Some brethren live with what we call the “struggle beard.” It is dry, prickly to touch, and not suitable for cuddling. Worse yet, some can’t even grow a full beard.
The good news is, the right beard oil can help soften facial fuzz, make it easier to style, relieve beard itch, and keep the beard smelling fresh. What’s more, quality beard oil contains ingredients that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
These ingredients nourish hair follicles and the skin beneath the beard, which in turn nurtures the growth of facial hair.
At any rate, beard oils aren’t created equal. The beard trend has taken off lately, and naturally, there would be some bad eggs. That being the case, it can be a hassle to find the best beard oil for black men in today’s market. In response to that, we have made this buyer’s guide for our fellow brethren.
These are the top two of the five we reviewed. Keep reading to learn more.
Here’s what we noticed:
In our experience, we have found that while a specific brand of beard oil may work extremely well for one person, it may not be as effective (or may even cause undesired results) for another. Why? You may ask. The short answer is that skin composition, hair length, and hair type vary from person to person, even within the black community.
Because our skin and hair are so complex, we’ve combined our years of experience and a lot of research to identify the best beard oil for the various skin and hair types of black men.
The 5 Top-Rated Beard Oils for Black Men
Over the years, we’ve used a couple of beard oils. We tried a lot of them to figure out which had the best consistency, effectiveness, and result.
| Best for | Beard Oil for Black Men |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Proraso Beard Oil |
| Beard Dandruff | Jack Black Beard Oil |
| Taming Unruly Beard | Viking Revolution Beard Oil |
| Value for Money | Shea Butter Beard Oil |
| Natural Beard Oil | Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil |
The summary above will save you the time and hassle of finding the right oil for your distinctive beard.
What are we waiting for? Let us begin!
What Is the Best Beard Oil for Black Men?
The best beard oil for black men is Proraso Beard Oil. It strikes the right balance between quality and affordability. The beard oils from Jack Black and Viking Revolution may not have won, but they certainly did put up a good show. They are, in some ways, the best in their respective categories.
Please note that while many manufacturers claim that their products can improve facial hair growth, these aren’t magical portions. So don’t quickly assume that a product can miraculously sprout a full beard from nothing.
Proraso offers more than simply beard oil. They’re also serving a feeling: what it’s like to leave a high-end barbershop after having an incredible buzz cut. Although the aroma has a love/hate relationship among users, with some liking it and others not so much, there is a lot to admire about this beard oil.
Best Beard Oil for Black Men
Ingredient
Using this product can potentially help stimulate hair development by moisturizing the scalp and strengthening hair roots with its avocado oil ingredient. It can also be used to remove knots in one’s beard.
In addition, it contains eucalyptus oil which has been shown to enhance the look of the skin by raising its ceramide content when applied topically. Those suffering from skin infections and acne might benefit greatly from the antimicrobial capabilities of eucalyptus oil. When you wash and brush your beard too much, you could bruise the skin. This product has menthol in it, which can help with the pain.
Based on how popular the Proraso Beard oil is, it is easy to say that it works. Fortunately, after using it, it did live up to expectations.
Performance on a Thick, Full Beard
After a proper brush, the beard typically keeps its shape. However, we noticed a few stray hairs after applying this product to a beard that was both exceptionally thick and full.
Our first thought was that humidity or other external factors were to blame, but the fact that it happened, again and again, made us wonder if the oil seemed to make a really thick beard take on a life of its own.
Other than that, it’s an excellent performer. It keeps the moderate-sized beard looking tamed, feeling soft, and really attractive. The scents of cypress and vetiver intrigued us. Our initial assumption was that it would taste like peppermint candies. However, it has a much more pronounced scent than usual.
Scent
The Cypress and Vetiver scented oils are excellent choices. Another great choice is the Azur lime-scented variant. They differ from the majority of other “woodsy” scents available on the market. The products have a distinct aroma that is reminiscent of cologne. And if your whiskers are often dry after a shower, you could use the hydration it offers.
The oil fills the room with a powerful, unique scent, and it persists throughout the day. So, some friends tried not using it on their mustaches, yet the scent is still present and drifts up the nose. Some got used to it, while others found it unappealingly bright. The closeness of the mustache to the nose may lead some men to choose a faintly scented oil. If the smell bothers you, our recommendation is to use only a single drop instead of a dime’s worth.
