Beard balm vs. oil is a common question we get. We understand that the words beard balm and beard oil may be foreign to any man who believes wholeheartedly that growing a beard was enough work. We get it. Beards are tricky creatures, and most men expect great things from their beards right from the start. Even when they’re doing nothing other than rinsing with water and air drying their face rugs every so often.
That’s why we’re here to preach the greasy gospel.
Beard balm and beard oil. We swear by it. We live by it. We grow by it.
It’s what keeps beards soft, healthy, and happy. If you don’t know what either of them really is, don’t worry. This article is for you.
What does beard oil do?
What does beard oil do? The best way to describe beard oil is like a moisturizer, but for your beard.
Not only does it keep your beard hairs hydrated and soft, but it can also help moisturize the skin beneath your beard.1 For anyone who’s ever dealt with beard itch caused by dry skin, you know how important hydration can be.
Yet these aren’t the only reasons beard oil serums should form an integral part of your beard care and grooming regimen. Here are just a few more beard oil benefits:
- It could support and promote healthy beard growth. This varies according to ingredients, but anecdotal evidence suggests that beard oil’s moisturizing and softening effects can encourage healthier growth in any length of beard.
- It adds shine. We all know a shiny beard is a healthy beard, and beard oil adds loads of shine without leaving your beard looking greasy as other products may.
- It can make your beard look fuller. The softening, taming, and shine-adding properties of beard oil could help you style and tame your scraggly beard hairs for a fuller appearance.
- It will make your beard smell insanely good. This is hands-down a favorite benefit. Most people don’t realize how much of a flex a great-smelling beard is until they have one. Believe us, once you smell the sweet scent of citrus or mint floating around your face rug, you’ll never be the same again.
The best way to use beard oil is by applying it as soon as you get out of the shower or bath. Work it into your beard and skin using your fingertips, and enjoy the impromptu face massage that results. One of the great things about beard oil face massages is that they can help improve circulation and boost hair growth in the process.
We really can’t stress enough the benefits of applying beard oil for your beard and skin. However, if there’s one more product we have to add to our list of must-haves for mind blowing facial hair, it’s beard balm.
What does beard balm do?
What does beard balm do? If you have a long beard, beard balm is your friend. Like its oilier cousin, beard balm is great for adding moisture to your facial hair and skin. Most beard balms are made of essential oils (that smell incredible), some form of natural wax, and a moisturizer.2
Its waxier, thicker consistency, compared to beard oil, offers more hold and provides its own set of unique benefits:
- It will help shape your beard. The tackier texture of beard balm means it works like a low-hold beard pomade. It won’t dry or make your beard hair stiff. It will just do better at taming unruly beard hairs than regular beard oil. This makes it great for everyday beard styling.
- It’s perfect for moisturizing medium to long beards without appearing greasy. Beard balm acts as a leave-in conditioner to prevent your long beard hairs from becoming dry and frizzy and appearing unkempt.
Beard balm should be applied daily whenever you need to tame a few beard hairs or style your beard for the day. It’s also important to wash beard balm out at the end of the day, as buildup could clog your pores and cause breakouts.
The Differences & Why You Need Both
Beard oil and balm are great beard products that promote healthy hair growth and leave your beard feeling softer than ever.
However, beard oil is better as a deeply penetrating moisturizer, while beard balm offers more opportunities for styling and keeping your beard looking perfectly groomed.
Some of the key differences between these products are described below:
|
Beard Oil |
Beard Balm |
|
Runny, oily consistency |
Thicker, waxier consistency |
|
Softens beard hairs and provides shine |
Softens beard hairs and provides hold |
|
Works best on short beards |
Works best on medium to long beards |
|
Lightweight product that encourages more beard hair volume |
Heavier product that weighs your beard down more |
If you’re not sure which product is right for you, here’s some good news: You can use both. Using beard oil after a shower and then applying beard balm once the oil is slightly absorbed, you can make the most of both products and get all the shine, softness, and hold they provide.
Choosing the Right Product
If we have convinced you that beard oil and balm are in your future, but you’re not sure where to get your hands on the good stuff, you’re in luck. Not only does Reuzel offer some of the best oils and balms on the market, but we have a host of other beard and hair products available to mold and style you to perfection.
For more information on our beard products or to browse and see if we’re as good as we say we are, head to Reuzel’s beard, shave, and grooming collection right now. Trust us. Your beard will thank you.
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