How to apply beard oil for beginners. Everything you need to know!

When you start growing a beard someone will tell you to get some beard oil. I remember when, during a shopping trip, I asked a man with a luxurious beard what his secret was, his answer? Beard oil. I had no idea that it was so fundamental to beard-growing success! Here I want to talk you through how to apply beard oil for beginners…

Use the beard oil straight after showering. Drop approximately 3 – 5 drops of beard oil into the palm of your hand. Rub it between your hands and apply in downwards motions onto to your beard. Brush the beard lightly and shape the way you want your beard to sit for the day.

Also, so many questions popped into my mind: What is beard oil made from? Doesn’t it just make your face wet and oily? Is it expensive? Can’t I just make my own?

I hope to make your beard oil beginner journey much more smooth than mine! It took a while to get used to the whole beard oil thing with one of my colleagues asking “Why is your beard wet?” on a day where I was clearly a little overzealous with my DIY jojoba oil beard oil!

What does beard oil do?

Here are four of my favorite reasons to apply beard oil as beginners:

1: It gets rid of the beard itch

In the early stages of growing your beard, it could cause you some discomfort and become itchy.

First-time growers can experience discomfort in the early stages of their growth. rubbing a small amount of beard oil on the skin can help alleviate the itchiness. If you are a regular shaver the hairs on your face are sharp and ragged from cutting. Beard oil helps soften the ends of your short beard hairs and the irritation it causes.

Short hair isn’t the only thing that can cause itchiness – long hair can cause it too! The longer you facial hair the more natural oil is required from your face, called sebum, for it to remain properly hydrated.

The problem is sebum production doesn’t always keep up with your beard growth. A lack of sebum in the beard causes the skin to become dry and itchy. Beard oil supplements the natural oils from your face to that it stays hydrated.

2: You can fight beard dandruff

Beard dandruff (or beardruff) is one of the most hated aspects of beard growing that could happen to you. Having an itchy beard due to dryness causes you to scratch your beard. This can cause loose skin to fall away and result in the less-than-desirable flaky shirt.

Using beard oil will help keep the skin under your beard hydrated and reduces flaking.

3: It keeps your beard styled

Using beard oil ensures that your beard will be easier to manage. It does this by making the beard softer and more malleable. The hair is also hydrated enough that it doesn’t become frizzy – as you see with head hair on a dry day.

I find that a little bit of beard oil on after drying keeps my beard styled for a much longer time.

4: Beard oil smells good

Beard oil consists of carrier oil and essential oils – more on this below!

The essentials oils provide some therapeutic benefits but also provide some awesome scent. I’ve toyed around with a few scents in my DIY beard oil adventures but vanilla and peppermint (not together) seem to be my favorite.

I like playing around with the different essentials oils and tend to select them based on smell over function. My biggest word of warning is to stay away from cleaning product smells – I ended up making a batch with eucalyptus and tea tree oil. It was not good to smell like toilet cleaner every day!

5: Beard oil conditions your beard

Beard oil keeps the hairs of your beard conditioned so that your hair remains soft and styled. We can be pretty ruthless when it comes to maintaining our beard – shampoo, conditioner, towel drying, hair drying, beard straighteners – all sorts!

Having a good beard oil conditioner will make sure that you undo all of the potential damage and drying out that your beard will go through during your daily maintenance routine.

Now let’s look at some of the most commonly asked questions that new beard growers have about beards:

Should I use Beard Oil everyday?

When you get to about one month into your beard growing journey you should consider using beard oil everyday.

If you are maintaining your beard in the proper way with shampoo and conditioner and washing regularly you longer facial hair will need conditioning and softening with a product like beard oil. There are some days that I do not use beard oil on my beard and rather I leave my beard “naked” or I will replace the beard oil with a beard balm or wax.

The upgrade to the beard oil or wax is normally due to the need for a stronger hold (sometimes you are just having a bad beard day) or I want to impart some other look or style to my beard. You can use beard oil up to three times a day if you feel like your beard needs it.

Don’t overdo it however – you can cause pimples and other issues!

What is the best way to apply Beard Oil?

