Speaking as a man who’s both fully bearded and fully aware that middle age is just around the corner, I can certainly understand why guys would want to find a good beard dye.
I’m only in my early 30s, and I already have more grey hairs popping up in my beard than I care to see at this age.
Now, don’t get me wrong:
I don’t want to be one of those sad-looking dudes with bad dye jobs that aren’t fooling anyone.
But it would be nice if I could find a way to get natural-looking results and maintain a more youthful appearance, especially since I feel like I’m actually in my physical and intellectual prime.
Fortunately, the temporary beard dye industry has really blown up over the past few years, and today there are a number of high-quality products that can help you change your facial hair color without looking like you just slapped a can of paint on your chin.
To help you find the right beard dye for your hair type and personal preference, in this post I’ve rounded up more than a dozen quality beard dye options that can help you achieve your desired effect.
No Time (Like the Present) to Dye:
The Best Mens Beard Dyes on the Market
Overall Best Beard Dye for Men ↓
Just For Men Mustache & Beard
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 11,511 Reviews
- Best-selling beard dye on Amazon
- 12 shades available
Advantages:
Just for Men is probably best known for hair dye that goes on the top of your head, but their facial hair formula has been one of the most popular beard dyes on the market for a long time now—and with good reason.
It offers a whopping 12 different color/shade options, making it relatively easy to find the right color of dye to match your natural beard color, which is arguably the most important consideration if you don’t want anyone to know you’re using dye.
In addition to the color options, it’s made with biotin, aloe and coconut oil, three of the best beard supplements for promoting healthy hair follicles, and comes with a brush applicator that makes it easy to distribute evenly throughout your beard.
Promising Review:
Using this in my beard and mustache instantly made me look 15 years younger! Worked perfectly. I was a skeptic at first….but now I’m a believer!
– Tray
Best Permanent Beard Dye for Men ↓
Grizzly Mountain Beard Dye
Features:
- 4 Stars
- 1,111 Reviews
- Permanent beard dye
- 100% organic and chemical free
Advantages:
Most of the beard dye formulas on this list are either a temporary dye, meaning it will last a few days and wash out fairly easily after a few showers, or semi-permanent dye, which can last anywhere from two to six weeks.
By contrast, this dye from Grizzly Man is a permanent solution, meaning that once you apply it to your beard hair, it will remain colored until your hair starts to grow out.
At that point, the hair closest to your root will be your natural hair color, while the rest of the hair will be the dyed color.
Permanent dyes like this tend to work better for guys with longer beards, because if you keep your beard relatively short, you’ll probably end up shaving off a lot of the permanently-dyed hair fairly quickly, which forces you to dye it again and kind of negates the point of using a permanent solution.
Promising Review:
Natural looking and does not itch. Kinda all you need to know. I use this because I have super white patches in my beard…
Using Grizzly once per week takes the edge off. I don’t look WHITE white, I like light grey to brown. Looks totally natural. And super important – it does not itch. And I got super itchy from every other product I tried.
Best Beard Dye for Black Men ↓
Softsheen-Carson Dark & Natural Hair Dye For Men
Features:
- 4.3 Stars
- 2,259 Reviews
- 2 shades of black available
- Shampoo-in hair color
Advantages:
Softsheen-Carson is a brand that specializes in the hair and grooming needs of African consumers, so it’s no surprise that their natural hair dye provides some of the best results for Black men’s beards.
Available in two color variations, jet black and natural black, it’s the best dye for Black men because it’s made from a moisturizing formula that includes both aloe vera and honey, which help soften your hair while locking in the color.
But it’s worth noting that this product does contain hydrogen peroxide, which can cause skin irritation if used in high doses.
For best results, start by doing a patch test on a small bit of gray beard hair, both to see if it results in a darker shade and to make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin or cause any allergic reactions.
If all goes well, your best bet is to follow the instructions and dosages on the box as you dye the rest of your beard.
Promising Review:
Excellent and easy to use. I’ve tried other products, however this is the first I’ve tried that is easy to use and leaves hair with durable color.
I also do not see hair loss with this product, unlike other dyes I’ve used.
– KO
Best Beard Dye for Grey Hair ↓
Just For Men Control GX Grey Reducing Beard Shampoo
Features:
- 4.1 Stars
- 11,277 Reviews
- Beard wash gradually reduces gray facial hair
- Best for light brown to black hair
Advantages:
Whereas the Just for Men beard dye mentioned above is a proper dye, this one is a beard wash that offers more ease of application:
You simply wash your beard with it when you’re in the shower, and it gradually blends into your grey hairs, making them a little bit less grey each time you use it.
If you want to slowly dial back the greyness of your hair over time, rather than dramatically change your beard’s color in a single application, this is probably your best option.
