Growing a magnificent beard is a lot like maintaining an immaculate botanical garden.
(Warning - tenuous analogy incoming. But stay with us here.)
They both inspire onlookers with their raw natural beauty.
They both become increasingly majestic as they grow.
And most importantly, they both require meticulous care and attention if they’re going to flourish.
Beard oil can be your best friend when you’re looking to keep your bristles silky soft and easily managed. Not only can a premium beard oil promote healthy growth, but it also protects sensitive skin and hydrates dry hair.
The key is to understand when to apply the oil, and how to maximise the benefits for your beard.
Let’s take a look at some beard oil best practices, so you can give your facial hair the tender loving care it deserves.
Beard Oil Benefits: Beard oil nourishes facial hair, promotes healthy growth, and hydrates both the hair and underlying skin. It prevents dryness, itchiness, and beard dandruff, making your beard more manageable and reducing irritation.
Application Best Practices: For optimal results, apply beard oil after a hot shower when pores are open, using a small amount based on beard length. Ensure the beard is damp, not wet, and adjust the frequency based on your beard's needs and climate conditions.
Proper Application Techniques: Distribute a few drops of oil evenly across your beard using your palms, fingertips, and a comb. Avoid pouring oil directly onto your beard to prevent greasiness and ensure even application.
Common Mistakes: Avoid using excessive oil, applying it incorrectly, or ignoring skin irritation. Start with small amounts, use the right tools for application, and choose products suitable for your skin type to avoid discomfort.
Table of Contents
What is beard oil?
Beard oil is an essential tool for anyone looking to keep their whiskers full-bodied, glossy, and neat.
But what actually makes beard oil so effective? Is there a magical formula locked away in an impenetrable safe in some undisclosed location?
Not exactly.
Beard oil is actually a fairly straightforward product.
It’s usually created with a simple combination of different oils that work together to nourish your hair and protect the skin beneath. This mixture provides some much-needed hydration and moisture to hair that’s dry or brittle, leaving you with a happy and healthy beard.
Think of it like a luxurious conditioner for your facial hair.
However, not every beard oil is created equally.
Although you don’t need to break the bank to find yourself a top-notch oil, it’s important to find products that are made with quality ingredients and designed to support a healthy beard.
After all, your face deserves nothing but the best.
What are the benefits of using beard oil?
Growing a beard is a pretty special experience.
As that promising stubble gradually transforms into a fully-fledged beard, you’ll find yourself looking (and feeling) more stylish, more worldly, and more elegant than ever before.
It’s a thing of beauty.
Unfortunately, beard growth isn’t always a smooth process.
As your beard blossoms, your hairs can struggle to find the nutrients they need to stay hydrated and healthy. An increasing amount of moisture is sucked out from your skin, which often leads to dryness and irritation.
The longer your hairs grow, the more moisture they need - and as nutrients deplete over time, the hairs become dry and fragile.
This is where beard oil can save the day. Applying oil regularly offers a wide range of major benefits that make beard management a piece of cake.
For one thing, beard oil is fantastic at preventing beard itch, dandruff, and irritable dry skin.
When your beard hairs start to hog precious moisture and nutrients from your skin, it can quickly become extremely dry and cracked.
And when you start to constantly scratch that itchy dead skin, you’ll encounter every beard owner’s worst nightmare - the dreaded beard dandruff.
Fortunately, beard oil does a brilliant job of nurturing your hair. Your dry skin is moisturised, and your beard is given all the nutrients it needs, meaning you can say goodbye to itching.
A thorough beard oil routine will also give you much better control over your bristles.
As your beard thickens, the hairs can begin to grow in different directions, becoming messy and tangled.
Now, some of you may prefer a more wild, untamed look for your facial hair. No judgement here. But if you’re looking to keep your whiskers under control, beard oil will keep everything soft and supple, making it much easier to style your hair.
Also, beard oil smells pretty incredible. Need we say more?
When should I use beard oil?
Now that you’re convinced of the awesome power of beard oil, let’s look at the best time to apply it to your face.
The ideal moment to use beard oil is immediately after a thorough face wash or a hot shower.
That’s because your pores will be open after being exposed to hot water, meaning they’re ready to fully absorb all of that oily goodness. This is the prime time for beard oil, and a golden opportunity to nourish and replenish your beard hairs.
Ideally, you should also dry your beard before applying any oil so that the hairs are damp at most, not soaking wet.
It’s also important to remember that every face and beard is different.
Many people apply beard oil at least once a day, and sometimes twice - once in the morning, and once before bed. However, you just need to pay attention to your face to understand how much oil you need.
If you’re living in a dry climate and growing some serious beard length, then you may need to increase the amount of oil you’re using. If you’re finding that your beard feels a little greasy, then you can always reduce your oil usage.
It’s all about finding what works for your beard.
How much beard oil should I use?
Knowing when to apply beard oil is very important to maximise the benefits you (and your beard) receive.
But it’s also crucial to understand how much beard oil to apply.
Although there are no hard-and-fast rules to follow when it comes to beard oil, you’ll need to find the right amount that suits your hair and keeps your beard at its best.
The length of your beard is a helpful indicator that can dictate the amount of oil you should be using on a daily basis.
