A Comprehensive Guide to Using Beard Balm: How Often Should You Use It?

Co-authored by Timmy Yanchun and Eric McClure

Last Updated: March 12, 2022 References

If you’ve been looking for a styling product that will keep your facial hair soft, healthy, and strong, you’ve made a good choice with beard balm. However, beard balm is a relatively new product and it’s hard to know how often you should be using the stuff. Will too much cause damage? Is it okay to use it every day? We’ve got the low down here on how to maximize your use of the product, so wonder no more. As a note, we’ll cover beard oil here as well. Many facial hair enthusiasts use these products interchangeably, but there are some differences to consider.

Question 1 of 7:

When should I use beard balm?

It’s best to use it after you shower and comb your beard. Beard balm works best if the skin underneath your facial hair is clean.^{[1]
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Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Most fellas find it easiest to just work it into your hair after you’ve finished showering in the morning. Once you step out of the shower, dry off and blot your beard so it’s mostly dry. Comb your facial hair to remove any tangles before working a dollop of beard balm into your beard by hand.^{[2]
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- Comb your hair after you’ve applied the balm as well. You may tangle it a bit when you’re working the balm into your hair, but a quick combing will sort that out.
- If you don’t shower in the morning, at least wash your face. If you work beard balm into your facial hair and there’s any dirt in your skin, it will lock it into your pores and you may irritate your skin.^{[3]
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Question 2 of 7:

Can I use beard balm every day?

Yes, although you may not want to if it makes your hair feel greasy. Beard balm is basically a moisturizing pomade.^{[4]
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Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} In other words, it’s helpful both as a protective agent and styling product. However, it can leave your beard feeling a little greasy if you overdo it. If you aren’t styling your beard to look a particular way and your facial hair already feels soft, healthy, and smooth, you don’t need to use the balm every day.^{[5]
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- Many guys use it every day. Some fellas only reach for the balm once or twice a month to keep if from drying out. It totally depends on personal preference and how your beard feels to you.

Question 3 of 7:

Can I use too much beard balm?

Yes, but only in the sense that it won’t look particularly good. You aren’t going to harm your beard or anything by using a little too much beard balm. It’s sort of like using too much lotion—you probably won’t hurt your skin or anything, but it might feel a little greasy. It’s the same thing with beard balm, it can leave your facial hair a little too slick if you overdo it.^{[6]
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- It depends on the length of your beard, but most guys shouldn’t need more than a dime-sized dollop of the stuff.^{[7]
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  Marlon Rivas
  Facial Hair Specialist
  Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.}

Question 4 of 7:

Does beard balm help beard hair grow?

Some manufacturers claim it does, but there’s no good evidence it does. Many of the companies that make beard balm will claim that it helps your beard grow, but there’s no concrete science to suggest that it does. While products like Rogaine (minoxidil) do appear to help hair grow, beard balm is really more of a styling product with some protective upsides. It might keep your beard hair healthy, so it might help in that sense, but it probably won’t speed up growth.^{[8]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- Beard balm won’t prevent your hair from growing out, if that’s what you’re worried about.
- Beard oil probably won’t do much for hair growth either.^{[9]
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Question 5 of 7:

Does beard balm help with dandruff?

Yes, since beard balm moisturizes hair and dandruff is caused by dry skin. Dandruff is just dead skin. If your beard is super dry, it could be a sign that the skin underneath your facial hair is dry as well. Keeping your beard moisturized with a balm product will likely help to minimize the amount the dandruff you run into on a daily basis.^{[10]
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- Beard oil will help with dandruff in your beard as well. Either product will work here, but balm might be better since you can use it every day.

Question 6 of 7:

What’s the difference between beard balm and oil?

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Beard balm conditions your hair and has some holding power. Also known as beard conditioner, beard balm will help moisturize your beard hair. This will keep it smooth, healthy, and soft while you go about your day. Beard balm is also very similar to pomade in the sense that it will hold your hair in place. If your beard can get a little unruly throughout the day, balm will help hold stray hairs in place.^{[11]
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- Unless you get a scented product, beard balm usually doesn’t have a particularly potent odor.
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Beard oil soothes your skin and provides a slick texture. Beard oil will also help keep your hair hydrated to a degree, but the main benefit is that the oil soothes your skin. Growing a beard can be itchy, and the skin around your chin can often dry out. Beard oil will soothe your itchiness, keep your skin smooth, and give your hair a sleeker feel.^{[12]
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- Beard oil is also typically mixed with scented products that will leave your facial hair smelling great!

Question 7 of 7:

How often should I use beard oil?

It depends on how dry your beard gets, but less is more with oils. Beard oil and beard balm accomplish similar tasks, but using oil every day can cause your skin to break out.^{[13]
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Timmy Yanchun
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 22 January 2020.} If your skin and beard aren’t dry and flaky, you’re probably best off just letting your beard be. You can use balm if you’d like, but skip the oil.^{[14]
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- If your beard dries out super fast and you run into dandruff every day, then you may benefit from using beard oil every day.
- If your beard stays moisturized for days at a time and your dandruff goes away with just one weekly application of beard oil, that’s fine too.
- You use beard oil basically the same way as balm. Wash your face, comb your beard, and work 2-5 drops of the oil into your beard by hand before combing again.