Beards can be attractive, but let’s be honest: they can also look a bit dodgy if you don’t take care of them.
If your beard is unkempt and unhygienic, it’s not going to do you any favors. There’s more to looking after your beard than just trimming and washing it, though.
How should you care for your beard?
One of the most important things you can do for your beard is to use a beard balm regularly. This is basically a leave-in conditioner for your beard that tames unruly hair and contains healthy ingredients to nourish your beard.
While you might think it’s a luxury instead of a necessity, a beard balm will keep your beard soft and moisturized, which has the bonus of making it easier to style. Here’s the best beard balm: take care of your beard with the five best products on the market.
Best Beard Balm – Reviews & Buying guide for 2021
- Viking Revolution 4 Beard Balm Pack
- Viking Revolution All Natural Beard Balm
- Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm
- Scotch Porter All Natural Beard Balm
- Reuzel Beard Balm
Best overall: Viking Revolution 4 Beard Balm Pack
One of the reasons why this beard wax makes the number one spot on our list is because it comes in four different scents: sandalwood, pine and cedar, clary sage, and bay rum, so you’re sure to like at least one in the pack.
These small 1-oz tins are great for trying out different beard balms before deciding which one you like the most. However, this product has got many more benefits for you and your beard! Let’s take a look at them.
Benefits
Got a bushy beard that you don’t want to do away with? This beard wax will help you tame and style it much easier.
This is thanks to how it’s packed with high-quality ingredients that are good for your beard and skin, such as argan oil, mango butter, jojoba oil, and beeswax.
Although it contains oils to nourish your facial hair, this beard balm doesn’t make your beard greasy or oily, which is a huge plus.
Drawbacks
Some people have claimed that the wax doesn’t offer them as much hold as they’d like, so if you have a long or particularly unruly beard, this wax might not be strong enough for you.
Others don’t like that the wax is made in China.
Extra Features
Some people who have purchased the product have claimed this wax is a little softer than those of other brands, which makes it easier to massage into your beard much faster.
This also means you can control how you style your beard much more effectively.
Buying Guide
This four-pack beard balm gso a long way because you only need to use a pea-sized amount of it when applying it to your beard. It’s the best beard cream to keep your beard looking good!
Runner Up: Viking Revolution All Natural Beard Balm
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Viking Revolution makes our list of the top beard balms again with their All Natural Grooming Treatment. Let’s look at its benefits!
Benefits
This is also a wax, but it’s a two-pack of citrus-scented beard wax so it’s great to purchase if you want to buy in bulk and enjoy a fresh-smelling beard.
Like the previous Viking Revolution product we have featured, this wax contains quality ingredients such as argan oil and jojoba oil to keep your beard soft and nourished.
The wax doesn’t leave your beard feeling greasy. That said, this top rated beard balm does moisturize your beard and tame stray hairs well.
Drawbacks
Some men who’ve purchased the balm have claimed that it didn’t give them great hold. This is more of a moisturizing balm than a strong styling balm.
Although it works well to soften your beard, if you have a longer beard then this balm might not be enough to keep your facial hair moisturized all day. You might have to reapply it during the day.
Extra Features
The scent of this balm is said to be fresh but not overpowering. This makes it easy to use in combination with your favorite cologne because it won’t compete with it.
Buying Guide
This wax is a nice alternative to the previous Viking Revolution beard balm if you like fresh citrus smells and want to tame a shorter beard to keep it neat and healthy.
Alternative: Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm
If you care about where your grooming products are sourced, you’ll be happy to know that the Honest Amish beard balm is made in the USA. Here are some more of its benefits.
Benefits
This balm is made with natural ingredients, such as argan oil and golden jojoba oil. This type of jojoba oil is bright and gold in color because it’s less processed than regular jojoba oil.
It has a similar composition to the oil our skin naturally produces, which makes golden jojoba oil a great oil for your skin – yes, you still need to look after the skin underneath your beard!
On the subject of your beard, a great benefit of this beard balm is that it is said to reduce hair breakage.
It’s also useful for taming, moisturizing, and de-knotting your beard so that you keep it in great condition.
