In Praise of the Beard Wash

THE BEST TIME TO OWN A BEARD WASH IN THE history of facial hair is probably now. The world seems to have finally moved past the shaggy instrument of concealment that’s saved the day for so many of us soft-jawed duderinos. Grooming gurus have unitedly declared the impending comeback of the clean-shaven face.

But that is exactly why the full beard—as part of personality, not a trend piece or a default crutch—has gained an all-new incentive. And commitment. You see, having the bearded look is really a feeling and not so much how it looks on the outside. It can be like coming into your own as a grown man who’s decided to let the follicles around his mouth and along his jaw express themselves fully. It doesn’t have to be the adolescent overgrowth of the gawky bum with a frizzy goatee.

It can be a beautiful articulation of free-flowing, unbothered masculinity.

Free-flowing doesn’t have to mean unintentional and scruffy, though. Tamed abundance is the facial hair version of dishevelled elegance. No matter how au naturel we get, hair is one part of your body that can seem intimidating, so the onus is on the keeper to make it effortless, not another thing to fuss over.

In a time when the beard is seen to be on its way out and “so 2016”, I recently decided to make it my own again, with a touch of effort and love. The first step was, obviously, to invest in a good beard wash. No, Reddit, not “shampoo”— because (a) it is not exclusive to my beard, and (b) I don’t want to smell my hair shampoo on my face.

Giving my beard a nice wash first thing in the morning is an exercise in abundant self-replenishment—it’s about the act and not the necessity of the wash. Standing over the basin, I work the product in fully, running my fingers through the hair in a tactile ASMR experience, slowly massaging the skin and ridding it of the grime and dust. I let it all stand for a moment, then wind open the tap and splash that cold water on to it and feel the salvation descend (you can give it a quick dip in the water cupped inside your palms).

Give it a short air-dry and whip out something to moisturise it. These days I’m using a beard butter that not only delivers moisture and manages frizz but also conditions the skin underneath. Like any self-respecting person, I want to avoid a pomade-like hold, which is why this product makes sense. I quickly spread it on my palms and use the heel to guide it lovingly into the hair. And I’m ready to step into the heat and dust of Delhi.

Taking care of my beard has also incentivised me to avoid touching it as an act of unconscious grooming or as a stress response throughout the day. That non-interference keeps it alive and floating around my face. As a man, there’s something adult about choosing to go in with a full beard, with choice being the operative term here.

The next thing I’m going to get for my shower basin vide poche is a quality anti-static comb. But first, I’m getting a shower-basin vide poche.

To read more stories from Esquire India's October 2026 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.