How to Use Beard Care Products
Sean
For those new to beard care, it can be confusing to know when to use each type of product. How is beard oil used? When should beard oil be applied? What about balm and butter? What are those for? Here’s what I’ve learned through study, testing, and a bit of trial and error.
Beard Wash:
It’s important to use a gentle cleanser when washing your beard. A product labeled beard wash isn’t required, but beard washes are generally formulated as gentle cleansers that won’t dry out a beard or strip away too many natural oils from your skin.
I use beard wash in the shower. How often you should wash your beard depends on each individual situation. Beards that get very dirty every day may require daily washing, and this is fine when it is needed, as long as a gentle cleanser is used. Washing a beard too often can strip the beard of its natural oils, which are important for good beard health.
I work a desk job and my beard doesn’t get very dirty on a daily basis. I shower daily, but only wash my beard two to three times a week. On off days, I just rinse my beard with warm water, or use a co-wash, to make sure it stays reasonably clean between washes.
I never use regular shampoo or hair conditioner on my beard. While these items work well for scalp hair, they often contain ingredients that can dry out facial hair. I learned this the hard way. I was using regular conditioner on my beard. It felt great immediately after showering, but my beard would be severely dry, brittle and tangled a few hours later. Now I skip scalp conditioner altogether when it comes to my beard and just use a beard wash.
I have not yet tested very many beard washes. Of those that I’ve tested, my favorite so far has been the Best Damn Beard Wash from Duke Cannon.
Beard Co-Wash
I just recently started using a co-wash for my beard. Co-wash is short for conditioner wash. It’s a product formulated to be used daily to keep your beard moisturized and healthy. It can either be used on its own or between thorough washes with another gentle cleanser. It’s too early for me to tell if I will continue to use a co-wash, but I am happy with the results so far. My beard feels manageable and moisturized after I wash with the co-wash.
I have noticed that whether or not I use a co-wash depends a lot on the type of primary cleanser that I am using. Some beard washes leave my beard a little dry, so I like to use a co-wash with those products. Other beard washes are fine to use on their own and don’t require a co-wash.
Beard Oil:
Beard oil acts as a daily moisturizer. Its primary purpose is to moisturize the skin under the beard. It also benefits the hair itself, but the skin under the beard is what truly benefits from beard oil. I use beard oil daily after a shower. I finish the rest of my grooming routine, and then apply beard oil. It also helps tremendously with the itchy feeling associated with beard growth. As your beard grows, the new hair can irritate the skin. Especially if the skin is dry. Beard oil has been a lifesaver for me in controlling the itchiness associated with growing a beard.
I pat my beard with a towel, leaving it slightly damp. Then I apply about 3 to 5 drops of oil and work it into the skin under my beard. Shorter beards will need fewer drops and longer beards may need more. This is followed by a gentle brushing with a boar bristle brush. Then I finish with a comb.
By the time I’m done applying the oil, my beard doesn’t feel oily. All the oil has absorbed into my skin or beard hair. If your beard feels oily after applying beard oil, then you might be applying too much. This could also be a sign that you might also need a lighter carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil. You can also try applying the oil every other day, but I would recommend finding an oil that works for you when applied daily.
You can find step-by-step instructions for using beard oil in the How to Use Beard Oil guide.
My favorite beard oils at the moment are Honest Amish Pure Unscented and Honest Amish Classic. I apply two to three drops of the Honest Amish Pure Unscented beard oil before applying a balm or butter. Using the unscented oil lets me primarily use the balm or butter as the scent provider, avoiding any conflicts with scent profiles between products. When I’m not planning on using a balm or butter, then I apply four to five drops of the Honest Amish Classic Beard oil for daily moisturizing.
Beard Balms and Butters:
What’s the difference between beard balm and beard butter? That’s a common question. The answer is they are often made with very similar ingredients, with the main difference being the amount of wax that is included.
Beard balms include wax and classic beard butters do not. However, many modern butters still have some wax content to create a light hold. When I made the decision to take better care of my beard, I started out using beard balm. Now that I’ve tried beard butter, I’ve grown to generally prefer butters over balms. You can read Beard Balm vs. Beard Butter for more information.
My routine with beard balms and butters has changed over time. I now primarily use beard balm or butter for the styling. I will apply it to my beard if I’m going somewhere where I want my beard to look nice. For me, applying balm or butter helps tame flyaways, making my beard look polished instead of unruly, and it also makes my beard smell nice.
I may also apply balm or butter if I’m going to be outside in cold weather. These lock in moisture to help protect my beard from wind and cold. I may also apply butter more than once a day. If it’s been several hours and I’m going out for some reason, I might splash some water on my beard again and apply another small amount of butter.
The key with both balm and butter is not to overdo it. Try to find the minimum amount that you need to keep your beard looking nice and tame flyaways without adding too much. I do sometimes add a little extra to my moustache if needed for the extra hold.
Finally, I often use beard butter to style my moustache after applying beard oil to the rest of my beard.
My current favorite beard butter is Kühn Beard Butter. I do also like Average Bros Beard Balm.
Takeaways
Here are a few more items to note:
The two key recommendations I have are 1. Use a gentle cleanser for your beard and 2. Use beard oil and a boar bristle brush. You really don’t need anything beyond those two items to maintain a healthy beard. However, you might want to consider a balm or butter for hold/styling or protection from severely dry or cold weather, but those aren’t necessary. If your beard looks fine without them, then just use a good beard oil.
You can apply beard oil and then apply beard balm or butter. This is a common practice. If I’m going to apply both, then I reduce the amount of oil I apply before applying beard balm or butter. Or I apply the oil to my entire beard and use balm or butter for spot styling.
Using a boar bristle brush helps evenly work product into your beard and provides some light exfoliation for the skin underneath.
Beard oil is great for preventing itching and scratching. Some itchiness is normal for beards, especially when you’re just starting to grow one. If the itchiness doesn’t go away with oil, or you notice other symptoms, such as redness or flaking, then you should see your doctor. This could be a sign of a more serious skin condition.
These are the basics of my beard care routine. I’ll update this post to reflect any changes I make over time as I test more products.