Best Beard Balm for Men – Buying Guide (2023 Bestsellers)
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Today’s buying guide is about the best beard balm bestsellers. Which one is the best one for you? Let’s find out, shall we?
Every discipline you can think of has its dedicated tools of the trade. Carpentry has hammers and saws while medicine has sphygmomanometers and stethoscopes. In the case of men’s grooming, shavers, oils and clippers dominate the scene. It’s impossible to get a decent job done without these tools. And probably the most important and unfortunately the most overlooked is the beard balm.
Beard balms are essential for any man who takes beard growth and care seriously. Because of this, we thought it essential to compile a comprehensive guide filling you in on the importance of beard balm, how to choose the best, and examples of the best beard balms in the industry.
So without much ado, let’s get into the guide.
Best Beard Balm at a Glance
Last update on 2024-08-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tips You Should Know Before Buying a Beard Balm
By now you surely know the drill.
There’s no way we would advise you to purchase any beard balm before testing it out or passing it through our checklist. In this section, we’ll go through a short guide on the things you ought to consider as you look for the best beard balm online.
- What hold does the beard balm have? The beard balms that are highly concentrated with beeswax are ranked high on the ‘hold’ spectrum.
- Pick one with natural ingredients – going natural is better for you, your beard, and the environment. At least with a natural beard balm, you are assured you won’t develop some weird reactions or side effects later on.
- Consider the oils used – some of the best oils used in beard balm include argan, grapeseed, and jojoba.
- The best beard balms contain natural butter including cocoa butter and shea butter – the butter is important for locking in moisture and making it easier for the balm to spread on the beard.
- If the beard balm cannot fight against beardruff, it’s not worth your time and money
The Top Beard Balms Picks
We should point out that the beard balm is not listed in any order. All products featured on this list are great and are worth checking out in your search for the best beard balms. With that said, let’s dive in.
1. Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner – Best Beard Balm (Handmade)
Any expert in the industry will take a quick look at this beard balm and realize the dedication that went into its production. Without a doubt, Honest Amish is experienced and passionate about making beard oil and beard balm. Over the years, Honest Amish has shown its dedication to the products and men’s beard grooming in general by making the product by hand. The company obsesses on delivering high-quality products. Anything that is below their high standards doesn’t make it out of their factory.
But why is this? Well, if you think about it, beard growth, grooming, and maintenance are at the heart of Amish men. They do so after marriage to fulfill the scriptures. Because of this, Honest Amish makes quality natural beard care products. The Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner doesn’t have fragrances, preservatives, chemicals, or colorings. The natural ingredients repair, nourish, soften and condition beard hair. Heck, the company is a pro-natural manufacturer such that they package the balm in a recyclable tin.
One of the main ingredients is argan. Argan oil is known to be beneficial for protecting hair growth and stimulating its growth. The other key ingredient is Kokum. This is an antibiotic that helps in killing bacteria on the skin.
In total, Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner contains 15 hair strengthening and enhancing and naturally-harvested botanicals. The best bit is that it is easy to mold into the hands before application. It is soft and as such spreads easily across the beard hair. If you are a scent person, you’ll love the mild woodsy, and manly scent it features.
Last but not least, Honest Amish states that their beard balm is perfect for short beards. And to show how much confidence they have in the product, Honest Amish asks that you ship back the product if you don’t find it to be better than other beard balms in the market.
Key Points
- Hand made
- It’s easy to apply
- It gets rid of itchiness and conditions beard hair
- It has natural ingredients
2. Seven Potions Beard Balm – Long Lasting Beard Balm
There’s nothing to hate or not like about the Seven Potions Beard Balm. It has a great smell and is made up of organic and natural ingredients. It is because of this that this balm has made it to this best beard balms list.
Now we are not saying that the scent is everything in choosing the best beard balm, but we cannot dispute the fact that scent is important, especially for those men who will be using the product daily. At the very least, you should like the smell (if you are not in love with it). Now, the Seven Potions Beard Balm scent can be described by one word ‘woodlands’. This is because it’s a combination of sandalwood and cedarwood. Overall, the scent is gentle but noticeable.
Aside from the scent, we love its hardness. It’s just the perfect kind of firm and medium. It is easy to mold into your hands and work into the beard. Additionally, it has an excellent hold which works to soften the beard over time while getting rid of beardruff, protecting it from split ends and itchiness.
The balm also leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized. This is because it has vegan-friendly glycerin. After a while, people will start noticing how healthy and well-groomed your beard is.
Another benefit is the fact that it is packed in 2-ounce containers. The brand makes its packaging bigger than those of other brands. As such, you’ll use the balm for longer before going back to the stores for another purchase.
