Facial hair is never one consistent color. You might have a majority black beard but small patches of blonde or red hair are mixed in. And if it’s starting to bother you, why not try beard dye?

Beard dye is gentle on skin and will bring stray colored hair to a more central color, fading over time to blend in with hair. Most beard dyes last up to three months and is a very good investment if you often find yourself with a multi-colored beard. And the good news, it won’t stain your skin if you accidentally get it on your face. With that being said, don’t be naïve and skip out of gloves!

When looking for a beard dye, avoid anything with ammonia and para phenylenediamine (PPD) – ammonia damages the cuticle by making it brittle and frail; and PPD is said to trigger an allergic reaction. If you are worried about the beard dye or confused on the ingredients, make sure you test out a small amount on a patch of hair and wait 48 hours before applying it all over. This will help you see if you have a poor reaction.

How to Choose a Formula

Dyes are either permanent or demi-permanent. Permanent dyes are great if you want to ensure the color lasts a long time without fade. Whereas demi-permanent dyes help blend the blondes, grays or off colors into the natural color of your beard and fade within a few weeks, causing you to reapply. If the container doesn’t say which type of dye it is, look at the ingredients. if it contains PPD it is most likely a permanent dye.

How to Choose the Right Shade

Experts recommend going one shade lighter than your beard color. This will allow the dye to blend in better and if you need to go darker, you can just apply more or a new shade. It’s easier to darken up the beard color than lighten it.

How to Apply Beard Dye

1. Natural oils in your beard will help the color soak in to avoid washing your beard right beforehand.
2. If you have a short beard, trim before dyeing.
3. Clean the physical area where you will apply the dye and put on gloves.
4. Stir formula and apply.
5. Mix dye with color activator. (The activator allows the dye to penetrate the strands)
6. Leave on as directed. (Not more than 10 minutes)
7. Wash.