Comprehensive Guide to Salt and Pepper Beard Dye

When your beard starts turning gray, you might feel torn between letting it go and dying it back to your original color. But many guys are discovering that the ideal look lies somewhere in between.

Get a beard dye for salt and pepper look, which gives you a subtle balance of dark and gray hair for a distinguished, gentlemanly look. It’s the beard style that says: “I’ve been around the block and have a few stories to tell.”

Don’t take our word for it though—some of the biggest stars in the world are proudly letting the salt in their beards blend in with the pepper: George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Jon Hamm, the list goes on.

If this sounds like the look for you, read on to learn how to get (and maintain) a salt and pepper beard without leaving your home.

What Is a Salt and Pepper Beard?

A salt and pepper beard simply means a blend of black and white (or gray) facial hair. This style is gaining popularity amongst men of all ages and face shapes—understandably so. It combines the traditional rugged look of a beard with a touch of gray that signals sophistication and maturity.

Men’s Health goes as far as saying that a salt and pepper beard is the “ultimate flex that instantly demands respect.”

There’s an important distinction to make here: your beard shouldn’t have random patches or streaks of gray. A proper salt and pepper beard has a uniform blend of gray hair and dark hair throughout. Beard dye can help you achieve this pattern (more on that later).

Some guys have natural salt and pepper hair. But if you’re reading this, chances are you have more gray than you’d like, or you’ve got a patchy gray beard. 

That’s where beard dye for salt and pepper look comes in.

How to Get a Salt and Pepper Beard

The key to a salt and pepper beard is high-quality beard dye. That might sound intimidating if you’re a first-timer, but you don’t have to be a Hollywood stylist to get the job done. 

Let’s walk through the four-step process.

1. Find the Best Beard Dye

Choosing a beard dye can feel overwhelming, especially when you walk into a drugstore and see all the options. But here’s the thing: most store-bought hair dyes only come in a few different shades. 

You need a dye that matches your exact hair color—otherwise, it won’t look natural.

That’s why we made Cleverman: a customizable beard and hair color that can generate more than 10,000 options based on your hair color, texture, and style preferences. If you’re after the salt and pepper look, Cleverman has beard dye designed specifically for partial coverage.

All it takes is a 3-minute quiz to find your perfect match, and we’ll ship your custom kit right to your door.

2. Prep Your Beard for Coloring

Once you’ve got your beard dye kit, you’re ready for the three-step prep process:

Wash and fully dry your beard

Put on your gloves

Do a “patch test” on a small part of your beard

Here’s a pro tip from Jorge Buccio, Cleverman’s Senior Colorist: “Don’t use oils or conditioners before dying your beard. This will form a protective coating, making it harder for the dye to do its magic.”

3. Apply the Dye

Using the precision beard brush from your kit, apply the product to your hair, moving in the direction your beard hair grows. The more gray hairs you want to cover, the more product you'll want to apply.

Leave the product on your beard for the amount of time on your instructions (about 7-10 minutes). While you’re waiting you can pack up your kit and clean your application tools.

4. Rinse Your Beard

Once your time is up, rinse your beard with lukewarm water. Then use Cleverman’s custom beard wash to remove the excess product. When the water runs clear, you’re good to go! 

How to Maintain Your Salt and Pepper Beard

Maintenance is key for a healthy-looking beard. Otherwise, your beard dye for salt and pepper look can go from sophisticated to sloppy in a matter of days.

Whether you’ve got a short beard, a long beard, or something in between, aim to wash it at least once a week. There are countless beard shampoos and conditioners out there, but it’s essential to find one that complements your unique hair and skin type, whether it’s sensitive, dry, oily, or balanced.

You can also use beard oil (AKA beard balm) to moisturize your facial hair and the skin underneath it. Applying beard oil once a day will help your beard look full and soft—not wild and frizzy.

Salt and Pepper Beard Inspiration

Need some inspiration? Let’s take a look at a few of the best beard dye for salt and pepper styles in the business.