Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Trends and styles are always changing. Facial hair for men is in one day and out the next, just like hairstyles such as bouffant, curls, locks and braids. They change with the wind.
Now, most of you hip and trendy people know a wonderful style when you see it and jump on it. I question whether anyone has considered whether one style carries more bacteria than another.
It is a known fact that your skin carries billions of microbes on, in, and around it. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, and viruses that make themselves at home on your skin. Now, let us take it a step further and consider, let us say, a man’s beard. Here, the ideal temperature with warmth, moisture and nutrients could promote the ideal situation for bacterial growth. Just think about it: that beard is home to dead skin, food debris, and more bacteria, which can grow when you touch it with not-so-clean hands.
Beards have been known to spread impetigo, lice and other pathogens. So, what is a beard wearer to do?
Remember that the underlying skin of the beard is sensitive and needs to be cared for properly. Experts recommend washing the face and beard daily to remove all those microbes, allergens and bacteria. Dermatologists recommend daily skin moisturizing with the use of a beard comb to remove impurities. This should also include trimming the beard and managing stray hairs.
So, if a beard can harbor all those microbes, what is going on with the hair on your head? How often should it be washed? Does it depend on the products and accumulation of products on the hair and head or the activity of the person exercising and sweating?
Remember to wash the scalp and not just the hair, because a healthy scalp is the first step to healthy hair. Watching the products you are using is another must. Make sure that they are free of parabens and other unsavory chemicals. Think about clean beauty. Implementing stellar hygiene practices, especially for beard wearers, is essential to feeling and looking good. Get everything in check and carry on.
