In the past decade, there has been a rise in the popularity of self-care products. This has paved the path for many companies to introduce specialized products dedicated to different aspects of grooming, from skin-care lotions to hair-care serums and beard-care oil and balms.
Because of this reason, the market has become oversaturated with products, giving consumers a wide range of options to select from. Another interesting thing about these products is that they are all made from different ingredients, retail at different price tags, and yield different results.
This has made it an incredibly challenging task for people to pick the products that best suit their grooming regime. Men looking for grooming products for their beards are provided with two different routes; beard oil vs beard balm.
If you’re struggling to make the difficult decision between the two products, continue reading to find out which product is better for you.
In this article, we will look at beard oil and conditioner in gritty detail so that you can make the best possible decision for yourself.
What is Beard Balm?
Beard balm is for your beard and leave-in conditioners are for your hair. This product is packed with hydrating molecules, which provide ample moisture to your beard hair to keep them soft and manageable.
Most beard balms consist of a few key ingredients, like shea butter, beeswax, and a variety of essential oils such as sunflower oil and argan oil.
These components help to lock in the natural moisture of the hair and prevent them from getting coarse. Most people often use beard oil and beard balm interchangeably. However, in comparison between beard oil vs. beard balm, beard balm is thicker in consistency and has a creamy texture that resembles pomade.
Is Beard Balm Good For You?
A high-quality beard balm is packed with natural ingredients instead of synthetic chemicals, which helps to keep your beard hair relaxed and in place. Additionally, a good beard balm should also contain natural essential oils and steer clear of synthetic fragrances.
The chemical toxins in most beard balms out there can often damage the beard by stripping the hair off its natural oils instead of grooming it.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Beard Balm?
1. Prevents dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem among men with beards. Much like dandruff on your head, if your beard is stripped of its natural oils or there is an imbalance in sebum production, your beard can start to feel itchy and shed off white flakes.
Beard balm helps combat this problem by keeping the skin cells hydrated and restoring the skin’s natural pH by eliminating excessive production of sebum.
2. Provide relief from itchy beard
A beard tends to itch from time to time, especially during the initial 2-4 weeks due to loss of moisture. This issue can easily be resolved by applying a beard balm.
Beard balms contain beeswax, which helps to reduce inflammation in hair follicles. Additionally, a thin layer of this product seals the hair’s natural moisture and keeps the beard hair healthy.
3. Protects from environmental damage
Much like the hair on your head, your beard hair is vulnerable to the pollutants in the environment and the harmful UV rays emitted by the sun.
Exposure to such elements can cause protein-loss damage to your beard hair. A thin layer of beard balm creates a protective shield between such toxins and your beard hair, keeping them from harm.
What Is Beard Oil?
Used for centuries, beard oil is an ancient oil-based leave-in conditioner for your beard. Between beard balm vs. oil, beard oils do not contain shea butter. However, most beard oils consist of a combination of a variety of essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, and peppermint oil.
These essential oils are enriched in vitamins and minerals needed to keep your beard hair healthy. A few drops of beard oil go a long way in maintaining your facial hair’s shine and keeping the hair follicles relaxed.
Should I Use Beard Oil?
The most natural and organic beard oils are loaded with nutrients and proteins that soak into your facial hair and skin. Beard oils are especially useful for you if you suffer from dry skin. Additionally, beard oil also helps to fill out bald patches as it promotes better hair growth.
What Are The Benefits Of Beard Oil?
1. Replenishes moisture
Beard oil is packed with a lot of moisture to keep the beard hair hydrated, making them softer and more manageable. Additionally, aside from nourishing the hair, beard oil also helps to moisturize the skin underneath as well.
Most of the time, the skin beneath the beard can get dry and itchy because most of the moisture is absorbed by the beard hair. Beard oil ensures that the skin’s moisture is replenished and prevents dandruff and itchiness.
2. Tames the hair
Since beard hair grows in all directions, flyaways are very common. If you want to style your beard according to what suits your face the best, we highly advise investing in beard oil. This product will help you comb your beard hair in whichever direction you like while keeping the hair soft and shiny.
3. Stimulates hair growth
Growing a thick beard can become a challenging task for many. Beard oil contains high levels of healthy fatty acids in its composition that stimulate dormant hair follicles and helps to boost hair growth.
4. Reduces inflammation
Aside from boosting hair growth, beard oil also possesses anti-inflammation properties that help to soothe irritated skin and provide instant relief.
5. Scent
Most beard oils out there come in varying fragrances, which smell delightful with lasting effects. Aside from keeping your bread maintained, beard oil also makes your face smell fresh and clean all day long.
The Bottom Line
Beard grooming is just as important as taking care of the hair on your head. For this reason, we highly recommend that you invest in beard oil or beard balm to keep your facial hair soft and manageable.
There is a wide variety of products available in the market, and you can choose the ones that best met your requirements.
