In recent years, the quest for sleek, perfectly shaped, trend-setting facial hair has become a serious business.
If you have a beard nowadays, chances are you’ve got just as many (if not more) beard products to keep it on point than for any other part of your body (including your scalp or head hair). There’s the beard trimmer, beard comb and beard oil, beard wax (confused yet?), not forgetting the scissors needed to keep those rogue hairs in check.
Speaking of that, what’s the difference between beard wax and beard balm? Not always an easier answer but to put it in simple terms: Beard wax provides a stronger hold to style the beard in the desired fashion, whereas beard balm provides moisturizing and soothing benefits to make your beard (and the skin underneath) more manageable.
But, all of the man mane-taming products in the world won’t give you the look you want without a decent beard balm. No, sir.
Especially if your beard style is longer than what you might call, ‘advanced stubble’, you need a beard balm to keep your facial fuzz happy, healthy, and head-turning.
“If you feel like your beard (and skin underneath) is very dry or hard to comb into a neat order, then a balm is a good option,” says Phil Reader, master barber at Drakes of London. “On a daily basis, I see how balms can improve the appearance of a beard by conditioning the skin and hair and adding a healthy shine. Not to mention banishing the dreaded beard dandruff.“
Yes, the best beard balms, on the market will nourish your whiskers, as well as the skin that lies underneath—leveling up your beard game in ways you never possible.
But, in a time where we’re quite literally drowning in beard balm options, knowing which ones are worth investing in can feel like an impossible task.
If you’re reading this and stuck for ideas, don’t sweat, don’t fret—we’re going to give you a glimpse at the best beard balms on the planet right now.
Read on to find out more about the majesty of beard balms and discover the best product for your precious man mane.
Beardbrand Utility Balm at Amazon
Bulldog Original Beard Balm at Amazon
Mad Viking Beard Co. Valhalla Beard Balm at Amazon
Honest Amish Beard Balm at Amazon
Cremo Styling Beard Balm at Amazon
Wild Willie’s Beard Balm at Amazon
Badass Beard Balm at Amazon
Grave Before Shave Beard Bomb at Amazon
Mountaineer Magic Beard Balm at Amazon
The Art Of Shaving Beard Conditioning Balm at Amazon
Scotch Porter Beard Balm at Amazon
Best Universal Balm: Beardbrand Utility Balm
When it comes to men’s grooming, finding the right product that does it all is often a Herculean task. Enter BeardBrand’s Utility Balm, a multipurpose marvel that meets almost every need you could ever want. This utility balm isn’t just for your beard; it’s a one-stop solution for hair, skin, and even tattoos, making it a quintessential item in every man’s grooming arsenal.
Crafted with natural ingredients like shea and mango butter, this balm is a testament to Beardbrand’s commitment to quality and natural care. Its texture strikes the perfect balance – neither too heavy nor too light – ensuring your beard and skin feel nourished without being weighed down. The balm comes in three distinct scents: Old Money, Tree Ranger, and Temple Smoke, each offering a unique olfactory experience to suit various preferences.
- Versatility: Suitable for beard, hair, skin, and tattoos.
- Natural Ingredients: Contains shea and mango butter for nourishment.
- Non-Greasy Formula: Offers hydration without a heavy feel.
- Variety of Scents: Available in unique fragrances like Old Money, Tree Ranger, and Temple Smoke.
- Ease of Use: Simple application process and effective post-shower.
- Individual Skin Reactions: May not suit all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
- Allergy Considerations: Some ingredients might trigger allergies.
- Specific Results: Effectiveness varies based on individual needs and preferences.
Best Budget: Bulldog Original Beard Balm
Bulldog Skincare is renowned for shunning artificial and animal-sourced ingredients – more than one reason to feel good when you slather this on. The British brand’s beard balm is packed with aloe vera and camelina oil, which make your beard feel softer and look smoother. For anything longer than stubble, this creamy elixir is a bathroom cabinet essential.
- The more than, fair, amenable price
- The irresistible aroma
- It might not quite hold longer beards as effectively as other balms
Best Natural: Mad Viking Beard Co. Valhalla Beard Balm
Unleash the true potential of your beard with Mad Viking Beard Co.’s All-Natural, Premium Beard Balm. Crafted for the modern warrior, this balm combines the nourishing powers of organic oils and butters, ensuring your beard remains soft, hydrated, and well-groomed without any greasiness.
