Since beards have recently become more of a fashion statement for men, there has been a rise in products designed to keep your beard looking lush and glossy. One of them is beard oil, a relatively new grooming product to hit the market. 

This unique substance works as both a beard shaper and moisturizer. It is designed to nourish your beard hair and the hair follicles, leaving you with a mane that is shiny, healthy, and strong. 

But, what many men want to know is, does beard oil actually work? Does it really do what it claims to do? In this article, we explore beard oil from all angles to determine whether it really does work. So, let’s dive in!

Beard oil is a beard care product designed to moisturize and hydrate your beard and hair follicles. Many of these oils contain ingredients that bring additional nutrients to help nourish your facial hair and follicles to stimulate growth and ensure that your hair grows strong. As a moisturizer, beard oil also helps prevent dryness of the hair and skin.

This oil is not just a beard conditioner; it also works as a styling aid. You can use beard oil to smooth down fly-away hairs and give shape to your beard. 

Because it is quick and easy to use, you can add it to your morning routine and not have to worry about spending too much time grooming your facial hair.

What Benefits Does Beard Growth Oil Offer?

The benefits of beard oil are innumerable, making it ideal for any man who takes his beard care seriously. While it may seem like just another fad product, beard oil provides a lot more for your beard than you may think. Here are just a few of the benefits it offers:

Eliminates Beardruff

Beard dandruff is common for most men. You may find your beard is full of flakes of skin that leave your beard looking less than perfect. Because the skin under your beard can sometimes become dry, it may begin to peel and flake off, landing in your facial hair and sometimes on your clothing. 

Beard oil is a great way to eliminate this as it moisturizes the skin beneath your beard, keeping it soft, supple, and flake-free. 

Alleviates Itchiness

When you grow a beard, itchiness is commonplace. Beard it and dry skin both contribute to that continual feeling that leaves you wanting to scratch at your face. Beard oil moisturizes the skin, preventing the dryness that causes this itch.

Softens Your Facial Hair

Hair that is dry and brittle is prone to breakage, but it is also wirey and hard. Beard oil seeps into the hair shaft, nourishing each strand, softening the hairs. This is particularly useful if you live in cold or dry climates where your hair is more prone to drying out.

Makes Your Facial Hair More Manageable

Part of growing a beard means brushing or combing it. You may find at times, this can be challenging, especially if your beard is longer or tangles quickly. Beard oil detangles hair and makes it easier to slide a brush or comb through your facial hair.

It also allows you to shape your beard more easily. Although if you want a moisturizer that will enable you to style your facial hair, a beard balm is a better choice.

How Does Beard Oil Work?

Beard oil is formulated to mimic the natural oils of the skin. When applied to your facial hair, the oil soaks into the strands, hair follicles, and even your skin, where it then hydrates these areas. 

You should apply beard oil at least twice a day, three times a week, especially after washing your beard.

It is also important to note that some beard oils are sold as beard growth oils, this does not mean they will make your facial hair grow at a faster rate. There is no scientific proof that beard oil will cause your beard to grow faster unless it contains added elements like Minoxidil. 

What beard oil does is nourish the skin and hair follicles, promoting the growth of thicker, stronger hair.

What Does Beard Oil Do?

Beard oil is primarily a conditioner for your beard and the skin beneath it. When used frequently, beard oil keeps your skin moisturized, preventing it from becoming dry and flaky. 

It also alleviates beard itch. If you battle with this, especially when you first start growing out your beard, applying a little beard oil will help soothe the irritation and get you through this uncomfortable patch.

How this works is the oil adds moisture to your sebaceous glands. These glands produce the oil that nourishes your skin and prevents it from drying out. When you have dry skin, these glands over-produce oil to eliminate the dryness, resulting in clogged pores and breakouts. By supplying moisture to these glands, you regulate their sebum production and keep your skin free from itching, redness, and pimples. 

The moisturizer also hydrates your hair, eliminating split ends and preventing breakage, so your beard stays looking in peak form at all times. Beard oil helps prevent hair loss too. When your pores are blocked or your hair becomes too dry, it tends to fall out at the root or from breakage. By treating both your skin and hair with a hydrating oil, you prevent this from happening.

High-quality beard oil is also often lightly scented, which adds a soft fragrance to your beard. This is a great way to ensure your beard smells good and looks healthy. If you’re someone who suffers from sensitive skin, and you would rather stay away from fragranced products, you can find unscented options too.

Ingredients to Look for In The Best Beard Oils

Your beard oil forms part of your skincare routine, which is why it is essential that you first look closely at the ingredients used to formulate the oil. Asking yourself what is best to put in your beard will help prevent you from lashing on products packed with harsh chemicals that often cause more damage than good. 

Some beard oils contain chemical components and preservatives such as parabens and phthalates that have carcinogenic properties and that dry out your skin. 

