Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Beard? – A Facts-Based Answer

The use of coconut oil as a conditioning agent has long been established. We probably all have seen an ad or two of coconut oil in hair products and claiming how good it is for the hair. However, these are almost always shown for head hair.

So, firstly, we need to check the validity of the claims and secondly, we need to find out if the coconut oil is good for our beards as it is for head hair.

This is because facial hairs are different than head hair and they also have different skin underneath them. Facial hairs are generally thicker, wirier, and more prone to kinking than head hair. Let’s see how it affects our beards and what to expect.

Established Benefits of Coconut Oil For Beard

The following are some of the benefits you may expect from coconut oil for your beard. The results may vary from person to person, but it is not unwise to expect some sort of results from coconut oil.

1. Prevents Protein Loss From Hair

A study by A S Rele and R B Mohil published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2003 revealed the effects of mineral oil, coconut oil, and sunflower oil on hair. It was found that out of the three, only coconut oil was found to prevent protein loss from both damaged and undamaged hair.

Protein loss has been associated with hair loss and can lead to patchy beards. So, the effective use of coconut oil has been established to restore the wellbeing of your hair.

2. Better Penetration Produces Better Results

The main fatty acid found in coconut oil is lauric acid. It has a low molecular weight and straight linear chain and this enables it to penetrate the hair shaft easily.

This means it delivers its nutrients more effectively. It is certainly more than some of the heavier fatty acids such as linoleic acid found in some other oils.

3. Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties

Lauric acid has been found to have good antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Due to this, it can help fight any conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis which affects the hair, and any skin conditions that hinder hair growth.

4. Fights Dandruff

With its high fatty acid contents, coconut is a beast at hydrating. Plus, its anti-microbial properties make it a godsend to treat dandruff which may be due to any reason.

5. Makes Beard Soft

As said before, coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and these have high moisture-retaining capabilities. It is occlusive as well as a sealant, so it helps not only to trap moisture but also makes sure that it remains sealed for longer.

So, as a result, the hairs are soft and smooth.

Plus, it makes the skin retain moisture and that enables the skin to better nourish hair follicles.  Thus, eventually, we have healthier hair and better-looking beards.

6. Prevents Split Ends

As we know by now that facial hair is generally drier and wirier than head hair and this is what makes them more prone to developing split ends.

So, by providing better nourishment and moisturization to hair, coconut oil prevents split ends.

7. Better Beard Growth

The vitamin found in coconut oil is vitamin E, which is known for its anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants work at the cellular level and reduce oxidative stress.

Increased oxidative stress has been found to be one of the major reasons behind hair loss and hindered hair growth.

So, coconut oil gives you healthy beard growth with its nutrients in the form of saturated fats and vitamin E.

8. Treats Baldness and Patchy Beard

Coconut has one of the highest concentrations of saturated fatty acids. Evidence suggests that fatty acids naturally lower the levels of 5-alpha-reductase. This is an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT.

It is now an established fact that DHT is associated with hair loss and hair thinning. So, as a result, you may have a bald head or a patchy beard.

Consuming coconut oil can lower the converting enzyme and in turn reduce balding and patchy beard.

9. A Great Beard Conditioner

We use a conditioner to improve the feel and appearance of the hair. Plus, it makes the hair more manageable by reducing friction between hair strands and thus makes them frizz-free.

Coconut oil is an excellent emollient and does these duties effortlessly and this makes it a great beard conditioner.

10. Preserves the Beard Color

Coconut oil does not have any stripping or acidic elements to it, so it does preserve your beard color.

It is especially helpful if you go swimming in a pool with chlorine in it as it can strip the hair of its color. So, coat the hair with coconut oil and it will create a barrier between chlorinated water and your hair and preserve your beard color.

11. An Inexpensive Beard Oil Alternative

We use beard oils for moisturizing and hydrating beards. But, we see that coconut oil has some of the best moisturizing capabilities. What makes it even better is that it is relatively inexpensive.

At a time, when you get a 1-2 oz bottle of good beard oil at around $10, you can get 16 oz of refined coconut oil at almost the same price.

Drawbacks Of Coconut Oil For Beard

Coconut oil being a natural product is usually non-harmful. However, It is easy to fall prey to the craze and overdo it and that’s where the drawbacks of beard lie.

1. Can Cause Acne

Coconut is comedogenic. This means it can clog the skin pores and this can result in acne. This is especially a possibility if you have oily skin or overdo it.

So, if you have a tendency towards acne breakout in the beard area, it is probably not the best of decisions to use coconut oil too often.

Our recommendation is to use it probably once a week or two and don’t let it stay for long hours. Rinse it off quickly like in an hour or two and you are good to use it.

2. Causes Protein Buildup

We said that coconut oil prevents protein loss and how it is effective for damaged hair. However, if your hair is already replenished on protein, it can cause protein buildup.

The side effects of protein buildup for hair include stiffening of the hair and which results in breakage of hair.

So, coconut oil is a big yes for people with damaged hair, but if you have already healthy hair overdoing it can cause damage.

How To Deep Condition Your Beard With Coconut Oil

So, we had a long list of benefits of coconut oil for your beard. But, we also said that if you have already healthy facial hair, it is better to avoid daily usage of coconut oil. However, if you have damaged hair, you can use it more regularly until it gets the job done.

For people with normal healthy facial hair, the best is to use coconut oil as a deep conditioner. We know that deep conditioning can be done around once a couple of weeks. Here is what you need to do.

1. Take about dime-to-thumb-sized coconut oil depending on your beard length.
2. Put it in your hands loosely and lightly rub it to have a thorough coating on your hands.
3. Lightly massage into your beard and skin.
4. Start from the up and go towards the lower end, use your fingers or a comb.
5. Put a plastic cap on your beard, this is what we normally use for our head.
6. Get a towel and soak it in hot water
7. Get the water out of the towel and put it on your face
8. Keep it on the beard for 8-10 minutes
9. Wash it with a beard wash or beard shampoo

It will help your hair feel softer and your beard will be healthier.

Conclusion

We have put forward science-based facts about coconut oil and how it can be quite a remedy for most of your beard woes.

So, the answer to is the coconut oil good for your beard is a resounding yes. It is as good a natural treat for your beard as you can get.

It is probably way too strong and potent to be used every day if you have healthy facial hair. However, on the whole, coconut is a real godsend for hair and people who are in pursuit of their beard goals.

That’s it for now from us on coconut oil. Keep coming back for up-to-date male grooming content and honest reviews.