How to Tackle Bed Beard With Ease

Spencer Bryce |

September 5, 2019

If we're being honest, we can't just roll out of bed with our beards looking on point. I really wish that was the case but unfortunately, it isn't. When I wake up, my mustache is usually in my mouth, half of my beard is flattened out from sleeping on my cheek, and the rest of my beard is all over the place.

Maintaining a glorious beard takes a little work, and that's ok. With as little as 5 minutes you can transform your beard into something respectable.

3 Beard Grooming Steps

1. Wash or rinse your beard

When you first wake up, the beard hairs are all jacked up from your pillow, and they'll be laying in all sorts of directions. Unfortunately, a quick combing of your beard likely won't reset the hairs enough to have them relax and lay properly.

What you need to do is wash your beard in the shower (or sink if you're in a rush), or at the bare minimum run water through your beard.

What REALLY makes all the difference is to massage in a circular motion. What this will do is relax the hairs so they don't spray all over the place, and make it much easier to style and look great.

I strongly recommend using an all-natural beard wash to avoid excessive dryness and damage to your beard. Traditional soaps, body washes, and shampoos are too harsh to be used on your face and beard.

2. Apply beard oil under your beard

After you towel dry your beard, it's time to moisturize. Grab your beard oil and dab some into your palms. It's important to note that beard oil is not just for your beard, but primarily for the skin under your beard, so you want to apply the beard oil under your beard and onto the skin. When you do so, as I mentioned when washing, massage your face in a circular motion as to relax the hairs as you apply your beard oil.

What beard oil will do is moisturize the skin to give your beard a healthy environment to grow in. Dry skin will lead to itch and irritation, as well as slower, unhealthy beard growth.

3. Style your beard with beard butter

At this point, you're a couple of minutes into your morning beard routine and you're already looking and smelling better. The last thing needed is a little beard butter to style your beard and hold it in place for the day.

What's so great about beard butter is that it will deep condition your beard hairs to keep them growing strong and healthy, and it also offers just the right amount of hold to keep it styled and looking great all day long.

Simply scoop some out with your finger and place it into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together and the beard butter will quickly melt. With the butter melted in your hands, work your hands through your beard to evenly distribute the butter through your beard.

At this point your beard is now looking fresh, smelling great and ready to tackle the day. All you have left is to comb it into place. When you comb, I always recommend to first comb up and out (to separate the hairs and add fullness), then comb it down and into place. Slide your beard comb into your front pocket and you're out the door!

Bonus: Mustache Wax

Now I know this may not apply to everyone but it's worth mentioning for those who are rocking the handlebar mustache. There is no mustache without mustache wax, so make sure you throw some in before you leave for the day and I recommend taking it with you so it's nearby if you need it.

A trick I've found when applying my mustache wax is to start at the middle and work your way to the outside. As you do, pull down on your mustache and roll your finger and thumb as if you're snapping. What this will do is train your hairs to flip up and make a great handlebar shape.

Is There Anything I Can Do Before Bed to Avoid Bed Beard?

There are several highly effective things you can do before bed to avoid the dreaded "bed beard." The key to waking up with a manageable beard is to minimize friction and prevent it from being crushed and tangled while you sleep.

Here are the best strategies, starting from the most essential and progressing to advanced techniques for longer beards.

1. Establish a Solid Nightly Grooming Routine

This is the foundation for preventing bed beard. Going to bed with a clean, moisturized, and detangled beard is half the battle.

Condition Thoroughly: After washing your face, apply a high-quality beard butter or a few drops of beard oil. Well-moisturized hair is more pliable and less prone to kinking and tangling than dry, brittle hair.
Brush It Out Completely: This is a non-negotiable step. Use a beard comb to gently work through any knots, then follow up with a boar bristle brush. Brushing smooths the hairs, trains them to lie flat, and ensures they are all aligned before your head hits the pillow.

2. Reduce Friction with a Better Pillowcase

This is one of the easiest and most effective changes you can make.