Since this is an all-natural product, it’s free of parabens, chemicals artificial fragrances preservatives, and colorants. Last but not least, it’s vegan-friendly.
Key Points
- It has a great scent
- It gets rid of beardruff and itchiness
- It has organic and natural ingredients
- It comes in a larger container and lasts for a longer time
3. Rocky Mountain Barber Beard Balm – All-Natural Ingredients with a Masculine Scent
If you love being in control of your beard growth and care, here’s another perfect beard balm. Rocky Mountain Barber took it upon themselves to design a beard balm for beards that defied the wishes of their masters. The Rocky Mountain Barber Beard Balm is focused on giving you styling control without weighing down your beard with wax.
In addition to this, Rocky Mountain Barber Company also focuses its sights on helping the men with beards that grow angled and that have active lifestyles. If you love hitting the trails, crossing streams, going fishing, or exploring forests in your area, you know how easy it is to lose control of your beard. Luckily, armed with the Rocky Mountain Beard Balm, your beard will grow stronger and longer.
Though many beard balm companies love to experiment with scents, Rocky Mountain Beard loves sticking to what they know works. Because of this, they chose a cedar-wood scent as the fragrance of this balm. To give it an even fresher feel, they added hints of Eucalyptus. Generally, the fragrance is masculine and will remind you of the great outdoors that you love so much. Even when you are out in the city, the mountains, hills, trails, and streams will feel as though they are close.
The Rocky Mountain Barber Beard Balm is made from natural ingredients sourced from Canada and North America. It is packed with eight essential oils and includes shea butter and beeswax to help in taming a wild beard. Given that it’s designed for outdoorsy men, Rocky Mountain Beard Company was thoughtful enough to package the balm in a slim and compact container that will fit in any bag compartment or pocket. Because of this, you have no excuse for skipping your beard grooming routine even when you are hiking for days.
Key Points
- It has natural ingredients
- Easy to bring along on trips
- It is a masculine scent
- It provides superior beard styling control
4. Beard Balm Conditioner for Men – Wild Willie’s Beard Butter – Organic Ingredients with Excellent Hold & Softening
Wild Willies is one of the few companies that is genuinely passionate about men’s grooming and beard hair. This much shows in the quality of beard balm they produce.
Wild Willies is a company that believes in facial hair freedom. They believe hair should be loose and free and not entangled in ugly knots on your face and chin. The company wants its customers to look presentable and unique even if it means looking like lumberjacks who’ve just come out of winter hibernation.
Wild Willies speak of Magnum PI mustache fondly. Not only because having one was considered cool but also because it was right. You’ve got to love their passion and enthusiasm in the industry. Many times they come out as though they are begging you to grow out your beard and groom it properly.
Because of this, it’s not a surprise that the company has poured out everything it has into the Wild Willie’s Beard Balm Leave-In Conditioner Beard Butter. And as a testament to how good it is, the conditioning balm has gotten lots of positive reviews from past users.
There is a lot they love about the product;
- There’s a noticeable difference between a beard without using this balm and a few days after using it consistently. The difference is in how the board looks, and the itchiness is lifted
- The balm has a good hold all day long
- The beard feels soft after a few days of using the balm
- The balm has organic ingredients
- The balm promotes beard hair growth starting from the inside
Users have also fallen in love with Wild Willie’s Beard Balm Leave-In Conditioner Beard Butter because of its woodsy scent. However, it’s not the best smelling balm we’ve come across. Not that it smells bad, no, it’s just that others smell better.
Overall, this is an excellent product for individuals who would love to grow facial hair
Key Points
- It reduces itchiness
- It provides a good hold
- It softens the beard
5. Cremo Mint Blend Styling Beard Balm – Best Value Beard Balm
Cremo is a high-end brand that has products featured in many product guides – and for good reasons. Bearded men seem to love the brand. Because of this, we are excited to check out one of its balms – the Cremo Styling Beard Balm. Let’s see what it has to offer. The balm is ideal for men who want a balm they can use on beards of any length.
The first thing we should point out is that the Cremo Styling Beard Balm is full of essential oils. The essential oils include everything from jojoba seed oil to sunflower oil which is excellent for maintaining healthy beards. The only butter included in the list of ingredients is Shea butter. But even with one butter, the general balm formula is greasy. Because of this, it’s unfortunately, not as good in enhancing your skin as other balms are. Because of the greasy formula, this product feels a lot more like a cream than a balm. Cremo knows this all too well. So to counter the effects of the greasy solution, it added Vitamin E to the list of ingredients.
