Moisture — for both the hair follicle and the skin beneath — is essential in the quest for a healthy beard. Without moisture, your beard will seem drab and brittle, and it may become scratchy or develop dandruff, which you do not want. However, a few drops of beard oil rubbed from the roots to the tips of your facial hair may make your beard shine like polished gold.
The world of beard oils, on the other hand, may rapidly become overwhelming: a fast Google search yields more variations of the mixture than we can count. So we enlisted the aid of nine grooming professionals to help us sort out the excellent from the fantastic. Ingredients (and their quality) and fragrance were two key factors that came up repeatedly in our discussions. Our experts agree that in both situations, less is more. Tony DeAngelis, a co-owner of Blue & Black Barbers who produces his own beard oil and sells it in his store, recommends looking for a “light oil that’s paraben-free with a smell you won’t grow bored of.” He and the rest of our experts all agreed that the best beard oils will contain jojoba, argan, grapeseed, or other organically produced oils that will condition and moisturize your facial hair without clogging your pores. However, when it came to individual brands, everybody had their own preferences. Read on for their full selection, which includes fast-absorbing choices, oils for treating dandruff and boosting hair development, and others in a variety of calming smells. We’ve even listed the components that the professionals recommend purchasing if you want to manufacture your own beard oil at home.
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Best overall beard oil
All of the beard oils recommended by our experts, including this one, include jojoba oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil – or a mix of the four. Argan oil has high amounts of vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, making it a fantastic anti-aging moisturizer and ideal for smoothing dry, damaged hair, according to Chad Beightol of New York City–based grooming boutique Consiglieri. Grapeseed oil, which is lighter than jojoba oil, is high in linoleic acid and is considered to help with blocked pores, making it ideal for oily skin. Avocado oil is also high in oleic acid and monounsaturated fats, which aid in penetration of the hair shaft.
Grave Before Shave includes tea-tree oil, which is a frequent component in dandruff shampoos since it calms skin while cleaning blocked pores. Master barber Arthur Iskhakov of Barbers Blueprint, beard-care expert Matt Benevento (who defines himself as a “faithfully bearded man,” and Colorado-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Manish Shah all praise it for its substantial but simple ingredient list. The oil is also available in a number of smells, such as bay rum, sandalwood, and pine, which Iskhakov appreciates since “there is a perfume for any man’s choice.”
Best (less expensive) overall beard oil
Honest Amish Man’s jojoba and argan oil-infused oil is suggested by Luca Blandi of Oscar Blandi salon, who claims it’s flexible enough for all hair types and has a nice “manly” smell. It’s also an oil that Strategist writer David Notis used to grow out his beard; he calls it “truly amazing,” adding that “if you’re worried about synthetics and preservatives, the stuff is basically a combination of several organic oils, avocado, pumpkin seed, sweet almond, and argan.”
Best fast-absorbing beard oil
Baxter of California’s beard oil, which has avocado oil in it, comes encouraged via way of means of Beightol and Shah. Beightol says it’s far a part of what he calls the “subsequent technology of beard oils” because, in preference to argan or jojoba oils, its “number one moisturizing factor is squalene — a water-primarily based totally moisturizer that penetrates and absorbs speedy into the skin.” Shah additionally likes that it consists of squalene (which he says is certainly considered one among his favourite moisturizers) in its components of amazing oils and antioxidants.
Best woodsy-scented beard oil
Benevento informed us that he uses the Bearded Bastard’s earthy-smelling beard oil (scented with essential oils of cedar, pine, and sandalwood) every day. “Every morning, I wet my beard and gently massage beard oil into my facial hair and skin. I next use a beard comb to shape and straighten my beard.” Benevento appreciates that this oil is “made with ethically sourced, all-natural ingredients,” such as grapeseed, argan, and jojoba oils, in addition to helping his beard look and smell fantastic.
Best exfoliating beard oil
Roderick Hampton of Miracle’s barbershop in Brooklyn swears by this beard oil made with argan, hemp-seed, apricot kernel, and avocado oils. Shah is also a fan, noting that it contains Dead Sea salt, which he claims adds “anti-infective and exfoliating” qualities to the oil. This is a wonderful option for guys who have ingrown beard hairs or facial hair dandruff. Hampton adds that the unique mix of essential oils gives it a fresh, zesty scent.
Best growth-enhancing beard oil
Pedro, a grasp barber at Klippers Barbershop in New Jersey who is going through the nickname “Wolf of Broad Street” (and declined to provide his closing name), recommends this oil from notable beard–haver Rick Ross, saying “you could comb, brush, or choose it via your beard to distribute the product equally.” This beard oil carries grape-seed and jojoba oils, and Shah, every other fan, notes it additionally has linoleic acid, which he says “is anti inflammatory and mainly useful in beards of fellows of colour who’re greater liable to ingrown beard hairs. A decent beard oil that reduces inflammation, such as this one, could help prevent the occurrence of ingrown hairs.” It also includes castor oil, which has “anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities, as well as promotes prostaglandins, which assists in hair growth,” according to Shah.
Best combination beard-and-hair oil
Blandi, who likes to get the most bang for his buck, also suggests this beard-and-hair oil from professional grooming goods company Sebastian. It includes argan, jojoba, and grapeseed oils, which will not only moisturize and provide a healthy gloss to your beard, but will also help define its form. However, its adaptability does not end there. Blandi says that it may also be used in the hair for style and gloss.
Best beard oil for softening and smoothing
Aesop Shine is the go-to beard oil for Joseph Rosenfeld, a New York–based personal stylist who claims to have sported a beard for over 10 years. It includes linoleic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid that Rosenfeld claims helps the product penetrate the hair shaft and soften hairs while increasing moisture. He goes on to say that this regularly makes his beard look fantastic without leaving any residue behind. “I add a few drops to a tiny beard brush and then brush through to spread the oil evenly.”
Best unscented beard oil
Adam Rinn, the host of the annual Coney Island Beard and Mustache Competition, who has sported a beard on and off for much of his adult life, recommends Brooklyn-made Royal beard oil for its simple list of ingredients, which includes Moroccan argan oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. But he also loves it because it “feels nice” and since it is available in an unscented form for individuals who don’t want a heavy odor beneath their nose all day. (For those who like, Royal sells their oil in a variety of smells such as what and what citrus, pine, and mint.)
Best oils for making your own beard oil
If you have the time and are bold enough to attempt producing your own beard oil, DeAngelis recommends starting with a 50-50 mixture of argan and jojoba oils, which he suggests purchasing in tiny quantities and mixing in an empty glass container. Then, if you want something perfumed, he advises experimenting with different essential oils based on whether you favor woody, earthy, or zesty scents. DeAngelis recommends visiting Manhattan-based essential oil boutique Enfleurage for a guided tour of scented oils to test on your skin. If you can’t make the trip, he recommends going to Whole Foods or your local health-food shop and sniffing a few different oils, such as tea-tree, lemon-eucalyptus, or a collection of other woodsy fragrances.
