now) and I've shaved and trimmed my beard in a myriad different configurations in that time, dealing with "beard itch" many times. In my own experience there's a simple cure to the problem, shampoo it with a dandruff shampoo. The same thing that soothes scalp itch, works on your face just as well as the rest of your head.

 

[similost]

coupla comments (if I might):

I have never in 51 years on this planet, observed men using the word exfoliate about their own faces and without irony.

You need to hang out around DC then... Lot's of places to go have the exfoliating done for you... Lot's of metros...