The Beginner's Guide To Beard Oil

Deciding to Use Beard Oils

Welcome to Beard Organics Beginners Guide to Beard Oil. Whether you are contemplating growing a beard or fully engaged in the beard growth cycle, beard oils can be a game-changer. Take a seat, and hone into the facts that this guide is about to drop as it relates to the powerful impact a beard oil can have on your skin and beard.

Beards and beard oils are not merely a trend. Men have been growing beards for centuries, and a lot like the natural hair movement, there is now an explosion of beard growers who want to know more and do better in rocking a flawless beard.

Of course, there are a lot of obstacles that you will encounter along this well-traveled path that are avoidable and unavoidable. Using beard oil can help to remove some of the barriers and, at a minimum, reduce the pains of you having to cope with them. Short beards and long beards alike can benefit from the regular use of beard oil.

If you still have your doubts about the significance of beard oil and what it means for your beard, put them aside, and let’s get down to business.

What is Beard Oil?

So, you are probably wondering what exactly is beard oil, what does beard oil do, and what is all of the hype surrounding its use by men in the beard community? Also, do you really need to use beard oil to grow a beard, and what are the benefits of applying it to your beard and skin?

Beard oils are a perfect blend of essential oils that contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide vital nutrients that enable you to achieve some fantastic results. These oils, in essence, work to help you in growing and maintaining a high-quality beard and help to get you over the hurdles that can sometimes block your path to attaining and sustaining the perfect.

You might be wondering if these essential oils are the same oils we commonly use for aromatherapy. The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that the essential oils in beard oil are diluted with carrier oils.

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are a common ingredient in beard oils. These oils are used to dilute essential oils and contain properties that help to carry them to the skin and your beard. Carrier oils are a derivative of plants, seeds, kernels, and nuts. Coconut oil, Olive oil, Almond oil and Grapeseed oil are all examples of common carrier oils.

These oils are safe and have a neutral scent, and you can safely apply these oils to the skin, and in this instance, beard. Carrier oils help to stabilize essential oil, and for those of you not so keen on too much scent, they help reduce that as well. Essential oils in their natural state can be volatile and irritating to the skin if not diluted with a carrier oil. Carrier oils are useful for reducing the concentration of essential oils without destroying vital properties.

The History of Beard Oils

Before we dive into all of the perks of using beard oils, we have to first look at where beard oil got its start. As we have already noted, beard oil has been around for centuries.

Essential oils commonly found in beard oil were used in varying cultures based in Asia, Rome, and Ancient Greece for various reasons. Tea tree oil, for example, was used to protect the skin from infections and aid in healing wounds and scarring. In Ancient Greece, the first shave was of great significance in a young man’s life, as it represented a chance to honor the God Apollo. Castor oil was a common source utilized to increase the rate and thickness at which facial hair grew so that these young men could honor their God.

The Romans favored was olive oil for its growth properties as well. Olive oil provided natural nourishment and helped to moisturize the facial hair.

During the late 1700s and 1800s, the British indulged in the use of Macassar Oil, a standard go-to for beard care. The problem with this oil is that it was heavy. It soaked anything it came into contact with, similar to the pains of jerry curl activator during the 1980s.

Check out this brief summary from BeardTube about How long Beard Oil Has Been Around

Fast-forward a few hundred years, and beard oils are much more user-friendly for you, your beard, and your favorite piece of furniture.

Why Should You Use Beard Oils?

There is a lot of hype these days about using beard oils as a part of your beard care regimen, so it is understandable if you are still questioning the real value of using beard oils. However, you should not doubt the potency of good beard oil and brand like Beard Organics. Beard oil helps to create an environment on your face that mimics the scalp in several ways.

Your face serves as the foundation for your beard. Much like your scalp, your skin serves as the foundation for the growth of hair on your head. Unlike your scalp, your face does not have a vast number of sebaceous glands that produce sebum. Yet, like the scalp, your skin is at risk for becoming dry, susceptible to skin irritation, and hair loss if you do not take the necessary steps to help it along.

Your skin produces a small amount of sebum oil that, in its natural state, cannot always keep up with the needs of your beard as it grows longer. As your sebum levels wane a bit, problems with beard itch and beardruff can start to emerge. Additionally, your beard becomes hard and wiry.

