Beard oil Benefits in 2020

Have you ever wondered what the benefits of using beard oils are? Beard oil has become very popular in recent times along with the popularity of growing a beard. There are literally thousands of beard oil products available on the market which can make it hard to decide what you should choose, by what criteria, and for what purpose. That’s why we have compiled a go-to list of the benefits of using beard oil. We will also cover other subjects like what ingredients you should be looking for, how to apply beard oil, and what to make sure is not in your beard as well as beard growth or stimulant and their claims and effectiveness.

So here we go. The benefits of using beard oil, the comprehensive one stop information source for everything beard oil.

The history of beard oil

Beard oil as you could imagine has a history almost as long as the beard itself. As soon as men started intentionally growing their beards it soon became evident that to maximize the lustre and strength of the beard that oils could be added. Some of the first were the Mesopotamians in the modern-day middle east.

The Romans, Greek also had an adaptation of beard oils as well. The common ingredients included olive oil, castor oil, and sesame seed oil. Over time the popularity of maintaining a defined mustache or beard called for further development of beard oils and products.

Next came the English. The English were the first to commercialise beard oils as we know them, however they tended to be thicker and would rub off and leave residue. Over the years as the popularity and styles of facial hair adapted, we eventually end up with the beard oil of today. Generally, a thin very absorbent oil that leave your beard hair with a nice sheen, low residue and extra ingredients to add aroma or strength to your beard or moustache.

What is beard oil made of?

Beard oil is generally made of organic compounds in the form of oils. Popular ingredients are castor oil, coconut oil, sweet almond and sunflower seed oil among many others.

Some oils are added specifically for their nourishing properties and others for their hydrating properties. Some highly desired beard oil ingredients are sandalwood nut oil, argan oil and jojoba oil. These ingredients are the most highly regarded oils due to their high vitamin content and beneficial skin properties.

Sandalwood nut oil being one of the most premium ingredients. You can find beard oil with sandalwood nut oil HERE. Other oils called essential oils are added for fragrance. Popular fragrances for beard oils can be sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood, cinnamon, and bergamot. These add a pleasant aroma and can act as a cologne. They can come in varying strengths depending on your preference.

What to look for in a beard oil.

Searching for a good beard oil can be hard with so many options available and to be frank its just plain confusing. There are so many products on the market its hard to know where to look. A good place to start is on the ingredients list.

Some of the ingredients in beard oil are less than desirable, and some can even be detrimental to the long-term strength and lustre of your beard hair. We will break them down into segments high quality carrier oils, hair maintaining ingredients, and fragrances.

High quality carrier oils.

Carrier oils are oils used to add the concentrated beneficial essential oils or nourishing oils and suspend them into a formula. Some popular high-quality carrier oils are.

Sweet almond oil

Sweet almond oil is made by pressing ripe almonds using minimal heat and extracting the oil. Some processes for extracting refined almond oil use chemicals or heat, however sweet almond oil in its pure unrefined form is more than adequate for beard oil applications.

Sweet almond oil gains its title due to the type of almond used. Bitter almonds are toxic and contain cyanide. The use of bitter almonds is illegal in most states and territories for this reason. If you find a product using bitter almond steer clear of it.

Sweet almond oil has its own beneficial properties as it contains omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E both of which are known for their effectiveness in hair and skin treatments.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil, despite the name in its natural form is actually a wax. Jojoba oil has been used for centuries by native Americans and has numerous benefits to hair, skin, and health. Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of Simmondsia chinensis native to Arizona California and Mexico. There is currently other genus being discovered and evaluated for their effectiveness for hair and skin treatments in nations all over the world. The main benefit of jojoba oil is its high natural vitamin E content and that it has the same molecular structure as the natural hydrating wax esters contained in our skin.

Jojoba oil is considered a premium ingredient for beard oils and is one of the most versatile.

Sunflower seed oil

Sunflower seed oil is a great carrier oil, is very absorbent to hair and contains natural vitamin E. Sunflower seed oil is renown for its essential fatty acids like phospholipids and ceramides which are beneficial for hair and skin especially for hydrating the scalp and skin under the beard.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a popular additive for beard oils and a host of hair and skincare products. Coconut oil has a long history and is used in everything from cooking ingredients to lip balms. Coconut oil has a host of unique characteristics. Some of those include high temperature resistance which makes it popular for cooking, it increases good (HDL) cholesterol, reduces inflammation in studies, and can improve bone health. It is a common additive in beard oils however it is not necessarily best suited as it has a tendency to leave residue which can stain clothes or make surfaces slippery.

Castor oil

Castor oil is an ancient derivative of castor beans from the Ricinus Communis plant. Castor oil is rich in fatty acids like ricinolate oleate and linoleate. Fatty acids are the deconstructed form of fats that are contained and absorbed by our body, fatty acids are more easily absorbed into the hair and skin. Castor oil has a long history of being used for beards and dates back to ancient Babylon where the Mesopotamians first used it. Since then it has only increased in popularity and offers a cost-effective carrier oil for any beard oil formula.