Even though the scent will fade over time, it may be quite uplifting for both the wearer and those around them. That said, you could blend it with another beard oil to soften the flavor.
Because most members of our team have unmanageable curly beards and our sense of smell is probably more sensitive than others, we are most likely just nit-picking at this point.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
With a hint of menthol cooling the mane, the Proraso beard oil is light and easy to massage into the beard. It leaves the beard shiny and silky without feeling greasy at all.
Since our beards vary in length and texture, we’ve put this oil on them all, and it yielded good results regardless. This has earned it a place in our list of best beard oils for black men. The bottle is made of amber glass with a dropper and is presented in stylish packaging.
With this brand, you know you’re dealing with a high-end product that comes with a price tag to match. It has a proven track record, and the aromas are pleasant but not overpowering.
Best Oil for Beard Dandruff
One might ask: why pay a premium for this oil when you could simply apply some light facial lotion to your beard and be done with it? Well, it boils down to how much you are willing to pay to get a smoother, healthier beard.
Are there any better alternatives available? It depends on what you’re looking for. The good news is that this product is suitable for all skin types. The same cannot be said of the majority of brands out there. So, it’s worth a shot if you’ve got a short beard and frequently have skin concerns.
Ingredient
The oil has a noticeable aloe content, which is pleasing to the touch. Compared to other oils, it dries naturally and leaves little residue. If you don’t want to use it every time, you could use it in the evenings after a shower.
Even though you’ve got a naturally curly 6-inch-long beard, you can still use it before bed and it will prevent tangles when brushing in the morning. It does a good job of lubricating and moisturizing the beard.
Performance
What’s more, it takes care of brittle hair. Even though it works well, this is not a magical potion. If you use a harsh beard wash, you might notice a few falling off into your hands and sink.
How well does it tame wild beards? It will soften your facial armor over time. Most often, after a few days of daily use, your facial fuzz will gradually become more flexible.
Our skin felt and looked smooth and rejuvenated after using the three-step kit. Some people may not like the shampoo and lubricant’s distinct scents, but the oil, in particular, is spectacular. Furthermore, the shampoo barely produces foam, so even if the beard is cleaned, you won’t feel it.
As a result, it’s ideal for those with dry skin. As for men with oily skin, a lather-producing shampoo may be preferable. The comb is our personal favorite among all of the items. It’s the perfect size for our mustache because it’s smaller than a traditional beard comb but larger than most miniature mustache combs.
After purchasing Jack Black Beard Oil, a friend went looking for a more affordable alternative. Given that 1 oz. costs $26, which is hardly surprising.
It’s interesting that he returned to this lotion, thereafter, because it’s the only one so far that helps to soften and straighten the weed growing on his face. The scent is lovely and steadily fades, and the application is simple. The Black Reserve is our favorite of them all.
Packaging
The bottle is fantastic. Yeah, you read that right. The pumping movement is one of our favorite features. There’s absolutely no mess to clean up. Until now, this has been the greatest bottle we’ve used. When the oil ran out, one of us jokingly suggested that we fill it back up with standard oil. The empty bottle looks too good to sit in the trash.
Jack Black exemplifies what the best beard oil for black men should look like. Try it out. If you haven’t tried many oils before you might just stick with this one. That said, the only way to discover what works best for your beard is to experiment with a variety of products. Regardless of your feelings afterward, you’ll have a fantastic bottle that you can use over and over again.
It is well suited for beard dandruff. So, definitely worth the money you’ll be spending. After massaging it into your beard, you may need to use a towel to remove the excess so that your beard doesn’t appear oily. To put it bluntly, it was a lesson we learned the hard way. As a result, we recommend using only a few drops.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
We didn’t notice any fake scents or perfume with the Jack Black. It’s not overbearing at all, but natural and herbal. It makes the facial hair soft. It has a non-greasy, smooth, silky, velvety texture. If you’re searching for something that’s light enough for daily use, this might be the answer.
When applied correctly, there appears to be minimal residue. That said, the cost may be prohibitive for the volume of product you receive. For the most part, this product from Jack Black does exactly what it’s supposed to. The cost of avoiding inflamed, rough skin is certainly worth it.
