By: Hannah Hartz
Hannah Hartz is a Chicago-based esthetician with 7 years’ experience. She currently works at CaTara Med Spa. Here, Hartz shares whether or not guys really need beard oil.
Whether you have a beard, had a beard, are growing a beard, date someone with a beard, or simply take an interest in men’s grooming, beard oil is most likely on your radar.
While beard oil is by no means a new product, it has been gaining widespread popularity lately as both facial hair and skin care for men have become consistently growing trends. But besides the name being self-explanatory, what exactly is beard oil? And more importantly, is it really necessary?
RELATED: Your Skin Could Really Benefit from Dry Brushing
Beard oil is an oil solution – usually jojoba or Argan oil based – combined with an array of essential oils and whatever other goodies the product company chooses to throw in, designed to soften and tame beard hair while conditioning the skin below. How to use: Just take a few drops on your palms and massage the solution into your beard, preferably after a shower to ensure optimal freshness. Beard oil is nice because it helps to keep beard flakes and itchiness at bay as well as keeping the beard looking well-groomed and purposeful.
That all sounds great, of course, but we still have to ask: Is this really a product you actually need, or is it just a trend hyped up by beauty and grooming experts? Well, the answer really depends on your motive.
What Does Beard Oil Do? Let’s Dive In
Have you fallen victim to the dreaded "beardruff?" If so, beard oil is a great option for you to try. The carrier oils used in beard oil are usually rich in nutrients, especially vitamin E. Vitamin E is an amazing antioxidant that helps to calm skin irritation and provides necessary moisture to prevent continuing flakiness.
Looking to grow a full-length hipster beard? Beard oil isn’t really going to help – but it certainly won’t hurt either. The purpose of beard oil is not so much to help hair grow or to make it grow faster, but rather to keep the skin, the follicles, and the hair shaft healthy during the process. While the act of massaging oil into the skin can be nicely stimulating to the follicle, the effects are most likely not going to be enough to power up your hair growth to a noticeable degree.
Is your beard finally getting that length you’ve been wanting, but now it’s getting all dry and brittle? Reach for that beard oil! Vitamin E, in addition to being healing for the skin, is also very healing to hair: protecting the hair shaft, helping to avoid breakage and brittleness, and restoring shine. Want to try something other than beard oil? Reach for Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Glow. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and biotin help to maintain skin's moisture levels.
Do you love your scruff, but your boss keeps yelling at you because you perpetually look like you just rolled out of bed? Beard oil can help with that! Due to its protective and nourishing benefits, beard oil will help your beard look more tamed and less like you were jolted awake after falling asleep at your desk. Brittle hairs tend to want to stick out in all directions, while nourished hairs will submit more easily to your grooming style.
RELATED: The Guy's Guide to Skincare
Does shaving every day lead to irritated skin? Skip the beard oil and get a better razor and skin care routine. The soothing nutrients in beard oil can definitely help the impacted area, but you would be much better off finding a solution that avoids the excessive irritation altogether and helps support a healthy skin regimen to allay your sensitivity.
Is a beard oil going to solve all your problems? No. But is it worth trying and seeing if you can reap any of the fun benefits that beard oil can provide? Definitely!
A Guide to the Best DIY Beard Oils
Here are just a few of the best ingredients found in beard oils you can try without sacrificing your paycheck:
- Argan oil
- Grape seed oil
- Jojoba oil
- Almond oil
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree oil
- Castor oil
Keep your skincare journey going strong by checking out the Guy's Guide to Skincare.