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It’s no secret that we live in a time when beards are all the rage. They’re very popular and come in every shape, size, and color imaginable. But not all beards can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life.
This is why you should use products like argan oil to keep your beard looking its best.
Argan oil is an excellent natural product for beard care because it moisturizes dry skin, softens coarse hair, and provides UV protection from sun exposure (hello summer!). It helps to reduce irritation like itchiness or redness and promotes the healing of damaged follicles (hello winter!). Finally, it protects against free radicals (hello everything!) and repairs split ends caused by poor hair care practices such as over-brushing or combing too often, which results in breakage of hair shafts.
It also contains antioxidants that work to repair cellular damage that can lead to hair loss (not cool, not cool at all). For these reasons, beard oil companies all over the world use argan oil as a carrier oil in their products.
But let’s talk about argan in more detail, shall we?
What is argan oil?
Argan oil (often called liquid gold) comes from the Argan tree, aka Argania Spinosa tree, which is native only to Morocco, making this oil a truly Moroccan product. The kernels of the fruit are cold-pressed to produce argan oil, so there’s no heat involved in processing it, as heat can destroy some of its delicate nutrients.
As mentioned, these trees grow almost exclusively in Morocco, and it takes about 10 kilograms of the argan fruit to produce 500 milliliters (1.06 US cups) of argan oil! This is why pure Moroccan argan oil is usually more expensive than other types of beard oil on the market.
The argan tree itself has long been valued by locals, dating back to the 12th century when it was first used by the Berbers. Women of the region used argan oil as a makeup remover and skin moisturizer.
In modern times, Moroccan people still use argan oil for all sorts of things, including cooking, cosmetic products, and hair care.
Argan oil is very popular in the beard industry and can be found in numerous beard care products like beard oils, beard balms, moisturizers, and shampoos.
The benefits of Argan oil for beard
We have lightly touched on a few of the benefits of argan oil above, but let’s go into more detail here:
Moisturizes
Argan oil contains fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins C and E, which are all excellent at moisturizing the skin and hair. It also contains linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that helps to keep sebum production under control. Sebum is the oil that your skin produces to keep itself moisturized. Finally, argan oil contains natural squalene, which is identical to human sebum. So, if you have a dry beard and skin, then argan oil can help you.
Softens coarse hair
The high amount of vitamin E in argan oil is responsible for this benefit. It also helps strengthen the facial hairs’ roots by penetrating deep into their follicles. This means it can help prevent split ends and other types of damage that lead to patchy beards.
Protects against UV
Argan oil is a really effective way to protect your skin and facial hair from harmful ultraviolet rays. The antioxidants in argan oil neutralize free radicals that cause cellular damage, which can lead to skin cancer and other diseases. This makes it a great choice for guys with exposed beards, especially those who spend a lot of time outside.
Prevents and reduces irritation
Some men suffer from skin conditions that can cause redness and itchiness. Argan oil contains high amounts of oleic acid and vitamin E and helps with these problems. It is also great at reducing inflammation which makes irritations feel even worse.
Prevents beardruff
If you have a dry beard and skin, you know how painful it can be to try and brush out the flakes of beard dandruff that accumulate. Argan oil can prevent this because it is super moisturizing.
Reduces Inflammation
Argan beard oil contains squalene, an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation. This is great for guys who suffer from ingrown hairs caused by irritation and inflammation. If you want to reduce the chances of your facial hair growing into your skin, then argan oil can help with that.
Nourishes your beard
The fatty acids that help moisturize your skin also nourish your facial hair. The nourishing properties of argan oil get absorbed by your skin and get carried over to your beard hair. Your facial hair will become stronger and healthier, making it much easier to grow a thicker beard.
Good for light styling
Argan beard oil has a very light and thin consistency making it great for beard styling. If you want to add volume or shape your beard, then argan oil is a good choice. It’s also great for touching up your beard when you don’t have any wax or styling balm with you.
Soothes your skin
If you use a lot of products on your beard, they can leave your skin feeling dry and irritated. Moroccan argan oil is great at soothing the skin, so if you have sensitive skin, this should be one of the first oils to look for.
Prevents premature aging
As you get older, your skin’s ability to regenerate itself slows down. Argan oil can help increase collagen and elastin production, which are essential for plumping up your skin cells. This will help keep your face looking young for longer!
When & How to use argan oil for your beard
We have talked about the benefits of argan oil but now let’s see when you should use it. The best time of day to apply argan oil just like with any other beard oil is right after you shower. This is because your pores are open from the steam of the shower.
To get started, squeeze a few drops of argan oil into your hands and rub them together. Then pat it onto your beard and skin, making sure that you spread it evenly all over with your fingers or a beard comb or brush.
Another good time to apply it is right before you go to bed or when you know that you will be home for a few hours, as argan oil takes a while to sink into the skin.
The amount of argan oil you will need depends on the length of your beard and skin type, but it’s quite a small amount, between 2 to 5 drops.
You can use it in its pure form or make your own beard oil and mix it with essential oils to create your own unique fragrance. We recommend mixing it with essential oils like eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil, and tea tree oil.
