So you are growing your beard out huh?
WELCOME, BROTHER! An awesome journey awaits you!!
One of the key factors to growing a glorious beard successfully is TBC – Tender Beard Care – and this is done through properly grooming your beard during the different stages of its growth.
Therefore, it is important to put together a beard grooming kit, with different essential grooming products, one of them being beard oil.
You have probably heard about the necessity for using beard oil when it comes to growing a beard, but what is this beard oil exactly?
In this guide we will be answering just that, we’ll delve into everything that has to do with beard oil to give you a better understanding and help in your beard growth journey.
So without further ado…
What is beard oil and what is it used for?
Beard oil is a live-in conditioner for men that is used to nourish and moisturize your beard as well as the skin underneath it.
Your skin produces a natural oil called sebum that keeps your beard hair follicles healthy, soft, smooth, and shiny.
When you wash your beard you not only remove dirt but the sebum is stripped away as well.
This leaves your beard without the natural oils necessary to protect it resulting in a dry, brittle beard that is susceptible to breaking.
Enter beard oil, it replicates the sebum and keeps your beard hydrated, strong, and healthy.
What really makes beard oil essential for your beard is its ingredients.
Beard oil ingredients
Beard oil is made up of a combination of various ingredients, primarily carrier oils, and essential oils.
Carrier oils are responsible for moisturizing, conditioning, and softening your beard and skin whilst essential oils leave your beard smelling good.
A lot of essential oils are also known to contain some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Some examples of beard oil ingredients include:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is widely used in a number of different applications including cosmetic products (skin and hair products) and food recipes.
This is because of its ability to improve the body’s immune system thus helping your body fight diseases. It is also used for hair treatment.
How does coconut oil help with beard growth?
- Moisturizes each strand of hair from the inside out and prevents internal moisture loss.
- Minimizes dandruff.
- Treats hair follicle damage and breakage caused by environmental factors such as UV light.
- It contains antifungal and antibacterial properties that help fight against skin infections and complications.
Jojoba Oil
This oil is extracted from the jojoba plant seed and is known for its durability. It is mostly used for skin care and aids in the treatment of dry skin, acne, dry lips, and various other skin irritations.
How does jojoba oil help with beard growth?
- It has properties similar to the natural oils the skin produces, therefore, giving the oil the ability to act as a natural moisturizer for the beard.
- Contains important vitamins like vitamins A, D, and E as well as minerals like copper, zinc, and chromium that nourish the beard.
- Its moisturizing effects, iodine, and zinc make it perfect for fighting the most common causes of dandruff which are fungi, dryness, and bacteria.
- It has antiseptic moisturizing effects that help with minimizing ingrown hairs.
Castor Oil
Made from pressed castor seeds, castor oil has been a long-time favorite when it comes to digestive health, skin treatment, and hair growth.
How does castor oil help with beard growth?
- It lubricates and moisturizes your skin and hair thus protecting them from dryness and damage. This is because it contains omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids.
- Contains linoleic acid which is known for preventing dandruff, flaky skin, dryness and irritation.
- It makes your beard hair shine and softens it thus preventing it from getting entangled.
- Helps prevent premature greying of your beard.
Argan oil
This oil is produced from the seeds of the argan tree fruit and is used in a wide range of cosmetic products as well as a number of cooking recipes.
It contains vitamin E amongst other properties that are beneficial for increased hair growth.
How does argan oil help with beard growth?
- Contains vitamin E and Omega 6 fatty acids which moisturize and nourish the beard and skin preventing beardruff.
- Helps in styling your beard hair and adds a healthy shine to it making it easier for the beard brush/comb to run through your hair follicles.
- Traps needed moisture in the surface layer of the skin under the beard which helps in preventing itchiness.
- There are fewer ingrown beard hairs thanks to its anti-inflammatory compounds that help soothe the hair under the skin.
- Offers protection against heat damage caused by beard straighteners, blow dryers, and flat irons.
Avocado oil
Avocado oil is cold pressed from fresh avocado and contains vitamins A, B, C, E, lecithin, protein, and potassium.
These are all nutrients that are important for healthy skin and for growing an amazing beard.
How does avocado oil help with beard growth?
- It enriches the beard with keratin which is a protein that helps maintain and strengthen beard hair as well as repairs damaged beard follicles.
- Nourishes the hair shaft from the inside out by penetrating instead of coating it. The high concentration of lipids in the oil fortifies the hair follicles minimizing follicle breakage.
- Its ability to help hair retain moisture reduces frizzy hair and split ends. The result is a beard free of tangles.
- The presence of vitamin E in the oil helps penetrate your beard follicle which results in a softer and silky smooth beard texture.
- Vitamin E in the oil also helps reduce hair follicle deterioration and improves beard hair development.
When should you start using beard oil?
The ideal time to start using beard oil is the moment you stop shaving and decide to grow your beard out.
Beard oil is not only good for your beard hair but works wonders on the skin underneath your beard as well.
It prepares your skin by nourishing and moisturizing it, which makes it less dry and itchy.
It also soothes the hair underneath the skin making it softer as it grows out resulting in fewer bumps caused by ingrown hairs.
How to use beard oil – Steps Explained
When applying beard oil, the recommended dosage is 2-3 drops, however, the length of your beard will determine how much you require. The longer the beard the more drops you might need.
The best time to apply beard oil is after you take a shower or bath which is usually in the morning hours.
