The Best Beard Oils

From the backwoods mountain man to the artistic hipster, those who sport a batch of cheek bristles understand the importance of proper beard care. So, if you’re looking for a way to nourish your beard, check out these beard oils.

Buying Guide for Beard Oils

Why buy beard oil?

Keeping your beard smartly trimmed with a beard trimmer won’t mean much if it’s too dry and unmanageable to style. Beard oil softens your beard by moisturizing the follicles so that your facial hair looks fuller while having a softer, more luxurious feel. Beard oil also moisturizes the skin underneath your beard, which can help prevent breakouts on your cheeks. Also, many beard oils will leave your beard with a subtle tantalizing aroma for a fraction of the price of your favorite cologne.

What should you look for in a beard oil?

• Overall Care: There’s a variety of considerations to make when picking your ideal beard oil, but a top priority should always be facial care. Every beard oil will cater to your facial hair, some better than others, but only the best consider your skin as well. Seek out options that utilize ingredients that are kind to both hair and skin, preventing brittle beards, ingrown hairs, and breakouts.
• Intent: It’s important that you ask yourself why you’re implementing this single-ounce bottle into your grooming regimen. Are you looking to moisturize? Restore? Grow? Consider what you really need for your beard.
• Scent: A far more trivial but worthwhile factor you should take note of is your beard oil’s aroma (or the lack of one). Some people enjoy their beard oil like they do their cologne and seek out a signature scent. However, some fragrances can seem obnoxiously potent if you suffer from sensitive sinus allergies, which is why unscented beard oils are a preferred choice by many users.

What type of beard oil is ideal for a light, sparse beard?

If your beard is on the sparse side, try to find a beard oil that is non-greasy and light but still offers excellent hydration for your hair follicles and skin. You may also consider investing in a product that features caffeine as an active ingredient since these beard oils can promote beard growth.

Our Picks for the Best Beard Oils

Pros: Featuring three subtle scents and an enticing price tag, the Viking Revolution Beard Oil 3-Pack is an amazing choice for those seeking a bit of variety. While the scents may differ, each beard oil offers incredible hydration and softening action for the price. Also, unlike other budget beard oils, this offering from Viking Revolution won’t leave your beard feeling unnatural and oily, especially when combed into a damp beard while blow drying.

Cons: While this beard oil’s sandalwood scent is bound to be a hit with most people, the other two scents are fairly polarizing based on user reviews. Also, it’s worth noting that this beard oil lacks the thickness of some premium options, so those with large beards may need to use a little extra.

Bottom Line: While this might not be the best product for those with a caveman-sized beard, it’s a versatile product that’s tailor-made to meet the needs of most men. So, if your beard tends to be dry and hard to manage, you’re likely to find some relief with this product. Also, its subtle aromas tend to dissipate quickly, so it’s worth trying out even for those who are skeptical of its scent offerings.

 

Pros: If you’re in the market for a beard oil with a thick, voluminous consistency, this jelly-like beard oil from Bossman scores top marks. It stands out for its long-lasting hydration, so you’ll rarely have to reapply it in the same day. It’s also a fairly versatile option thanks to its taming, thickening, and softening properties. If your long, thick beard requires a beard oil with some substance to tame it, add this product to your shopping cart.

Cons: Unlike most beard care products on the market, this one is fairly ambiguous in terms of what scent you’ll be receiving. Magic, Naked, and Stagecoach-scented options won’t mean much to the average guy, and some say they’re a little too strong. You might want to opt for the unscented option if you don’t want to deal with a scent you don’t like.

Bottom Line: Realistically, the Bossman Beard Oil Jelly will probably appeal more to men with long, thick beards, as its extra-thick consistency may be a little much for men with more manageable facial hair. Either way, it’s great at moisturizing and taming long, hard-to-manage facial hair. You also get more product per bottle than other beard oils, making it an enticing option for those seeking something that will last all day (and night) long.

 

Pros: If you have a coarse beard that’s hard to style, Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil might be for you. This beard oil offers solid hydration and is made out of natural, skin-friendly ingredients that are unlikely to cause a breakout. However, what makes this beard oil stand out is its ability to soften up even coarse beards without leaving them looking wet or greasy. This ensures that even coarse, wild beards can be styled over time, thanks to this product’s penchant for moisturizing the driest of hair follicles.

Cons: A lot of reviewers noted that this beard oil has an extremely unique, licorice-like scent, and many of them weren’t exactly fans. That being said, this product’s scent doesn’t stick around for very long, so most people you come into contact with probably won’t notice it at all.

Bottom Line: Styling an extremely coarse beard can be a challenge, especially when you prefer products with natural ingredients. However, this organic beard oil really demonstrates its value when used on dry beards and has plenty to offer people who regularly contend with dandruff. Just note that its unique smell is bound to rub some people the wrong way, even if it’s not the strongest-smelling beard oil on the market.

 

Pros: If you’re looking for a versatile beard kit that has all the essentials, the XIKEZAN Beard Grooming Kit offers a lot for its budget-friendly price. The beard oil included in this kit stands out for its minimal (nearly odorless) smell and very light texture, so it’s easy to distribute throughout your entire beard. The boar-bristle brush is also a winner and can be used in tandem with the oil for softer, fuller-looking facial hair.

Cons: There’s only one fluid ounce of beard oil included in this kit, so don’t expect it to last you for too long if you plan to apply it often. Also, some reviewers noted that some of the products that came with this kit produced mild irritation, so it might be wise to test out a small amount before you apply an entire portion to your beard.

Bottom Line: While this kit doesn’t feature the best beard oil you can ever buy, it’s still a great option for those who would like to test the waters of beard grooming without paying individually for a wide variety of expensive products. The beard oil is surprisingly effective at moisturizing and managing beards, and it easily outcompetes several budget beard oils.

 

Pros: If you’ve got a thick, coarse beard that is prone to itchiness, the Cantu Shea Butter Beard Oil offers excellent hydration and itch relief for an incredibly low price. Its tandem of shea butter and caffeine is quite a versatile combination that promotes beard growth while also helping to prevent dandruff, and its faint, pleasant scent is unlikely to be noticed by those who are more than a few inches away from your face. Given this product’s budget-friendly price, it’s also important to note that it provides considerably more beard oil than comparable products.

Cons: This beard oil is a little on the greasy side, so it probably shouldn’t be your first choice if you keep your beard light and tight. As such, it also takes a bit longer for it to be absorbed into your hair follicles, so your beard will have a bit of a moist, shiny appearance for a while after application.

Bottom Line: Even if this beard oil were double the price, it would have a lot going for it in terms of value and quality. If you’re looking for a more substantial beard oil that will last you a while, even if it’s being used on a thick and untamed beard, this product is one of your best bets.

Final Thoughts

With a great beard comes great responsibility, so do your research to find an effective beard oil that caters to your beard’s unique needs and strong suits. Also, if you suffer from dry skin under your beard, be sure that the beard oil you choose will nourish your skin just as well as it does your beard.