hi gato, thanks for your reply! and your words of support. i'll spend some time in the forums looking at the examples you gave. your stache thread is very informative -- thanks!

no, i do not wash my "beard" (small as it is), specifically because i know shampoos can dry out hair and add to the problem. my beard only gets the residual soap from my face washing. this week i did try using some conditioner on my facial hair as i thought it might help, but thus far haven't noticed a difference.

I've never contemplated beard oils like argan and jojoba. I assumed these products were for those with substantial hair... maybe i should start?