Beard length |
How much oil to use |
Stubble |
1-2 drops |
1-inch beard |
4-6 drops |
3-inch beard |
7-9 drops |
5-inch beard |
10-12 drops |
For every 2-3 inches of beard growth, you’ll generally want to use an extra 2 drops of beard oil to make sure that you’re injecting enough moisture into your facial hair. As your beard gets longer, you can also apply the oil more frequently.
Once again, the key is to experiment with your oil routine and find a process that works for you and your beautiful face.
Every beard is different, so just play around with the amount of beard oil you’re using until you achieve enviable beard shine and maximum hydration.
Expert tips for applying beard oil
You now know when to apply beard oil to your face, and how much to use for optimal beard-care.
You’re almost ready to venture off into the world of beard oil and transform those dull, dry hairs into beautiful, bountiful bristles.
But before you get started with your beard oil routine, let’s take a look at how to apply the product properly to ensure that you’re getting the most out of it.
Apply 2-3 drops of beard oil (or more, depending on the length of your beard) to your palm, and gently rub your hands together to spread the oil evenly.
Rub your palms and fingers across the beard hair on your cheeks and moustache, and then down the front of your face to reach your chin. Get all those nooks and crannies.
Re-visit your moustache with your fingertips to make sure that the hair has received enough oil.
Use a comb to brush the product through your beard and distribute the oil to every section of your face. Comb with and against the natural growth of your beard.
Double-check that your beard feels well-oiled. If you need to apply more oil, just repeat the steps above and focus on any dry areas. If it feels a little too oily, trial using less until you find the sweet spot.
Comb your beard thoroughly to restore its shape, and style it to your liking.
Different products may contain slightly different instructions, so it’s always worth double-checking the packaging to be safe.
Avoiding common beard oil mistakes
Beard oil can work wonders for your facial hair - but if you’re keen to revitalise and replenish your bristles, you need to use it properly.
Let’s take a look at some basic issues that beard-lovers commonly encounter when using beard oil.
Mistake #1 - using an excessive amount of oil
They say that you can never have too much of a good thing.
Whoever coined that phrase clearly had little-to-no experience with beard oil.
If you use too much oil on your beard, you’ll find that your hair becomes greasy rather than silky. You can also find yourself dealing with annoying clumps of oil that need to be combed out of your beard.
That’s why it’s always better to start small - try using a couple of drops of oil to begin with, and apply more if necessary.
Mistake #2 - applying beard oil incorrectly
Applying beard oil correctly isn’t rocket science, but it does take a little bit of know-how.
Make sure that you’re using your palms, fingertips, and a comb to distribute oil as evenly as possible across your beard. Check for dry patches as you’re applying the oil to make sure that you don’t neglect any of those precious whiskers.
And never, ever, ever pour oil directly onto your face or beard.
We mean it. If you even think about doing it, we’ll know.
Not only is this a surefire way to waste valuable oil, but you’ll also struggle to apply the product correctly, meaning you’ll probably end up with a greasy beard.
Mistake #3 - ignoring irritation or discomfort
If you have sensitive skin, it’s very important to pay attention to how your face is reacting to beard oil.
This is particularly true if you’re experimenting with a different brand or product.
It’s also why starting with a smaller amount of oil is better than immediately lathering your beard with a new formula.
If you’re experiencing any irritation because of your beard oil routine, don’t ignore it. You may need to find a new product that’s better suited to sensitive skin.
What beard oil should I use?
Ready to reinvigorate your facial hair with a brand new beard oil regime?
That’s what we like to hear.
To help you get started, we’ve collected some of the best beard care products available on the market right now. Say hello to healthy, happy, and hydrated facial hair.
Viking Revolution Beard Wash & Beard Conditioner Set
This wash and conditioning set from Viking Revolution contains everything you need to nourish your beard and keep your hair under control.
These products contain argan oil (which is great for moisturising hair and skin) and jojoba oil (which is rich in vitamins and nutrients) that will soften and strengthen your beard hairs.
Both the wash and conditioner are also crafted with a natural peppermint and eucalyptus fragrance, which will leave your beard smelling irresistibly fresh.
Badass Beard Care's Badass Beard Oil 4 Pack
Looking for a bit more variety in your beard oil routine? Right this way.
This beard oil box from Badass Beard Care allows you to select 4 distinct fragrances from a wide selection that includes sandalwood and vanilla, pine and cedar, and coffee.
But your beard won’t just smell great - it’ll also look better than ever, thanks to all-natural oil formulas that promote healthy growth.
Grave Before Shave Cigar Blend Beard Oil
This signature beard oil from Grave Before Shave is ideal for facilitating comfortable and smooth beard growth.
The oil uses a natural blend of ingredients to hydrate and moisturise beard hair while also protecting your skin from flaking and irritation.
The blend also contains a rich and unique cigar fragrance that will instantly leave you feeling refined, classy, and sophisticated. If you feel a sudden urge to don a velvet smoking jacket, you’ll know why.
A high-quality beard oil is a must-have for anyone looking to achieve luscious beard growth.
The right oil can strengthen and support beard hair, protect sensitive skin from irritation, and help you to grow beautiful bristles without any issues.
All you need to do is stick to a rigorous beard care routine and apply your product at the right time. If you can manage that, the beard oil will take care of the rest.