So why do men still love it so much? Well, it has a couple of advantages. Its high moisture content makes it easier for men to comb through all beard lengths. However, it’s particularly perfect for short beards on which it can be applied without hair clumping. The balm is created to be moisturizing and easily absorbed into the skin. This is probably the reason why more butter was used in place of essential oils.
If you have dry skin, this beard balm is an excellent option. It will lock more moisture into your hair. And with that said, here are a couple of downsides to this balm (after all, no product is perfect, right?)
For a balm marketed as a styling balm (it’s even in the name), the balm doesn’t have a stronghold. If were to rate it, we’d give it a medium. Only because its hold is not the worst we’ve seen on the market. But on the other hand, there are balms with a stronger hold.
With a medium hold, the balm will help you style your beard. However, you will have to reapply it before the day’s end, especially if you get rained on or you are active.
The other problem is with the scent. Cremo settled on peppermint which honestly is lovely. The only problem is that they overdid it. Many users find it strong enough to clear sinuses. This is a great thing if you are suffering from a cold. But though the scent intensity fades with time, when you first apply the balm your eyes will get watery.
Key Points
- It has a range of nourishing essential oils
- It is excellent for all beard lengths
- It offers great value for your money
- The peppermint scent is a little too strong for my taste
6. Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm – Large Container (Strong Hold)
Honest Amish is a perfect example of a men’s grooming brand that listens to the cries of its consumers. When they released the standard balm, there were a lot of things that men didn’t lie about, including the lack of a decent hold. So they went back to the drawing board, made some adjustments, and came back with a new and improved beard balm – or is it? This new balm is ideal for men who are loyal to Honest Amish but need a balm with a better hold.
Now, before you get too excited, though Honest Amish went back to the drawing board and made improvements to the Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm, they didn’t make any changes to its formula. The product is their standard balm but plus some beeswax. For some men, this might come across as the laziest product upgrade in the history of all upgrades. But if you think about it, the change makes sense.
It’s not that the standard Honest Amish beard balm was whack. It was really good, and this is the reason the formula was retained. The new and improved beard balm benefits from the pros of the previous standard balm. It is packed with natural oils, essential oils, and beard butter. But to this formula the improved balm contains beeswax.
On the one hand, the addition of beeswax means the new beard balm is off-limits to vegans, and on the other, it denotes a stronger hold. As such, it is ideal for frizzy beards, long beards, and any man who wants to style his beard. With the addition of beeswax, you can expect the balm to hold your beard in your preferred style for more than 12 hours (this time depends on the prevailing weather and your level of activity).
It’s also worth noting that the Honest Amish Heavy Duty Beard Balm is packaged in a 4 oz. tin. And though it costs a little more than other beard balms, it also means that you get more balm to serve you for a long.
But there is a little problem with this beard balm and all other Honest Amish products – they are not quite forthcoming with the ingredients used in the balm. They tend to hide behind the main selling points, including natural extracts and essential oils. This is a big deal because most men want to know they are using natural products with ingredients that will not cause harm to their beards and skin. Other male grooming products seem to adhere to this rule, so it’s fishy when Honest Amish doesn’t.
But even then, this is not a deal-breaker for most men mainly because the beard balm produces results as advertised.
Key Points
- It has a strong hold
- It comes in a large 4 Oz. Tin
- The quality of its formula is similar to that of the standard Honest Amish Beard Balm
- Not all ingredients are listed
7. Tigi Bed Head for Men Lion Tamer Beard Balm – Very Reasonably Priced & Good for Curly Beard
This hair balm is a little different from those we’ve looked at so far. It was made to deal with frizzy beard hair. It is a product by Tigi Cosmetics, one of the lesser-known brands but one that brings its A-game to the industry.
Tigi Cosmetics is based in the UK. It is a big brand that has many smaller products and brands. The Bed Head product range is one of their more successful product lines. The Bed Head product range includes many grooming products ranging from shampoos to creams, gels, conditioners, and beard balms (our product of interest).
Though it has a unique selling point, in that it was explicitly designed for frizzy beards, the Tigi Bed Head Lion Tamer Beard & Hair Balm has several features working to its benefit as well. The first thing that you’ll notice when you first lay your eye on the balm is that it is packaged in a tube instead of the standard tin most beard balm brands seem to favor. And there’s a reason why companies prefer packaging in tins than in tubes. You see, most beard balms are packed with butter content and beeswax. These two give the balms a solid thickness which consequently makes them difficult to squeeze out.