Since this one isn’t a dye, it can be used by guys of pretty much any hair color, but tends to work best for guys who have a black or brown beard, as opposed to a really red or orange hair color.
Promising Review:
I have used several different products to reduce/eliminate grey from my beard. Of them all, Control GX works the best!
Within about five days, all grey was gone from my beard. Now I use it once or twice a week to maintain my beard at the color I want. Absolutely recommend this product.
Best Beard Dye for Sensitive Skin ↓
The Henna Guys Hair & Beard Dye
Features:
- 4.2 Stars
- 19,256 Reviews
- 100% natural ingredients
- 13 different color options available
Advantages:
This all natural beard dye is made with henna, which has been used in South Asian countries for centuries, and has recently emerged as a color base for hair dyes.
A number of men find that hair dyes containing any kind of chemical can have a negative effect on their skin, and henna is a great option if you’ve ever had a bad reaction to professional dye.
But one of the most important things to remember about henna is that, while it’s quite safe and great for touch ups, it can’t lighten dark hair.
So if you have some gray patchy areas that you want to bring more in line with your natural hair color, it’s a great choice.
But it’s not the right product for guys with really dark beards who want to lighten them.
Promising Review:
Longest lasting henna coloring for your beard that I have tried.
– Chris
Best Beard Dye for Salt and Pepper Look ↓
Just For Men Touch of Grey Mustache & Beard
Features:
- 4 Stars
- 5,602 Reviews
- Designed to leave some gray hairs, resulting in salt and pepper look
Advantages:
While my beard is quite reddish (and, as mentioned, quickly turning white), my best friend is blessed with a black beard that’s starting to go gray in a handsome-ass way that looks downright Clooneyish.
He might want to slow the graying process a little bit to extend his salt-and-pepper years, but the last thing he wants to do is make his mane look painted on.
This slightly altered version of Just for Men is perfect for guys who want to reduce the gray without going full black out.
The small applicator brush is perfectly sized to offer ease of use while encouraging you to go slow, so you don’t go too dark too quickly.
Remember: if you find that there’s still a little too much salt and not enough pepper after the first pass, you can always do it a second time.
Promising Review:
I was a little skeptical the first time I used the product as directed. It seemed like my facial hair looked the same until I noticed I had less gray hair showing.
I waited a couple of days and accidentally left the dye on my face for 15 minutes while I was texting a friend. After I showered I noticed that most of my facial hair had been dyed and my beard looked like it did 10 years ago.
– Gmajick
Best of the Rest
The beard dyes mentioned above are our top picks for dyes that should work well for pretty much every color, style and type of beard.
But the best part about the explosion of the men’s grooming industry in recent years is that there’s now a metric shit ton of great beard products to choose from in every category, including beard dyes.
So while the ones above are our top picks, each of the products listed below has received some great reviews from other guys, and could be just as well suited to your specific needs.
Cremo No Mix No Mess Hair and Beard Color
Features:
- 4 Stars
- 2,269 Reviews
- 7 colors available
- Restores natural color for up to 6 weeks
Promising Review:
My recommendation is that this product is great for my beard and it’s so much easier to use, I will continue buying it.
It also lasts longer for me, and when I use their beard thickener/conditioner along with the coloring, my beard always looks and feels great.
– VolHolla
Godefroy Professional Tint Kit
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 9,023 Reviews
- Similar to products used by professional colorist
Promising Review:
I have a full beard and my wife convinced me to dye it. I chose this product since it is ammonia free and had the best reviews online.
The instructions said to leave it on for 1-2 minutes and i left it in for about 15 minutes since I figured it was not going to work as great. Well let me tell you, I have a black beard now that looks darker then my already dark head hair.
So if you use this product don’t be like me. Follow the instructions and leave it in for the appropriate time.
– Gigi
Black Beard for Men Formula X Beard Dye
Features:
- 4.1 Stars
- 4,431 Reviews
- 5 colors available
- No harsh chemicals
Promising Review:
I’m happy with the product, it’s easy, looks great on and goes on quick!!!
True Sons Beard Dye
Features:
- 3.6 Stars
- 699 Reviews
- Aerosol foam canister
Promising Review:
This is the first hair color product I’ve ever used, and so had some fear about what the results might look like.
Having seen some friends walk around with goatees that appeared to have been dyed with Sharpies, I didn’t want that, and I definitely didn’t want to end up with a rash or modern art on my face.
Thankfully none of that happened, and I can’t imagine an easier product to use.
Cleverman Customized Beard Dye For Men
Features:
- 4.6 Stars
- 80 Reviews
- Customized to your needs based on your answers to their quiz
Promising Review:
I‘ve been using beard and hair color products for a while now and have always been disappointed at how bad they work until I got to this one…
The color is for the hair and not the skin (which is the best thing), it last longer than others and is very simple to use.