Switch to Silk or Satin: Standard cotton pillowcases have a rough texture that grips and pulls at your beard hairs as you move in your sleep. This friction is a primary cause of tangles and frizz. A silk or satin pillowcase has a much smoother surface, allowing your beard to glide across it with minimal friction.

3. Secure Your Beard (For Medium to Long Beards)

If your beard is long enough to have a life of its own, physically containing it is the ultimate solution.

Use a Beard Wrap or Bonnet: Specifically designed for this purpose, satin-lined "beard bonnets" enclose your entire beard which creates a protective barrier that eliminates all friction, locks in the moisture from your nighttime products, and keeps the hair contained all night.
Try a Loose Tie or Braid: For a simpler approach, you can gently gather your beard below your chin and secure it with a soft, beard-friendly tie (like a spiral tie or a soft scrunchie). For very long beards, a loose braid is an excellent way to keep the hairs consolidated and prevent them from tangling.

Does My Sleep Position Matter for My Beard? Any Recommendations?

Your sleep position matters for your beard and it’s one of the biggest factors that contributes to “bed beard”, tangles, and even long term damage. The main enemies of a well-groomed beard during sleep are friction and compression and your position determines how much of each your beard gets.

Here’s a breakdown of the common sleep positions from best to worst for your beard, along with recommendations on alternative sleep positions.

BEST: On Your Back
- Why it’s ideal: This is the undisputed champion of beard-safe sleeping. When you sleep on your back your beard is not pressed against a pillow or mattress. It lies naturally on your chest or is completely free, experiencing virtually zero friction or compression. This preserves the shape of your beard, prevents products from rubbing off, and reduces the chance of waking up with tangles.
THE COMPROMISE: On Your Side
- Why it’s problematic: This is the most common sleeping position, but it’s not ideal for beard symmetry since the side of your face and beard pressed against a pillow all night subjects facial hair to hours of friction and pressure. This often results to one side of your beard being flat, frizzy and tangled in the morning while the other side looks relatively normal.
WORST: On Your Stomach
- Why it’s damaging: Sleeping on your stomach is the most destructive position for a beard. Your face is mashed directly into the pillow, crushing and twisting your beard hairs in every possible direction. This leads to maximum matting, severe tangles that can cause breakage when you try to comb them out and forces the hair into unnatural kinks that are hard to manage in the morning.

Recommendations for Better Beard Sleep

While the goal is to sleep on your back, changing a lifelong habit is very difficult. Here are realistic recommendations you can do tonight:

Try to Train Yourself for Back Sleeping:
- The most effective way to encourage back sleeping is by using strategic pillow placement. Place firm pillows on either side of your body. These act as barriers that make it physically uncomfortable to roll onto your side or stomach, subconsciously encouraging you to stay on your back. It takes time and patience but it can be done.
Upgrade Your Pillowcase (Essential for All Sleepers): Regardless of your position, switch from a standard cotton pillowcase to a silk or satin pillowcase. Cotton fibers grip and pull at your beard, causing friction. Silk and satin allow your beard to glide, significantly reducing friction and tangling. This is the single most important upgrade for side and stomach sleepers.
Protect Your Beard Physically (The Ultimate Defense):
- If you are a side or stomach sleeper or have a long beard, the best defense is a physical barrier.
- Use a Beard Wrap or Bonnet: A silk or satin lined beard wrap creates a protective cocoon around your beard. It eliminates friction and compression no matter how much you toss and turn.

Should I Wear Something on My Beard at Night to Protect It?

Wearing something on your beard at night to protect it is an excellent practice and one of the most effective strategies for maintaining the health and appearance of your beard, especially if it's medium to long.

While it might seem like an unnecessary step, a protective covering offers significant benefits by creating a barrier between your beard and your bedding, combating friction, moisture loss, and tangling.

