Simple DIY Beard Oil
My husband often benefits from my crafty endeavors around the house and farm. But there is one recipe on the farm that I make purely for him, and that is this simple DIY Beard Oil.
What is beard oil?
A beard oil is a simple solution made for conditioning and caring for a person’s beard and the skin underneath. It adds softness to the beard as well as a nice lustre and a pleasant scent.
It isn’t used to shape a beard or mustache the way a pomade or wax will.
If your bearded fellow is looking for something simple to add to his beard/mustache routine to protect his skin and give his facial hair a healthy glow, this is it.
What supplies do I need to make beard oil?
I love beard oil because it takes very little to make it. Honestly you can whip some together in about two minutes and it will cost less than a dollar (including the bottle!) to make about a month’s worth of beard oil.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Carrier Oil – See below to learn what oils might work best for your man.
- Essential Oils – Again, see the list below for more specifics
- Dropper Bottle or Similar
- Vitamin E Oil – Optional as a natural preservative
What carrier oils work best for DIY Beard Oil?
A carrier oil is the base oil that “carries” your essential oils. Really the carrier oil is doing all the leg work here and the essential oil is just for a little added benefit.
When selecting your carrier oil, find out what kind of skin your bearded person is rocking under that mane. Do they tend to have oily skin? Dry skin? Acne prone? That will help you determine which carrier oil will work best for them.
Please use oils that have been processed for use in skin/body care and be aware of any nut allergies your bearded person has.
Dry Skin
- Apricot
- Rosehip
- Argan
- Squalene
- Avocado
Oily Skin or Acne Prone
- Hemp Seed
- Marula
- Safflower
- Sunflower
- Grapeseed
- Sweet Almond
- Tea Tree
- Jojoba
Somewhere in Between
- Almond
- Grapeseed
- Sesame
Carrier Oils to Avoid
- Coconut Oil – Known to clog pores and irritate acne prone skin
What essential oils should I use in a beard oil?
Unfortunately, the sky isn’t the limit here as essential oils used on the skin in this way should be selected carefully. While an orange and citrus beard would smell divine, using citrus essential oils can be very irritating to the skin, especially when exposed to sunlight. Here are some essential oils that are a great choice and some to avoid.
Essential Oils Good for Beards
- Tea Tree – Acne Prone Skin
- Cedar
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Patchouli
- Vanilla Absolut
- Geranium
- Rose
- Ylang-Ylang
Essential Oils to Avoid
- Citrus Oils in General
- Lemon
- Orange
- Bergamot
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint
- Jasmine
- Oregano
Safe Essential Oil Dilution
I have found that in the homestead/crunchy/essential oil-using community, essential oils are often WAY overused in recipes. Meaning they suggest much higher dilution rates of the oils than is recommended as safe.
The standard and safe dilution rate (shared by many different distributors but I like Mountain Rose’s explanation and calculator) is 1-2% depending.
Pregnant people and children should never use above a 1% dilution rate, if it is in fact a safe essential oil for them to be using.
Assuming your bearded person is not a child or pregnant, for this recipe you will be using a 2% dilution rate.
This means if you have a 1oz dropper bottle like I do, then you will add 12 drops of essential oil MAX.
How to Make Simple Beard Oil
Begin by selecting your carrier and essential oils of choice. It’s a pretty small bottle but you can certainly use a blend of oils as you choose.
Add 6-12 drops TOTAL of essential oil(s).
As an option to add conditioning and longer shelf life, put in two drops of vitamin E oil.
Next, top off the bottle with your carrier oil. Fill it just to the top of the shoulder so you don’t displace a bunch of oil when you put the dropper back in.
Give it a good shake.
You’re done!
Use a few drops either directly in the beard or first on your hands, then massage into the beard.
Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months. If your house gets really warm during the summer you might want to store it in the fridge or use it up faster as the heat will make the oils spoil.
Can I make a big batch and save it for later?
That depends on how fast your bearded person will use it. I find that a 1 mL dropper bottle will last my husband about a month.
The tricky thing about carrier oils is that they can go rancid fairly quickly. If you make a larger batch there is a chance it might spoil and smell kind of funky before he gets around to using it.
I would recommend making them as needed one bottle at a time.
I find that the larger bottle of oil (16 oz) will stay nice for about 6 months once opened. So make sure you use it up for beard oils or other recipes like in a homemade herbal balm, stretch mark cream, or roller bottle.
Medicinal Beard Oil
If you want to up the efficacy of your beard oil to address other skin conditions (eczema, super dry skin, acne, etc.) you can first infuse the carrier oil with herbs, then use it as the base for the beard oil.
Check out my post on how to make an herbal balm to learn how to infuse your oil with healing herbal properties.
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