This is because the heat generated by the warm water and steam opens up your pours and makes your skin more receptive to absorbing the oil.
Some people advise applying it in the morning and at night before bed so that the oil can work on your skin and beard while you sleep.
The drawback to applying it at night is the high chance of the oils straining your pillow and bed sheets.
Steps to applying beard oil
1. Clean your beard and skin
Wash your beard with warm water and beard shampoo to remove any dirt then dry it with a towel.
Don’t completely dry it, leave it a bit damp to allow quicker absorption of the oil into the skin and hair.
2. Pour the oil into your palms
Pour 2 – 3 drops on the palms of your hands and rub them together evenly apply it on your hands.
3. Run Oil through your beard
Run the inside of your hands through your beard starting on the sides of your face and working your way down to your neck then back up again at least two to three times.
Repeat this motion on your chin and underneath the chin using one or both hands.
Make sure to get your fingers through your beard hairs all the way through to your skin to moisturize the skin as well.
Don’t forget your mustache, use your thumb and forefinger to swipe in a downward motion.
4. Brush/Comb your beard
Comb the beard in a downward direction to evenly distribute the oil through your beard. Combing also helps style the beard and tame those wondering hairs.
6 Awesome benefits of using beard oil
Using good beard oil and applying it in the right way can yield a glorious beard. Here are some of the benefits associated with beard oil:
Promotes a strong and healthy beard
Beard oil is infused with micronutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids that strengthen your beard hair follicles and keep them healthy.
Additionally, it protects your beard from natural elements such as UV light, that could otherwise damage your beard and skin.
Softens your beard
Beard oil moisturizes and nourishes your beard hair thanks to the presence of components in it such as vitamin E.
These components help hair follicles absorb and retain the proper levels of moisture necessary for growth.
This makes the hair softer and prevents it from getting dry and brittle throughout the day.
Prevents beard itch and dandruff
Beard oil prepares your skin and softens the hair follicles that start growing out of your skin which reduces irritation of the skin.
It also moisturizes and hydrates your skin preventing it from drying out and flaking. Thus preventing itchiness and dandruff.
Protects and Moisturizes the skin underneath the beard
Good beard oil made of natural oils contains components that aid in keeping the skin healthy and reducing skin irritation caused by the harsh chemicals from soap and environmental elements.
It doesn’t clog pores or interfere with the production of sebum, therefore, aiding in the nourishment and cleansing of sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts.
Tames stray hairs and makes the beard look fuller
Beard oil softens the beard and adds shine to the hair which makes the out-of-place hairs easier to maintain and comb in place.
The nourished, moisturized, soft, and shiny beard hair that comes as a result of using beard oil makes the beard look lush and fuller.
Smells Good
A lot of beard oils smell very good with a fresh and clean natural fragrance. The fragrance is also long-lasting leaving you smelling good all day.
Does beard oil have any side effects?
Beard oil is primarily made of natural oils however, just because they are natural it doesn’t mean all is well, you might find that some oils don’t agree with you thus giving you an allergic reaction.
Additionally, not all beard oil products a formulated using only natural oils. This is usually the case with none reputable brands that sell cheap and untested products.
Their products have been known to include ingredients like synthetic oils at unsafe levels which could result in adverse side effects.
Typical beard oil side effects
1. Allergic reactions
Beard oil is made of a mixture of many different carrier and essential oils, some of these oils contain allergens, which can result in an allergic reaction.
Oils known to most likely cause allergic reactions include tea tree, coconut, lavender, nut, peppermint, and ylang-ylang in them.
Therefore, you should first test out the oil by applying a very small amount and monitoring the results to see if you see any common allergy symptoms.
For example; swelling of the face (tongue, lips, eyes), tight chest, red and itchy eyes, shortness of breath, hives, or coughs.
2. Increased sensitivity to sunlight
Cheap beard oils that haven’t gone through testing can contain essential oils that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
This increases the risk of sun damage to your skin by making it absorb more UV rays than it normally would.
3. Dry skin and dandruff
Some beard oil brands don’t mix their ingredients properly resulting in dry skin, dandruff, and poor beard development instead of a lush, healthy, and glorious beard.
Beard oils that contain canola oil, hemp seed oil, and sesame seed oil are the usual suspects.
This is because they tend to have high amounts of polyunsaturated fats which harden, go dry, and flake on the beard when exposed to oxygen, light, and heat.
This happens especially if the beard oil formulation is done incorrectly which leads to access to polyunsaturated fats without the balancing effects of less volatile oils to prevent the oil from going rancid.
Take Away
Beard oil is one of the essential products that you should most definitely have if you are serious about growing a beard.
You might also find this interesting: THE ULTIMATE BEARD GROWTH GUIDE IN 2023
It is a leave-in conditioner made of carrier and essential oils that mimic the effects that your natural body oil does on your beard.
Beard oil is important for healthy beard growth because it:
- Promotes a strong and healthy beard
- Softens your beard
- Prevents beard itch and dandruff
- Protects and Moisturizes the skin underneath the beard
- Tames stray hairs and makes the beard look fuller
- Smells Good
There are a lot of brands that sell beard oil however, it is vital to get beard oil from reputable brands that have tested their products in order to avoid the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight
- Dry skin and dandruff
So grab yourself some beard oil and start that glorious beard growth journey.
Image References
pexels.com
pixabay.com