Sticking to beard oils made using natural ingredients is kinder to your skin and gentler. These products ensure that you end up with a healthy, nourished beard and skin. 

Let’s take a look at some of the better choices when it comes to beard oil ingredients:

Carrier Oils

The base of beard oil is made using a blend of carrier oils. These are rich in moisture and also often offer additional elements that promote a healthy beard. Some of the carrier oils you want to have in your beard oil include:

Jojoba Oil

This oil is extracted from the Jojoba plant and is rich in moisture. It has a high vitamin value and is packed with Vitamin E, a supplement that is a natural antioxidant that protects your hair and skin.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is also a botanical extract that provides excellent hydration to your skin and hair. It is also rich in Vitamin E and is known to soften hair and reduce beard itch. Better still, it is one of the few oils that does not leave you feeling greasy or slick. 

Almond Oil 

If you have a longer beard, almond oil is an excellent carrier to have in your beard oil formula. It has qualities that soften and detangle hair with ease, and it works wonders for preventing split ends and breakage. 

Sweet almond oil is also known for stimulating hair growth, so if you are looking for a little extra help and want to see your beard grow long and strong, this oil is a must. 

Grapeseed Oil

This ingredient is found in high-end beard oils. It is a natural antioxidant that helps fight against sun damage and free radicals. It also helps bind moisture to your skin and hair, preventing it from drying out quickly. Grapeseed oil is also high in Linoleic Acid, which helps defend your skin against acne.

Castor Oil

If you have dandruff in your beard or suffer from beard itch, then buy a beard oil that has castor oil in it. This carrier oil has properties that eliminate itching and dryness, and it soaks into your skin and hair faster than most other oils, getting to work more quickly to soothe your irritated skin.

If you also want to improve your hair growth, then choose one from our list of the best castor oil for hair growth.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another excellent carrier oil that offers a selection of benefits. It soothes dry, irritated skin and helps to eliminate dandruff. This oil is also an excellent moisturizer and locks in hydration, keeping your hair and skin soft and supple for longer. Coconut oil is also ideal for preventing breakage and split ends, leaving you with beard hair that looks and feels healthy.

Essential Oils

Beard oils also often feature essential oils. These are included for two reasons. 

Firstly, they offer additional nutritional value, and each provides its own unique offering; for example, some have antibacterial qualities, while others help keep pores unclogged. 

Secondly, they add a natural fragrance to the beard oil, leaving you and your facial hair smelling great. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the essential oils you can expect to find in your beard oil:

Tea Tree Oil

If you battle with oily skin that is prone to breakouts, then beard oil with a tea tree is a good choice. It prevents the clogging of pores and excessive oil production. Along with that, it works well as an antibacterial treatment and helps to reduce redness and itching. 

Sandalwood

Sandalwood offers excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is ideal for men who battle beard itch or redness and ingrown hairs. 

If you enjoy woodsy scents, then sandalwood is a great choice too. 

Cedarwood

Cedarwood works as an astringent, making it ideal for men with skin prone to breakouts and acne. In addition, it has antibacterial qualities that fight off infection and keep your beard and skin healthy. 

Cedarwood also works well as an insect-repellant, making it a good choice for men who enjoy the outdoors.

Peppermint

Peppermint oil is known to promote facial hair growth and is a good choice if you want to keep a healthy beard. It helps stimulate the production of new hair, and it leaves you smelling fresh.

Eucalyptus

Aside from a uniquely fresh fragrance, Eucalyptus brings various other qualities to the table. It works well as an antifungal and antibacterial treatment, and it offers anti-inflammatory properties too.

When it comes to beard grooming, you want to get the most out of your routine to ensure you don’t just have a good beard but a great one. 

One of the best ways to do this is by applying beard oil after you wash your beard. It supplements the moisture provided by your skin and will keep your beard soft. You should aim to wash your beard no more than three times weekly to prevent removing all the natural oils from your skin and drying it out. 

Once you have washed your beard with a special non-drying beard wash and warm water, pat your hair and face down with a clean towel. When the hair is dry, apply a few drops of beard oil to your fingertips and run the oil through your facial hair. Start by applying the oil to the areas where the hair meets your skin, working the oil down to the tips of your beard.

Remember, a little goes a long way, and you don’t want to overdo it and end up with a limp, greasy beard. Using three to four drops at a time should suffice. If you wish, you can also comb or brush the oil through your beard. 

Beard oil is an excellent way to improve your overall beard health, and because it has no side effects, it is safe to use on all skin types. You can find a beard oil made from natural ingredients at a health store or even online on sites like Amazon.

While a product that has arrived quickly on the market, beard oil definitely has its merits and offers a host of benefits. It is the ideal way to keep your facial hair and skin nourished and healthy, which promotes beard growth and stronger strands of hair. 

If you are looking for the perfect way to maintain your beard while keeping it hydrated, soft, and free from dandruff, beard oil is certainly worth a try.