When your Gandalf-worthy beard is looking a bit limp and lifeless it can be tempting to reach for the
electric razor and just end it all. It starts to itch and flake, and your once sexy lumberjack image becomes a bit more like grandad on a Sunday afternoon…not good. But don’t fear, my friends! We have the answer, and that comes in the wonderfully compact package of a beard balm. Yes, beard balm, you heard us correctly. We understand, you hear the world balm and immediately start imagining your wife, girlfriend or sister sitting in a nail salon being pampered to within an inch of their lives. No, a beard balm is a product for MEN, it’s manly, and who’s to say that caring for your facial fluff is a bad thing anyway? With so many products on the market today designed to improve the look of your beard, there’s no excuse to be caught out again!
Beard balm, unlike
beard oils and
beard conditioners, contains soft oils as well as liquid oils such as shea butter and beeswax. This means that the overall product is solid and therefore easier to apply (it simply melts in your hands) and take out and about with you too. Beard Balm is great not only for conditioning your beard, but also for providing a light hold that allows you to sculpt and shape your beard however you want. The wax used in these types of balms keeps your beard tight and in place whilst moisturizing at the same time for a shine that your girlfriend will undoubtedly be jealous of. Some brands even relieve dandruff and itching as well as improving the overall growth of your beard too.
When choosing the best beard balm for you there are a few things you may want to consider first. Now, beard balms don’t come in too many different designs and styles as their main purpose is to nourish and condition your beard. Some, however, do offer you a bit more than others in terms of what they can do for your beard and hair type. If you have thick, coarse hair then pick a product that’s specifically designed for this. If you suffer from dandruff and dry skin then search for a balm that will help you with this problem. There’s a balm for every beard type, so make sure you choose the right one for you! Beard balms also come in plenty of different smells and scents, too, so you’re going to want to pick something you like the smell of as it’s going to be sitting under your nose all day - quite literally. If you aren’t a fan of scented products, however, then never fear! There are many beard balms that come in un-scented styles too.
Price
When it comes to the price of your new beard balm this is going to totally depend on the size of the product and also what it’s made from. These days plenty of beard grooming companies have started using organic, Fairtrade and natural products that will do good for your beard and the world around you too. Whilst this is great it can sometimes add some pennies onto the price of the balm, so just be aware of this. The average cost of a beard balm will fall anywhere between $12 and $18, with the larger and organic balms falling at the higher end of this scale. Cheaper beard balms are available ($11 or lower) but just be aware that these products may not work as well as higher priced balms.
Features
Like we mentioned previously, the beard balm you choose is going to most likely depend on the style of your beard as well as your hair type and skin requirements. There are, however, a few general features we recommend looking for to ensure you select the best product possible!
Here are a few features to keep an eye out for:
- All-natural ingredients
- Beeswax
- Sculpting capabilities
Construction and Design
Although selecting a beard balm that contains only natural ingredients can sometimes be a little pricier, it’s definitely worth it in our eyes. These types of products use simple ingredients that won’t irritate your skin or dry out your beard, leaving it shiny and in great condition. If you’re going to spend money on a beard balm then you may as well choose a product that you know will work wonders. Plus, products that are made from natural, organic ingredients are good for the earth too!
We also recommend keeping your eyes peeled for a product that contains beeswax. Firstly, beeswax is a lot safer than other nasty chemicals and pesticides and kinder on your skin and hair. Beeswax is also what gives beard balms their wonderful solid consistency that makes them so easy to use. Beeswax also carries anti-viral, anti-inflammatory AND antibacterial qualities that are much needed, especially during the harsh winter months! It will seal in moisture both in your skin and your hair and rehydrate your damaged mane.
Finally, we suggest selecting a product that doesn’t just nourish your beard, but also gives you the ability to sculpt it too. What’s the point in having a beard if you can’t have a little fun with it every once and a while? A beard balm with sculpting capabilities allows you to style your beard however you like, whether that be pointed, curved or even the classic handlebar mustache - the choice is totally down to you!