Beard oils have a way of filling in the gap where genetics cannot meet the requirements to assist you in growing a healthy, thick beard fast. This side effect creates an umbrella of advantages for using beard oils.

Let’s take a look at five positive side effects of using beard oils.

Beard Oil Softens Your Beard

Beard oils help to soften your beard, thanks to their conditioning properties. They infuse and help to seal in moisture, which is vital for reducing unwanted frizz and creating a nasty, wiry sensation for you and your significant other. If left unchecked, a wiry beard can give your partner a beard rash, and it can destroy your efforts in acquiring a healthy, thick beard.

Strengthens Your Beard

Another positive side effect of using beard oil is that thanks to its moisturizing properties, it also strengthens your beard, supporting beard elasticity and minimizing the chance of split ends or episodes of patchy beard. Beard elasticity means that those precious facial hairs are flexible and can withstand excessive manipulation.

The path to attaining a thick beard starts with strengthening your existing beard and decreasing any chance for a patchy beard. YouTube Vlogger Black Men’s Beard suggests using thicker oils like Jamaican Black Castor Oil, avocado oil, black seed oil, extra virgin oil, and coconut oil for beard growth as thick oils that you can use to give your beard a dense appearance and vibrancy.

Vibrancy

Whether you are just getting started with growing your beard or wearing a facial mane in full effect, you cannot deny the importance of shine. No guy wants a scruffy beard that looks dull and lifeless. Beard oils contain an incredible combination of vitamins and fatty acids that give beards impressive vibrancy with regular application.

Protects the Skin that Lies Beneath

A healthy beard needs a healthy base to produce positive results. Beard oils improve your skin's overall health, triggers collagen production, which in turn stimulates those beard-growing hair follicles. However, the route to a healthy beard is not without its detours when a good beard oil is not used. Itchy beard, beardruff, and inflammation are common problems that may emerge throughout the lifecycle of your beard.

Keeps Your Beard Clean and Smelling Good

Your partner will appreciate this next benefit. Beard oils are an affordable way to keep your beard clean, looking, and smelling good. Some beard oils contain cleansing essential oils like tea tree, peppermint, or eucalyptus oils, which act as natural cleansing agents.

Which Essential Oil and Carrier Oils are the Best for Beards?

Choosing a beard oil that contains both an essential oil or carrier oil that is best for your beard will significantly depend on the needs of your skin and beard. Each oil offers various benefits, and therefore pointing you in a single direction would not be the fair thing to do. However, it is not our intention to altogether leave you hanging on which oils are the best.

Beard Organics offers an arsenal of beard oils that feature a unique blend of the best essential oils for beards. When selecting a beard oil, you always want to consider your end goals. If you are on a mission to soften your beard, you might choose a beard oil that contains sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or cedarwood oil. Two beard oils by Beard Organics that can soften and strengthen your beard include Sweet Almond Beard Oil and Morning Wood Beard Oil.

If you are dealing with a dry beard, selecting a beard oil that contains a conditioning essential oil such as avocado, jojoba, or castor oil. An example of superior beard oil that may condition your beard is Beard Organics Coconut Lime Beard Oil. It contains a moisturizing mixture of castor oil, grapeseed oil, fractionated coconut oil, and avocado oil.

Carrier Oils and Essential Oils That Soften and Moisturize Your Beard

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil has a sweet, nutty aroma. It is rich in vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and oleic acid. Each of these vitamins and fatty acids contains the necessary properties to stimulate the production of skin cells and protects hair from free radicals that can destroy the structure of your hair. Sweet almond oil contains zinc, which also helps to treat scarring. This oil helps to keep inflammation to a minimum and reduces the occurrence of ingrown hairs.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

Fractionated Coconut oil is a common oil present in beard oils. This oil is a potent antimicrobial that helps block the growth of nasty bacteria that can contribute to skin irritation and inflammation. Fractionated coconut oil keeps your skin and beard moisturized and is exceptionally useful for combating beard itch.

Cedarwood Oil

Cedarwood oil is an essential oil that has an aroma that promotes relaxation. It contains natural properties that stimulate your hair follicles and boosts the rate at which your beard grows. Cedarwood oil is an antifungal agent that keeps bacteria away and is especially useful in protecting you from those nasty cuts that can emerge as you are trimming that tricky neckline area. It is an excellent oil for treating dry beards and dry skin.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil contains vitamin E and naturally penetrates those facial hairs, conditioning each strand, minimizing tangles and frizz. It is a thick oil that can increase your sebum production, which can moisturize your beard. Remember, when using beard oils that contain avocado oil, that a little bit of this gem goes a long way due to its viscosity.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is present in just about every hair care product on the shelf because of its conditioning and moisturizing properties. It is no wonder that beard oils also contain this ingredient. Jojoba oil is a favorite because it does not clog the pores or create painful acne beneath the surface of your beard.

Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil contains an abundance of antioxidants that help to hydrate the skin and beard and protects the structure of your facial hair. Grapeseed oil conditions the beard and can help to significantly repair damage.

A perfect example of beard oil that contains the ideal blend of carrier and essential oils is Beard Organics Signature Blend. It consists of jojoba oil, argan oil, shea olein, and Vitamin E. This blend provides a wealth of nutrients that not only enhance growth but improves the overall quality of your beard.

Remember, your ultimate goal should be to select beard oils that stimulate those beard growth follicles and sustains the health of your beard. It is for this reason that you want to be purposeful in your selection and use of beard oil with the perfect blend of essential oils, vitamins, and minerals.

How to Use Beard Oil

You have all of the facts related to using beard oil, but now we will take it up a notch and talk about how to actually apply it. As you can see, there are multiple factors to consider as it relates to your beard oil regimen. Beard texture, skin conditions, and growth are all fundamental considerations to evaluate.

The good news is no matter the path you take, it only takes a minute or less to get it done.

How Often Should You Apply Beard Oil

A common question many guys have is…“how often should I apply beard oil?” You should apply beard oil once or twice daily. Beard oil works best if you use it after you shower on a clean beard. A freshly washed beard tends to be more receptive to the benefits that beard oil can offer, and we know that beard oils help to seal in moisture. But wait…not so fast…Before you apply the oil, make sure that the beard is dry. The presence of water could prevent your beard from absorbing oil if it is wet.

To get started, add a few drops of oil to the palm of your hand. A dime to nickel-size amount should be adequate. Next, rub your hands together, spreading the oil over your palms and fingers. Massage the oil into your beard using a sweeping motion from top to bottom, following the direction of growth from root to tip. Next, brush your palms over the sides of the beard. Follow that movement with a massaging of your beard from the bottom with your palms. You will want to ensure that you are not only massaging the oil into your beard but also over your skin. Remember, your goal is to show a little bit of love to your skin and beard. Finally, do not forget to take care of your mustache. Using your fingertips, smooth the oil over your mustache.

Once you complete this process, you are ready to break out your beard brush or beard comb to help distribute the oil from root to tip.

The Style OG provides a brief overview of How and When to Apply Beard Oil.

Beard Brushes and Beard Oil

Beard brushes are not merely a tool to style your beard. Beard brushes are an excellent resource that aids you in distributing beard balms and beard oils. They also help to stimulate the production of your natural sebum oils, which not only moisturize your beard but skin as well.

Beard brushes are extremely useful in helping you to not only distribute those oils, but they also grant you the ability to take control of your beard texture.

YouTube Vlogger Black Men’s Beard talks about the importance of choosing a good beard brush to support your grooming efforts. Sure, when using a beard brush, your focus tends to rest on styling, conditioning, detangling and softening your beard, but beard brushes are a must-have tool for helping to distribute those beard oils. Boar bristle brushes are the way to go and generally will not leave your face feeling “some kind of way” the next day.

Beard Combs and Beard Oil

Beard combs are another tool at your disposal to help you distribute those beard oil to where you need it to go. They allow you to take control of your beard by ridding it of those tangles of doom and keeps ingrown hairs to a minimum.

Complementary Beard Care Products

Throughout this guide, we have examined a few beard care products that you should keep on hand with caring for your beard. Beard combs and beard brushes are an absolute requirement. However, your beard brush and comb are just a start.

Beard Shampoo

Beard oil will only get you so far in caring for your beard. Beard shampoos are another hot commodity that you should keep on hand. Beard shampoos not only cleanse your beard, but they also work to clean the skin beneath. Beard shampoos are gentle cleansers and far kinder to your skin that regular hair shampoo. They are strong enough, however, to loosen the dirt and debris your beard has accumulated throughout the day.

Beard shampoo, also known as beard washes, can help you get rid of beard itch, remedy skin irritation and yes, leave your beard smelling good. Beard shampoos also eliminate those nasty odors that can build up after a few days. Beard shampoos leave your beard smelling good, without the fear of perfumey scent.

