What's In Your Beard Oil?

What's In Your Beard Oil?

There are a lot of beard oils to choose from. Almost all claim to moisturize and condition your beard. A lot claim to be all natural. How can you make sure you are getting the best beard oil for your money? That's what this article will explain. After reading this article you will be able to make educated and informed choices about which beard oil is right for you.

Beard oil moisturizes and conditions your beard. There are two tiers of moisturizers/conditioners used in beard oils.

Top Tier

Argan

Extracted from the kernels of Moroccan argan trees, Moroccan men have known of the benefits of argan oil for centuries.

They were so impressed by argan oil’s ability to soften, thicken and increase their beards manageability they referred to it as liquid gold. It is only recently that the west has begun to realize the benefits of this amazing all natural oil. Argan oil immediately improves the flexibility of beards that have become brittle and dry due to exposure to harsh conditions. Argan repairs damaged whiskers, reducing breakage which in turn makes it easier to detangle your beard and creates conditions for increased beard growth.

Jojoba

Indigenous to the Sonoran and Mohave deserts, jojoba is a liquid wax ester derived from the evergreen shrub Simmondsia chinensis. Jojoba is unique because its molecular structure is similar to sebum; the oil your body naturally produces to keep your beard and the skin underneath it moisturized.

Store bought beard washes, shampoos and conditioners deplete these oils. It is crucial to replenish the oils your body naturally creates; which is exactly what jojoba does. Because of its molecular similarity to sebum, jojoba will not disrupt the skin under your beard’s natural balance. Jojoba strengthens facial hair and hydrates from the inside. It is also especially helpful at reducing the itch of early growth. Jojoba is the best beard conditioner because it softens facial hair and increases volume, causing your beard to appear thicker.

2nd Tier

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a nutrient rich oil that can soften and provide shine to facial hair. Unfortunately most of the nutrients of coconut oil are lost during the refining process. If you choose to use a beard oil containing coconut oil, make sure it is unrefined coconut oil. Unlike jojoba, coconut oil's molecular structure is not similar to the sebum your body naturally creates. Coconut oil can react negatively with some people’s body chemistry, producing a musty, unpleasant odor after a few minutes of applying it. It is also a very greasy oil that can be hard to wash out.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is rich in fatty acids that coat the shaft of your facial hair, which can help hide the damage done by synthetic beard washes and beard conditioners that contain Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate and other chemicals that are harmful to facial hair.

Unfortunately the fatty acids in olive oil make it very greasy and unpleasant to wash out. Olive oil can work in a pinch, but it is probably not something you want to put in your beard on a regular basis.

Conclusion

There are different levels of quality when it comes to beard oil. The best beard oils contain jojoba and/or argan oil as their main ingredients. They are more expensive than coconut and olive oil however. Because of this, companies often use coconut and olive oils as their main ingredient while adding small amounts of jojoba and/or argan. Just because a companies beard oil description says something like jojoba and argan provide moisturizing and conditioning power doesn't mean they are using mostly jojoba and argan. To find out what's in a beard oil read the ingredients label.

The first ingredient listed should be the main ingredient. The last ingredient listed is the least used ingredient in the beard oil. For best results, choose a beard oil with either jojoba or argan as its main ingredient. If the beard oil is scented, make sure it is scented with an essential oil or essential oil blend. Beard oils scented with synthetic fragrance oils should be avoided as they may pose serious risks to your health (Huffington Post).

You now have all the information you need to pick the right beard oil for you. Remember to read your ingredients label, avoid fragrance oils and most importantly, enjoy your new beard life.