It is quite common for both men and women to dye their hair, it is a popular practice that allows people to have the hair they want, and quite often it can also help to hide the signs of aging, to keep your look young, and fresh!
But did you know that men can also dye their beards? Yup! After all, the beard is just hair, but in a different place.
And it adds to the overall appearance quite a lot, so it is completely normal for men to want their beards to look as good as possible.
They can dye it to be a specific color, make it look fuller, or cover up any grey hairs that show off the aging process!
Dyeing a beard is also not too complicated, that is unless you want to dye a short beard. This is because dyeing stubble is a lot harder than dyeing a longer beard.
But don’t worry, it can still be done! If you have a short beard, you can dye it in the color you want no problem, it just requires you to make sure that it is done in the right way, to avoid any complications!
If you want to know exactly how to dye your short beard (step by step in an easy way), keep reading.
We’ll guide you through the process, and we will also give you plenty of tips, along with what you need, and some suggestions on our favorite beard dyes.
Does that sound good? Then let’s get right into it!
How To Dye A Short Beard In 9 Easy Steps
As we mentioned, dyeing a short beard, aka stubble, is a lot harder than dyeing a full-grown beard. Mainly because with a longer beard, it’s a lot easier to dye the hair, as the process is quite similar to dyeing normal hair!
That being said, it is completely possible to dye short beards, and if you follow our steps, it shouldn’t be too hard either!
You just need the right materials and tools and a little bit of patience so that you’re not rushing through. You want it to turn out good, after all, right?
The process we’re going to guide you through requires you to complete 9 simple steps, all of them pretty easy.
Make sure to read through them all before you get started, so you have an idea of how it is going to go, and don’t be afraid to ask someone for help! Again, you want it to turn out good, right?
Okay, so without further ado, here is our step by step process on how to dye a short stubble beard:
1. Get All Of The Equipment Ready
The first step is to gather all of the equipment that you need, double-check it, and make sure that it is ready for use. After all, you can’t dye your beard without the right tools and materials!
And it really does save you a lot of hassle to have them all ready and next to you, because suddenly needing something and not finding it can not only cause a lot of stress but possibly even ruin the entire process!
So yeah, preparation is key.
The question is, what do you need? Here is our list of required equipment:
Latex gloves – These are very important, as you will need to be wearing them when you apply the dye to your beard, in order to keep your hands protected. If you have someone helping you with the process, make sure they have gloves too! You don’t want stained hands and you don’t want irritated skin so this is a must!
Beard dye – This one is pretty obvious – you can’t dye your beard without beard dye. But it is very important that you are using the right kind of beard dye and the color you want. We will provide some of our favorites further down in the article, in case you need some ideas on what dye to use exactly.
Old clothes – You should always wear old clothes when dyeing your beard, or your hair because the process can get…messy. And the stains from dye? They’re likely to be permanent. So, make sure you are using a t-shirt you don’t mind ruining!
An applicator – By applicator, we are referring to a brush or similar with which you can apply the dye onto your beard. Usually, most beard dye boxes will come with the applicator included. However, make sure to double-check this, as you might have to purchase one separately, and you won’t be able to successfully dye your beard without one. (Although if you completely forget, you can use an old toothbrush or similar as an alternative)
Paper towels or wipes – These will come in extremely handy for wiping things clean if they get stained, or you drop some dye on them by accident. They will also be great for wiping dye off your face if you accidentally get some on it to avoid it irritating your skin too much.
Beard oil or vaseline – This is absolutely necessary in order to protect all of the areas around your stubble beard from being stained or irritated. We have a whole step within the process dedicated to this, so you’ll see!
2. Trim Your Beard
The next step is one that not everybody does, but we highly recommend that you do. Take it as an added step that will make the results all the more professional, helping the beard look all the better.
Basically, we recommend trimming your beard. And we know, we’re talking about dyeing a short stubble beard, so why on earth would you trim it to make it even shorter? But hear us out.
If you don’t trim your beard, you’re going to be dyeing areas that are going to be shaved off not too long after and the result will be that the skin below will become visible.
And, it will be stained from the dye, and won’t be very visually appealing.
You want to make sure that the dye is applied to a beard that is going to remain the same for some time so that it looks good. So make sure you do your shaving and trimming beforehand.
Get your beard looking the way you want it and then you can apply the dye. Trust us, it is so much better this way!
3. Wash Your Beard
Once you have trimmed your beard and you have gotten it to look exactly the way you want it (except for the color, which will come soon enough), it’s time to wash it.
