For most men, a 2 oz beard balm lasts between 30 and 45 days, depending on usage. This equates to about 8 to 12 tins a year. Considering the average cost of beard balm is about $15 for a 2 oz tin, that is $180 worth of beard balm every year.
Apart from the cost implication, finding quality and top beard balm is hard. There are tens of brands, making it difficult to differentiate those made with natural ingredients and those containing artificial additives that are detrimental to the facial hairs and skin.
It’s even more challenging to find a vegan-friendly beard balm. For these reasons, men are choosing to make beard balm at home.
Apart from saving money in the long run, making beard balm at home gives you the freedom of choosing what to include, especially for vegans. There is also some satisfaction that comes with making personal beard products at home.
Making beard balm at home is easy. You’ll only need a few ingredients and kitchen tools, and it takes less than an hour. Before getting into the process and recipe, let’s define a beard balm.
What is A Beard Balm?
Also referred to as beard butter, beard balm is a grooming product made to moisturize, condition, and nourish facial hair after washing. It also provides lightweight control when styling to tame facial hairs. Unlike other styling products like pomade, clay, and wax, beard balm has a lighter hold.
How To Make Beard Balm With Only 4 Ingredients
Vegan-friendly beard balms are made of four main ingredients;
- Vegan wax
- Vegan Butter
- Essential oils
- Carrier oils
Candelilla Wax Instead of Beeswax
Beard balm gets its holding properties from wax. This helps in holding and taming the facial hairs in place after styling. For our vegan-friendly balm, we will use candelilla wax, a great beeswax substitute. The best thing about candelilla wax is that it’s a great skincare product,it’s less sticky and works great.
Butter
Butter serves as a moisturizer and makes it easy to melt and apply the balm. The most used type of butter in making beard balm is cocoa butter and shea butter. They are both safe and vegan-friendly. So, go with the one that you love most.
Cocoa butter and shea butter contain fatty acids that are beneficial to both the facial hairs and the skin underneath. They nourish and hydrate the facial hairs without weighing them down.
Carrier Oils
The primary purpose of carrier oils is to dilute the essential oils and enhance the texture of the beard balm. They also soften the wax, making it easy to apply on the face. There are different carrier oils you can use depending on your preference. The most common carrier oils include:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Almond Oil
- Castor Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Sunflower Oil
There is no limit on how many carrier oils you can use. The trick is to research the health benefits of each oil to avoid duplication.
Essential Oils
On top of their amazing smell, essential oils can help in improving mood and sleep. They can also help kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Some of the essential oils used in beard balm include:
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
- Sandalwood
- Bergamot
- Pine
- Orange
- Lemon
- Vanilla
- Eucalyptus
How to Make Beard Balm Step By Step
Follow the following steps to make a beard balm at home
- Gather the tools you will need in the process. The tools include a double boiler, containers, and a funnel.
- Place butter, carrier oil, and wax in the double boiler and set it on low heat.
- Let the butter and beeswax melt, then mix them with a carrier oil. Make sure to add the ingredients proportionately.
- Turn off the heat and add your preferred essential oils.
- Pour the mixture into a clean container and allow it cool.
Wrapping Up
While hundreds of beard balm brands are available on the market, very few are vegan-friendly.
Luckily, making beard balm at home is very easy. You only need three main ingredients, and you don’t need any special equipment or tools. Making beard butter at home gives you the freedom to choose the ingredients to include and adjust the hold properties.