– Daniel
Madison Reed Beard Dye
Features:
- Free of ammonia,PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS, and titanium dioxide
- Simple three-step application process
Promising Review:
Worked great! Easy application. I left it in for 10 minutes for a subtle effect. Happy to report that it absorbed nicely into my gray hairs but didn’t change my natural highlights.
– Daniel
Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Beard Color Kit
Features:
- 4.2 Stars
- 1,992 Reviews
- 5 color options available
- Made with vitamin E, aloe and protein
Promising Review:
I used this product today and it is FANTASTIC… Left in my hair and beard for 10 ish mins as the instructions say. It is a very good look after just 10 mins… (Beard doesn’t look painted.)
…I am beyond satisfied with the results!
– MV
Colorsmith Custom Hair Color
Features:
- Colors individually crafted by a professional color developer
- Also offer phone or email consultations with colorist
Volt Grooming Instant Beard Color
Features:
- 4 Stars
- 943 Reviews
- 5 colors available
- Comes with applicator brush and beard comb
Promising Review:
Took a couple tries to get the hang of, essentially, using mascara to color in the beard. But this really does work. And, as the manufacturer suggests, blending two different shades together creates a more natural look.
– Chad
FAQ
Which hair dye is best for beard?
It depends on your specific needs, but overall the best beard dye for most men is Just for Men Mustache & Beard. It comes in a wide range of colors and contains vitamins and minerals that encourage healthy hair growth.
What’s the longest lasting beard dye?
The permanent beard dye from Grizzly Mountain Co is one of the longest lasting beard dyes on the market. Unlike other dyes, which are either temporary or semi-permanent, it’s a permanent dye that won’t wash out in the shower.
How can I cover my grey beard?
To cover your grey beard, start by choosing a beard dye that closely mimics your natural hair color. Perform a patch test, then follow the instructions to mix and apply the dye. Wait for the recommended time, rinse thoroughly, and use a good beard oil for nourishment.
Should guys dye their beards?
Whether guys should dye their beards is a personal choice. If you feel more confident or comfortable with a dyed beard, then go for it. But make sure to use quality beard dye products, and follow the instructions carefully to maintain a natural appearance and healthy facial hair.
What beard dye doesn’t stain your face?
To avoid face stains, choose a no-drip beard dye or a precision applicator, and always follow the instructions carefully. You can also try applying some petroleum jelly on the skin around the beard. And clean any dye residue immediately with a damp cloth to prevent staining.
What is the best way to dye your beard?
The best way to dye your beard is to choose the right dye, perform a patch test, and use a tint brush for precise application. Follow the product’s instructions to the tee, wait for the recommended time, then rinse thoroughly. As mentioned, petroleum jelly might also help prevent staining.
The Summary
Summary
Just for Men’s facial hair formula has been one of the most popular beard dyes on the market for a long time now—and with good reason.
More Resources ↓
More Advice on How to Look Your Bearded Best:
- How to Grow a Beard Faster – The Definitive Guide
- The 13 Best Stubble Trimmers for Ruggedly Refined Facial Hair
- The 23 Best Beard Oils for Men
- The 17 Best Beard Straightening Brushes
- The Best Beard Growth Kits for Full, Healthy & Handsome Beards
- Beard Balm vs Beard Butter – The Key Differences, Explained
- The 17 Best Beard Trimmers for Long Beards
- The 15 Best Vitamins for Beard Growth
- The Best Way to Use a Beard Roller for a Thicker, Manlier Mane
- The 21 Best Beard Products for Black Men’s Beards
- The Best Beard Trimmers with a Built-in Vacuum
- The Ultimate Guide to the Best Beardstache Styles
- The 10 Biggest Benefits of Beard Oil
- The Best Brushes For Your Beard
- The Best Facial Hair Rollers for Beard Growth
More Men’s Grooming Advice:
- The (Absolute) Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Men
- The Best Skin Care for Men
- Taper vs Fade vs Taper Fade – The Ultimate Guide
- In-Depth Lumin Skincare Review
- The Best Face Wash for Men
- The 17 Best Bar Soaps for Men
- The Best Shaving Soaps for Men
- The Absolute Best Men’s Deodorants & Antiperspirants
- In-Depth Dr. Squatch Review
- The 32 Most Handsome Men’s Haircuts & Hairstyles
- The 11 Best Electric Shavers & Razors for Sensitive Skin
- The 17 Best Colognes to Attract Females
Illustration: Irreverent Gent
Geoff Hayes
Resident Irreverent Gent beard expert Geoff Hayes is a Toronto-based writer, baseball fan and craft beer aficionado (though not always in that order).