This is very important, not only so that the beard is nice and clean before you apply the dye, which will make it easier to stick to the hair, but, also so that you get rid of all the loose cut hairs from having trimmed it.
Make sure to use some nice beard shampoo too! The cleaner the better, as the dye will take a lot easier.
4. Apply Beard Oil Or Vaseline
Remember how we included beard oil or vaseline within our list of necessary equipment, which might have seemed a little weird? Well, this is the step in which it comes into play!
You can use a beard oil of your choice that you are used to using or, alternatively, you can use vaseline, whatever you have on hand!
This step consists of applying the beard oil or vaseline onto your skin in the areas around your beard. Mainly, you should apply it to the neckline and cheek lines, following the border of the beard.
This will essentially act as a layer of protection for your skin so that it does not get stained by the dye, which would look pretty bad.
So you apply it to the areas most likely to get some dye on, due to them being close to the beard.
5. Prepare The Dye You Will Be Using
Now that your short beard is completely ready and you have protected the areas around it from becoming stained, it’s finally time to get into the proper dyeing process.
First of all, you need to prepare the dye that you will be using.
This is because most permanent and semi-permanent dye solutions will need to be mixed before they are applied.
Most box dyes come in two bottles, one with the base color you are applying and the other with a color-developing product.
However, it can depend on the brand and the type of dye you are using so make sure to thoroughly read the instructions before you get started!
Follow all of the specifications on the product and follow their instructions along with this process.
Also, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about having enough dye.
Beard dye boxes are designed for longer beards and since you’re only dyeing a stubble, the dye that comes with the box will be more than enough to get it completely done!
Instead, make sure it is the right color, so you are happy with the results.
6. Test The Dye On A Small Patch
This next step is one that most people skip, but that we consider being very important.
You should always test the dye on a small patch of beard, to begin with, by applying it to a non-visible spot of beard, waiting for a bit, and then washing it out.
This will allow you to determine whether the dye is safe for you or not. For example, it can be a test to see whether your skin gets super irritated or not, or whether you get some sort of an allergic reaction.
Plus, it can also be a way to see the color really quickly and decide whether you 100% want to commit to it.
If you have already used this particular beard dye before, and have had no problems, then you can skip this step.
7. Apply The Dye To The Entire Beard
Step number 7 is the all-important dyeing of your beard. This involves applying the dye. This is the hour of truth and by far the step you should pay the most attention to and concentrate on the most!
Use the applicator brush to gather some dye product and brush it onto your beard. Use up and down motions to coat the entire beard, rubbing it in.
It is vital that you ensure that every last area of your beard is fully and completely covered, to avoid any patches. More is better than less in order to get full coverage.
However, be careful when dyeing the parts of the beard adjacent to the neckline and cheeks, because even with the beard oil or vaseline, the skin might still get stained if you apply too much dye here.
Follow the specific instructions of the dye, remain calm, and take your time. You can do this!
We can’t tell you exactly how long you should wait for, however, as this completely depends on the type of beard dye that you are using and how dark a shade you want the color to be on your beard.
The longer you leave the dye on, the darker and more vibrant the color will be because the more time it has to stick onto the hair.
So follow the instructions, and if anything, you can test a small patch every so often to check the results. As a general rule, beard dye requires you to wait between 5 to 15 minutes, so not that long a wait at all!
9. Wash Your Beard
Once you have waited for the right amount of time and you have checked a small patch to be sure, wash your entire beard with some warm water.
Keep washing it until the water finally comes out clear, instead of stained with the color.
Use some beard shampoo, and if you want, some beard conditioner. Depending on the beard dye you are using, it might come with a special kind of shampoo to help set the color even better!
And that’s it! Once you have completed these 9 simple steps, you should end up with a nice-looking short beard that has now been dyed in the color of your choice!
Tips For Dyeing A Short Beard Successfully
If you’re really worried about dyeing your short beard, because you’ve never done it before and beard dyeing really isn’t within your skills or talents, we have some tips for you.
So take a deep breath, read through them, and believe in yourself.
Here are our top tips for successfully dyeing a short beard, for the best possible results:
Choose The Right Type Of Beard Dye
Our first tip is that you need to pay extra attention to getting the right kind of dye because this will determine the result that you get.
There are three main different types of dye, so let’s take a quick look at each:
Permanent beard dye
Permanent beard dyes are ideal for those that want the color to remain for a few months, without it fading away.
Of course, you will have to apply more dye as the beard grows, as the roots will show the original color.
