Why Should I Use Beard Oil?
Facial hair differs drastically from the hair on one's dome. The products that care for each are the same way. With beards being so much coarser than the mop on top, an extra level of care is necessary to keep facial foliage happy, soft and well-nourished. Hence, the creation of beard washes,beard conditioners and specifically beard oils.
Using Beard Oil is the best way to improve the feel and appearance of beards while keeping them itch, flake and split-end free. To better understand why you should be using beard oil, check out the breakdown below which covers what they are, what they do and how to apply them.
The main purpose for using beard oil is to help moisturize and nourish the skin under the beard while simultaneously improving the look, feel and health of the beard itself. Generally, Beard Oils are broken down into two main ingredient groups, carrier oils and essential oils.
Carrier Oils:
Carrier oils are all-natural oils derived from seeds and nuts that usually make up a large majority of the product. These oils deliver the main benefits (moisture, softness & nutrients) to beards and the most common examples include Jojoba, Sunflower, Argan & Grapeseed oils. Any of these oils can be used standalone as beard oil.
Essential Oils:
Essential Oils make up the last bit of most beard oils and are highly potent ingredients with added benefits to carrier oils. Some added benefits include antiseptic properties to fight off flaky skin and potential acne hiding beneath the chin-curtain. Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lavendar & Sandalwood oils are essential oils and are too strong to use in a beard standalone -- so they need carrier oils to dilute them.
Ideally, you can apply Beard Oil as often as you like. Typically, they should only be used once per day, however, climate can be a factor. If you're in an extremely dry area, you may need to apply twice daily. Alternatively, in a very humid climate, you may only need to apply every couple days.
The amount of beard oil applied depends on how much ‘beard-estate’ one has. The longer the beard is the more product you’ll need to use to penetrate down to the follicles. Reference the image and chart for an explanation of how to treat stubble, budding growth, mid-range and longer beards.
BEARD LENGTH AND DROPS TO USE
Stubble: 1 Drop
Budding Growth: 1-2 Drops
Mid-Range: 3-5 Drops
Long: 5+ Drops
A best practice is to apply beard oil after a hot shower while the pores are still open and the face is extra clean. Start by dispensing a few drops into palms (reference image above for amount) and working through hands vigorously. This will warm the beard oil and ensure an even distribution. Then, work the beard oil in from root to tip making sure that the oil penetrates down to the skin. This should take at least 30 seconds, but for gents with serious growth, can take a bit longer.
You’ll want to consider picking up a quality beard comb or beard brush like the Grooming Lounge Beard and Mustache Comb or the BlueBeards Beard Brush. These tools help distribute beard oil throughout facial hair after working it in with your hands.
Now that you’ve done some research, it’s time to start growing that beard again but this time, with beard oil. There are a ton of different beard oils out there and it may take some time to find the right one.
Some things to consider are ingredients, scent and consistency. If looking for all-natural beard oil, try out the Kiehl's Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil. You’ll want to try the Proraso Beard Oil if you have a mega beard because it is formulated for thicker beards. As for scent, poke around our Beards Category and check out the descriptions on any of the beard oils for more information.
Dandruff: Dandruff Shampoos are formulated to help prevent the itching and flaking associated with dandruff. Before using, it is important to know dandruff is the issue, rather than simply a dry scalp.