However, the Bed Head Lion Tamer Beard and Hair Balm are designed differently. Tigi Cosmetics cuts back on many of the ingredients found in the most popular beard balm products. As a result, it is more of a cream than a balm. Its consistency makes it easy for it to be squeezed through a tube and easy to apply. Speaking of application, many men say that applying this balm feels more like applying beard oil. The process is even the same – squeeze out a small amount onto your palm, rub it and run it through the beard. The process is simple and highly effective.
Now let’s get into the contents of this balm. At the top of the list of ingredients is Omega 3 oils. Tigi decided to pack these oils into the balm to help in the care for long and frizzy beards.
Another feature that has made people fall in love with this product is the fact that it’s multi-purpose. This means that it can be applied to your beard and also the hair on your head. It especially comes in handy if the hair on your head is frizzier and you have a hard time taming it.
But while it has a lot of things working for it, it’s not perfect. And it’d be naïve for us to think so. The biggest drawback of this balm is that alcohol is part of its list of ingredients. Alcohol is great at getting things started. However, it doesn’t have the best effect on the skin. It usually leaves the skin dry, itchy, and full of beardruff. Because of this, we usually prefer not to recommend grooming products laced with alcohol. But in this case, we’ll make an exception.
Why is this the case? Well, first, not all men have the same reaction to alcohol, and second, this balm is ideal for men with frizzy beards. And last but not least, this balm has a low price tag. For a 3 Oz tube of product, the price is a huge bargain.
If you are concerned about the alcohol content, we’d advise you to look past it and buy the balm. Even if it turns out that the alcohol dries out your skin, you’ll only lose a little money.
Key Points
- The formula is multi-purpose
- It keeps frizzes under control
- Affordable
- Contains alcohol
8. Smooth Viking Beard Balm for Men – All-Natural Ingredients & Great for Mustaches
If you are reading this and your beard is out of control, you are probably getting frustrated. You’ve tried using beard combs, clippers, and other tools but they are just not working. But before you throw in the towel, try Smooth Viking Beard Balm With Shea Butter & Argan Oil and see how well your beard will respond to it. Thank us later.
Smooth Viking beard balm is designed to maintain beards regardless of how long and thick they are. It provides the much-needed strength and hydration to the hair follicles from the hair roots to the tips.
Additionally, the beard balm also features natural and organic oils like argan, avocado, and pumpkin seed. These oils help the beard grow healthier and thicker. We don’t need to reiterate the importance of essential oils to beard growth now do we?
In addition to growing thicker, your beard will also feel well conditioned and soft. What’s even better this beard balm will trigger your beard to grow even longer. Now, aside from what it does to the beard, we love this balm for how easy it is to use and the fact that it’s not messy. Rubbing a small amount of beard balm between your fingers and spreading it throughout the beard is enough. Let the balm dry and yield great results.
Oh – and in case you are wondering, the Smooth Viking Beard Balm With Shea Butter & Argan Oil is light enough to be used on mustaches as well.
Key Points
- Contains natural ingredients
- It is not messy
- It’s perfect for mustaches as well
- It triggers your beard to grow thicker
9. Prophets Premium Beard Balm – Best Beard Balm Straightener
Let’s go low-tech again with this premium beard balm. If you’ve noticed anything with the previous low tech gadgets is that low tech doesn’t translate to ineffectiveness. It’s all about simplicity and ease of use.
Here is what won us over with this balm. Like the straightening jelly we looked at, this balm doesn’t need extra tools for application. Sure, you might want to throw in a straightening brush or comb to help straighten and style your beard, but it’s not necessary.
The fact that you are working with a high-quality balm means the results you get a great as well. You’ll only need a small amount of the balm to get things done. Scoop a pea-sized amount with your fingertips, rub it in your hands until it melts, and then apply it. It cannot get any simpler than that.
Prophet made this balm with a good amount of hold which helps it straighten beards better. More to this, it is organic and great on your skin and hair as well.
And now to the part that won us over – it gives beard hair a healthy shine and nourishment. Everyone will know you spend a little extra time on your beard and give you grooming bonus points.
- Blends perfectly with various beard colors
- It nourishes the beard
- It’s organic
- It has a mild hold
The Right Process of Beard Balm Application – 6 Easy Steps
After you’ve picked the best beard balm, it’s time to put it to work. Now, to get the best results from it, you need to apply it in the right way. Below are six steps guiding you through the right application process.
And no, it’s not rocket science. They are steps you probably know, but you need to be reminded off and in the right steps.
Step 1:
Before anything else, you will need to choose a time of application. If you are like most men, you’ll prefer to have it as part of your morning routine. After all, you are too tired to get anything done in the evening when you come home from work.