Finally, beard shampoos restore manageability and offer yet another way to soften those facial hairs. Do not make the mistake of using regular hair shampoo on your beard. Hair shampoo caters to your scalp and requires a more aggressive solution than your beard.

How to Wash Your Beard Using Beard Shampoo

The process of washing your beard is relatively simple. You will want to dampen your beard with water, to get those pores open. You can apply a dime to a nickel-size amount of beard shampoo to your beard. The key is to use those fingers or even knuckles to get shampoo down to the root to ensure that you not only clean the beard but the skin beneath as well.

YouTube Vlogger Black Men’s Beard points out that it can be easy to make mistakes at the beginning of learning proper beard care. He points out that too much washing can dry your beard out if you are not careful.

Black Men’s Beard drops another golden nugget in his video 5 Beard Washing Mistakes, about when it is appropriate to use the double-lather technique. Guys, if you find that your beard has an excessive amount of product, you should take steps to use the double-lather approach in which you wash once, rinse it out, then lather again, and rinse it out. He warns against using double-lather for every wash as this can also lead toa dry beard.

Another tip to hang onto is using lukewarm water to wash and cold water to help seal moisture. Hot water can disrupt the structure of the hair and leave you feeling a bit puzzled by the sudden change.

Beard Conditioner

Once you rinse that beard shampoo from those facial hairs, a beard conditioner should not be too far behind in your beard cleansing regimen. If you are experiencing dryness, itchiness, or beard dandruff, using a beard conditioner can help you treat these episodes.

Beard conditioners also contain an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help you take control of your beard.

Beard conditioners are an excellent supplement for your beard oils, but if you are not a fan of using too much beard oil or beard balms, a beard conditioner may be the way to go to meet your needs.

How to Use Beard Conditioners

After cleansing your beard with your favorite beard bar or beard shampoo, its time to apply the beard conditioner.

Take a nickel-size drop of beard conditioner and rub it over your palms and fingers for even distribution. Next, massage your beard conditioner through the beard, taking the time to also apply it to the skin beneath.

You should leave the beard conditioner in place for three minutes so that your face and beard have time to absorb those vital nutrients. Next, rinse your beard thoroughly.

Beard Balm

Beard balm contains carrier and essential oils that make it just as effective as beard oils. They also contain beeswax and shea butter. Beard balms help treat a dry beard and is perhaps most useful in dry or cold climates. If you live in humid or warm weather, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of using beard oil and balm (or perhaps, beard oil and butter) as this can feel as though it is weighing your beard down.

Beard Vitamins

Eating a rich and healthy diet comprised of fruits and vegetables will go a long way to get you on the path to growing a thick, healthy beard. Fruits and vegetables are packed with natural vitamins and minerals that we know not only improves the quality of facial hairs sprouting on your face, but they enhance blood flow to the region.

Believe it or not, there is a class of fruits and vegetables that are particularly beneficial for growing a beard that you can incorporate into your everyday activities. Not a fan of fruits or vegetables? You take small steps to add them in as snacks. Consider introducing a new fruit or vegetable into your diet every week. You can pick a day like Monday or Wednesday to make it happen.

Your beard depends on you having adequate blood flow to grow a healthy beard. Without proper blood flow, your beard’s growth cycle can easily be disrupted, and it can manifest on your face in the form of patchy hair loss.

Another complementary beard care product to add to your arsenal is beard vitamins. If your diet lacks the necessary nutrients, you can add Beard Organics Growth Support Vitamins to your daily regimen.

Beard Trimmers

Everyone gets so caught up in purchasing beard oils, shampoo, brushes, and combs that they sometimes forget that at some point in time, they will have to trim their beard. If you are just getting started, you likely will not need to trim or cut your beard for one to two months. However, when the time comes, you will want to have a beard trimmer or shears handy to begin the process of shaping your beard.

The beard community suggests that for close cuts, you will want to use a beard trimmer. If you are more inclined to control the growth in a taper approach, you should use shears.

In closing, hopefully, this guide has set you on the right path to incorporating beard oil into your beard care regimen. Your choice of beard oil and regimen may look different from another guy. Remember to cater to the needs of your beard. Establish your beard oil regimen, pay attention to the results, and calibrate as necessary for the best results.