Manly Essential Oil Beard Blends

Today’s guest post is from my friend Jamie who blogs at How To Just About Anything. but before the post, let me explain why I’m talking essential oils, men, and beards today.

A while back I started noticing a huge amount of traffic coming to my site from BeardBoard.com. At first, I was completely unsure of what was going on. I mean, what does a beard board want with my site. Then I started getting the emails. Emails from men asking me about essential oils, therapeutic properties, combinations, and blending techniques for their beards. That’s when I got it.

I have written several very popular posts on GUH about using and blending essential oils, and these guys were wanting my advice on how to combine the right kind of essential oils together to nourish and soften their beards! I kindly replied that I wasn’t an aromatherapist, but the post was based off how I did things at home for my own personal skincare products. Many of these guys wrote me back asking me to create a manly smelling blend that they could use on their beards to keep them healthy. I explained that my blog was mostly for natural-minded moms of young children looking for inspiration and information on raising their children naturally, but I have a hard time saying no sometimes so here we are. And you know what. I think it’s great that these guys are wanting to rock their manly beards the natural way! Go BeardBoard.com! This post is for you! I hope it inspires you, my friends!

Now here’s Jamie to tell you more about how you can make a beard oil for your men… if they have beards of course.

Throughout high school, my husband attended a private school that had pretty stringent standards. Collared shirts had to be buttoned to the top, your hair could not touch your ears, and most importantly, no facial hair! Battling with psoriasis that caused inflamed and highly sensitive skin made daily shaving difficult at best. So when we got married, he announced that he was going to grow a beard.

Instead of making life easier, though, he still dealt with sensitive skin, redness, and itching on a daily basis. The beardruff and acne were very noticeable and a source of embarrassment for him. And every time I kissed him, I felt like I was kissing a Brillo pad. I even avoided kissing him for awhile because it was so uncomfortable, which was of course not good for our marriage.

I knew there had to be a solution. He couldn’t be the only one with beard problems. My research brought me to the wonderful world of beard oil. I spent time researching which essential oils were good for hair, which ones helped with acne, dandruff, redness and patchy growth. My first attempt may have been really good for beards, but it smelled pretty awful!

I have since learned that essential oils have top, middle and base notes that can be combined in particular ratios. This yields a blend that is not only effective but much more pleasing to the nose. Meagan wrote a great article on blending essential oils here.

Essential oils are quickly growing in popularity and for good reason. They pack a powerful punch when it comes to natural health. Below you can see how helpful some of the oils used in the two manly essential oil beard blends I’ve formulated for you at the end of the post are.

Essential Oils For Beard Blends

• Lavender – Very soothing and healing for skin, including acne burns, rashes, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. It also supposedly has aphrodisiac properties to spice things up a bit. Helpful against dandruff, dry and fragile hair, hair loss, skin inflammation, itching, rashes and wrinkles.
• Cedarwood – A woodsy base note that is particularly helpful for acne, oily skin, psoriasis and inflammatory skin conditions. Anti-fungal and astringent (tightens pores).
• Tea Tree – Very popular for acne, dermatitis, eczema, inflammation and rashes. Good for healthy skin in general. This has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Patchouli– Combats acne and dandruff. Has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and astringent properties.
• *Lime – Skin revitalizer, tightens skin and connective tissue. Anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
• Rosemary – Helpful for greasy hair, hair loss, and inflammation. Has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• Black Pepper – Stimulates the circulatory system to help with beard growth. Anti- inflammatory and aphrodisiac properties.
• *Bergamot – Helps relieve stress, calming and uplifting. Good for acne, oily skin and eczema. Has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

This list of conditions these oils assist with is not exhaustive by any means, but this is what’s beneficial in a beard oil.

Because essential oils are so concentrated, they need to be diluted with a carrier oil to avoid irritation. There are tons of carrier oils out there, but I have my favorites when it comes to skin care.

• Grapeseed oil – A light, fast absorbing oil. I like that this doesn’t leave a greasy look.
• Jojoba oil – Closely mimics skin’s natural oil, sebum. Also, has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Avocado oil – Useful for dry or mature skin. Improves elasticity as it moisturizes and promotes cell regeneration.

A good beard oil will help with skin irritation and flaking, soothe and condition, stimulate growth and soften coarse hair. Men can grow an awesome beard and smell amazing at the same time! Wives will be happy to have something a little more kissable to work with.

Manly Essential Oil Beard Blend #1: Earthy

Per 1-ounce of carrier oil add:

• 8 drops Patchouli essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 4 drops Bergamot essential oil – non-photosensitizing oil (cheaper brand)
• 2 drops Lavender essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 1 drop Black Pepper essential oil (cheaper brand)

Manly Essential Oil Beard Blend Oil #2: Woodsy

Per 1-ounce of carrier oil add:

• 6 drops Cedarwood essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 2 drops Lavender essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 2 drops Tea Tree essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 1 drop Rosemary essential oil (cheaper brand)
• 1 drop Lime essential oil (cheaper brand)

Directions:

1. Combine your oils in a dark glass bottle and shake well to combine. I like using a dropper bottle, but you can also use ones with an orifice reducer.
2. Since this is a 2-3% dilution it’s safe for daily use, but always listen to your body.
3. To apply, massage about 5-7 drops into the skin underneath the beard, and smooth over the hair as needed. Less is more!

* WARNING:

Cold-pressed bergamot and lime essential oils in the chemotypes recommended in this posts can cause photosensitivity when diluted oils are applied to the skin and exposed to sun within 24-48 hours. Keep this in mind, and try to keep beard oil off of skin exposed to direct sunlight. To decrease risk for photosensitivity, reduce bergamot to 1 drop per ounce of carrier oil and lime to 4 drops per ounce of carrier oil. (Harris, 2013)

Don’t have time to make your own beard oil, or don’t have the oils you need on hand? You can buy some beard oil ready made from my Etsy store. I currently offer Bergamot Cedarwood, Citrus Clove Beard Ultimate, and Patchouli blends. Need a custom order? Let me know, and we’ll work something out!

Meagan here… my husband always has scruff (cuz I think it’s sexy), but during hunting season he goes along with some sort of hunting tradition and grows his facial hair out into a beard. I’m not sure what I think about it, but Jamie sent me some of the beard oil she makes and sells in her shop for my husband to try out. I’m happy to report that it’s working great. He says it smells nice (not too girly) and it does make his beard softer. Anyway, I may just start liking this whole beard thing. You never know!

Jamie Larrison is wife to Devon and mother to Liam. She loves reading a good book while sipping herbal tea, baking and creating new recipes in her kitchen, and natural medicine which has lead her to pursue a certification as a master herbalist. She also feels strongly about being a good steward of our God given resources and she blogs about how she and her family do that at How To Just About Anything. She also crafts natural herbal body and oral care products in her Etsy shop, This & That Herbal.

 

RESOURCES: http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2013/08/06/phototoxicity-how-to-stay-safe-in-the-sun/