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What Is Beard Oil?

Marjorie McAtee
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Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 59,752
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Beard oil is a type of beard conditioner that is considered beneficial to growing and maintaining all types of beards. These oils generally contain natural ingredients, such as jojoba or sesame seed oil, which are considered easily absorbed by the skin and hair. They may also contain various nutrients considered helpful for maintaining the beard's healthful appearance, such as vitamin E. Essential oils may be added to the oil to give it a pleasant aroma. Rosemary, bay, cedar wood, and lime essential oils are popular fragrances for beard conditioning oils. Applying beard conditioner to the beard after washing is believed to moisturize the skin and hair, preventing facial dandruff and itching, and it's also believed to help control unmanageable beard hairs and soften the texture of the beard.

Natural oils such as jojoba and sesame seed oil may be the most popular main ingredients for beard oils. These oils are chemically similar in composition to the natural oils produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. As a result, the skin and hair may absorb these oils more easily than others. Beard hair, being generally more coarse than head hair, typically benefits most from the opportunity to absorb pure oils, rather than from the use of conditioners intended for head hair. The oils often have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to cut down on the irritation and itching that occurs with many beards.

Oils for the beard need not necessarily be scented, but most are. The scents used in most types of beard oil are typically those considered masculine in nature, such as coriander, lime, peppercorn, or sandalwood. Some types of beard oil are intended merely to add fragrance to the beard, and are largely worn as a type of cologne. Most types, however, will have some conditioning benefits for the beard hair, even if they are not specifically formulated as beard conditioners.

A well-groomed beard is generally considered more comfortable and more visually appealing than a poorly groomed one. Beards should generally be shampooed and dried carefully with each shower or bath. Most barbers recommend carefully massaging shampoo into the beard with the fingertips, all the way down to the skin, to make sure dirt, debris and perspiration are washed away. Careful towel-drying of the beard can prevent split ends and help maintain the beard's smooth appearance. Beard oil should generally be applied as a final step, to condition the beard and giving it a soft, luminous appearance.

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Marjorie McAtee
By Marjorie McAtee
Marjorie McAtee, a talented writer and editor with over 15 years of experience, brings her diverse background and education to everything she writes. With degrees in relevant fields, she crafts compelling content that informs, engages, and inspires readers across various platforms. Her ability to understand and connect with audiences makes her a skilled member of any content creation team.
Discussion Comments
By beardoilguy — On Jan 19, 2015

I started using beard oil when I began the journey to grow my beard out for an entire year. I don't know how I ever grew a beard without it. A good beard oil will help alleviate itching and dry skin while helping to hydrate the beard hair and the skin below. Once I was comfortable rubbing oil in my beard, I decided to make my own recipe to sell along side our other natural soaps and products. Now, I can use my own product and share it with the world!

By anon947546 — On Apr 26, 2014

What will happen if my dog ate a bottle of this oil?

By anon330464 — On Apr 16, 2013

@turquoise: I am using olive oil for the same reason as you noted. I found this here. I think is could be one of the best olive oils anywhere in the market. The seller is located in Bristol UK, but the products are manufactured in Croatia.

By anon325928 — On Mar 19, 2013

I'm almost completing my year of growing a beard, and as it grew bigger, I washed it less often. Now, I'm washing like once a week with shampoo and conditioner. Washing it too much is unnecessary, as the beard won't feel oily or dirty, and it will tangle the beard badly.

You can try many kinds of oil. You can also put oil while applying common conditioner to your beard, making it easy to spread.

Inexpensive and easy to find, for example, are olive oil, soy oil and sweet almond oil. In my opinion, soy oil is too thick, does not spread well. I'm trying sweet almond oil now, which is a lot thinner and easier to spread, with a weak and sweet smell. I'm applying it before the shower to rinse it a bit with just water. I've yet to try olive oil.

Patience is the key for a nice beard. They take time to grow. Of course, you may get some comments from everybody but your opinion is the one that matters.

And also, it's not like if you don't trim, you'll look bad and die. My beard is untrimmed and I love it. Keep it growing, everybody.

By literally45 — On Feb 20, 2013
I think all of the beard oils mentioned here work well. I also like emu oil and bayberry oil for my beard. But the method of applying the oils are important too.

I always warm up the oil a little bit before applying it to my beard. I like to massage it into the hairs to improve blood circulation. My beard is softer and has taken on a nice, even look since then.

By ddljohn — On Feb 19, 2013

@MikeMason-- You should try eucalyptus oil for your beard, it helps hair grow faster. You might get a few comments on the scent. My wife thinks it smells like VaporRub but doesn't mind it. If you're very conscious about scents, you can apply it on the weekends when you're hanging out at home.

I've heard good things about jojoba oil as well but I've never tried it personally.

The key to growing a beard is patience. Even if you use a ton of beard oil, your beard is not going to be long and full overnight. You have to wait it out.

By stoneMason — On Feb 19, 2013

@turkay1-- I have the same problem. Olive oil is supposed to be good for beards and I've tried it but it gave me acne. I also don't like the scent.

By anon311100 — On Dec 29, 2012

Tea tree olive and grape seed oils have eliminated coarse hair and acne by balancing my beard. It's 30 percent tea tree, 50 percent olive and 20 percent grapeseed oil. I'm of Celtic-Cherokee descent.

By candyquilt — On Aug 06, 2011

I don't think that I can put oil in my beard and walk around like that. It would disturb me, I would have to wash it off soon after. And wouldn't the oil smell bad after a while or cause breakouts? I do have an acne problem, I think beard oil would cause me to get pimples under my beard.

I have seen a beard oil at a men's store that is in between oil and perfume though. I wonder what that product is like. I like wearing perfume so maybe a perfume beard oil wouldn't be so bad. I wonder if it still smells of oil or just perfume?

Has anyone tried it, would you recommend it?

By turquoise — On Aug 05, 2011

I have to grow my beard for religious reasons, I'm not allow to cut it off and beard oil is essential so that I can keep it healthy and long.

I have tried several different oils but I think that olive oil is the best. It has a milder scent compared to some other oils like coconut.

But it's important to find real, unrefined olive oil. The way I check is to hold the bottle of oil up and look at it. If it looks very clear, then it is refined. If it looks a bit muddy or cloudy, than it is unrefined all natural and that's better.

I use just a little bit, maybe a drop or two and rub it in every couple of days. It helps the beard grow out thicker and I don't get those annoying bald spots that many others get either.

By bear78 — On Aug 04, 2011

My boyfriend was always complaining about his beard hairs being coarse and hurting and itching while growing out. I've always used sweet almond oil to clean my eye makeup and nourish my eyelashes. I told him to try using it on his beard to see if it would help at all.

He started applying it to his beard for at least half an hour before showering and he is so happy with it! Before his skin was kind of red and irritated from trimming his beard. All of that has gone away now and his beard looks healthier and shinier.

I don't know if anyone else has ever used sweet almond oil before as a beard oil but my boyfriend loves it.

Marjorie McAtee
Marjorie McAtee
Marjorie McAtee, a talented writer and editor with over 15 years of experience, brings her diverse background and education to everything she writes. With degrees in relevant fields, she crafts compelling content that informs, engages, and inspires readers across various platforms. Her ability to understand and connect with audiences makes her a skilled member of any content creation team.
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