The Ultimate Beard Balm Recipe Guide

Here’s a tip, guys: if you’re planning on rocking a full-on beard this coming summer, you need to try a  beard balm recipe to keep that mane soft and smooth, not to mention moisturizing the skin that’s underneath it. 

Beard balm is essentially a mix of hydrating oils/wax and natural “butters” that penetrate hair follicles which deliver rich moisture to your skin while enhancing the quality of existing hair, which eventually results in a full and healthy beard. It’s easier to think of it as a conditioner or styling gel. 

As well as providing long-lasting hydrated facial hair, beard balms can help with problems like split ends, itchiness, and brittle texture. Many experts recommend the use of beard balm after washing your face and beard, while your skin and hair are still moist and damp.

Beard balms are not only a great tool for conditioning your facial hair, but they can also help you with styling as well. Nothing beats a 2 in 1 product. Right?

Is Balm or Oil Better For Your Beard?

Occasionally there's confusion around what the differences may be between beard oil and beard balm. The main difference is that balms combine essential oils with beeswax as key ingredients, which allow the oils to penetrate deep within follicles to your skin and hair. In addition, beeswax helps in the styling department because it has the proper texture to make hair stay in place all day.

As usual, it's ideal to opt for all-natural and non-chemical ingredients so that you don't experience irritation, build-up, etc. The kinds of ingredients you’ll often see listed on beard balms are more often than not, plant-based. 

 Argan oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, and essential oils like tea tree or lavender are good examples. Other ingredients that are routinely included are beeswax or other natural sealants that will provide a stiffer texture. 

Buying organic, natural, or sustainable products ensures that you're hydrating and styling responsibly, but more importantly, you're also getting the nutrients and care your skin deserves without risking any damage or adding any chemicals usually found in commercial products sold in stores.

While there are many conventional beard balm options out there to purchase, it's important to know that you can also make these items at home for a fraction of the price and completely unique to your preferred texture consistency and aroma profiles.

What Essential Oils Are Good For Beards?

• Cedarwood essential oil is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and also antifungal. It's mostly used for the treatment of acne, eczema, and dandruff. Also used in aromatherapy, Cedarwood oil is useful for reducing anxiety and stress. 
• Bergamot essential oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which are beneficial for acne-prone skin. Adding to that, it's very useful for softening hair, which makes it a perfect addition to beard balm. 
• Rosemary essential oil is anti-inflammatory and there is also a bit of evidence that suggests it may promote hair growth!
• Tea Tree essential oil is something that the majority of men will be familiar with because it has been traditionally used as a staple in locker rooms and wrestling gyms. Tea tree oil has not only antiviral properties but also antimicrobial properties as well. It can help to fight everything from ringworm to acne. This oil is highly potent and is best used in small amounts and even safe to use un- diluted, unlike the vast majority of essential oils that must be diluted with carrier oils for topical application.
• Sandalwood essential oil is an anti-inflammatory, as it helps with fighting off infection, and can also help to promote hair growth. This will make a great choice for men who are looking to develop thick and healthy beards. Sandalwood is already very popular in products such as men’s soaps and shaving creams and serves as a good addition to any beard balm.

Recipes

There are multiple other ways to use essential oils for male grooming products, and whether they are used as an ingredient in a beard balm or in a body soap, please remember to always choose USDA Organic oils to avoid toxicity from the artificial fertilizers & pesticides sprayed on all non-organic crops; otherwise you’re defeating the essential oils’ overall health benefits.

Below are a few homemade beard balm recipes with essential oils which you may want to try for yourself. Conditioning beard balm, vegan beard balm, and beard butter - there’s a recipe for everyone! 

PS: Ladies, there’s nothing better than a thoughtful homemade gift for the men in your life.  Father’s day is always a great excuse to make a personalized  gift for the special men in your life, or do you have your favorite men birthdays’ coming up? Get crafty!  