Each tin is a blend of nature’s finest ingredients like sweet almond oil, shea butter, and beeswax to tame even the wildest of beards. Opt for Mad Viking’s variety of invigorating scents and experience a subtle, yet lasting fragrance that complements any occasion. Perfect for everyday use, this beard balm not only styles but significantly enhances beard health, promoting stronger and more luscious growth
- All-Natural Ingredients: The balm is made from a blend of nourishing oils and butters such as sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, and shea butter, which are beneficial for the skin and beard health.
- Non-Greasy and Absorbs Quickly: Designed to be lightweight, the balm absorbs into the beard and skin without leaving a greasy residue, making it comfortable for daily use.
- Variety of Scent Profiles: Available in several unique scents, providing options to suit different preferences.
- Multifunctional Benefits: Besides providing a medium hold for styling, it moisturizes, relieves dry skin, and helps prevent beard dandruff and itchiness.
- Limited Hold: While it offers a medium hold, those needing stronger styling control might find it less effective compared to heavier waxes or pomades.
- Scent Strength: Depending on personal preference, some might find the scents too subtle or too strong since scent experience can be quite subjective.
Best Matte: Honest Amish Beard Balm
Beards are at the heart of Amish culture, with growth signifying the point a boy becomes a man. As you’d expect from these fuss-free folk, all Honest Amish products are handmade, high-quality, and contain all-natural ingredients—no ifs, no buts, and definitely no exceptions.
Most even come in 100 percent recycled packaging, including this one, which contains extracts of argan oil, which is proven to encourage healthy hair, and Kokum, which helps rid the skin of harmful bacteria.
- The eco-conscious nature of the brand
- The cool decorative tin
- The fact that this beard balm might be a little dull for some beard-sporting gents
Best Strong Hold: Cremo Styling Beard Balm
Say hello to this neat little number from Cremo. You know that a business has innovation woven deep beneath its skin when its founder is a Stanford-educated engineer. Cremo packs a lot of science into its range of beard products, and this styling balm is a shining example. Like pomade for beards, just a small dab is enough to shape and hold your beard for hours, without a single hair falling out of place.
- The balm’s lavishly moreish scent
- The strength and reliability of the balm
- This might be a little much for guys with slightly shorter, more stubbly beards
Best for Softening: Wild Willie’s Beard Balm Leave In Conditioner Beard Butter
Let’s face it, one of the biggest bugbears of growing a beard is the constant itch of the whiskers brushing against the skin, leading many men to develop that trademark beard scratch. The soothing organic ingredients in Wild Willie’s beard balm work to soften the hairs, preventing that god-awful irritation that makes you look as though you’re an alley cat fighting off an army of fleas.
- The amazing beard softening qualities
- The brand’s 100% money back guarantee (now, that’s confidence)
- If you already have a reasonably soft beard, this might make you man mane look a little too tamed and without volume
Best for a Thicker, Fuller Beard: Badass Beard Care Beard Balm For Men
Don’t let the hipster moniker fool you, Badass Beard Care is a brand that takes facial hair very seriously. In fact, it’s one of the only few that make balms with both men and women in mind, such as this one, which claims to contain natural aphrodisiacs to help you close the deal. It’s not called badass for nothing. A real win-win for any beard-sporting modern gent.
- The beard hair volumizing qualities
- The balm’s deep conditioning properties
- The striking orange and clove away aroma might be a little strong for some
Best Cleansing: Grave Before Shave Beard Bomb
We couldn’t have the best beard balm list without including an offering from the mighty Grave Before Shave. The biker’s beard balm of choice, this concoction conditions and protects your beard from menacing bacteria and other pollutants that come with city life. It also promises a firm hold if you’re going for a Sons of Anarchy look, and a scent of citrus, eucalyptus, and rosemary will stop you from smelling of motor oil.
- The balm’s highly cleansing qualities
- The balm’s wildly robust rum-scented capabilities
- This creamy concoction might be a little overbearing for gents in search of something a little more subtle
Best for Damaged Beards: Mountaineer Magic Beard Balm
Has your beard experienced too much hardship, and wear and tear as a result of your commanding and downright daring everyday existence? Well, this no-nonsense beard balm will breathe life back into even the harshest of man manes. Formulated by West Virginia firm Mountaineer, it’s designed specifically for damaged hair, pulling on the powers of Vitis Vinifera, Cocos Nucifera (coconut), and Theobroma (cocoa).
