Your beard is more than just hair. It’s part of your style, and even part of your identity. It’s part of your routine, part of what makes you recognizable, and it’s as much a part of your face as your eyes and nose are. But just like men’s skincare, beard care can be a bit of a puzzle to navigate. Beard oil or beard balm is just one of the many questions men may ask themselves while learning to care for their facial hair—and today, we’re answering the question. Read on to learn more about the best ways to care for your beard, and why beard care is about more than just the hair.
Why grow a beard? Ask history!
Throughout history, men have worn beards—or not worn beards—for different reasons They’ve been symbols of elegance, of education, and of wisdom. Men grew them out or shaved them off for political reasons, religious reasons, and sometimes just because it was trendy. And of course, beards have almost always been symbols of power, markers of manhood, and signs of virility
Beards have been long, short, braided, dyed, and everything in between. But no matter who grew them, all of history’s beards have something in common: the men who wore beards all found ways to take care of them and show them off. And that’s where a slew of balms, oils, creams, razors, and other grooming products came into play.
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Beard oil vs. beard balm
For many men, the question of beard oil vs. beard balm can be stressful and confusing. Men’s grooming—including men’s skincare, hair care and beard care —has been overlooked and even stigmatized for years, leading to many men not knowing how to care for their beards. Even worse, it’s led to men being left wondering why their facial hair is stiff, scraggly, discoloured, or even filled with dreaded “beardruff”.
The difference between beard oil or bard balm comes down to two things: their purpose, and when to use them in the grooming process.
What is beard oil?
The primary difference between beard oil and beard balm is that one is mainly for maintaining your beard, while the other is for styling it.
So, maintenance first. Beard oil is just what is sounds like, an oil that you can put in your beard to keep it supple and healthy. It’s a mixture, typically with a carrier oil base like sunflower seed oil, coconut oil or argan oil. Many beard oils have beneficial vitamins or nutrients added in to make them even better for you.
How to use beard oil
After showering or washing your face, apply a few drops of beard oil to your hands and rub it around. Then, apply it to your beard hair in downward motions, making sure to rub it into your whole beard.
Note: It can take time to find the right balance for you, but make sure that you use enough beard oil to cover your whole beard, without drenching it. Applying too much beard oil can lead to your beard looking wet or greasy, which you definitely don’t want. The longer your beard is, the more oil you’ll need to use.
Is beard oil good for your skin?
Yes—in fact, that’s one of the main reasons to use beard oil. While you’re learning how to use beard oil, make sure you massage it all the way to your skin. Beard oil is a big part of skincare for men, as it allows you to take care of the skin below your beard, as well. It also makes your beard hair more soft and supple, meaning that any parts you do shave will be less likely to irritate your skin or cause ingrown hairs.
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Beard oil is an important part of any hirsute man’s grooming routine, and it’s an essential part of men’s skincare. But it’s not the only way to take care of your skin.
What is beard balm?
Unlike the basic beard oil, beard balm is a conditioning and grooming product. It’s usually a thicker, more paste-like substance than beard oil, and in addition to moisturizing, it helps to control your beard and keep it looking shiny and wellgroomed through the day.
The benefits of beard balm
Beard balms condition your beard and moisturize the skin beneath it, just like beard oil. Lightweight beard balms help you style your beard without adding extra weight or risking product buildup, and just like beard oil, a beard balm helps make the hairs of your beard softer and more supple, reducing irritation and ingrown hairs.
The cause of ingrown beard hair is often a shaved or plucked hair that curls inward as it grows out, causing a minor infection in the skin. The blunt edges of shaved hairs are one of the primary reasons for ingrown hairs, and moisturizing the hair follicle can help prevent this.
How to use beard balm?
To use beard balm, just cleanse your exposed face skin and apply a moisturizer —an affordable men’s skincare formula like Savage’s PH Balancing moisturizer can nourish your skin and protect it throughout the day. Dampen your beard slightly if desired, and rub a small amount of beard balm between your fingers and palms.
Brush your hands down your beard to evenly distribute the balm, working it all the way into your beard and down to your skin. You can use beard balm every morning, and after beard oil if you choose to. Throughout the day, your beard will feel fresh, well-groomed, and tamed.
Why use beard balm?
Using a beard balm like SAVAGE’s Conditioning Beard Balm can help you maintain supple skin and a healthy, easily styled beard. Using beard balm comes down to wearing your beard your way, and feeling confident and groomed every day. It’s also an important part of keeping the skin that produces your beard healthy—and healthy, moisturized skin is part of looking youthful and feeling confident.
Whether you proudly sport a five o’clock shadow or you prefer the Viking look, our SAVAGE Conditioning Beard Balm can help you avoid dry, flaky skin and scraggly beard hairs while looking and feeling your best. Prefer a sleek and smooth look? SAVAGE has got your shaving needs covered, too!
Finally, the longest beard in history? 17 feet!
Even if you’re not aiming to break that record, you can learn more about Savage’s Conditioning Beard balm here and check out our products to discover more affordable men’s skincare products.
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