The way in which these dyes work is by using a chemical reaction to penetrate the hair, and add the color permanently.
They are not recommended if you have sensitive skin, as they are very harsh. So make sure to test a small patch before using them!
Semi-permanent beard dye
Semi-permanent beard dyes are very similar to fully permanent dyes, with the main difference being that they use fewer harsh chemicals within their formula.
This makes them a little better for sensitive skins but it means that the color might start fading after a few weeks.
Temporary beard dye
Temporary beard dyes are perfect for those that want to test out a different color for their beard, without committing to it permanently.
These dyes do not penetrate your hair, and instead, coat it on the outside. This means that every time you wash your beard, the color will fade a little until it is completely gone.
They are perfect if you have sensitive skin, as they barely include any harsh chemicals and many can be made out of 100% natural ingredients.
However, they will not last very long, so if you liked the result, you will have to do it all over again soon after!
Make Sure You Choose The Right Color For Your Beard
If you’re going to dye your beard, you have to make sure that you are choosing the right color. Otherwise, it’s just going to end up looking worse than before.
And trust us, choosing the right color and shade is a make-or-break kind of deal.
When choosing the beard color, you need to take into account your own personal preference, along with any advice from your barber or loved ones, as well as keeping in mind what kind of result you want.
Here are some of our suggestions:
If you want to cover up gray hairs or patches, use color as similar to your normal beard color as possible
Light brown, dark brown, and black are the most common beard colors you will find
If you are using permanent or semi-permanent beard dye, make sure to use a shade slightly lighter to what you want, as it will darken over time
If you are using a temporary beard dye, make sure to use a shade slightly darker, as it will fade over time
Dye Your Short Beard At The Right Time
Dyeing your beard can completely change your look, so it is important to choose the right timing for it.
As in, make sure you know your schedule for the following days so you know if there is anything important going on. This is in case the color turns out different from what you were hoping for.
For example, if you have a job interview coming up, maybe don’t experiment with your beard right before, just in case, you know?
Make sure that if it goes wrong, it’s not going to affect your life in any way, and that you have a few days to sort it out!
The Best Dyes For Short Beards – Our Top Favorite Ones
There are many different types of beard dyes, along with many different brands, for you to choose from.
The main thing you need to look out for is the right kind of dye (permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary), along with the right color.
And then you should of course consider the brand, and any customer reviews and ratings.
We won’t give you a lot of suggestions, because ultimately, finding the right kind of beard dye is a personal quest, and something that you have to do taking into account your own needs and preferences.
But just so you have some inspiration, here are our top three favorite bear dyes for men:
Just in case you have any doubts or inquiries about the beard dyeing process, here are some of the most popular questions answered by us to the best of our knowledge:
What Do I Do If I Accidentally Dye The Skin Around My Beard?
This is an easy accident. If it happens, you have to act quickly by rubbing the stained skins with some alcoholic wipes. Make sure to do this before the dye completely dries, or else the skin might be permanently stained!
Can I Dye My Beard Without Staining The Skin Underneath?
Unfortunately, no. If you dye your beard, especially a short beard, then there is no avoiding getting the skin underneath stained.
The good news is that this won’t be visible, because your beard will be covering it.
Just don’t shave your beard off it will look weird and the skin will definitely be stained.
Can I Use Regular Hair Dye For My Beard?
The answer to this, surprisingly, is yes! Most hair dyes can be used on beards, as they use the same formula as specific beard dyes.
However, it is important to test a small patch of beard beforehand, to make sure that it does not irritate your skin, and that the color takes.
Final Thoughts
Dyeing a beard can be nerve-wracking, especially if you have never done it before, but it is actually quite a common practice! (Especially for men wanting to cover up any gray hairs!)
When it comes to dyeing a short stubble beard, the process is a little more complicated than dyeing a longer beard, but it can be done with ease as long as you follow the right steps!
Follow our step-by-step guide for help dyeing your short beard. And, always remember to choose the right type of dye, as well as the right kind of color!
My name is Doug, and I've been growing a beard on and off for many years now.
I've not had a perfect journey on the road to growing a beard. I've spent more time than I want to admit learning about growing a beard. I'm not one of those blessed with perfect beard-growing genes. So, I've encountered many frustrating and challenging obstacles along the way.
I hope some of my mistakes and victories along the way will help you on your journey to your perfect beard. Of course, reach out if I can help and share this content with your friends that are beginning or struggling on their journey as well.
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