What is Beard Balm and why should you use it?

Beard Balm is a what every man needs for growing and maintaining a healthy and incredible looking beard. What is beard balm, and how do you know what to look for?

Beard Balm is a moisturizing, light to medium hold pomade. A quality Beard Balm should do these 3 things:

Moisturize
Seal
Style
Moisturize
There are several moisturizing oils that nourish your beard. When shopping for Beard Balm you want to be certain your balm contains non-comedogenic oils . These are oils that will moisturize your beard without clogging your pores.

Jojoba
Jojoba is not an oil, but a liquid wax ester. Unlike most oils jojoba does not contain triglycerides, so it doesn’t become rancid in a short amount of time, is non-allergenic and non-comedogenic so it will not block your pores. Jojoba contains many important nutrients like vitamin E and B complex vitamins as well as minerals that stimulate beard growth and soften your facial hair, preventing breakage and split ends.

Argan
Argan oil penetrates facial hair pores where it enhances elasticity and stimulates beard growth. The natural antioxidants and vitamin E in argan oil strengthen your beard by repairing the damaged cellular membranes of your facial hair while also repairing damage done by synthetic chemicals found in most store bought soaps, shampoos and conditioners.

Macadamia Nut

One of the best regenerative oils available because it closely resembles sebum, the oil naturally produced by the skin to help protect it from the environment.

Vitamin E

A powerful anti-oxidant, used widely in skincare to prevent wrinkles and to keep your beard shiny.

The beard balm you choose should have one or more of these moisturizers, but most importantly jojoba and argan as they are of the highest quality, and have a very extended shelf life in addition to nourishing your beard.

Seal
Beard balm is similar to lotion because it seals in moisture. If the beard balm does not contain moisturizers like macadamia, jojoba and argan, your beard balm will seal in the dryness. There are two sealants usually used in Beard Balms:

Shea
Shea Butter is extracted from the nut of the African sheanut tree and is widely considered the best sealant for facial hair. Shea butter wont clog your pores and you will have no problem washing it out of your beard when you wash.

Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees. Beeswax is natural and non-comedogenic so it will not clog your pores or prevent beard growth. It has a stronger hold than Shea giving your beard more hold for styling, and provides one of the best sealants to prevent moisture from escaping. Aeto’s Apothecary only uses Beegan Beeswax from an ethical apiary in our Beard Ease Beard Balm.

Style
The third thing beard balm must do is provide hold for shaping. Shaping and styling will smooth stray hairs, tame wild beards, and accentuate natural curl in your beard. Beeswax provides excellent hold for styling while Shea butter has the added benefit of making hair follicles appear thicker which makes your beard look thicker and more full. Your best choice for a beard balm is always one that contains only natural ingredients and those with beards find shea and beeswax provide the perfect amount of hold for even the most untamable beard.

How to Use
Use a pea sized amount of balm and rub between your palms to emulsify. Running your fingers through your beard, start from your neck and work up, making sure to rub balm into the skin where your beard grows to nourish the hair at the roots. Reverse and run your fingers through your beard in a downward motion from top to bottom, spreading the balm down the hair follicles. Don’t forget your moustache and the hair around your mouth. It is best to brush your beard to straighten in or scrunch it up to accentuate your luscious curls.