- The overall strength and hair-optimizing power
- The subtle yet nose-pleasing coconut-based aroma
- If you have very sensitive skin, there may be more suitable options available in this list
Best for Medium Beards: The Art Of Shaving Beard Conditioning Balm
Packed with healing natural ingredients, this lavish beard balm from The Art of Shaving is perfect for guys with dry skin and beards on the shorter end of the facial fuzz spectrum. Not only does this well-balanced concoction soothe dry beard skin, but with tasteful sandalwood tones, but your face will also smell fresh and irresistible.
- The balm’s original and rather striking scent
- The skin-nurturing blend of ingredients
- Fellas with longer or thicker beards might need something a little more powerful
Best Vegan Choice: Scotch Porter Beard Balm
The next in our best beard balm rundown is this incredibly wholesome and decidedly cruelty-free offering from Scotch Porter. Vegans and guys with frizzy beards (or both) have found their staple product here. Infused with biotin and B-vitamins, this spritely elixir helps to regenerate damaged or lifeless beard hairs while significantly reducing frizz. A caring concoction that boasts a rugged manly scent.
- The frizz and fuzz-taming ingredients
- The hair follicle restoring biotin and B vitamin additions
- This particular balm is probably less effective if you have a softer, less voluminous beard
Best Everyday: Smooth Viking Beard Balm
Another beard balm with delicious hints of sandalwood (and mango), this brilliant product also contains beeswax for a firm hold and a smooth (far from greasy) finish. If you’re someone with a long beard (long enough to comb), this is the product that will keep your man mane in check every single day of the week.
- The unique scents and addition of natural beeswax
- The balm’s versatile everyday reliability
- Well, if you don’t like sandalwood, you won’t like this beard balm
Best Long-Lasting: Beardoholic Beard Balm
The brand name alone is epic (if you’re still reading this, it’s likely that you’re also a beard-o-holic) as is the subtle yet long-lasting hold of this awesome beard balm. Whether you have a stubbly mane, a full-on ZZ Top arrangement—or something in between—this versatile product won’t disappoint. It protects, hydrates, styles, and with hints of orange, this balm is likely to result in plenty of compliments.
- The balm’s universal appeal
- The excellent branding
- If you need something a little more heavy duty, this may not be the right option
Best Softening: King C. Gillette Soft Beard Balm
If you have a slightly shorter beard with tough, stubborn bristles, this punchy blend from King C. Gillette is easy to spread and works wonders whether you leave it in or rinse it off after application. Not only will this soften even the hardest of man manes, but it’s citrusy bergamot finish is nothing short of morrish.
- The fact that this balm is easy to use and spread
- The soothing, softening nature of the ingredients
- This might be a little lightweight for tough beard hair that’s around 3cm or longer
Best Easy Application: Bossman Hammer Heavy Duty Relaxing Beard Balm
Treading life’s not so beaten path, working with your hands, and getting out there in the elements rain or shine is not for the faint-hearted. It’s also hard on your beard. Fortunately, Bossman’s relaxing beard balm is designed to protect every kind of beard from wear and tear with natural ingredients and a slightly floral yet totally manly (yes, you did read that correctly) scent.
- The powerful beard replenishing properties
- The balm’s ability to settle unruly beards while providing a head-turning shimmer
- Guys with shorter beards might benefit from something a little more lightweight
Best for Thin Beards: Prophet Premium Beard Balm
This crystal-based and cruelty-free beard blend melts in the hand and offers a super-strong hold of up to 12 hours. If you have a thinner, finer beard that doesn’t do as you tell it, this will thicken up your mane while helping you maintain the style of your dreams. This beard balm doesn’t have much of a scent, but it’s lavish to the touch and in terms of styling, gets the job done.
