Do You Actually Need Beard Oil? An Honest Answer

Twelve years ago, I started this company because I couldn't grow a beard past two months without giving up. The itch, the dryness, the scraggly look got to me every time. Most guys quit for the same reasons. Beard oil fixed it for me, which is why we started making it.

But that's also why I have to give you an honest answer to a question I get a lot: do you actually need beard oil?

Most guys do. Some guys don't. Here's how to tell the difference.

When you actually need beard oil

If any of these sound like you, beard oil isn't really optional:

You're growing a beard for the first time and the itch is killing you. The 2-4 week window is where most guys give up. Beard oil shortens that window significantly because it conditions the skin underneath. The itch is mostly dry skin, not the hair itself.

Your beard has gotten past 1 inch and feels rough. As beard hair grows, your skin can't keep up producing enough natural oils to condition it. Beard oil replaces what your face stops making.

Your skin underneath flakes (beardruff). That's dry skin trapped in the beard. Oil fixes it within a few days.

You live somewhere dry, cold, or windy. Climate strips moisture from facial hair faster than you can replace it. Texas summers, Colorado winters, anywhere with low humidity. Your beard needs help.

You wear your beard at a length where it tangles or sticks out. Oil softens the hair so it lays flatter and combs cleaner.

When you don't really need beard oil

Honest answer time:

You have stubble or a beard under 2 weeks of growth. At that length there isn't much for the oil to do. The hair is too short for conditioning to matter, and your skin oils are still keeping up. Wait until week 3.

Your beard is already soft and itch-free without it. Some guys (lucky bastards) just produce enough natural sebum and have skin that doesn't dry out. If you've got a fuller beard and never had a problem, you don't strictly need beard oil. You might still want it for the scent or the routine, but you're not solving a problem.

You're looking for beard growth. Beard oil doesn't make hair grow. Anyone selling beard oil that "grows your beard faster" is selling you something that doesn't work. Genetics decide growth. Oil decides whether the beard you do have looks and feels good.

What beard oil actually does

Here's what you're actually getting:

• Conditions the hair, replacing oils your skin can't produce enough of as the beard gets longer
• Conditions the skin underneath, where most beard problems actually live
• Reduces itch, especially in the first few weeks of growth
• Fixes beardruff (dry skin flakes)
• Makes the beard easier to manage, since softer hair combs better and sticks out less
• Adds a faint scent if you use scented oil (doesn't replace cologne)

What beard oil won't do

And here's what you're not getting:

• It won't grow your beard. Patches stay patchy.
• It won't change hair color, despite some weird claims online.
• It won't fix damage from bad shaving or trimming. Skin heals on its own.
• It won't replace washing your beard. Oil isn't a cleaner. Use a beard wash or regular shampoo for that.

How often should you use beard oil?

Once a day is enough for most guys. After a shower is ideal because damp hair absorbs oil better than dry hair.

If you're outside a lot or live somewhere dry, twice a day works. If your skin runs oily, every other day might be enough.

Beard balm does some of the same work as oil with a heavier feel and a bit of natural shape. A lot of guys use both: oil daily, balm when they want more weight.

Will any beard oil work?

In general, yes, as long as it's actually made of plant oils. Stay away from products with synthetic fragrance ("parfum"), mineral oil, or alcohol high on the ingredient list. We've got a separate article that goes deeper on what to look for in beard oil ingredients.

Also worth knowing: natural beard oils have a shelf life of 1-2 years. If you've had a bottle for a while, check whether it's still good before applying.

The bottom line

Most bearded guys benefit from beard oil, especially in the first few months of growth and once the beard gets past an inch. Some guys don't strictly need it. Either way, oil doesn't make your beard grow, doesn't fix patchiness, and isn't magic. What it does is keep what you've got looking and feeling like you meant for it to.

That's the honest pitch. Try it for a few weeks and see what happens to the itch. If it helps, you'll know.