On a basic level, beard oil is exactly what it sounds like: oil made for your beard.  But why would you need oil for your beard in the first place? How do you use beard oil and what does it actually do? We have the answers you're looking for.  Aside from trimming your facial hair from time to time, having a beard oil around and using it regularly can definitely make your beard look as great as you want it to be. Once you add it to your daily routine, you won’t look back!

 

What Does Beard Oil Do? 

Beard oil is a formulated oil, specially designed to be applied to your beard, stubble or other forms of facial hair to keep it soft, hydrated and healthy. Essentially, it works as your beard's very own conditioner. Your facial hair is coarser than the hair on your head, meaning it requires a little more upkeep and added hydration. Beard oil also tends to be scented, leaving your goatee, mutton chops, lumberjack, moustache and soul patch smelling good all day. 

When it comes to purchasing your own, there are a lot of things to consider. That’s why Fushi is here to help you figure out how to effectively take care of your beard! 

 

Should I Include Beard Oil In My Morning Routine? 

Everyone’s skin produces a natural oil called sebum, and sebum is critical for your beard's overall health, condition, and appearance. However, sebum gets stripped away in the shower from harsh detergents found in soaps. Beard oils help replicate that oil and prevent your beard from becoming dry, brittle, and wiry while adding fragrance and a light shine. 

As we mentioned before, a beard oil will soften coarse hair and help make it supple and easier to style. And, behind the scenes it will help condition the skin underneath, reducing the chances of it becoming itchy or flaky.  It’s a win, win! 

 

How Long Does My Beard Hair Need to Be?

In theory you can apply beard oil to any length of stubble, or even use it as a serum on your freshly shaved face (although if you were going to do that we’d recommend using a dedicated skin serum).

For maximum effect, we’d suggest applying it once your beard has started to get thick enough to cover the skin underneath- somewhere around the centimetre mark. At this length your beard will be getting thick enough that if left untamed, you could look a little unkempt. It'll work in your favour, too — scientists at the University of Queensland spoke to 919 women and found a direct correlation between fertility and facial hair.

 

Understanding Ingredients In Beard Oil

Beard Oils are primarily made up of a combination of carrier oils and essential oils. Carrier oils are the ingredients that do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to conditioning, moisturising and softening your skin and beard. Essential oils add the fragrance component that makes using Beard Oil even more enjoyable. Essential oils also generally contain some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Jojoba and castor oil are two of the best and most widely used carrier oils. You’ll find these two ingredients in a majority of Beard Oils, but below are some additional commonly found carrier oils


Common carrier oils:

Jojoba Oil - Excellent carrier oil that works with all essential oils, helps with skin care and hair growth. Longer shelf of five years. Perfect for all skin types.

Castor oil - Has been used for thousands of years to promote hair growth. You can use castor oil for your beard in the same way that you use it for your skin.

Coconut oil - Use unrefined coconut oil for its skin-nourishing fatty acids and polyphenols. It has a long shelf life of two to four years. Great for dry skin but not for oily or acne prone skin.

Argan oil - Great carrier oil for skin and hair because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Long shelf of three years. Works with most skin types. 

Sweet almond oil - One of the best carrier oils for skin care and acne scars. Shelf life of six months to 1 year.

Grape seed oil - Rich in vitamin E, this carrier helps with healing skin and reducing wrinkles. Short shelf life of three months. 

Rosehip oil - Used for its natural retinoid properties, including vitamins A and C, this carrier can fight ageing and reverse sun damage. Shelf life of six months to one year. 


When should you use beard oil?

You should use Beard Oil daily in the morning after washing your face. This will help the hair grow softer and reduce itchiness. Like many of the products in your skincare routine, beard oil is best applied to a freshly showered face, allowing pores to be fully open so the oil can be absorbed to its full potential. If you think of it in the same way as the hair on your head, a beard oil essentially acts as a conditioner to use after cleansing with a beard shampoo. Apply daily and you’ll soon reap the benefits, especially when paired with the right razor or a great beard trimmer.


How to find the best beard oil for you

  • Try a few - you’ll never know how a beard oil truly smells and performs until it’s on your beard.
  • Read the ingredients labels - look for high-quality carrier oils like jojoba, castor, Abyssinian, babassu, argan, or sweet almond at the top of the ingredients list.
  • Consider the container - some people prefer a beard oil they can pour into their hand, while others prefer beard oils that come with a dropper. Also having it in a dark container will help prevent oxidation of the oils (and then proceeding to smell badly!). 

 

Which beard oil is best?

The best beard oils are those that work to really enhance the condition of your facial hair, helping to soften out any rougher areas while also strengthening. We’d also recommend looking out for an oil that doesn’t leave too much residue, and absorbs easily into your beard without making you look too oily throughout the day. 

Beardruff

Beardruff is dandruff that develops from your beard.  In most cases, beardruff is a signal that the skin beneath your beard needs to be exfoliated. It is a common problem, but it’s easy to treat with a simple routine. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you pay attention to both the hair of your beard and the skin underneath. Once you’ve gotten rid of beard dandruff, it’s important to keep up with your routine, especially when it comes to washing and moisturising. Try to regularly monitor how your skin feels. Does it feel tight or itchy? Add a few more drops of beard oil. Keep in mind that you may need to use a richer moisturiser during cold, dry weather.


How to make your own beard oil

We do understand that trying new products can be intimidating when you're trying to grow a healthy beard and care for your skin. How do you know your skin won’t react? In some cases, it's best to make your own from DIY beard oil recipes so you know exactly what's in it, which can lead to amazing results like thicker beard growth.

Carrier oils, essential oils, and even special ingredients like shea butter and aloe vera are used in beard oil recipes. Other ingredients may be added to your homemade beard oil recipe depending on what you want to improve in your beard. Making your own allows you to select the ingredients that will benefit your skin and hair the most. For example, incorporating saw palmetto oil into your homemade beard oil may result in thicker hair growth.

A custom beard oil recipe creates the best benefits for your skin and hair but it does require a few tools, especially if you want to preserve the life of your carrier oil and beard oils. Here’s what we suggest:


  • 30ml applicator bottle or dropper bottle (dark amber glass bottles are best)
  • Measuring cup, shot glass, or tablespoon
  • Small funnel
  • Carrier oils
  • Essential oils

Always test carrier oils on a small patch of skin. Avoid oils derived from tree nuts if you have nut allergies, such as sweet almond oil, argan oil, and apricot kernel oil.

We’ve already mentioned some carrier oils that you can use but here are some of our favourite essential oils for scents, healing, and soothing below. Choose one- three essential oils at first to see what works for your skin, then add in more to get the right scent or enhance your beard oil even further.


Steps to making your own beard oil 

  1. Blend Carrier Oils: Clean out and dry the  amber glass dropper bottle. It’s best to choose a carrier oil blend that matches your skin type and one that can help resolve issues with your skin or hair. For example if you use jojoba oil and argan oil this will focus on dry skin and help promote hair growth.
  2. Add Essential Oils: After mixing together your base carrier oils, now add in drops of your essential oils. Your base oils take care of the healing and vitamins, but essential oils add aromatic properties as well as vitamins and nutrients. Eucalyptus, citrus, and sandalwood are a good selection to use.
  3. Blend Oils Mixture: Replace the cap on your bottle and shake vigorously to combine everything together. Keep it away from any light and heat by keeping it in your drawer or cabinet. Make sure to apply it as often as necessary. Most beard oils can be stored for up to 6 months without losing any nutrients. 


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