Beard Oil 101: A Guide To The Ultimate Facial Hair Conditioner

Beards came back into fashion in a very big way a few years ago, but, this time around, there was a greater focus on how to maintain the health and style of said beard. Just like skincare, and scalp care, and hair care, facial hair deserves a routine all its own. Whether you’re sporting a smattering of scruff, a mustache, a goatee, or a bountiful beard, multitasking beard oils can help keep both the hair and the skin underneath it in tip-top shape.

While these conditioning formulas won’t take your facial hair game from zero to Jason Momoa overnight, beard oils are an underrated essential. Here’s what you need to know.

Beard Oil 101

Beard oil is a lot like hair oil — it’s not absolutely necessary (like, say, sunscreen), but it has a host of benefits that probably tackle most of the concerns you have about your facial hair. From skincare to hair care to styling, beard oils can wear a lot of hats. Some of the most notable benefits include:

1. Moisturizing & Softening: As with any oil, the main goal of beard oil is to nourish. In this case, it works on both the hair and underlying skin. Your hair will feel softer, look shiner, and style more easily. The skin, meanwhile, will be properly hydrated, which leads us to...
2. Preventing Itch & Dandruff: Itch and dandruff are common concerns for those with facial hair, and both are the result of dry, damaged skin underneath. By keeping the skin properly moisturized, your beard will look its best and you will feel your best.
3. Taming Flyaways: Beard oils are ideal for tending to unruly hairs or haphazard growth patterns (think: different lengths and angles). The conditioning ingredients help to soften the strands, so that you can style them however you please.
4. Promoting Healthy Growth: Hair oils are not hair growth treatments, but they can promote healthier growth by stopping split ends and breakage and nourishing the follicle.
5. Adding Scent: In case you hadn’t heard, beard oils tend to smell good — like, skip-your-cologne good. The aromatic nature of the formula is meant to linger, which means it can double as a fragrance.

When shopping for beard oil, prepare to get very familiar with reading ingredient labels. It can be confusing to cut through the numerous options on the market, but the good news is that you don’t even need to specifically buy a product that’s being marketed as a beard oil in order to enjoy the benefits. Instead, you’ll just need to make sure that the formula you choose contains an oil that supports hair health and is good for the complexion. Those include:

• Argan Oil
• Castor Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Jojoba Oil

In addition to oils, the formulas may contain other active ingredients that target specific skin and hair concerns. Depending on your skin type and grooming goals, you can select a product accordingly.

The Best Beard Oils For Every Hair Type

Now that you know the benefits of beard oil, it’s time to add one to your routine. From sensually scented elixirs to multipurpose grocery store finds, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best beard oils on the market:

Trader Joe's Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Like we said, what you use as a beard oil doesn’t actually need to be marketed as such. Coconut oil is a classic for a reason, and this pantry staple can be used on your hair and skin, in addition to your cooking. $15, amazon.com

Bevel Beard Oil

Designed to be used in conjunction with the brand's Beard Conditioner and 2 in 1 Pomade, this beard oil works just as well on its own. It has a powerhouse combination of grapeseed, macadamia, avocado, jojoba, and argan oils to moisturize and strengthen facial hair and the skin beneath it. $15, walmart.com

Oars + Alps Beard Oil

Whether you choose the woody cedar scent or the energizing citrus, the benefits are the same: You'll enjoy smoother hair with less flaking and itching thanks to a blend of alpine caribou moss, jojoba, and argan oils. $20, oarsandapls.com

Tom Ford Men's Tobacco Vanille Conditioning Beard Oil

Add a bit of luxury to your grooming routine with this aromatic oil. Scented with the sweet and spicy fragrance from the designer’s Private Blend Collection, the formula conditions, softens, and nourishes thanks to a lightweight mix of almond, jojoba, and grapeseed oils as well as antioxidant protection in the form of vitamin E. $57, macys.com

BIOGRAPHY FEW WORDS SHAVE DROPS

The ultimate multitasker, this conditioning oil — which can be applied before and after shaving — does it all. Formulated for all skin types and levels of facial hair, the blend of softening radish seed oil, anti-inflammatory borage seed oil, and antioxidant-rich pumpkin seed oil protects skin and hair alike from bumps, burns, and irritation. $52, biographynyc.com

Shea Moisture Maracuja Oil & Shea Butter Beard Conditioning Oil

Perfect for coarser and thicker hair, this formula keeps your beard soft and shiny thanks to a deeply conditioning duo of maracuja oil and shea butter. A little goes a long way with this one, so, if your hair is fine, you’ll only need a couple of drops. $9, walmart.com

Brooklyn Made Natural Organic Jojoba Oil

Dehydration leads to brittle hair, itchiness, and flaking, so locking in moisture is essential. As a liquid ester wax that closely mimics the skin's natural sebum, jojoba oil has the ability to prevent water loss. With just one ingredient — 100 percent USDA certified organic, cold pressed, unrefined jojoba oil — you can use this oil on your entire face and hair. $12, packagefreeshop.com

Dr. Squatch Sandalwood Bourbon Beard Oil

This bourbon-scented oil features an intriguing blend of carrier and essential oils, including jojoba, almond, castor, argan, sandalwood, bergamot, coriander, basil, vetiver, grapefruit, frankincense, and myrrh, to nourish and hydrate. $18, drsquatch.com

Velvet Noir Bourbon Barrel Beard Oil

Like a multivitamin for your facial hair, this blend pairs vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and E with castor and almond oils, hempseed, and tea tree oil. Together, they stimulate blood flow (which may promote growth), while smoothing coarse hair and moisturizing the skin beneath your beard. $17, velvetnoir.com

Kiehl’s Grooming Solutions Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil

A good choice for those who deal with acne and breakouts, this beard oil combines the soothing and calming properties of pracaxi oil with clarifying salicylic acid and a host of other nourishing and aromatic extras. $30, kiehls.com

Scotch Porter Beard & Hair Conditioner Spray

Don’t love the, well, oiliness of an oil? This formula puts all the benefits in spray form. It contains an eight-oil blend of hydrating favorites including argan, marula, coconut, and kukui for long-lasting moisture and softness. $15, scotchporter.com

How to Apply Beard Oil

When it comes to applying beard oil, you’ll want to start with clean skin and hair. You can add a few drops of the formula to the palms of your hands and massage it into the hair and skin — from root to tip. Finish off the ritual by combing the remaining product through the hair to ensure even distribution and shine.

All products featured are independently selected by our editors, however, AEDIT may receive a commission on items purchased through our links.