Drawbacks
One of the drawbacks of this balm is that it’s said to not be that tough on bushy, unruly beards. So, this might be a better balm to use for general beard maintenance.
Others have said that the beard balm leaves a bit of residue in their beards.
Extra Features
Some men who’ve tried this beard balm have reported that it makes their facial hair really soft and luxurious. When your beard is soft, it not only feels better but looks much better than dry, brittle hair.
The scent of this beard balm is fresh and pure, thanks to its blend of natural essential oils. The bonus is that essential oils are also nourishing for your skin.
Buying Guide
This beard balm is a bit more expensive than other beard balms we’ve featured in this buying guide of beard balm reviews.
However, it’s got many benefits for you, especially if you’re trying to grow your beard because you won’t have to worry about breakage.
Just make sure you apply it to your beard when it’s a bit damp as that’s how it’s supposed to be used for best results.
Alternative: Scotch Porter All Natural Beard Balm
This stylish black jar will look great in your bathroom, but will it do the work of moisturizing and taming your beard? Let’s take a look!
Benefits
This is a leave-in conditioner that goes the distance to keep your beard feeling soft all day long.
It has an interesting scent that combines carnation flowers with sandalwood as well as spices and powdery musk.
Its ingredients include marshmallow root and kukui nut.
These work to keep your beard shiny and soft. Marshmallow root has a slippery texture that makes hair soft, while kukui nut contains amino acids that leave facial hair feeling moisturized as well as looking healthy.
If you’re in the process of growing your beard, you’ll appreciate that this beard balm contains ingredients such as horsetail and nettle extract. Both of these are said to encourage hair growth.
Drawbacks
Some men who’ve purchased this beard balm have reported that the smell was too overpowering for them. If you don’t like strong smells or are sensitive to them, then this is probably not the right beard balm for you.
Extra Features
The Scotch Porter brand is one that aligns itself with natural, safe ingredients so that you can keep your beard and overall wellbeing in a healthy state.
This balm is free of nasty toxins such as parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, and artificial colors, which is a great thing considering it’s coming into contact with your skin on a daily basis.
It’s safe for color-treated beards so you don’t have to worry about color fade when using this product as well as other Scotch Porter products.
Buying Guide
You only need a dime-sized worth to keep your beard looking amazing, so it’s sure to last a long time.
Alternative: Reuzel Beard Balm
Sometimes you really don’t want to spend a lot of money on a beard balm. Maybe you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that will still treat your beard to a bit of TLC. That’s where Reuzel Beard Balm comes in.
Benefits
The hair-boosting ingredients in this beard balm, such as argan oil, ensure that you only need a little bit of product in order to keep your beard nice and shiny.
It’s a multi-purpose beard balm. You can use it to soften and moisturize your beard, reduce itchiness and “beardruff” (beard dandruff), or promote longer hair if you want to grow your beard.
Drawbacks
Some people who have purchased the product have stated that it can be quite stiff to use when you first open the tin, so you might have to rub it between your hands before using it to soften it a little bit.
Others have stated that they didn’t like the powdery smell of this beard balm. Of course, smell is subjective so you might like it.
Extra Features
Finding a beard balm that gives you good control isn’t easy, but this one by Reuzel has been reported to achieve a decent amount of hold, as some users have reported. This is quite amazing based on its low price tag.
Buying Guide
This beard has many perks that keep your beard looking and feeling great while saving you money when it comes to grooming.
Beard Balm FAQ
Now that we’ve looked at some of the best beard balms available on the market, let’s consider some frequently-asked questions concerning beard balms and how they work.
Which is better beard oil or beard balm?
Although you might swear by using beard balm, your mates might be keener on beard oil. What’s the difference, you ask?
Well, beard balm is more like a wax while a beard oil has a liquid consistency.
Now, whichever one is better really depends on what you need for your beard.
If you’re looking for a product that will control and tame your beard, then a beard balm is much better for styling your beard because it’s stiffer in consistency due to being like a wax.
However, if you’re looking for a product that will alleviate itchiness, an oil might be better because it’s more focused on treating your beard as well as the skin underneath it.
