Benefits of Using Beard Oil (Easy Homemade Recipe)

In this post, we will discuss the benefits of using beard oil as well as an easy homemade recipe that works really well! As you know, our homestead is all about waste reduction, whole foods, real ingredients, optimizing health and being creative with our resources. Beard oil is a staple in our house. When my husband started experiencing dry skin and beard itch, I knew he needed to upgrade his beard care regimen. That’s when I started making beard oil and we saw a drastic difference in his skin!  

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What is Beard Oil?

Beard oil is a blend of carrier oils and essential oils designed to hydrate, nourish, and protect both your beard and the skin beneath it. These oils work in harmony to address common issues such as dryness, itchiness, and irritation. 

The Role of Skin Health in Facial Hair

It’s important to understand the pivotal role that healthy skin plays in the appearance and condition of your facial hair. The skin beneath your beard, often neglected, serves as the foundation for healthy beard growth. When the skin is dry, irritated, or inflamed, it can hinder the growth of your beard leading to discomfort and breakage.

What Kind of Oils are Best for Beard Health?

A good beard oil consists of two types of oil, carrier and essential. The carrier makes the majority of the beard oil recipe while the essential oils, which are much more potent, are added by the droplets for aroma and added skin benefit.

Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are primarily used to dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin. They help to “carry” the essential oils onto the skin, ensuring proper dispersion and reducing the risk of skin irritation.

They are derived from the fatty portions of plants, such as seeds, nuts, or kernels. You can make many of these at home, but they are also available for purchase at most health food stores or even Amazon. 

Carrier oils are composed of fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that provide nourishment and hydration to the skin. They are typically odorless or have a mild scent.

They are non-volatile and have larger molecules, so they do not evaporate quickly, are absorbed slowly into the skin and create a protective barrier that locks in moisture.

One caution is that some of these carrier oils have a higher comedogenic rating than others. What this means is the higher the rating, the more likely the oil is to clog pores, which could lead to blemishes.

Here is a list of various carrier oils and their comedogenic rating for your reference.

Examples of Carrier Oils

Argan Oil

Argan oil hydrates both the beard and the skin beneath, reducing dryness and itchiness. It is packed with essential nutrients, including vitamin E, antioxidants, fatty acids (such as omega-6 and omega-9), and squalene. These nutrients nourish the hair follicles and skin, promoting overall hair health and vitality.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, helping to combat microbial infections and prevent beard dandruff (beardruff). By keeping the skin beneath the beard healthy and free from pathogens, coconut oil contributes to overall beard health and helps prevent infections.

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is light and easily absorbed by the skin and hair, making it an excellent moisturizer for both the beard and the skin underneath. It hydrates without leaving a greasy residue, making it suitable for all beard types, including those with oily skin. Sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins A, E, and B, as well as essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-9. These nutrients nourish the beard follicles and promote healthy beard growth, while also providing antioxidant protection against environmental damage.

Olive Oil

You probably already have olive oil ion your kitchen, and yes, it’s the exact same stuff. Known for its antioxidant properties, olive oil protects the skin from free radicals and promotes cell regeneration, fostering a healthy beard growth cycle. Olive oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe irritation and redness associated with beard growth. It calms the skin, reduces inflammation, and alleviates discomfort.

Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores or cause acne breakouts. This makes it an ideal choice for those with acne-prone skin or anyone concerned about pore congestion. Grapeseed oil is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid, which help to strengthen the hair follicles and promote healthy beard growth. Regular use of grapeseed oil can reduce breakage and split ends, resulting in stronger, more resilient beard hair.

Castor Oil

Packed with nutrients and fatty acids, castor oil strengthens the beard follicles, reducing hair loss and promoting thicker, fuller growth. One of the most well-known benefits of castor oil is its ability to stimulate hair growth. It contains ricinoleic acid, which has been shown to improve blood circulation to the hair follicles, promoting hair growth and increasing beard thickness and density over time.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and vitamins E, A, and D, making it an excellent natural moisturizer for both the beard hair and the underlying skin. It penetrates deeply into the hair follicles, providing intense hydration and helping to combat dryness and brittleness promoting a softer, more supple beard.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil closely resembles the natural oils produced by the skin (sebum). This makes it an excellent moisturizer for both beard hair and skin. It helps to balance oil production, preventing dryness without leaving a greasy residue, thus promoting healthy beard growth.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that contain the volatile aromatic compounds of the plant. They are used for their therapeutic properties, including aromatherapy, skin benefits, and emotional well-being.

Essential oils are extracted from various parts of plants, including flowers, leaves, stems, bark, and roots, through methods such as steam distillation or cold pressing.

They have distinctive aromas and therapeutic properties and are highly concentrated, so should be used sparingly.

Essential oils evaporate quickly, releasing their aroma into the air. When applied to the skin, they are absorbed rapidly and can penetrate deep into the skin layers, where they exert their therapeutic effects.