A few years ago, two friends got tired of the chemically infused beard oil available on the market. The result? They created a brand of beard oil that quickly became the talk of the industry. One that is rich in natural ingredients.
Best Beard Oil for Coarse Beard
Ingredient and Performance
Jojoba and argan oils are two of the several natural ingredients in this product. They work to keep the whiskers and skin moisturized, softening the facial hair. If you’re looking to avoid a scratchy neck, this is a good choice.
Customer Service Rating
Credit where it’s due, the folks over at Viking Revolution are some of the most considerate people on Amazon. They try to establish a connection with their clientele, which means they truly care about what they are doing. We expect nothing less from a brand that produces some of the best beard oils for black men.
Packaging
Within the box, you’ll find a quick guide on using beard oil that includes links to websites. It’s easy to apply just the right quantity of beard oil using a dropper because most products come with one included.
Apply the oil to the beard after it has been rinsed and allowed to air-dry a bit. If your beard has grown out a lot, use a full dropper (or more) and knead it into your beard until you get the desired results. Otherwise, a dime-sized amount should do the job.
Scent
Some folks say that the aroma isn’t as dominant or “woodsy” as they’d like. The perfume isn’t overbearing, but there is a tinge of sandalwood. It has an earthy aroma to it. Sandalwood has a woody-floral scent, as one could imagine.
Even though the fragrance of this product lasts for some time, it doesn’t appear to stick around as long as some of the other options, such as the Premium Honest Amish and Badass Beard Care oils and balms. Overall, if you’re looking to up your beard game, this is an excellent place to start.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
As we’ve all learned, beard care products can be rather expensive, especially the more exotic ones. When compared to others, the Viking Revolution beard oil is reasonably priced. With Amazon’s Prime Day discount, you may be able to get it for a steal.
We purchased both the scented and unscented oils, and they seemed fine. The scented oil has a wonderful perfume, but we may switch to unscented in the future.
Are you on a tight budget and your mane is getting out of control? ‘Cantu shea butter’ is the first phrase that springs to mind. A dried-out, raggedy beard is one of the most unappealing things one can have.
Best Budget Beard Oil for African-American Men
With Cantu, you get a beard that’s clean, fresh, and well-kept. Take a few minutes to massage the oil into your skin for optimal benefits. It may wear off over time if you have a very coarse beard, so you could apply it at least twice a day: in the morning and at night.
Ingredient
Oils and butter extracts from sweet almonds, tea trees, avocados, shea nuts, and olive fruit are among the many natural components that make up this awesome product.
Even better, it is free of mineral oil, parabens, sulfates, and other chemicals that can clog the pores, cause acne, or be harmful to sensitive skin.
Because of its heavier weight, this beard oil takes a bit longer to absorb but is less likely to irritate the skin.
Packaging
While the Jack Black bottle used an impressive pump mechanism, the Cantu’s doesn’t seem to inspire confidence. Don’t get us wrong. It’s a wonderful product at an even better price! It earned a place in our list of best beard oil for black men due to the effectiveness of its content. Just make sure the bottle stays upright in a vertical position.
Performance
Using it can assist in preventing the beard from becoming brittle and dry. Apply roughly a quarter-sized amount if you have a thick beard. Also, if you want it to grow thicker, you can add some to the area.
Are you in need of a product to lubricate an extremely dry beard? Cantu will hold it down, making it simpler to comb through. It absorbs into the skin over time. And it nourishes and shines beautifully. A little goes a long way when you use it. The missus would love it.
Since it is fairly greasy, an oily residue is left behind when you run your hand over your facial fuzz, which sticks to everything you touch for the rest of the day, including your phone. This can make using the bottle a hassle because of how slippery it can be. So, make sure to wipe away the slickness on the bottle.
Scent
It has a captivating scent, is soft to the touch, and offers excellent value. At first, the perfume is a bit distracting, but it fades quickly. Cantu claims that its beard oil is light and non-greasy.
For obvious reasons, we do not agree with that. It is quite oily and greasy, which makes it a good choice for those searching for the best moisturizing beard oil for black men.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
Is Cantu Shea Butter Beard Oil the best on this list? Absolutely not. However, considering the price and the amount of product in the bottle, it’s an excellent deal. The bottle’s design is the sole limitation. Leakage is possible as a result of the top hole.
