# Is there some kind of facial-hair coloring dye I could buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439 "2007-06-18T08:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/1 "2007-06-18T08:49:41Z")
After many weeks of not shaving, my beard and moustache have grown out to a decent length. However, although the hair on my head is very very dark, many of the hairs in the moustache are blond. Is there some kind of dye I could use to make them darker? Would this just be the same kind of dye that’s intended for your head, or is there some specific kind for facial hair? Also, is there some kind of special conditioner for beards I could get? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/2 "2007-06-18T10:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] After many weeks of not shaving, my beard and moustache have grown out to a decent length. However, although the hair on my head is very very dark, many of the hairs in the moustache are blond. Is there some kind of dye I could use to make them darker? Would this just be the same kind of dye that’s intended for your head, or is there some specific kind for facial hair? Also, is there some kind of special conditioner for beards I could get? [/QUOTE] They have beard and mustache dye. CVS and the like carry it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/3 "2007-06-18T11:58:43Z")
Just For Men makes a facial hair product as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/4 "2007-06-18T12:04:56Z")
There is a brand of dye for beards and mustaches called “Just for Men for Beards and Mustaches.” Facial hair is often coarse and resistant to dyes. The dyes are substanially the same, however this brand has a no-drip gel formulation. This stuff is available whever hair dyes are sold. I don’t know about conditioners. On preview I see this was already recommended. Oh, well, I second it. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/5 "2007-06-18T12:33:00Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] After many weeks of not shaving, my beard and moustache have grown out to a decent length. However, although the hair on my head is very very dark, many of the hairs in the moustache are blond. Is there some kind of dye I could use to make them darker? Would this just be the same kind of dye that’s intended for your head, or is there some specific kind for facial hair? Also, is there some kind of special conditioner for beards I could get? [/QUOTE] You gotta watch more TV. The Just for Men product referenced above changes a guy who turns women off with his silver beard hair into a total chick magnet. Hurry. And perhaps a name change to Noir Towers. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/6 "2007-06-18T18:12:24Z")
I have zero grey on my full head of hair, but a ton of it in my beard ( 😕☹ ) The just for Men type hair dyes don’t have that many color choices. I just use womens hair dye. Theres a zillion different brands and it’s easier to find one that matches your exact hair color (I have red hair so getting the right shade to exactly match my head hair was difficult.) The secret is too put in on thick, mix it into your beard very well, and keep it on for twice the time they recommend for the head. It works. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/7 "2007-06-20T02:08:50Z")
I’ve become allergic to the Just For Men stuff. Will the women’s products have the same effect? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/8 "2007-06-20T02:15:35Z")
[QUOTE=pkbites] I have zero grey on my full head of hair, but a ton of it in my beard ( 😕☹ ) The just for Men type hair dyes don’t have that many color choices. I just use womens hair dye. Theres a zillion different brands and it’s easier to find one that matches your exact hair color (I have red hair so getting the right shade to exactly match my head hair was difficult.) The secret is too put in on thick, mix it into your beard very well, and keep it on for twice the time they recommend for the head. It works. [/QUOTE] For “Just For Men,” do the opposite. Smear it on, brush it in, then leave it for 5 minutes maximum. Then wash it out. Check the color after you’ve slept on it. Repeat until you get the color you want. This prevents your beard from looking “obviously dyed.” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/9 "2007-06-20T20:10:37Z")
If you have just a few blond or grey hairs, you could simply use a brown felt-tip marker. My wife’s hairdresser says the men’s and women’s hair colorings are exactly the same, except for two things. The plastic gloves are bigger for the men, and the women have more color choices. I used Just For Men a few times, back when I was coloring my hair. I’d caution against exceeding the recommended dye time. You can end up with a much darker beard than you had in mind. When you suddenly turn up with a jet black beard, it’s like wearing a flashing neon “DYE JOB!” sign. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/10 "2007-06-20T21:24:57Z")
Why in the hell are there separate kinds of hair dye for men and women? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/11 "2007-06-20T21:37:22Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Why in the hell are there separate kinds of hair dye for men and women? [/QUOTE] Because you’ll buy anything. No, really. Most guys feel very sissy buying hair dye that is being marketed for women. So, a quick repackaging, and now we have manly hair dye. For Manly Men. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/12 "2007-06-20T22:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] For “Just For Men,” do the opposite. Smear it on, brush it in, then leave it for 5 minutes maximum. Then wash it out. Check the color after you’ve slept on it. Repeat until you get the color you want. This prevents your beard from looking “obviously dyed.” [/QUOTE] My beard doesn’t look dyed. And like I said, the J4M stuff doesn’t have very many shades. They have nothing that fits me, and I’m not fudging around mixing colors. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/13 "2007-06-20T22:35:43Z")
I’ve used the Just For Men stuff to dye my beard back for a play. It’s not too difficult to use, but it does come with a little brush-type applicator to fully brush in the dye. Having stinky hair dye right under your nose isn’t much fun, by the way. Also used the women’s hair coloring on my head — seemed to work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/14 "2007-06-20T23:04:12Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Why in the hell are there separate kinds of hair dye for men and women? [/QUOTE] **Silenus** is right, but also… If you look at the ads for both, you see that they’re aimed from completely different angles. Women have been dying their hair for a long time, and the question of “is the right thing to do” was settled before Shep was a pup. They’re selling rich colors and luxurious texture. Use this particular brand. Men’s hair color is still a marginal thing, so they’re selling the _idea_ of hair color to us. Naturally, they use sex to sell it. They’re telling us we’ll get laid if we get rid of that grey. :rolleyes: They’re really shameless and obvious about it. The newly non-grey guy wins like the pizza man in a porno. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/15 "2007-06-22T14:34:54Z")
The pizza man in a porno? I don’t get out enough. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/16 "2007-06-22T16:19:22Z")
The Just for Men and other brands’ processing time is only 5 min compared to 30-45 min for brands marketed to women, which is great as you don’t have to have that “goo beard” on for so long. Unfortunatly, the Just for Men and other 5 min mens colors are all too dark for blonds or redheads, and don’t look natural. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-kind-of-facial-hair-coloring-dye-i-could-buy/408439/17 "2007-06-23T23:51:43Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] After many weeks of not shaving,…Also, is there some kind of special conditioner for beards I could get? [/QUOTE] Good question, **Argent**. The one I’ve settled on is from [Garnier](http://www.ulta.com/control/product/~product_id=2101197). It seems to calm my fuzzy beard, doesn’t stink, and doesn’t taste bad. Its green apple scent is light and seems to go away quickly. So many others I’ve tried had very strong floral odors that persist, turning into a nausea-inducing stench after only a few minutes being just below my nose. And if you use something on your moustache, you gotta worry about the taste, unless you always plan to suck your drinks through straws. Should you go with the Garnier, do not get the illustrated bottle with pump. The conditioner is too thick for a pump, so you end up with a bunch on the bottom of the bottle that won’t come out. Thankfully, I haven’t seen that bottle in a year. The other I liked but was too expensive for my longish beard is [Phyto 7](http://mp.hairboutique.com/product.asp?ProdID=100671). It meets all the above criteria. Unusually, it smells like oatmeal or cream of wheat. I wish it were less expensive, though. It’s great stuff. PS-Not recomended for use by pizza guys. [chuckle] PPS-Now, more than ever, I need a touchably-soft beard. Every so often, a stranger on the street or in the mall will come up and stroke it. Beards aren’t very big around here, so to speak, so people want to see if it’s real. Just doing my part for international relations.