Examples of Essential Oils for Beard Health

Tea Tree Oil

Known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil helps to prevent bacterial and fungal infections on the skin beneath the beard. It also soothes irritation and reduces redness, making it beneficial for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is known for its calming and soothing effects, making it ideal for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. When applied to the beard, it can help to alleviate itchiness and discomfort, while also promoting a sense of well-being.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has a refreshing and potent scent and provides a cooling sensation when applied to the skin. It can help to stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles, promoting healthy beard growth and improving overall beard density. It’s a great scent to re-energize and awaken the brain.

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil is known for its stimulating properties, which can help to improve circulation to the scalp and promote hair growth. When applied to the beard, it can help to strengthen the hair follicles and reduce hair loss, resulting in a fuller, more robust beard.

Cedarwood Oil

Cedarwood oil has a warm, woodsy aroma and is known for its calming and grounding effects. It can help to balance oil production in the skin, making it beneficial for those with oily or acne-prone skin. Additionally, cedarwood oil can help to promote hair growth and improve beard thickness.

Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood oil has a rich, woody aroma and is valued for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help to hydrate the skin and beard, reducing dryness and flakiness. Sandalwood oil also has a soothing effect on the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or irritated skin.

Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil has been used for centuries for its healing and rejuvenating properties. It can help to nourish the skin and promote cell regeneration, leading to healthier, more resilient beard hair. Frankincense oil also has a grounding aroma that can promote a sense of calm and relaxation.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has a fresh, invigorating scent and is known for its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It can help to cleanse and purify the skin beneath the beard, reducing the risk of infections and promoting overall beard health.

When using essential oils for beard health, it’s essential to dilute them properly with a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation. Additionally, perform a patch test before using any new essential oil to ensure that you don’t have an allergic reaction. By incorporating these essential oils into your beard care routine, you can promote healthier, more nourished facial hair and skin.

Beard Oil Benefits

As you have read in the previous section, both carrier and essential oils are fantastic for your skin and particularly for beard health. Here are some of the overall benefits you can expect to see by incorporating beard oil in your daily routine:

Hydration and Moisture

Beard oil provides essential hydration to both your beard and the skin underneath, preventing dryness and maintaining optimal moisture levels. This helps to alleviate itchiness and discomfort, promoting a healthier, more comfortable beard-growing experience.

Nourishment and Conditioning

The nourishing properties of beard oil penetrate deep into the hair follicles, promoting stronger, more resilient facial hair. By replenishing lost nutrients and vitamins, beard oil helps to combat brittleness and breakage, resulting in a softer, more manageable beard.

Skin Protection

Beard oil forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, shielding it from environmental aggressors such as harsh weather conditions, pollution, and UV radiation. This helps to prevent damage and inflammation, preserving the health and vitality of both your skin and your beard.

Improved Appearance

Regular use of beard oil enhances the overall appearance of your facial hair, imparting a healthy sheen and a polished, well-groomed look. By taming flyaways and reducing frizz, beard oil helps to create a more refined and aesthetically pleasing beard.

Stimulated Growth

By stimulating blood circulation and promoting nutrient absorption, beard oil can help to accelerate the growth of your facial hair. This results in a fuller, thicker beard with improved density and coverage.

Enhances Manageability

Regular use of beard oil softens the beard, making it more manageable and easier to groom and style.

Prevents Beardruff

Beard oil combats beardruff, or beard dandruff, by moisturizing the skin and preventing flakiness and dry patches.

Reduces Itchiness and Irritation

The nourishing properties of beard oil soothe the skin, alleviating itchiness and irritation commonly associated with beard growth.

Promotes Healthy Beard Growth

By nourishing the hair follicles and stimulating blood circulation, beard oil fosters healthy, robust beard growth.

Beard Oil vs. Beard Balm

While beard oil and beard balm serve similar purposes, they differ in texture and function. Beard oil is lighter and ideal for moisturizing and conditioning the beard and skin, while beard balm provides additional hold and styling benefits, making it suitable for shaping and taming unruly beards, particularly those with longer beards. 

Best Beard Routine

Incorporating beard oil into your daily grooming routine is simple. 

1. Cleanse: The best time to apply beard oil is after cleansing the face. Start by washing your beard with a gentle beard with warm water and a washcloth to remove dirt and impurities. You can use soap, but be sure it’s gentle, mild, and natural (no artificial or irritating ingredients) as it can dry out the skin making it harder for the beard oil to do it’s work.
2. Apply Beard Oil: Dispense a few drops of beard oil onto your palms and massage it into your beard and the underlying skin, ensuring even distribution.
3. Comb or Brush: Use a beard comb or brush to evenly distribute the oil and detangle the beard, ensuring a neat and polished appearance. This will also exfoliate the skin which is crucial for dry skin management. A natural board bristle brush and a wooden comb are best (see here).
4. Style (Optional): If desired, follow up with beard balm or wax to style and shape your beard according to your preference.

This recipe uses natural ingredients and can be adapted to all skin types including those with sensitive skin. The trick is to find which carrier and essential oils you both like in terms of aroma and compatibility with skin type. My advice is to try out a few combinations and see what works best. Perhaps using a smaller vessel to make your first concoction would be helpful for a testing.