Beard Balms vs Beard Oils: What’s the Difference?
5 minute read
If you’re here, you’ve heard of using at least one of two popular products that can help make your bearded life easier - but likely it’s been tough to get an answer to the question “What’s the difference between beard balms and beard oils?”. While both are used to keep your beard soft and skin hydrated, the difference between beard oils and balms is that beard oils are best for general beard health while beard balms are thicker to be used for styling. To get a better understanding of each product, read along as we break down the uses and benefits of each.
BEARD OIL
Beard oil is a great starter product, no matter the length of your beard. Beard oils being liquid makes them easy to apply and works with any hair texture. It doesn't have a firm hold, and generally won't help you when it comes to styling, but for keeping your beard soft and hydrated, it's your best bet. A lot of people get into routine usage of beard oils due to “beardruff”, which is dandruff of the beard instead of the scalp.
At any stage in the beard growing process, you may notice an itch or irritation. Resist the urge to shave it off, and instead invest in some quality beard oil. While a lot of fresh beards may experience this, even men with longer beards can still have itchiness due to the way average bath soaps and facial scrubs can dry out the skin under the beard. All you have to do is work the beard oil into your daily routine, rubbing the oil directly into your beard and skin after getting out of the shower - preferably while your skin is still warm so the pores are open to more readily benefit the skin and full hair follicles. This will not only soften your beard hair, but will also moisturize your skin underneath, keeping it healthy and happy during the growing process.
Beard oil is a cost effective tool which will keep your beard soft and resistant to damage, reduce or eliminate dandruff in your face mane, add a healthy shine, and keep your beard not only looking and feeling good, but smelling fresh too.
BEARD BALM
Beard balms feature the added ingredient of beeswax for a stronger styling hold. Beard balms are perfect for long and coarse beards or structured beards that need help maintaining shape or style. Even if you have a patchy or thin beard, balms contain shea butter which can help the hair look thicker.
The usage of beard balms does overlap a little with beard oils, which is where the confusion between needing one or the other comes in. Both oils and balms help moisturize the hair and skin around the beard, but balms do go beyond simply allowing a stronger hold for styling and assisting in controlling those pesky stray hairs. Balms take longer to be absorbed into the beard, giving you a longer-term tool to keep your beard and skin moisturized without the hassle of needing to reapply beard oil during a long day out. You can think of balms as a type of leave-in conditioner for your beard.
Our shea-based balm is solid to the touch, but the warmth from your hands softens it to the perfect texture. Apply it to your beard for a firm hold, taming the most unruly of stray hairs. A little beard balm goes a long way. We recommend using a thumb size amount to prevent creating a hard, crunchy, and brittle beard.
HELP YOUR BEARD LOOK AND FEEL BETTER TODAY
Every man and every beard is different. After trying out some of our beard care products and blends, you’ll learn your personal preferences and what beard care routine works best for you and your hair and skin type. Try combining multiple products such as an oil and balm for maximum benefits. We offer a beard oil and balm scent which was made with allergies, sensitive noses, and pet safety in mind.
For the bearded beginners and veterans alike, we recommend trying out our beard grooming kit, which comes with our shampoo, beard scrub, beard balm, beard oil in the fragrance of your choice, and even a comb and brush to get you ready to care for your beard straight away. Remember to stay fresh and enjoy the beard growing journey.
About the author:
Bill Crawford is a professional Santa who has been handcrafting beard oils for others since 2017. What began as a necessity for himself has turned into a passion for researching the best ingredients and practices for beard care products, which he shares in blogs to the world.