Performance and Ease of Use
When it comes to caring for your new beard balm there really isn’t too much too it. One thing we will suggest, however, is selecting a product with a durable tin as this will prevent the balm from getting damaged or opening in your bag, especially during travel. Many brands now offer balms in an aluminum tin so you may want to keep an eye out for this type of design. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t let the balm sit out in the heat for too long either, since the oils in the product will start to melt and the product can get a little bit messy.
Fingers crossed, after reading our buying guide you now have a little bit of a better understanding about what particular beard balm you’re after and what features are important to you. This will help you to narrow down your options when searching through products. So, let’s not waste any more time and get browsing through our top 5 picks shall we?
Features
Honest Amish is a Pennsylvanian brand that creates high quality, handmade products such as soaps, beard balms, waxes and salves. All of its products are 100% natural and organic and only made from sustainable ingredients. Its products are also never made using man-made chemicals, fragrances or preservatives and are never packaged in plastics either!
We decided to feature the Honest Amish Beard Balm because it softens coarse, rogue hairs and eliminates beard ruff and itching. Hand crafted in the USA, this balm is one of the most trusted brands for beards in the world, partly because it’s made with the best organic ingredients possible. The balm uses a variety of hair strengthening botanicals that are infused with a variety of oils including argan, avocado, grapeseed, pumpkin seed and apricot kernel oils! In addition, the balm is crafted with fruit and nut butters such as Shea, Cocoa and Aloe which help soften, condition and repair your hair for better growth. The tin is also 100% recycled and it’s even vegan friendly too, smiles all round!
Features
Grave Before Shave is an American brand that specializes in all things beard related! Whether that’s oils, creams, lotions and potions, Grave Before Shave has it all! They’re one of the most trusted beard brands in the world, shipping to just about anywhere and everywhere. If you’re after a trustworthy brands that really gets the job done, then Grave Before Shave could be for you!
We are big fans of Grave Before Shave’s Beard Balm as its ideal for shaping your beard and it smells pretty good too! Made from only the finest oils and butters around, this balm helps to tame your beard with a scrumptious (and manly) cigar and vanilla aroma. Deeply conditioning, this balm will protect your beard as well as tame those pesky unruly, fly-away hairs.
Features
The Manskape Co is the creator of the Wild Willies company that creates premium, all natural male products for all your man-skaping needs! This is a brand for real men who smell funny, love meat and can build things out of metal. Sound like you? Then give The Manskape Co a go!
We wanted to feature The Manskape Co’s Wild Willies Beard Balm due to its organic design and the fact it promotes hair growth too! Made in the USA, this balm is made from 13 organic, natural ingredients and is free from any nasty chemicals, preservatives, colors or fragrances. This balm is specifically designed to condition your hair whilst providing a strong hold. It also promotes the growth of your beard for a mane fit for a king! This balm is also ideal for taming any wild, stray hairs whilst improving texture and the overall appearance of your face fluff too. This product is ideal for anyone looking to get rid split ends, reduce dandruff, flaky skin and itchiness.
Features
Founded in 2009, Beard Balm is a brand that understands the turmoil’s of growing the perfect beard. After years of being told to ‘shave that thing off!’, the Beard Balm creators decided to produce a product that would not only condition but help the growth of beards around the world too! If you’re looking for an easy way to grow a strong, powerful beard then Beard Balm is the brand for you!
Beard Balms Conditioning Beard Balm is a favorite of ours due to the fact that it not only softens your beard, but relieves dry skin, controls frizz and prevents split ends too! Beard Balm uses only the best fair trade, organic, pesticide free ingredients that are good for your beard and good for the earth too. This balm also has an incredible scent made up from lemon peel, eucalyptus leaf and geranium flower.
Hopefully by now you’ve selected your favorite beard balm and are now searching the web for your next beard style. If, however, this isn’t the case then don’t you worry! We’ve purposefully selected brands that have a wide range of products available, so simply browse through their other collections to find the best beard balm for you!