I love applying beard oil by rubbing the oil between my hands and applying with downward motions. To get into the skin I will often rub the oil on to my fingertips and push the oil to my skin. These are the steps that I go through after I have showered and blowdried my beard:

  • Use dropper in beard oil to drop five drops into the palm of my hand
  • Rub my palms together to spread out the beard oil evenly
  • Use sweeping motions over my entire beard until there is an even application of beard oil
  • Drop one more drop into my palm
  • Spread on to the tips of my fingers
  • Use fingers to get to the skin
  • Make small circular motions at different points of my beard

I do this most days and it leaves my beard well conditioned all day!

When should you start using Beard Oil?

I suggest that you start using beard oil after 4 weeks of growing your beard or after a couple of centimeters of growth – whichever comes first. If you find that your hair is brittle or more damaged than you’d like you can even use beard oil on shorter hairs.

Beard oil also is able to condition the skin. Oils often contain Jojoba oil that is very similar to the natural oils your face makes so if you a finding that your skin is dry – you could even use beard oil on stubble too!

Does Beard Oil regrow hair?

Despite what a load of online retainers will say about their beard oil being able to act as a growth agent – this is simply not true. Beard oil does not typically contain any growing agent that has been scientifically proven to regrow hair on your face. You are better off looking for medications such as minoxidil and other therapies (like red light therapy) if you want to encourage beard growth.

The beard oils are magical products that can do wonders for your skin and the beard hair – but it does not regrow hair in a clinical sense. Rather, it may help growth by preparing the skin and creating the best conditions and foundations for beard growth.

How many times to apply beard oil?

You should consider using beard oil every morning as long as you do not see any side effects like more pimples etc from doing so. Or you are not using any other beard conditioning products like beard balm or butter or another leave-in conditioner.

You can apply beard oil up to three times a day without worrying about overdoing it.

When to wash face after applying beard oil?

Do not wash your face after applying beard oil! Beard oil is considered a leave-in conditioner and needs to sit on your beard hairs for about 30 minutes to one hour to have its full effect.

Wash your beard at least once every couple of days when you normally shower (I get mine wet everyday but I don’t shampoo everyday) and that’s when you want to remove any beard oil, grime and dirt that remains on your beard. Clean it and make it fresh for that next application of beard oil!

Can I sleep with Beard Oil?

If you want a full answer to this question check out my other blog post – Beard oil before bed: is it a waste of time and money?

Using beard oil before bed can cause a lot of the oil to end up on your pillow and not actually making its way into your skin or beard hair. Most men use beard oil in the morning as the oil is able to penetrate completely and have beneficial effects during the morning. If you want to use beard oil at night make sure that you leave at least 1 hour before laying your beard on a pillow!

By applying the beard oil in the morning you are able to ensure that you are limiting the ways that it can get rubbed off. All of the benefits mentioned above can only be realized if the oil is making contact with your hair and skin for long enough that it actually gets absorbed.

In general, the oils take up to one hour to be absorbed into the skin and some oils actually require much longer to be absorbed by the hair. Oils with quick penetration include coconut oil and Ucuuba oil and Avocado oil, argan oil and olive oil are readily absorbed by the hair.

Jojoba oil, however, is great for skin but doesn’t absorb well into the hair. That is why a beard oil with a good mixture is important!

When to apply beard oil

Because of the huge array of benefits that beard oil brings to your beard essentially any time during the day is a good time to apply beard oil for beginners. However, there is a best time that you should apply it!

My beard oil routine

My daily routine includes shampooing my beard. Using a beard conditioner. Towel drying and then applying beard oil.

You should use beard oil straight out of the shower and at other times during the day if you notice that your beard is on the dry side. Apply less beard oil if you are reapplying it during the day – otherwise, you risk your beard becoming too oily and looking greasy.

Showering and shampooing can strip your beard of the natural oils (sebum) that it needs to stay strong and healthy. Right after a shower, your pores will be more open which means your skin will absorb a lot more of the oil.

You can also consider using a beard balm after your beard oil if you find that oil is not enough to keep your beard conditioned.

Now, my friends. There is a huge array of beard oil on sale and you can even make your own! But not all beard oil is made equally. You will need to select the right beard oil for your type of beard and its condition.

Here’s my morning routine:

What beard oil to apply

Beard oils are a very basic product consisting of two parts: The carrier oil and the essential oil.

Carrier oils

The carrier oil component is the main bulk of beard oil and can consist of a mixture of oils. The oils in the beard oil each have a different therapeutic property and here we shall look at each one and why you would choose each.