So say, you choose to do it in the morning, the best time to apply the beard balm is after hitting the shower. At this time, the beard is damp and warmed up. In this state, your skin and hair will absorb a lot of the ingredients in the balm and yield the best results in a short time.
Step 2:
Scoop a small amount of the beard balm. The amount you scoop will depend on the balm you use. Some balms require that you use a little more amount than others. If you are using a new beard balm, start with a small amount and increase if there’s a need for it.
Step 3:
Rub the balm between your palms until it melts.
Step 4:
After, rub the balm onto your beard. Some experts suggest that you start with the facial skin and then work to the beard hair. But it doesn’t matter which you start with.
Step 5:
Massage the beard balm into your beard and skin using a downward motion from the cheeks. Be sure to work the balm into the roots of the hair and then to the hair tips.
Note: always start at the roots, and not the hair ends.
Step 6:
Once the beard balm is absorbed into the skin with no trace, tame the stray beard hairs using a bristle beard brush. This will give the beard a groomed look
Why Beard Balm Is Great for Your Beard and Skin
A beard balm is a great way to treat yourself. But even so, it’s an important grooming product mainly because it has lots of benefits.
You probably noticed from the products above that many of the best beard balms feature the same natural ingredients. Some of these ingredients include cocoa butter and beeswax.
Related reading: What is Beard Balm & Who Should Use It?
So why does beeswax feature in almost all products? You are aware that beeswax is secreted by worker bees, right? What you probably don’t know is that it’s the substance that holds the hive together. It’s the structure around which the entire hive is formed. Think of it as the frame of your home.
As such, it only makes sense that the beeswax in the beard balms above will provide beard hair with the hold it does in hives. Moreover, it helps in locking in moisture that’s produced by other balm ingredients.
Now, butter-like cocoa butter and shea butter are used to make it easier to spread the balm. Additionally, they are great moisturizers. They are so good at moisturizing the beard and skin that only carrier oils are better. If you live in an area with a dry or cool climate, the butter will help keep your beard moist and healthy throughout the day.
Another benefit is that beard balm helps in getting rid of beard ruffs. Beardruff are flakes of dry skin that fall from the beards. They form when the skin under the beard is dry. The balm will hydrate the skin and prevent this from happening.
Beard balm also helps to trigger beard growth. It will help your beard grow longer and thicker. Also, the subtle manly scent is a plus.
Differences between Beard Balm, Beard Wax, and Beard Oil
There’s a thin line between beard oil and beard balm. While it may be easy to tell them apart physically, it’s hard to decide which to use when.
The difference is in their contents. Beard oil has a high beeswax concentration and lacks shea butter.
Generally, beard oil is a perfect blend of oil while beard balm is a mixture of butter and beeswax. Also, beard balm is thicker and looks more like lip balm. It is packaged as a paste.
You can also look at beard wax as a leave-in conditioner that helps with the styling and helps to tame stray hair.
When Should You Use Beard Balm?
Since beard balm is thicker, it’s best to use it when your beard is thick – when the hairs are at least 1.5 inches long. The longer the facial hair is, the denser it is, and the more it will stray.
However, beard balms can be used by men with shorter facial hair as well, especially because of the moisturizing benefits. Also, it will help relieve dryness, hold moisture and ease itchiness.
Beard Oil Overview
- Beard oil is a necessary beard grooming product
- Beard oil can handle the moisturizing need of medium and short length beards, especially for men with dry skin
- Beard oil is absorbed into the skin quicker than balm since it’s thinner. It will give your beard a shinier finish.
- Beards oils are a blend of natural essential oils. They mimic oils produced by the skin.
- Beard oils have stronger scents than beard balm
Can Beard Balm and Beard Oil Be Used at the Same Time?
Since every beard is different, you will need to come up with a routine that works for your beard. However, there’s no reason you cannot use the two together.
Here are some tips on how to use them together
- After showering, apply beard oil to the roots and rub it deep into the skin. After, rub the balm on the hairs for a solid hold
- You can use one at night and one in the morning
- You can alternate their use
The Selection Process
There are many beard balms in the market – a lot more than we could review or try out. However, when coming up with this guide and choosing the best beard balm, we guarantee that we thoroughly looked into the experiences and reviews of past customers that have compared several products and tried them.
Conclusion
And there you have it. Everything you need to know about the best beard balm bestsellers and related grooming products. As you head out to make a purchase, be aware and cautious of fakes in the market. Some make claims they cannot deliver on. As such, if you come across a product not on this list, we encourage you to do your due diligence. Read through the list of ingredients and even read through reviews online.