Avocado oil

Avocado oil is extracted from avocado pulp generally by using a centrifuge which extracts the oil and water from the pulp. The oil then separates naturally from the water rising to the top. Avocado oil is one of the few edible oils not extracted from seeds and has a host of uses in cooking and skincare. It is high in monosaturated fats and vitamin E which is great for the skin. Avocado oil is easily absorbed by the skin and hair and makes a great carrier oil for any beard care or grooming product.

What else should I be looking for in a beard oil.

Next, we will be covering which beard oil additives you want to looking out for to ensure you are getting the separates best value and best quality beard oil for your money. Beard oil additives are generally oils that have high potency and are highly sought after for their premium quality and extensive range of benefits to hair growth and maintenance. The are usually quite expensive and can range into the hundreds of dollars a litre. So, let’s dive into what Premium beard oil ingredients you want to insure you are seeking out in your beard oil.

Sandalwood nut oil

Sandalwood in its own right is probably the most expensive scented oil on the planet, it has a distinctive unreplaceable aroma that has been sought after for thousands of years. More recently the nut from the sandalwood tree has been used to extract oil which has amazing and beneficial properties. Sandalwood nut oil is incredibly rare and is renowned for its rejuvenating and anti-aging properties. It is high in oleic acid Omegas 3 & 9 and is used as an effective treatment for skin redness.

Argan oil

Argan oil is high in phenolic compounds and oleic and linoleic acid. It is a traditionally highly sought after for all skin and hair applications. Argan oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and additionally has a high vitamin E content which makes it excellent for hair and skin. As a side note argan oil has been investigated for a wide variety of health benefits like heart health and diabetes with impressive results. Argan oil is extracted from the kernel of the argan nut which is contained within a hard shell that first has to be removed. They are then pressed under immense pressure to release the oil.

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is incredibly high in polyunsaturated fat and vitamin E both of which are beneficial for hair and skin. Grapeseed oil has several antibacterial properties and as such it is used as a popular treatment for acne breakouts as well as skin treatments. Grapeseed oil is high in linoleic acid which isn’t created by our bodies, if it is lacking it can lead to dry skin and baldness. Grapeseed oil is made from grape seeds that are extracted during the wine making process. Grape seed oil is an excellent additive to beard oils to boost its effectiveness.

Beard growth claims fact or fiction

If you have been growing a beard you have probably at least considered if there are growth stimulants or procedures you could use to enhance your beards length or thickness. For the most part the market is flooded with false claims and untested products. However, there are a few powerful hair growth stimulants available that are backed up with science. There are both natural and synthetic hair growth stimulants available. A few of those are listed here.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a prescribed medicine for hair loss. It is one of two very popular medicated hair loss treatments it is sometimes also prescribed to reduce blood pressure also. Success varies on the individual and it is usually only prescribed for male-pattern hair loss although it can have effects on other areas of the body including the facial area. Side effects can include Dizziness, Swelling in hands and/or feet, and weight gain among others. If you are considering using minoxidil make sure you consult with your doctor or healthcare professional.

Finasteride

Another and possibly the most popular hair growth treatment next to Minoxidil is Finasteride. Finasteride is an effective medicated treatment for baldness. Finasteride is only available via prescription and can have several side effects including decreased sex drive, erectile disfunction, and skin rashes. It is an extremely effective hair growth stimulant. Caution should be applied when using medicated treatments and we highly recommend you talk to your doctor or health care professional before using it.

Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil (Mentha piperita) is a remarkably powerful natural hair growth stimulant. Peppermint has had several studies on its effectiveness as a hair growth stimulant with impressive results. It has comparable results to medicated treatments without the side effects. A study published in 2014 showed a comparison between peppermint oil and minoxidil showing peppermint oil outperformed the medicated hair growth stimulant. Find the research article HERE. Several beard oil treatments include peppermint oil like this one from Black Magic Organic HERE.

Cinnamon oil

When we think of cinnamon we typically think of doughnuts and other pastries and desserts, however cinnamon oil is also another remarkably effective hair growth stimulant. Caution should be taken using cinnamon oil as it is quite volatile to the skin in its pure form. Cinnamon oil should never be applied topically in its undiluted form as it is extremely potent and can cause redness or even burns. Cinnamon oil stimulates circulation to the skin and also has been tested for its effectiveness as a hair growth stimulant with positive results. Find the study HERE. Hair growth beard oil containing cinnamon oil is rarer than other scents, but it can be found HERE.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is another popular beard oil ingredient that has had moderate results as a promoter of hair growth. There is an abundance of beard oils that contain jojoba oil however the quality and quantity contained can vary. Jojoba oil has been assessed for its effectiveness as a hair growth promoter or stimulant in this study where it was compared to medicated and other natural treatments. Although it is not the most effective treatment, its other beneficial properties can add to the overall strength of your beard hair. As such we highly recommend beard oils that contain jojoba oil. You can find beard oil containing jojoba oil HERE

Conclusion

We hope you have found this article informative and educational in finding the most effective and highest quality beard oils. Its not always easy getting value for money in the 21^st century, but we believe if you follow the advice in this article you will best improve your chances of getting value for money and the highest quality products available.

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