The Complete Beard Oil Guide
Sep 29, 2020
No beard or beard grooming routine is complete without a beard oil. Period.
But if you are new to growing or keeping a beard and have just started your journey, you must be wondering: What exactly is the beard oil and why does it have such hype in the men’s grooming market?
Let’s bust all myths and dive into all that a beard oil is, and what it presents!
The Bearded Journey
For a long time, beards had been considered untidy, unprofessional and in some cases even intimidating.
Yet, as times changed and celebrities began to don the perfectly groomed beard, it seems to have been just the beginning.
Today, beards are one of the best ways for a man to improve his outlook – and thus beard oils came into the limelight.
What is a Beard Oil?
A beard oil basically mimics the natural oil that is produced by your skin, presenting a similar purpose.
As the oil produced by your sebum glands moisturizes your skin and protects it from drying out, a beard oil does the same.
They have been formulated with a number of different oils but primarily a beard oil has 2 main structural elements to it:
- The carrier oil; which is also the base oil and forms the bulk of the product. This can be a single oil or a blend of different one for example grapeseed oil, castor oil, almond oil, argan oil etc.
- The essential oils; they not only have immense benefits but are also add a nice aroma to the beard oil. Common examples are tea tree oil, jasmine essential oil etc.
Benefits of Beard Oils
There are numerous benefits of beard oils.
They are used primarily to groom your beard and to keep it looking smooth, silky, conditioned and healthy.
- All Things Natural
The best beard oil will be the one that compliments the natural chemistry of your beard and does not go against it.
This can be achieved by using ingredients that are all natural. Beards oils can also be leveled up by adding ingredients that nourish your hair such as Vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, avocado oil etc.
- Battle Against Dryness & Dandruff
A lot of men suffer from dandruff and dryness in their beards. This happens when you hair follicles dry out and begin to flake; especially in hot, windy climates. This is more commonly known as beard ruff.
A beard oil has the ability to penetrate deep into the hair follicles and condition from within thereby reducing dryness and dandruff.
- Going Frizz-Free!
Beard oils also help in reducing the frizz and static in your beard and add a healthy shine to it. Opt for a beard oil that is light-weight and non-sticky especially if you live in a place with primarily hot and humid climate.
A light-weight beard oil will absorb better, and not weigh down our beard or make it sticky.
- Keep Growing
A beard oil will also ensure that your beard keeps growing. A lack of nutrition can stunt the growth of your beard and weaken the hair shaft leading to a lot of breakage.
With a beard oil however, your hair follicle and hair shaft are constantly conditioned and nourished so there is less to no breakage and split ends.
Note that you do need to learn the proper way to oil beard.
Don’t have any idea about the ‘right’ way to oil beard? Here’s a complete guide.
Beard oil versus Beard Growth oil
With beards making a huge comeback, there has been an increase in the types of beard oils or beard products in the market.
Growth oils are a type of beard oils that have been formulated with ingredients to promote active growth of facial hair.
Whereas a regular beard oil will nourish and protect an existing beard, a growth oil will help promote active growth and can be used by people struggling to grow their beards.
If you are starting to grow your beard or you know of someone who are starting their beard growth journey, you can definitely start by using a growth oil.
Once the desired length and fullness is achieved, the transition to a beard oil can be made to maintain it and keep it looking healthy.
It is therefore important to remember the difference. A beard oil will help maintain growth and a growth oil will help induce it.
When to Start Using a Beard Oil?
The answer to this is fairly simple.
Start using the beard oil when your beard starts to itch. Simply put, when you start growing out a beard, the natural sebum oil that is produced by your glands, falls a bit short.
This is when the itching happens. It’s your skin’s way of telling you that you need to start moisturizing or conditioning.
The beard oil will soften the hair all the while conditioning it to add moisture hence reducing the itch.
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong time to start using a beard oil. However the sooner you start the better!
How to Apply Beard Oil:
#Step 1 – Begin at the right time
The best time to apply your beard oil is straight after you have showered and conditioned your beard because at this time your beard is the softest and most receptive to what you apply to it.
As an added tip: Warm water or steam may also help to open up the pores so that the whatever you apply after, gets absorbed better.
Just don’t use hot water as that will make it frizzy and more prone to damage
#Step 2 – Dry it off!
Towel-dry your beard with a simple patting motion or blow dry it, making sure to get all of your beard dry.
The oil will not absorb if the beard is wet instead it will just lay on top of your hair shaft, unable to penetrate.
#Step 3 – Application
Place a few drops of beard oil into your palm and rub your hands together to warm up the products, making sure you have enough oil to cover your beard.
Now start by applying the oil from bottom of your beard, making your way up. Make sure you apply the product evenly throughout.
A wooden comb is perfect for this since it will help distribute the product and not tug at your beard causing damage.
Here’s a very cool video demonstration on how to apply a beard oil.
Wondering how much beard oil should you use? It entirely depends on the length of your beard.
(Courtesy: thegroomedmanco)
More Products/tools for Beard Grooming
A few products that can be used along with a beard oil are:
- Beard comb
A beard comb especially a wooden comb, will help distribute the oil better and evenly.
Wooden combs are also gentler; meaning they will not pull or tug at your hair that usually leads to split ends and breakage.
- Beard brush
A beard brush is your best friend when dealing with curly beards.
The dense bristles polish the hair especially when used with a beard oil. It will also help untangle, add shine and straighten the curls.
Beard brushes also serve as great beard massagers. Just start brushing and you would never want to stop!
- Beard Shampoo and Beard balm
Beard shampoo is best used before applying a beard oil. Why, you ask?
A beard shampoo will clear up clogged pores, while gently cleansing your skin and beard to remove any build up.
This leaves you with a very clean canvas to apply the beard oil to.
The beard balm on the other hand is perfect for styling and is used best with a beard oil to make up for the lack of hold. The balm conditions the beard and seals in moisture, preparing your beard for some great styling!
The Best Beard Oil
When looking for a best beard oil Pakistan, search for products that contain non-comedogenic ingredients.
Non-comedogenic ingredients are the ones that do not clog your pores; unclogged pores mean you will not suffer from acne or any breakouts.
In fact, a good quality beard oil will balance out the oils in your skin. Your skin tends to over produce oils if it feels like it’s drying out
Contrary to popular belief; to balance out oily skin, condition it. A beard oil will do this best since it mimics the natural oils that your skin already produces.
There are some ingredients that you can look for when searching for a good quality beard oil:
- Jojoba oil
- Argan oil
- Almond Oil
- Coconut oil
- Castor oil
The best quality oils are ones sourced naturally such as the Jamaican black castor oil.
A simple test you can do to determine a fine quality oil is to take a few drops and rub it in your hands. If it absorbs quickly and does not leave a sticky residue you have found a good one!
As always, remember to read the ingredients on the back so you know if you are allergic to something, you can avoid using it.
Another key factor when choosing the right beard oil for yourself is the scent. Carrier oils which make up for 90% of the beard oil, lack a scent. Beard oils are therefore augmented with essential oils to impart a scent. You can chose from a variety of different notes such as bergamot, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint etc.
Looking for beard oil best?
Click here to find out the best beard oil Pakistan has to offer!
To Beard Oil or Not to Beard Oil?
In conclusion, a beard oil will be the best investment that you make for your facial hair.
You can go a step further and get the best beard grooming kits, consisting of the best beard oil Pakistan, beard shampoo, beard balm, and even tools such as the beard brush, beard comb and trimming scissors. Isn’t that just great?
So, what are you waiting for?
Invest in beard care and become the best version of yourself.
