Does Beard Oil Actually Work?

One of the most frequent questions we would get asked is, "Does Beard Oil Actually Work?" We get it, you want to make sure what you're buying ends up being worth it. The short answer is yes, but the more realistic answer is, it depends.

We've probably all purchased a product only to find out it didn't do what we were expecting it to do. Maybe it worked, but it wasn't the right product for the job. The truth is Beard Oil is much the same, it does actually work, but, it also depends on what you want it to do.

So, What Does Beard Oil Do?

Beard Oil will soften and condition your beard, but its biggest benefit is going to be for the skin underneath. It helps alleviate itchiness, dryness, acne, irritation and ingrown hairs. Beard Oil really shines, by helping to keep the skin underneath your beard happy and healthy. 

Beard Oil will also add a bit of lustre and shine to your beard. Some are designed to add more shine than others, so be sure to do a bit of research if this is something that's important to you.

Beard Oil can also help stimulate beard growth and make it appear fuller, which can help with patchiness, but beware of exaggerated claims about this! Even products that contain minoxidil (generic Rogaine) can have very inconsistent results. Proper beard care, diet and exercise are the best ways to promote healthy beard hair growth.

What Doesn't Beard Oil Do?

If you're looking for a product to help keep the beard hairs in place, and make the beard hairs softer, you'll likely want to reach for a beard balm. Yes, beard oil will help keep your beard neater then using no product, but it does lack the ability to 'hold' your beard in place. 

So How Does Beard Oil Actually Work?

There are 2 camps when it comes to the science behind how your Beard Oil works. On one side, there are mass-produced, silicone-based oil blends, and on the other; less-processed, natural oil blends, like the type that we make here at Peregrine. The difference comes down to the chemistry of each type.

Now, silicone-based oils are perfectly safe to use, and pose no real danger to your health. However, the way that these Beard Oils work is a cause for concern. The silicone blends (look for any ingredients that end with a "-cone" or a "-xane" for a quick test) work by coating each hair with a thin layer of silicone. The silicone gives the hair a nice, smooth texture, but is very difficult to remove. This requires a much harsher wash to refresh your beard (which we've gone over already in this post), and in turn can lead to split ends, itchiness and other unpleasant-ness for your beard.

To make your beard feel nice again, you're stuck with using the silicones to reform the smooth film on your skin and beard. You HAVE to use the same beard oil and wash, or you'll be left with a dry, itchy and frizzy beard.

The second type of Beard Oils tend to be made by smaller producers (like us)  The less processed, more natural blend of oils, like the type we use, will help enhance the skin & beard, rather than disrupt the natural oils your skin generates. In turn, your skin is much less likely to experience the unpleasant effects that we touched on earlier.

So Do Beard Oil's Actually Work?

Yes- but not for everything! Beard Oils are much more skin-focused than other beard care products, and work to keep everything looking and feeling healthy and comfortable. They help to control itchiness, ingrown hairs, acne and other blemishes, dandruff, the list goes on. They also help to nourish and condition the actual beard itself, softening the hairs and removing coarseness to keep everything neat, soft and looking great.

The Short version Beard Oils actually work to keep your skin and beard happy 

Here at Peregrine our blend of oils has been built specifically to be light, quick to absorb, and as similar as possible to the skin's natural oils. The result is a blend that is easy to use at any stage in your beard growing journey, from the 2-day beard to the 2-year beard. There is no sign of any greasiness or heaviness and the blend doesn't clog pores - meaning no acne or blemishes under your beard.

-Tyler

 Want to check out our beard oils? Click Here.

PS Use the code BLOG10 for 10% off your first order!