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One of my most popular male-centered blog posts is my DIY Beard Oil recipe! All of the bearded men in my life love receiving homemade beard care products. Recently though, I was asked to make a friend of mine a beard balm instead of a beard oil, and that got me thinking about devising a beard balm that not only smoothes his whiskers but also helps support beard growth!
Ingredients to soften his whiskers
There are a lot of recipes out there on the internet for beard care, but many of them contain ingredients that really aren't that good for beard softness and growth. Some of the oils used either don't absorb well into hair or will clash with your face's natural oil layer and cause overproduction of sebum. I have chosen oils for this beard balm that not only moisturize your beard and face but also help smooth the frizz and increase beard growth!
- Hemp seed oil - Hemp seed oil is rich in omega fatty acids making it one of the perfect base oils for any beard oil, balm, or butter. It is quickly and easily absorbed into your hair and skin and is one of my favorite oils to use in my daily facial moisturizer. It's even great for acne/oily skin types!
- Avocado oil - Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E, avocado oil is a fantastic oil for pretty much any hair or skin application, including beards. Avocado oil is a wonderful addition to your beard care products, especially for those with dry skin and hair. This oil helps to relieve both "beard itch" and "beardruff."
- Castor oil - Rich in ricinoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids, castor oil accelerates circulation at the root of the hair, helping to quickly strengthen and grow hair. Castor oil is also great at healing and preventing ingrown hairs, will destroy clogged pores, straightens hair naturally, prevents breakage, and even helps reduce split ends! This powerhouse oil is great for both your beard and your face!
- Shea butter - Rich in vitamins A, E, and F, shea butter is a great natural beard softener! It can stimulate hair growth while also ensuring your beard and face stay smooth! Shea butter is great at softening dry/flaky skin and even helps with chapped skin and wind burn during the winter!
Why NOT coconut oil?
I keep large vats of unrefined coconut oil all over my home and use it for a million different tasks including my body butter and even as a deep conditioner for my hair, but one place I won't use coconut oil is my face! After all the hype coconut oil has received, I am sure you're balking at me right now, but did know that coconut oil is highly comedogenic? That means that it clogs pores and has been known to make acne issues worse. For this reason, I avoid using coconut oil in any of my facial care products including beard care!
Dampen your beard before applying
It is suggested to slightly dampen your beard before applying any beard care products. Hair has an aqueous layer that can prevent proper absorption, but when dampened with water-based ingredients it can help your hair to absorb the oils better! While water will work just fine, I suggest spraying your beard with facial toner as the perfect pre-beard grooming ritual.
DIY Beard Balm
YIELDS 2 oz.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 Tbsp. hemp seed oil
- 2 tsp. avocado oil
- 1 tsp. castor oil
- 1 Tbsp. beeswax pastilles
- 1 Tbsp. unrefined shea butter
- essential oil blend (see below)
DIRECTIONS
- In a double boiler (or makeshift one using a mason jar placed in a saucepan filled with an inch of water) combine beeswax and shea butter and melt.
- Once ingredients are completely melted, remove from the heat and stir in the hemp seed oil, avocado seed oil, castor oil, and essential oil blend of your choosing.
- Pour the mixture into a 2 oz. container and store in a cool dry location when not in use.
TO USE
After dampening your beard, scoop out a dime-sized amount of beard balm and rub between your palms. Run your fingers through your facial hair, starting from the neck and working up, making sure to rub the beard balm into the skin where your beard grows.
Essential Oil Blends For Him
These essential oil blends are formulated for the 2-ounce beard balm recipe above. While they are scented, they are not meant to be heavily scented like perfume and shouldn't get in the way of any cologne or scented body sprays.
HERBAN MAN
- 20 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops thyme essential oil
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
EARTHEN SPICE
- 10 drops patchouli essential oil
- 6 drops cardamom essential oil
- 6 drops Virginia cedarwood essential oil
- 20 drops bergamot essential oil
TROPIC THUNDER
- 20 drops Virginia cedarwood essential oil
- 20 drops clove bud essential oil
- 6 drops lime essential oil
PIRATE'S BOOTY
- 6 drops nutmeg essential oil
- 4 drops vanilla oleoresin
- 6 drops bay west indies essential oil
- 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
GREEN GOD
- 6 drops pine essential oil
- 20 drops rosemary essential oil
- 6 drops juniper berry essential oil
- 20 drops Virginia cedarwood essential oil
AUTUMN HARVEST
- 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 6 drops nutmeg essential oil
- 10 drops clove bud essential oil
