Beard Oil
Beard oil is not a new invention, but, the 21st century groomed man welcomed it as if it were. Nowadays bearded men are more conscientious of their beards than they have been in years. They care about the health and the needs of their new-found mane's. Today we explore what does a beard really need, what does beard oil do and how do I care for my beard. (Also, where you can get some of that sweet beard oil!)
Beards are an interesting thing. It’s some of the only hair on your body that consistently contains a medulla. The medulla is the most central part of the hair and acts as the core of the shaft. In many cases, hair only contains the cortex and cuticle. The medulla is overlooked by many men with them only shampooing and possibly conditioning. Beard hair has a sturdier build and tends to curl up and eventually snap due to the medulla drying out. Studies have shown that coconut oil and its ridged long chain structure is more efficient at penetrating the hair shaft, and providing the much-needed nourishment, to the hair’s inner layers than almost any other oil! We use all organic coconut oil in our beard oils to provide this supreme replenishment. Organic hemp oil is one of the main carriers in our beard oil as it is one of the easiest on the face. It helps with oxidization so as to prevent breakouts caused by other oils, not so friendly to your skin. Jojoba oil is another one of our carrier oils and is one of the closest resembling oils to sebum. Sebum is the natural oil that our bodies produce to nourish and protect our hair and skin. Sebum can be bought but comes from sharks and other animals which have been killed and used for their parts. We are a vegan company and believe in alternative methods.
What does beard oil really do? Firstly, beard oil doesn’t make a beard explode out of your face. (don’t believe anyone that makes those claims.) Yes, it can help with growth due to opportune conditions, but it most likely will not stimulate new growth per se. Beard oil is like putting oil in your car after an oil change. Yes, the engine is now clean and drained of its bad oil (shampooing) but now needs some new oil so It can keep running smoothly (Conditioning and beard oil). This keeps your beard from curling as much and allows for some shaping and taming of hairs. This is the second real benefit of beard oil. It not only keeps your beard healthy, it allows for your beard to stay tamed and how you styled it. It prevents flyaways and helps the comb or pick glide through it more easily too. (preventing breaks) If you just want it fluffed, it can help with that too. Since you are replenishing the natural oils your hairy face so desired, the hairs are fuller and more voluminous than before, giving your mane that extra boost. Finally, beard oils will typically contain some sort of antibacterial or astringent to help with routine contact of bad oils (food stuffs, etc.) and oxidization. This keeps your beard smelling fresh and clean longer. In ours, we use tea-tree oil, but only a small small amount. Tea-tree oil can be toxic if used in excessive quantities and should be used with care when doing aroma therapy or other topical and or internal treatments using essential oils. Consult your local aroma therapist and or cosmetologist before using essential oils such as Tea-tree oil, lavender oils, etc., as these can have harmful effects if not used in the proper manner. We use them in very small quantities and maintain a 2% or lower concentration.
So, I’m a wizard of the hair sciences, and know all there is to know about beard oil, how should I use this stuff? Firstly, you want to wash your beard and face thoroughly. Use a sulfate free shampoo and use as little as you can get by with. Your skin and hair will thank you. You should wash your face daily and condition 1-2 times a week. Once you have a freshly cleaned face, apply some beard oil to your palm and rub it between your hands until it is fairly evenly dispersed across both hands. Massage it thoroughly through your whiskers and follow up with a comb to separate any tangles, straighten and separate the hairs. Because our beard oil is made with non-fractionated coconut oil (so it retains all the health benefits) it is prone to becoming slightly solid, and solid in some cases of cold environments. If this occurs, warm the bottle in a mug of hot water while you brush your teeth, take a shower whatever may give you 2 or more minutes. (we do not recommend microwaving) Once fully thawed, shake well and apply as normal. This will guarantee a more consistent blend of oils and give the best result.
You’re now a pro at taking care of your beard! With proper care and consistent grooming you will have an impressive mane in no time. Now, go take care of that glorious beard with this new found knowledge and don’t forget to snag some oils from the shop.
References
Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2006;19(1):50-62. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006.
Jones, L. (2001). Hair structure anatomy and comparative anatomy1 1Dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. R. E. Rivett whose untimely death prevented his role in co-authorship. Clinics In Dermatology, 19(2), 95-103. doi:10.1016/s0738-081x(00)00120-6