For that reason, we are not particularly fond of the bottle. Maybe this is where the extra money charged by other brands is spent. Everything else about the product is great, including the aroma. It’s natural, with a little oily feel. Of course, you must follow up by properly washing your hands to eliminate the residue.
In 2010, a small company was formed with one goal in mind: to stand out in the men’s grooming industry, which had become oversaturated with items that had no place on a shelf.
Best Natural Beard Growth Oil for Black Guys
Over time, the Pennsylvania-based company earned a reputation for delivering superior men’s grooming products. Its name: Honest Amish.
Ingredient
In the case of their Classic Beard Oil, for example, it has more than just hydrating and taming properties. It also contains natural components that can help the hair grow and the skin glow.
Some of the oils in its unique formula are obtained from plants like pumpkin, moringa, sweet almonds, apricot kernel, and avocado. Others are derived from argan, kukui, and jojoba. They all work together to keep your beard and skin healthy.
Almond oil contains an abundance of vitamin E, an ingredient known to help boost skin vitality by blocking free radical damage and slowing the effects of aging.
Studies have shown that topical application of vitamin E can protect against UV-related DNA damage and sun-induced skin changes.
Furthermore, almond oil has been used for generations to relieve dry scalp. Applying a small amount of almond oil to your scalp improves blood flow and brings potent antioxidants to the skin beneath your beard.
Performance
Hearing Honest Amish claim that their beard oil is superior to oil is not surprising because this product is rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.
If your skin gets dry and itchy, you might choose to rehydrate it with this beard oil, which can help fight our common enemy – beardruff. With this product, you can also promote healthy beard growth and protect your hair and skin from harmful elements in the environment that can compromise or dry out beards.
In addition, because it’s light and not overly oily, this oil is one of our favorites. It has a silky texture and we like how quickly the beard absorbs it with a few strokes of the brush. It keeps the whiskers smooth and moisturized throughout the day.
Scent
We understand why some people do not like its aroma. The reason for this is that they are unfamiliar with the moringa plant. The fact is, moringa seed extracts often have a unique scent. It has a faint chai latte, cinnamon, and a black licorice-like scent that dissipates quickly.
Whether you like the aroma or not, we know you’ll likely appreciate some of its other features. One of the many benefits of moringa oil is its ability to fight germs. After a few weeks of use, there were just a few flakes remaining in a previously flake-filled beard. This was a big step forward in the right direction.
What We Like
What Can Improve
Final Verdict
First and foremost, it’s a wonderful oil for keeping your beard in prime condition. If you have dry skin and are constantly on the lookout for new moisturizing solutions, this might be the bus stop. This is Amazon’s most popular beard oil, and for a reason. It’s either they’ve got a great PR team or the product simply works. According to our tests, it’s the latter, making it one of the best beard oils for black men.
We will update this post as often as possible to share our current choices with you. Now let’s take a look at some incredibly useful tips that can help with beard growth.
What Helps a Black Man’s Beard to Grow? Is Beard Oil Enough?
Well, using the best beard oil isn’t enough to make black men’s beards grow. There are so many factors that affect beard growth. Here are some tips that can help men of color grow healthy beards:
1. Wash and Moisturize Your Beard on a Regular Basis
One of the most common issues we encounter nowadays is pollution. To make matters worse, the beard is a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites. This is why it’s so important to regularly wash your beard. If you don’t, it acts as a trash can.
Does it really make a difference if you wash your beard every single day? Doing so three to four times a week is recommended by experts. That being stated, the strength of your moisturizer or beard wash might make a difference in how well it works. Here is an article that explains the importance of using beard oil regularly. Thankfully, this article contains some of the best beard oils for black men.
Using a moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower or just before you cut, shave, or trim your beard is also a smart suggestion from the dermatologist. Avoid sacrificing quality for quantity or spending more than you can afford. The idea is to find the right balance between cost and quality.
The next step is to look after the skin that lies behind your beard to promote beard growth.
2. Take Care of the Skin Beneath the Beard
As black men, we are more in need of this aspect of grooming.
