Everyone’s talking about beard oil – and for good reason! But does it work on hair, too? The short answer is: YES.
I did some digging to get to the bottom of this burning question. Keep reading to find out what I learned!
First, let’s quickly answer this:
What Is Beard Oil?
Beard oil is essentially just a carrier oil (like jojoba or argan) mixed with essential oils. And what do carrier oils do? They hydrate and nourish your skin.
Beard oils are mass-produced by commercial manufacturers who specialize in making essential oils suitable for topical application. This helps increase their shelf life and makes it easier for retail brands to sell them at competitive prices. Some beard oils even contain microbial enzymes that help release anti-fungal properties from the active ingredients so that they can fight against harmful fungal growth.
When most people think of beard oils, they assume their role is to keep facial hair looking good. While this is true for most beards (especially those that need regular grooming), beard oil has another important, if not main task, as we just learned: They primarily take care of the skin underneath the beard! When your skin is healthy, it will most likely grow a healthy beard on top of it. So it only makes sense that beard oil would work the same way on your scalp, too!
Is Beard Oil The Same As Hair Oil?
Beard oils are not the same as hair oils, as there are some key differences in the ingredients used in each one. Beard oil typically contains more natural elements such as essential oils, herbs, and vitamins so you know that you’re getting safe ingredients in your product. This also means that they won’t be as harsh on your skin or cause any kind of reaction as synthetic substances might.
Hair oil, on the other hand, is designed to protect your hair from heat damage, environmental aggressors, and daily styling. It does this by creating a barrier on the surface of your hair shaft, which means it might have some not-so-natural ingredients in it.
Would you like that on your face?
Does beard oil soak into hair?
One of the most common problems is that beard hair can be very dry and coarse, leading to itchiness and irritation. Fortunately, beard oil can help to soften hair and add much-needed moisture. But does it soak into the hair, or does it just sit on top?
The answer, it turns out, is a little bit of both. When you apply beard oil to your hair, some of the oil will be absorbed by the hair shaft. This helps to condition the hair and make it more manageable. However, some of the oil will also remain on the surface of the hair. This can help to create a barrier against environmental damage, such as wind and sun. Ultimately, whether or not beard oil soaks into your hair is less important than whether or not it helps to improve the health of your beard.
Does beard oil strengthen hair?
The answer is no. This myth comes from the misconception that oils make hair “greasy” or “oily.” Oils just help moisturize the scalp and hair. It’s a myth that beard oil helps strengthen hair because it doesn’t include any strengthening substances like protein or keratin which are what your hair needs to grow strong. Instead, beard oil contains ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E, and jojoba oil which moisturize your scalp and hair without making them greasy or oily.
Does beard oil cause hair growth?
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that beard oil causes hair growth. However, some people may find that their beards grow faster or thicker after using beard oil regularly. This could be because beard oil keeps the hair and skin healthy, which can promote optimal conditions for hair growth. Additionally, the massage action of applying beard oil can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, which could also promote hair growth.
So, in conclusion, the simple answer to the question: Will beard oil work on my hair, is that yes, you can use beard oil on your hair. Theoretically, it should function as it does on your beard: nourish the skin, soften your hair and protect it, which will then cause your hair to grow better and healthier. But be cautious, it’s not the same as using hair oil. Consider whether your hair really needs this treatment, or whether it needs regular hair oil instead – or maybe it doesn’t even need anything but a good shampoo and conditioner…