Conditioning Beard Balm Recipe

Important to note that if you’re making this recipe for a mustache or a very small bear, just cut the recipe measurements in half.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup shea butter
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax 
• 1 dropper (about 20 drops) of argan oil
• 7-11 drops Tea tree essential oil
• 7-11 drops Rosemary essential oil

Instructions:

• First off begin by slowly melting the first four ingredients and combining them together. You can use a double boiler method on the stove or you can melt them in the oven in a heat resistant small container (avoid the microwave if possible), this is entirely up to you.
• In order to use the double boiler method, put a small pot of water on the stove over medium heat. Then measure your olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax into the glass jar and put the glass jar in the pot of water. Stir while the ingredients melt until they are completely combined.
• Once finished, transfer the contents into a medium-size glass bowl. If you wanted to mix the rest of the ingredients into the container where you melted them, that works too.
• Now add your argan oil. Add tea tree and/or rosemary essential oils to the mixture. Stir well.
• (Optional) When the mixture starts to become solidified, beat it with a hand mixer for two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Wait for the contents to set.
• When you’re done mixing, transfer your beard balm to the glass jar where you plan to store it. You can also divide the mixture into multiple jars.
• Once complete you can store your beard balm in an air-tight container until you’re ready to use it. The scent of this balm recipe is very cooling and refreshing -it’s slightly reminiscent of the ocean breeze. Aaahh! 

This recipe doesn’t use any water, that means this beard balm is good for 4-6 months. 

Vegan Beard Balm Recipe With Shea Butter (Without Beeswax)

This shea butter beard balm won’t be as solid as when you include beeswax. But it has a softer consistency and feels refreshing, instead of greasy. Plus, it's a great option for vegans!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp shea butter 
• 1 tsp aloe vera gel 
• Round salve tin 
• 6 drops Cedarwood essential oil 
• 4 drops Sandalwood essential oil 
• 2 drops of Bergamot essential oil 

Instructions:

• Blend all of the above ingredients together then pour the mixture into the salve tins.
• Set aside and leave the balm to harden in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes.
• Voila, it's ready to use! Simply place a little bit of balm on your index finger, rub it between your palms to emulsify and soften, and then massage over your beard.  The combined scent of these 3 essential oils is very seductive in a manly way, which both you and your man will love, so it’s a win-win for both! 

How Do I Make My Beard Balm Softer?

When making beard balm, you'll want to use either shea butter or cocoa butter. These butters are absolutely essential, as they help to soften up the balm, so that it is much easier to be worked into the beard.

Beard balms are designed to be strong, and thus they include beeswax as a key ingredient. Other components are normally much looser but low temperatures can cause them to become more solid. 

High-quality homemade beard balms can be emulsified by working them through your hands to heat the mixture and soften it up. Yet, this is not always the case with low-quality conventional beard balms which often don't contain enough shea butter.

If this is the case, melting the balm down with a hairdryer and adding some more shea butter to the mix will solve the problem. If you need to fix your beard balms consistency, you’ll need to be a bit careful. Focus on first breaking down the balm, and then building it back up with added shea butter.

Summary

One of the most empowering things about making your own homemade beard balm with essential oils is that once you get a feel for it, you will be able to enjoy mixing it to your specifications. 

The ideal balm should give your beard not only a good style, but it should also keep it soft, shiny, moisturized, and smelling amazing with the help of these amazing essential oils.  

Precautions & Disclaimer:

It's always recommended to dilute most essential oils with a carrier oil before using them on the skin. If you're considering starting a therapeutic regimen using essential oils, it's better to consult a doctor or an aromatherapy professional first. 

Some skin types can showcase allergic reactions, so before using essential oils in any of their forms on your skin, it's recommended to do a skin test first, which you can do at home, if you prefer, by applying 2 drops of the oil you want to try on your wrist and wait for 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs. If not, then you’ll be safe to use it. 

Finally, try to use the exact amounts of the oil as per prescriptions or recipes above, otherwise, it could be toxic and cause irritation, possible burns, allergies, and other unwanted problems.

And always choose USDA Organic oils to prevent possible toxicity effects on your skin caused by the artificial fertilizers & pesticides sprayed on all non-organic crops; otherwise, you’re defeating their effectiveness.

Enjoy these wonderful recipes and let us know in the comments below which ones you tried and how they worked for you. We’d love to hear from you! 

Feel free to pin these images to your Pinterest beard products board so you can make these recipes later!