Why? Because most nutrients are absorbed by a thick beard, namely the one that is typical of black males, as a result, the skin underneath our beard can easily feel dry. Sadly, dry skin opens the door to a slew of potential ailments. And beard dandruff is one of them.
Other effects include itchy skin and flakes in the beard. These impact how well your whiskers develop.
3. Trim the Beard Regularly to Maintain a Clean and Tidy Appearance
Once the ends of the beard have grown long enough, they will inevitably separate into split ends. As a practical matter, trimming your beard keeps it in shape.
Note that the shape of the beard is greatly influenced by how well-defined the tip is. Keeping it trimmed rather than shaved off completely gives it more incentive to develop.
4. Don’t Force Your Beard to Grow
Patience is the key to this whole process. We’ve all been there. It’s even more annoying when you have curly, thick hair on your head but your beard is clearly still bald. It is important to remember that using aggressive methods to make it grow would likely do more harm than good.
So let your chin and side buns rest and resist the urge to scratch or irritate them.
5. Use Gentle Beard Products Instead of Harsh Ones
There’s no need to explain this section further. Beard products that are too harsh might irritate or even clog pores on the skin beneath the beard. As it does so, it also impedes the flow of nutrients from the skin to the beard hair, or the other way around.
Therefore, it is advisable to use quality beard products that are gentle on black men’s skin. The top beard brands include Proraso, Jack Black, Viking Revolution, Shea Butter, and Honest Amish Beard Oil.
6. Develop a Beard Care Regimen That Works for You
A common mistake most black folks make while attempting to keep and grow a beard is adhering to a rigid or predetermined bear care routine!
Admittedly, there are some black males who continue to use a templated method of growing a beard. This method usually consists of beard care products based on harsh chemicals.
In the end, it’s important to consider, research, and plan out your beard care regimen. For instance, African-American beards can be rather coarse. Because of this, beard-softening solutions are a must.
7. Don’t Pull Out Ingrown Hairs!
Ingrown hair is a common problem for black guys because of our thick, curly hair. Sad to relate, ingrown hairs can be annoying and itchy, giving rise to the urge to pull them out. Unfortunately, pulling out ingrown hairs can leave everlasting scars on your skin. It can also cause skin irritation, which could lead to poor beard development.
8. Maintain a Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
Don’t underestimate the impact of what you put into your body through your diet. Whether you’re not eating enough of the proper things or you’re eating the incorrect ones, whichever case it is, a change is required!
Consider adding protein-rich meals to your daily diet as well as foods and fruits rich in vitamins B, C, D, E, K, and more. These include Peruvian chicken, avocado, and quinoa salad, or herb and garlic baked cod with romesco sauce and spinach. More suggestions on a healthy diet can be found in this article. Don’t forget to drink appropriate amounts of water because skin hydration goes hand in hand with the hydration of the body. A well-hydrated beard is a sign of healthy skin.
Engaging in physical and mental exercises such as working out and meditation can help you achieve peak physical condition. Having a healthy body and mind is essential to having a healthy beard, especially if you didn’t win the genetic lottery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
The beard deserves more attention than we give it, and rightly so. It helps people form an opinion about us. One of the most prevalent skin problems that men deal with is beard dandruff. It affects nearly everyone. We’ve all had to deal with it at some point in our lives.
When left untreated, beard dandruff can be a nuisance. Persistent skin disorders, fungal infections, and dry skin are all possible causes. Beard dandruff can be treated with the right skincare routine.
The best beard oil for black men, among other things, can help keep your beard looking great. Your beard may look alright straight out of the bathroom, but you may be shocked at how much better it appears after applying oils, conditioners, and so forth.
Dermatologists are a good option if all else fails because you might have a prominent skin condition that has to be addressed. Other than that, maintaining a nutritious diet and engaging in regular physical activity in addition to taking care of your skin and facial hair would help to make you look, be, and feel healthy.
About the Author
Dante Morton
Grooming ProfessionalDante Morton is a grooming professional and fashion expert. He has a jovial personality and a passion for skincare, as well as styling the hair and beards of black men. Before joining GroomHour, Dante worked with several big players in the beauty industry. Join Dante and several monthly readers on GroomHour.com, and enrich your lifestyle with reliable grooming resources.
