Beard Oil for Hair: Everything You Need to Know

You’ve just applied your fancy new beard oil.

Your beard is now glistening, shiny, and smooth to the touch.

You look in the mirror, checking to see if everything is in place, and you notice that your hair is a bit disheveled.

So, what do you do? You go right ahead and massage some of your wonderfully smelling (definitely not a subtle sales pitch) bourbon-scented beard oil directly into your scalp.

If that sounds like you, you’re probably wondering, is this ok? Is beard oil safe for your hair and beard?

Well, we’ve come to answer these questions. After reading this article, you’ll know about the pros and cons of using beard oil in your hair, other hair-safe products, and how to use beard oil in your hair.

Now, let’s get to learning.

The question burning in everyone’s mind right now is, can you use beard oil in your hair?

The simple answer is yes, you can  absolutely use beard oil in your hair. 

However, the more complex answer is that using beard oil in your hair comes with a multitude of pros and cons.

Let’s go over a few of these:

Before we cover the pros of using beard oil in your hair, you should understand the differences between your beard hair and head hair.

In short, the key difference between beard and head hair is the texture and growth cycle. Your beard hair, which is also called androgenic hair or terminal hair, is thicker, courser, and grows in short spurts.

Head hair, on the other hand, grows continuously. It’s commonly softer and thinner than facial hair – although that’s now always the case.

So, now that you know some of the differences between beard and head hair, let’s cover some of the benefits:

• More moisture: Beard oil provides some serious hydration when using it on your beard. It does the same for your hair.

• Softer hair:  If your beard hair is hydrated, that means it’s soft. The same goes for the hair on your head.

• Prevents itching: If you suffer from a dry scalp, beard oil can help. Its rich moisturizing properties help nourish and calm your scalp.

• More manageable hair: Beard oil helps tame that mane of yours.

Speaking of taming your mane, we’ve got exactly what you need.

Unfortunately, it’s not all good in the world of beard oil and hair.

While there aren’t many drawbacks to using beard oil in your hair – there are a few things to keep in mind. You can find these cons below:

• Greasy hair: As we mentioned above, beard hair is thicker than head hair. For that reason, most beard oils are richer than traditional hair serums. That means if you have oily hair, or use too much beard oil, you’ll end up looking like a grease slick.

• Irritant ingredients:  While this con isn’t beard oil specific, it’s still something to be wary of. If you have sensitive skin – beware of products with harsh chemicals like silicones, drying alcohols, parabens, phthalates, and some essential oils.

Thankfully, there are plenty of brands, like Mission Beard (wink, wink), that make high-quality products you can trust. You can learn about some of our favorite beard brands right here.

But maybe beard oil just isn’t your thing.

Or maybe, it’s your thing, but not for your hair.

Either way, we get it. Everybody is different.

Thankfully, there are products for everyone. Here are a few alternatives to using beard oil in your hair:

Natural oils are probably the best alternative to beard oil.

That’s because most beard oils, like this product here, already include natural oils.

So, what should you use, then? 

Well, we recommend a few options:

• Coconut oil: It’s a classic in the skin and hair care world. Really, the question should be, what does coconut oil do? It moisturizes, prevents skin flakes, promotes hair growth, and softens your hair. Read more about its wealth of benefits here.

• Jojoba oil:  Jojoba oil is another classic. It’s rich in essential vitamins to keep your hair feeling smooth and soft. In fact, our very own True North beard oil uses jojoba oil.

• Argan oil:  Argan oil is a humectant – meaning it draws moisture from the air and seals it into your hair. That allows for long-lasting results. In fact, we love it so much, we’ve dedicated an entire article to argan oil.

The next best thing to a natural oil is a hair serum (also called hair oil).

You’ll be surprised to learn that most hair oils use similar ingredients to beard oil – which is one of the reasons you can use beard oil on your head.

If you’re looking for a hair serum to use – try Garnier’s Anti-Frizz Serum. As the name implies, it’ll keep your hair free from any frizz, tangles, or prickles.

Our last alternative to beard oil is a leave-in conditioner.

And what is a leave-in conditioner, you ask?

It’s exactly what it sounds like. No, we promise we’re not pulling your leg – a leave-in conditioner is literally a conditioner that stays in your hair.

The benefit of this is that the nutrients in the product stay in your hair. That means your hair stays protected from heat, pollution, and UV rays for a longer period of time.

Take this high-quality leave-in conditioner, for example. Because you’re keeping it in your hair, the tea tree can sink deep into your scalp – fighting off any dandruff, itching or fungal infections.

There’s really only one reason you shouldn’t be using beard oil in your hair.

And we already mentioned it briefly.

The reason is *cue drum roll*...… if your hair is already oily.

That’s because beard oil is all about adding hydration. And, if your hair is oily, it will already be fully saturated – meaning it won’t be able to absorb any more oils. That leaves your hair looking greasy and wet which, trust us, isn’t a good look.

You’ll look just as greasy if you try to use beard balm in your hair. While it’s fantastic to keep your beard feeling soft and smooth, it’s not ideal for your hair.

Now that you’ve read about how beneficial beard oil can be – maybe you’re all ready to apply it.

Well then, let’s cover how to use beard oil in your hair.

For starters, you want to know when you can apply the beard oil to your hair.

Unfortunately, there’s not really one straightforward answer to this question.

While we generally recommend twice a day, if you have sensitive skin underneath your hair, you should be using it less.

Here’s a table that’ll help clarify things:

Secondly, you’ll want to know how much beard oil you should use in your hair.

Again, there’s not really a one-size fits all answer here. It all depends on the length of your hair. Here’s a table with our recommendations:

When applying beard oil to your hair, too little won’t hurt, but it also won’t help, because you won’t receive any of those glorious benefits that we mentioned above.

Now, it’s time for the big reveal…. How to actually apply the beard oil to your hair.

And you’re lucky – as this process only takes 3 simple-to-follow steps.

Here’s what we got:

Step 1: Start with a dry or damp beard. If you just got out of the shower, you’ll want to dry your hair. You can dry it like you would normally – either using a towel or a hair dryer.

Step 2: Now, it’s time to bring the oil into the mix. Drop the recommended amount of oil in-between your palms and rub your hands together.

Step 3: Finally, massage the oil into your hair. We think it’s best to start at the roots of your hair and work your way to the tips. If you run out of oil, don’t be afraid to reapply – just try to avoid that greasy feeling.

Remember - less is more with oil.

And just like that, the fun is over.

Now you’re an expert on beard oil – and how it works in your hair.

We hope you feel confident enough to use beard oil in your hair.

And, like always, if you’re after beard care products that you can trust – you don’t need to look any further. We’ve got our own line of high-quality, all-natural products that are worth bragging about (that’s why we’re always mentioning them).