The Core Benefits of Wearing a Beard Covering at Night

Prevents Tangles and "Bed Beard": This is the primary reason to wear one. As you toss and turn, your beard rubs against your pillow and sheets. A protective wrap eliminates this friction, preventing the hairs from knotting and becoming a tangled mess by morning.
Reduces Breakage and Split Ends: Friction and tangling lead directly to hair damage. When you try to comb out the knots formed during sleep, you can easily snag and break hairs. By preventing tangles in the first place, you preserve the structural integrity of your beard.
Maximizes Product Effectiveness: A covering keeps the valuable beard oil and butter you apply at night on your hair and off your pillowcase. This locks in moisture and allows the conditioning products to work for hours, resulting in a significantly softer and healthier beard.
Keeps Everything Clean: It works both ways—it protects your beard from dust mites in your bedding and protects your expensive pillowcases from becoming stained with beard products.

Who Benefits the Most?

This practice is most beneficial for:

Men with medium to long beards where the hair is long enough to tangle.
Anyone with a coarse, dry, or unruly beard that is prone to frizz.
Active sleepers who toss and turn frequently.
Side and stomach sleepers whose beards are constantly pressed against a pillow.

For men with stubble or very short beards, this step is generally not necessary as the hair is too short to tangle.

What Should You Wear?

The material is the most important factor. It must be silk or satin. Cotton and other materials are absorbent and will wick moisture away from your beard, while their rougher texture will still cause friction. Silk and satin allow the beard to glide without friction and do not absorb your beard products.

Your best options are:

A Beard Bonnet or Beard Wrap: These are products specifically designed for this purpose. They are essentially a pouch or sleeve, often lined with satin, that you tuck your beard into.
A Silk or Satin Durag: A popular and highly effective choice. You can tie it in a way that securely covers your beard.
A Silk or Satin Scarf/Bandana: A DIY option where you can fold a square scarf and tie it around your beard to keep it contained.

Does My Pillowcase's Material Affect Bed Beard?

The material of your pillowcase has a major effect on bed beard and is one of the most significant factors in how your beard looks and feels when you wake up.

Making a simple change to your pillowcase material can be a game-changer for reducing tangles, frizz, and moisture loss while you sleep. Here’s a comparison of the most common materials and how they affect your beard:

The Problem with Cotton Pillowcases

Most standard pillowcases are made of cotton. While comfortable for many, cotton is one of the worst materials for both your beard and your hair for two primary reasons:

High Friction: Under a microscope, cotton fibers have a rough texture. As you sleep and move your head, these fibers grip and pull at your beard hairs. This constant snagging and friction is a direct cause of tangles, knots, frizz, and even breakage.
High Absorbency: Cotton is a highly absorbent material. It acts like a sponge, wicking moisture away from whatever it touches. This means it draws out your skin's natural oils (sebum) as well as any beard oil or butter you applied before bed. Your expensive products end up on the pillowcase instead of conditioning your beard, leaving it drier and more brittle in the morning.

The Solution: Silk or Satin Pillowcases

Switching to a silk or satin pillowcase is one of the easiest and most effective upgrades you can make to your nightly beard care routine.

Smooth, Low-Friction Surface: Silk and satin have a very smooth, sleek weave. This allows your beard to glide across the surface with minimal resistance as you move. This drastic reduction in friction means fewer tangles, less frizz, and a significantly lower chance of waking up with a matted "bed beard."
Low Absorbency: These materials do not absorb moisture the way cotton does. They leave the natural oils and the conditioning products where they belong—on your skin and in your beard. This means you wake up with a beard that is more hydrated, softer, and has received the full benefit of your nightly routine.

Silk vs. Satin: What's the Difference?

Silk is a natural protein fiber, known for being hypoallergenic and very breathable. It is the more luxurious and expensive option.
Satin refers to the type of weave, not the material itself. Satin pillowcases are typically made from polyester, are much more affordable than silk, and provide the exact same crucial benefits of a smooth, low-friction surface.

Final Thoughts

Here at Live Bearded, we don't think beard grooming should be hard, nor should it take a lot of time. But a few minutes will go a LONG way and is worth taking every morning to look and feel your best.

I hope you found these tips helpful! If you have any questions about beard products, beard style advice or anything else at all, don't hesitate to contact us

Our mission here at Live Bearded is to help Beardsmen look, feel and be their best, so let us know how we can support you!