Beard care 101: how to use beard oil?

Hello! My name is Jake Swanson, PA-C, and I have been a provider on the medical staff here at Curology for a little more than one glorious year. I love dermatology and, more importantly, the ability I have at Curology to treat patients who otherwise might not be able to seek dermatology care due to resources or geographic location. In addition to dermatology, I have a background in internal medicine and family medicine. I’m here to share my expertise about one body area that’s often overlooked when it comes to self-care: the beard!

In a subconscious effort to balance out my diminishing head hair, I relinquished myself from daily facial shaving in roughly 2007 and have never looked back. But, in addition to shaving that itchy lower neck scruff and cleaning it up a bit with some bimonthly backyard barbering, I’ve learned that beard oil can be a nice treat for this often rough landscape.

Beards need love too! Anyone who has facial hair, whether long or short, can benefit from some beard love. Don’t let the hair on top of your head get all the attention. This area needs conditioning and moisturizing too. Not to mention, there is skin under there!

What is beard oil?

Beard oil helps tame that potentially dry and wild-looking hair and transform it into a shiny, conditioned masterpiece — and it can keep you smelling fresh all day long!

Beard oil is a blend of carrier oils and essential oils. The carrier oils are used to dilute the essential oils because essential oils used by themselves will likely irritate the skin.

• Common carrier oils: jojoba, argan, sweet almond, hazelnut, and hemp seed, to name a few.

• Common essential oils: sandalwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, sage…the list goes on.

Heads up! Coconut oil is often used as a carrier oil as well, but it can be a very pore-clogging ingredient for those prone to breakouts.

How to use beard oil

Rub 1–3 drops of beard oil between your hands and massage it into your beard — a little goes a long way. Longer beards may, of course, require more, and using a beard comb or beard brush can help to disperse the product evenly and get the hairs all going in the same direction.

You can apply beard oil any time! Personally, I like a clean canvas, so I prefer to apply beard oil after cleansing my skin and hair.

It’s a good idea to proceed with caution when you are getting used to new products. If you tend to have sensitive skin, you may want to start using a beard oil a few times per week and see how it goes before increasing your usage. Keep in mind that the skin of the neck is typically much more sensitive than that of the face.

If you’d like to give beard oil a try, here are some products I can vouch for. They don’t tend to clog pores and shouldn’t irritate the skin.

• Ranger Grooming Company Beard Oil — 1oz for $29.97

• Maapilim Beard Oil — 1oz for $24

• Hawkins and Brimble Beard Oil — 1.69oz for $14.99

• Murdock London Beard Oil — 1.7oz for $24

So for all of you sporting some facial fuzz, make sure you are giving this zone the attention it deserves!

For more help with skincare, feel free to reach out to your Curology provider. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up for a free month of Curology. You’ll be paired with an in-house medical provider who will prescribe you a custom cream with a mix of up to 3 active ingredients for your unique skin concerns. Complete your routine by adding on products like our cleanser, moisturizer, acne body wash, and spot patches. Your first box is free — just pay $4.95 (plus tax) to cover shipping and handling.

Written by

Jake Swanson, PA-C