- The balm’s long lasting hold
- The volumizing and patch covering ingredients
- The balm’s crystal-like feel may not be for everyone
Best Luxury: The B.I.G Company Luxury Balm
If you want to add a colossal dollop of luxury to your beard, this irresistible balm from the B.I.G company is bold, brash, and oh so lavish to the touch. Not only does this beard balm have a regal-like texture and an incredible scent, but its black seed infusion also promotes beard hair health and growth. A big-hitting product for making a B.I.G impression on life’s various special occasions.
- The hair growth promoting infusions
- The purely luxurious scent and feel of the balm
- As this is a little more pricey than your average balm, using it everyday might put a slight strain on your wallet
What is a beard balm?
A beard balm is a cream-like conditioning product that won’t just make your facial hair look good—it’ll nourish the whiskers and the skin below, too. Beard balms are luscious substances that offer a double threat combo of a glowing beard and smooth healthy skin (what’s not to like?).
Beard balms tend to be heavier than beard oils and are generally used by those with longer, bushier beards (but, if you have a neat, stubbly facial situation, a good balm will still work wonders). In addition to boasting a blend of powerful ingredients, the best beard balms also help to style, volumize, and maintain hold (a real plus point if you have a more Thor-like mane).
If you find the best beard balm for your specific needs, style, and skin type, you will never look back. A beard balm is an essential part of any facial fuzz-taming toolkit—and there is a product out there for every kind of gentleman imaginable.
Now that you know what a beard balm does and the benefits of using one of these somewhat magical products, let’s look at the best balms in existence right now.
What to look for in a beard balm
Now that you know all about the best beard styling balms, you’re probably raring to make your choice, add a slew of choices to your shopping cart (we suggest starting with one – hard we know), and level up your beard game. But, before you do, check out these three essential considerations to help you make the best possible decision.
Ingredients
First of all, you should check the ingredient of any potential beard balm before you buy it. If it’s packed with synthetic ingredients there is a higher chance, that your skin will suffer and your beard hair has the potential to become drier than tumbleweed floating around the Sahara desert.
With this in mind, if you’re looking for the best beard balm for regular use, you should look for concoctions made with natural, organic, or plant-based ingredients.
Sealant
The best beard balms on the market will contain a form of a natural (or near natural) sealant as well as ingredients with moisturizing qualities.
If your beard balm contains a sealant, not only will it style better and hold longer—it will also protect your hair follicles and your skin effectively (which is especially important if you have weak beard hair or sensitive beard skin).
Beard Style
Last but certainly not least, when you’re looking for a quality beard balm, you should consider your current or desired style.
In our best beard list, you will notice that there are concoctions designed for different beard types and lengths. If you’re sporting an unruly Zeus-like mane, a thicker, more robust balm will do the trick—but if your beard is short, neat, and fine, a lighter option is what you’ll need.
How to apply beard balm
Here’s a little something that many beard enthusiasts overlook: beard balms are only effective if you know how to apply them properly.
To guide you to beard balm excellence, here are the three essential steps of application.
Step 1:
Open up your tub or tin and using your middle as well as index fingers, scoop up enough balm to cover your fingertips. Next, rub it between the palms of your hands to warm it a little before application.
When it comes to beard balm, less is more. So, start small and apply a little more at a time if needed.
Step 2:
Work the balm into your beard hair in a consistent circular motion, working all the way to the roots and your skin to ensure it’s absorbed properly. Keep on applying the balm in this fashion until you’ve covered the entire area.
Step 3:
Leave the balm to settle for a few minutes or so, before styling, grooming, or brushing your beard. When you’re happy with the way it looks, head out and show the world your mighty new bearded look.
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When to use beard balm?
For the best results, you should pick a beard balm you can use on a regular basis. Applying your balm once a day when your beard is slightly damp is the way to go—preferably after your morning or evening bath, shower or wash.
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Which one is better beard balm or beard oil?
Beard oil is an effective product for tackling particular dry or sensitive beard skin (also known as the dreaded, ‘beardruff’).
But, if you’re looking for a slightly more soothing, heavy duty styling product, beard balm pretty much ticks all of the boxes. That said, by using the right combination or beard oil and balm on a daily basis, your beard will reap great rewards in terms of texture, protection and overall dermatological health.
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How long does a beard balm tin last?
Well, the size of the tin will of course dictate the length of time it lasts (how long’s a piece of tin? Or something like that).
But, as a general rule of thumb, based on an application of once per day, the average tin of beard balm lasts for between four and six weeks.
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