That said, both a beard balm and beard oil will keep your beard nice and soft, so if you’re looking for more hydration and softness, either one will work well for you.
There’s also a practical side of this debate to consider. If you’re keen on using a beard product that you can carry with you wherever you go, you’re probably better off with using a beard balm as these products tend to come in tins that are unbreakable.
Oils, on the other hand, usually come packaged in glass, which is easier to break when you’re on the move and are best left at home.
How often should I use beard balm?
You can use a beard balm every day if you want, but always ensure that you apply it to your beard when your skin is moist. This is usually when you step out of the shower or have washed your face.
When your hair and skin are moist, the oils in the balm will be better absorbed and it’s much easier to apply the product during this time.
However, daily use might not be right for you, which is why it’s essential to take your beard into account to find out how often it needs to be given TLC in the form of a beard balm.
If your beard is really unruly or you feel that its hair is coarse and dry, then using a beard balm regularly will be useful to keep it in check and make it feel softer.
That said, it’s important not to use too much beard balm product at once as that can cause your skin’s pores to become blocked.
You know what that means: breakouts under your beard, which you really want to avoid. Using too much beard balm can also make your beard too stiff, especially if the product contains beeswax.
So, how much is enough?
Most beard balm manufacturers state that you should use only about a dime-sized worth of beard balm.
Does beard balm help beard growth?
Beard balm is said to encourage hair growth in a certain direction because of how you can use it to tame and style your beard. That said, it can also be used to encourage growth in general if you want a longer, thicker beard.
It’s important to realize that not all beard balms will stimulate hair growth because this doesn’t come standard in such male grooming products. The best beard balm for growth will have the right ingredients to encourage growth.
Check the beard balm tin for ingredients such as nettle. This is important against hair loss because it prevents too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from being produced, which is linked to hair loss.
On the other hand, horsetail is an ingredient that boosts circulation and stimulates hair growth.
This is because it contains silica, which is known to be one of the most essential nutrients to keep both your skin and hair healthy. Therefore, the use of both ingredients will culminate in a longer, healthier beard.
Scotch Porter – All Natural Men’s Beard Balm is one of the beard balm products in our buying guide that contains both nettle and horsetail, so you can definitely use it on a regular basis to stimulate your beard to grow.
How long does beard balm last?
The question of how long your beard balm will last can refer to various things. For starters, it can refer to how long it will last before it expires.
Generally, many beard balms, such as some of the products we’ve featured in our list of beard balm reviews, will last for 12 months before their ingredients expire.
However, some other beard balms can last for up to four or even six years if left unopened. Always check the bottom of the tin of your beard balm to be sure that you’re aware of its expiry date.
Another thing that you might be referring to when questioning how long beard balm will last is how long it will stay put in your beard before you have to reapply it.
This can vary, depending on the beard balm you purchase as well as how you apply it. Beeswax is an ingredient found in many popular beard balms that will encourage the product to stay in your beard for longer.
This is because beeswax helps to hold your beard’s style while also maintaining more moisture in your beard.
Another important ingredient to look for when you want your beard balm to have greater staying power is the presence of natural butters, such as shea butter.
These butters help to soften and moisturize your beard throughout the day, and they’re especially crucial if you live in a dry or cold climate to prevent your beard from drying out.
By choosing a beard balm that contains the above-mentioned ingredients, such as those listed in our reviews, you’ll have a beard that stays put for longer.
Conclusion
You might be proud of the beard you’ve managed to grow, but your work doesn’t stop here.
You need to look after it so that it looks and feels healthy, while also taming it so that it remains attractive. To do all that, you need to get your hands on a beard balm.
What is the best beard balm?
In this article, we’ve looked at the best beard balm you should purchase, followed by four alternatives.
It’s clear that there’s a product for everyone and every budget, so by now you should have a much better idea of the beard balm you need to invest in so that you keep your beard looking neat and healthy.
We’ve also featured some common questions about beard balms in general to help you find the one that’s best for your beard and be able to use it properly for best results. Here’s to a beard that’s less scruff and more style!
