The beard grooming world can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time beard growers. There’s much to master, including how to trim a beard and what beard products to use.
Beard oils are a must-have in your beard grooming kit to maintain a healthy, good-looking beard. But what makes beard oil so important? Let’s dive in.
Table Of Contents
What Does It Actually Do
Beard oil makes beard growth and maintenance simple and easy. Beard oil is a leave-in conditioner, conditioning the strands and skin underneath.
Your skin produces natural oils known as sebum, which is crucial for keeping your facial hair healthy, well-conditioned, and good-looking. However, the harsh ingredients in soaps and body washes can strip away the natural oils.
Beard oil helps replicate sebum, thus preventing your beard from becoming dry, brittle, and damage while adding shine and a pleasant fragrance to your facial hair.
It also helps prevent significant beard problems like beard dandruff, beard itch, acne, flaky and dry skin, and poor beard growth and volume. Finally, beard oil is essential for softening a beard, reducing tangling and split ends, and making beard maintenance easier.
How It Works
To understand how beard oil works, you need to understand its contents. Most beard oils contain a unique mix of ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil, Argan oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, and many more. The oils fall under two categories – carrier oils and essential oils.
Carrier oils make up 90% of the ingredients. Carrier oils are made from seeds and nuts, including jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, Argan oil, coconut oil, and hazelnut oil. They are not volatile and have a neutral smell.’\
When used in beard oil, they act as a diluting agent to smoothen the oil and prevent it from evaporating. Essential oils, on the other hand, are more volatile and usually give beard oils their unique scents. Ideally, unscented beard oils don’t contain essential oils.
But essential oils do more than make your beard smell good. They act as natural remedies for common beard and skin problems. They also provide moisturizing and hydrating effects on the hair follicles and skin underneath.
For instance, sandalwood and tea tree oils help clean pores and prevent acne outbreaks.
Benefits
Helps Moisturize the Beard and Skin
The main benefit of beard oil is to help moisturize the whiskers and the skin underneath. Applying beard oil creates a protective layer that blocks trans-epidermal water loss.
Prevents Itching
Beard itch is normal, especially in the early beard growth stages, but too much itching can irritate the skin. It can also be annoying, making it impossible to continue growing the beard.
Beard oil helps prevent itching by nourishing the skin and hair follicles. It also helps eliminate beard dandruff and flakes that might lead to itching.
Softens the Beard
Beard oils contain natural oils that help soften the beard to make maintenance easy.
Makes Your Beard Smell Incredible
Beard oil contains essential oils that make your facial hair smell incredible. A good-smelling beard is a hit with the ladies.
Ingredients to Avoid
Parabens
Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetic products. While there isn’t any conclusive evidence, parabens are believed to cause specific health issues. The safest option is to avoid ingredients you’re unsure about.
Sulfates
Most cheap cosmetic products contain sodium lauryl sulfates, harsh chemicals that strip away natural oils leaving your beard dry, brittle, and prone to damage.
Silicones
Silicones may seem like the perfect ingredients since they give the beard a healthy and somewhat shiny appearance. But the truth is that these ingredients end up coating the hair shafts, thus blocking essential nutrients from getting in.
Things to Know
Before you use beard oil, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Beard oil isn’t a miracle product. Like there’s no truth to common beliefs like shaving makes a beard grow faster, beard oil doesn’t contain ingredients that make your beard grow faster. It, however, encourages the right beard growth conditions.
- Beard oil won’t clean your beard; you will need a beard wash.
- Beard oils aren’t the best grooming products for styling your beard. For styling, you’ll need beard balm or beard wax. On that note, you might consider learning to use beard balm.
- Beard oil will also not make your beard grow thicker and fuller. If your beard grows thin or in patches, it could be due to genetics or lifestyle.
- Avoid applying too much beard oil since it can make your beard look overly greasy.
How to Apply Properly
Step 1 – Clean your beard first
Never apply beard oil to a dirty beard. Start by cleaning your beard in the shower. Use beard shampoo and conditioner.
Step 2 – Dry
Dry your beard well since water can make it hard for beard oil to penetrate the hair follicles.
Step 3 – Apply the oil
The secret to a good-looking beard is knowing how much oil to apply. Ideally, pour two to three drops of the oil into your palms and then spread it evenly on your beard using your fingers.
Ensure you distribute the oil into the hair strands and the skin underneath. If you have a Garibaldi beard style, apply beard oil to all whiskers – beard and mustache.
Step 4 – Comb
Use a beard comb to ensure the product coats every hair and moisturizes the skin, especially if you have a long beard. If you have a curly beard, use the comb to straighten the strands and remove any tangles.
FAQ
When should I start using beard oil?
Start applying beard oil as soon as you begin growing a beard.
Is beard oil essential?
Beard oil is necessary as it makes a massive difference in your beard’s comfort, appearance, and manageability.
How often should you use beard oil?
Use beard oil at least twice a day; in the morning before work and in the evening before bed. Make sure you clean your beard before applying beard oil, even at night. If you have a short beard, once a day is more than enough.
When should I use beard oil?
Use beard oil in the morning after showering. If you live in a drier climate, apply beard oil in the morning, later in the day, and before bed.
How long does it take for beard oil to work?
Beard oil works immediately upon application. You will notice that your beard will be softer and shinier after application.
How does beard oil get rid of beard itch?
Beard oil nourishes the sebaceous gland, thus making up for the lack of sebum that could cause beard itch.
It also helps fight beard dandruff and flakes that may lead to itching.
Conclusion
Of the many beard grooming products that exist, beard oil is by far the most important.
Beard oil helps prevent common beard problems like beard dandruff, beard itch, acne and beard brittleness which could lead to damage.
At the same time beard oil makes your beard smell incredible all day and contributes to an overall healthy beard.
Anthony Giannotti is a senior writer and editor for Beardoholic and a licensed barber for more than 13 years. He owns 3 barbershops and has his own hair care product line that is sold in barbershops worldwide. Known for his impeccable technique and skills, Anthony is an expert in hair and beard care and he knows the best products and tools to get rid of all beard problems and have an amazing beard.