Click here to read about the best essential oils that work well with Moroccan argan oil.
Argan oil for beard growth
While argan oil works and can help with beard issues like dry and itchy skin and beardruff, there’s no evidence to suggest that it can stimulate beard growth. The only way to increase testosterone levels is through exercise, diet, sleeping well, and certain supplements, not beard oils. There are some beard oils that can help with hair growth, like castor oil and olive oil, but there are not many studies to back this up. The rest is just a myth!
But this doesn’t mean that it isn’t good for your skin. As we’ve seen, it does help to keep the hair follicles and the skin moisturized. This will reduce the risk of ingrown hairs and dry skin, which are a big cause of beard problems.
Related Article: 15 Foods That Help With Beard Growth [Backed By Science]
Best Argan Oils For Your Beard
Smooth Viking Beard Oil
Smooth Viking is a 100% natural beard oil. It contains a mix of avocado oil, Argan Oil, and other natural carrier oils that nourish and moisturize your beard.
Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil
Honest Amish is USA-made high-quality beard oil. Its organic oil blend consists of virgin argan oil, jojoba oil, and other premium oils.
Kate Blanc Argan Oil
Kate Blanc’s Argan oil is a 100% pure cold-pressed argan oil from Morocco. It is USDA organic certified with a light nutty scent.
VoilaVe Argan Oil
This is another great choice if you are looking for a USDA-approved unrefined 100% pure Argan oil from Morocco.
Argan oil vs. Other carrier oils for beards
Many articles and forums debate which carrier oil for beards is the best, and argan oil is always a contestant. However, we don’t think there’s a clear winner, which comes down to what you need from an oil.
Some people like it because it has a light smell. Others prefer jojoba oil because it has a lighter consistency. While others prefer coconut oil because of its ability to penetrate deep into the skin. It’s a matter of personal preference, and we don’t think that there is any right or wrong answer.
But what’s important is to develop a healthy beard grooming routine that works for you. This means that you should look at your face and see what beard oil can give you the results that you’re looking for. Whether this is reducing beardruff, getting rid of acne, beard growth, or just improving the overall appearance of your beard.
How to Make your own DIY Beard Oil With Argan Oil
You can use argan oil directly on your beard, but you can also make your own homemade beard oil recipe. Argan oil will be used as a carrier oil and get mixed with other carrier oils to form the base. All you have to do then is to mix the carrier oils blend with essential oils. The ratio should be at least one to three to avoid irritation from the essential oils:
This is a simple anti-microbial beard oil recipe with argan oil:
- 50ml Argan Oil
- 50ml Jojoba Oil
- 30ml Eucalyptus oil
All you have to do is to put these oils in a tinted bottle with a dropper, then shake it to mix the blend, and you are good to go. Pretty easy, right?
Argan Oil FAQ
How Often Should I Put Argan Oil To My Beard?
For best results, we recommend applying it daily, but if you are too busy every two days is fine. You will still receive benefits by applying it less often, but they won’t be as noticeable.
Does Argan Oil Make Beard Hair Soft?
Yes, argan oil contains fatty acids which are known to improve your skin and beard’s softness. However, this will only work if you use the purest form of argan oil. Not one that has added fragrances or other oils that might damage your beard.
What Are The Side Effects Of Argan Oil?
Argan oil is a natural oil, so there are no side effects. However, if you have a nut allergy or very sensitive skin you might experience a reaction. If this happens, stop using it immediately and contact your doctor for advice.
How Much Argan Oil Should I Use On My Facial Hair?
We recommend using it in the range of 3 to 5 drops. This will depend on how much hair you have, but as a general guide, you don’t need too much. The longer the beard, the more you’ll need!
Does Argan Oil Make Beard Longer?
Argan oil will not make your beard grow longer. To achieve this, you need to follow a good diet and exercise routine, as well as use a product like minoxidil which is the only scientifically proven method to increase beard growth.
Which Beard Oil Is Better Castor Oil Or Argan Oil?
Both beard oils are good for longer beards, but castor oil is especially known to stimulate and increase beard growth. However, argan oil has a higher concentration of fatty acids and Vitamin E which improves the quality of your beard hair. So depending on what you’re looking for, you might prefer one beard oil over the other.
Should I Use Argan Oil If I Have Oily Skin?
If you have oily skin you still can use argan oil for your beard, as it is a medium viscosity carrier oil meaning it is not that thick. However, if you’re unsure or have particularly sensitive skin, it’s best to test the oil on a small patch of your face first.
Conclusion
Argan oil is a great investment for your beard because it will help hydrate and strengthen the hair follicles, and it smells fantastic too! With this in mind, argan oil may be something to consider if you want an extra boost of healthy-looking facial hair. What do you think? Have you used argan oil on your beard before? If so, what did you experience when using this product? Did you know about the benefits of argan oil? Do you have any DIY beard oil recipes with argan oil you want to share? Hit us up below with some thoughts or comments about how our readers can use their favorite oils to keep growing a luscious mane!
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