AraganIt is rich in vitamin E, carotenes, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Argan Oil is used to nourish the hair making it shiny and healthy-looking.
Jojoba It is known to closely resembles the sebum of the skin and is rich in vitamin E.
SunflowerUse this oil to treat dry & damaged skin, eczema, and psoriasis.
AvocadoIt is typically added to other carrier oils in order to boost protein and vitamin content.
CoconutCoconut oil can be used as a skin moisturizer, helping with dry skin. It also reduces protein loss when used in hair.
Castor It is used to treat split hairs and add volume to the beard.
Rice BranIt adds sheen while moisturizing and conditioning the hair without weighing it down.
Sweet AlmondIt is rich in proteins, Olein Glyceride Linoleic Acid, and Vitamin D, and should be used by those with dry skin.
GrapeseedThe high contents of omega 6 fatty acids are known to nourish and improve the texture of the skin.

The carrier oils also act as a carrier for essential oils – they have to be diluted otherwise can harm your beard and the skin under it.

Essential oils

Essential oils, when used directly, can burn the skin and cause damage to the beard. We add them in a very small amount to the carrier oil. This provides a nice smell but also each oil has its own benefit. Here re my favorite oils and how they can help your beard!

Lavender

  • Antimicrobial cleanser
  • Relieves itching due to dry skin
  • Cleaner for acne-prone skin
  • Revitalizes the appearance of hair

Patchouli

  • Exudes a distinct spicy and musky aroma that is commonly found in “manly” products
  • Fights bad odors
  • Helps pores look smaller
  • Antibacterial cleanser

Cedarwood Oil

  • Exudes a woodsy aroma
  • Improvement in feeling through calming, lingering, energizing scent
  • Moisturizes to relieve dry, itching, and flaking skin
  • Purifies skin by removing dirt
  • Antibacterial cleanser
  • Supports hair growth

Clove Bud

  • Exudes a spicy aroma
  • An antibacterial cleanser that is ideal for acne-prone skin
  • Nourishes and thickens hair
  • Strengthens the hair

Eucalyptus

  • Antibacterial cleanser
  • Fights bad odour
  • Moisturizes the skin
  • Adds shine to and thickens hair for a healthier look

Lemon

  • Purifies skin and hair by removing dirt
  • Cleans oily and acne-prone skin
  • Removes loose dandruff flakes from the hair
  • Alleviates dry skin
  • Replenishes/protects the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Strengthens and adds shine to hair

Peppermint

  • Cools and invigorates skin
  • Antibacterial cleanser
  • Makes hair stronger and thicker
  • Cleans hair without stripping away its natural oils
  • Moisturizes and nourishes hair for enhanced beauty

Pine

  • Energizes and revitalizes the appearance of the hair
  • An antibacterial cleanser that is suitable for cleaning oily and acne-prone skin
  • Hydrates skin to relieve itching due to dryness
  • Cleanse hair and removes loose dandruff flakes
  • Strengthens hair

Sandalwood

  • Relieves itching due to dry skin
  • Moisturizes and tightens skin
  • Improves the texture of skin
  • Protects against and alleviates chapping, cracking, and roughness due to dryness
  • Antibacterial cleanser
  • Kills odour-causing bacteria
  • Improves skin elasticity and resiliency
  • Has skin brightening effects, which may benefit discoloration from dark spots and tans
  • Tightens skin
  • Cleanses oily skin and removes oil
  • Moisturizes and nourishes hair

Tea Tree

  • Fortifies and thickens hair
  • Repairs split ends as well as dry and damaged hair
  • Moisturizes hair for shine, texture, softness, and beauty
  • Removes loose dandruff flakes from the hair
  • Relieves itching due to dry skin
  • Cleanses oily skin and removes excess oil
  • Protects the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Promotes the healthy appearance of hair and skin

For recipes for DIY beard oil check out this blog post.

The final word

Beard oil should be used by every person growing a beard.

It provides a huge array of benefits and is an inexpensive way to ensure that your beard is hydrated, your skin is conditioned and it is as healthy as possible.

If you don’t have beard oil in your daily routine you should consider getting some right now! Here we have covered everything you need to know about how to apply beard oil for beginners!

The Author


Andy Stapleton

Andy is a writer and YouTuber with a PhD in science. He has written and/or produced videos for Science Alert, COSMOS magazine, and Australia's Science Channel among others. He is an avid beard grower and after many years of growing and trialling different beard styles, he started this blog to share the tips, tricks, and science that he has learned along the way!