Both beard oils and butters are at the top of their games depending on your needs. Trying to figure out which one to choose can thus be tricky.
In this article, we will break down what sets these two products apart, when to use each, and how to combine them for maximum benefits.
Beard oil is a liquid-based beard grooming product made with a mix of natural oils like Argan oil, Jojoba oil, Almond oil, and Sunflower oil. The major purpose of beard oils is to offer moisturizing and shine benefits.
A good example of beard oil is That Urban Edge beard oil.
On the other hand, beard butter is infused with both natural butter (like Shea butter and Cocoa butter) and the oils found in beard oils. The main purpose of beard butter is to condition unruly beard hair and offer a natural hold.
| Key Factors | Beard Oil | Beard Butter |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A liquid-based beard grooming product infused with natural | A creamy or jelly beard grooming product infused with natural butter and oils. |
| Ingredients | Natural oils like jojoba oil, coconut oil, almond oil, and sunflower oil. | Mango, Cocoa, and Shea butter, and natural oils such as Argan and Jojoba |
| Consistency | Liquid | Creamy or Jelly |
| Absorption | Fast absorption | Slow absorption |
| Hold | No hold | Light hold |
| Shine | Natural shine | No shine (Matte finish) |
Here’s a list of things to consider when deciding whether to get beard oils or butters:
Beard oils contain only natural oils. They are usually filled with natural and carrier oils like jojoba oil, coconut oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, etc.
On the other hand, beard butter is packed with the natural and carrier oils found in beard oils, as well as natural butter. The most common types of butter in beard butter are usually Shea and Cocoa butter.
Beard butter has a creamy or balm-like consistency. Its balm-like or creamy consistency helps lock in moisture for a longer period and helps style the beard. However, if overapplied, it can feel heavy or thick on the beard.
On the other hand, beard oil is a liquid. Because it is liquid-based, beard oils are quicker to apply and manage. Plus, they are light and don’t make the beard feel heavy.
Because beard oil is a liquid-based product, it is more likely to penetrate the skin and hair faster than butter.
Using beard oil means the skin underneath your beard and hair follicles gets faster nourishment. On the other hand, because of its light consistency, it can quickly dry out, causing your beard to miss out on long-term moisturization.
When it comes to beard butter, the absorption rate is slow. This means the butter will likely sit on your skin or hair follicles for some time before you start reaping its nourishment benefits.
On the bright side, the slow absorption rate of the beard butter can also mean longer moisturizing benefits.
There’s no debate here; beard butter offers hold and beard oils do not.
Beard butter offers a light hold suitable for short to medium beard-length styling. Although the hold isn’t as long-lasting and strong as beard balms, it is still better than beard oils that offer no hold at all.
The hold is mostly attributed to the consistency of the product. On the contrary, beard oils, which are liquids, do not offer any hold benefits, and beard butter does.
Both beard oil and butter add some polished look to your beard. While beard butter slaps in a matte or subtle finish, beard oils add a natural shine.
Though the matte finish of beard butter isn’t poor-looking, the natural shine of beard oil is more beautiful.
With beard oil, you won’t notice a white cast, as with other hair products with thick consistency. Your beard will look naturally shiny and healthy.
Beard oil is great for use when your beard needs daily hydration, reducing beard itch, and promoting early beard growth. It can also be used once or twice a day, depending on how dry your beard is.
If you live in a dry climate, you may need to reapply often to keep your beard soft and hydrated.
On the other hand, beard butter should be used when your beard craves deep conditioning. It is best for fuller beards that would need styling, thus offering a light hold to tame flyaways.
Beard butter does not need steady reapplication like beard oil. Depending on how much conditioning your beard needs, you can apply it two to four times a week.
If you have very coarse or dry hair, you can apply it every day.
There’s no hard and fast rule against combining both products together. Here’s how:
Wash and dry your beard. A good beard shampoo like That Urban Edge beard shampoo can help you wash away dirt and product buildup in your beard without stripping off the natural oils.
Pat your beards dry with a dry towel or cloth. Leave them damp before applying grooming products
Next, put a few drops of beard oil on your palms and massage it into your beard. Make sure to massage it well with your fingers, reaching the skin underneath your beard.
Wait a few minutes for proper absorption (around 5 minutes) before applying another beard product.
Scoop a small amount of beard butter into your palms and smash it between your palms until it becomes creamy. Rub the butter over your beard and use your fingers to work it through your hair and skin underneath your beard.
Beard butter can tame flyaways and control the edges. Ultimately, it can also be used to style beards with your fingers and seal moisture.
Using a beard comb or brush is ideal if you don’t want your fingers to get messy.
That Urban Edge beard comb is a good example of a beard comb with wide and narrow teeth for easy product distribution. Plus, the dual teeth make it a good option for both full and short beards
Pro Tip: Remember to take each product in small amounts when combining them to avoid overwhelming your beard.
Here are factors to consider when choosing either beard oil or butter:
Beard oil is great for all beard lengths, but beard butter isn’t. If you have a short beard length, your choice should be beard oil, as beard butter can be heavy on short beards.
Plus, short beards do not necessarily need the conditioning and styling benefits beard butter offers.
As your beard begins to grow to medium and long length, you can begin combining beard oil and butter. This combination will offer you the moisturizing benefits of beard oil and the conditioning and styling benefits of beard butter.
Short beard: Beard oil
Medium to long beard: Beard oil and/or beard butter
If your beard feels dry, thick, or coarse, beard butter is the perfect choice as it provides deep conditioning benefits and intense moisture for longer periods. But on the downside, beard butter might clog your skin pores if you have oily skin or a beard.
A non-greasy and light beard oil will be more beneficial to you if you have an oily beard or skin. Beard oils can hydrate your beard without leaving it feeling heavy or greasy.
Coarse, dry, or thick beards: Beard butter
Oily skin or beards: Beard oil
If you have a medium-to-long beard and need to style it, you’ll need beard butter. Although beard oils offer amazing nourishment and quick absorption, they are liquids and provide no hold.
Beard butters offer a lighter hold than beard balm, but they are still a great option if you don’t want your beard to feel heavy after styling.
Styling: Beard butter
Choosing between beard oil or butter should be based on what your beard currently needs. If you have an unruly or coarse beard, your best choice would be beard butter.
On the other hand, beard oil would be a good pick if you have sensitive skin and crave hydration.
But you don’t have to struggle to pick either of these beard grooming products when you can combine them. Combining beard oil with beard butter provides hydrating, conditioning, and styling benefits.
That Urban Edge has a collection of beard grooming products made with natural ingredients that are geared to give you a confident look.
