Beard Oil vs. Beard Balm: Which Do You Need?

The short answer: Beard oil softens beard hair and moisturizes the skin underneath. Beard balm adds light hold and shape. If your beard feels dry or coarse, start with oil. If it's hard to keep in place, start with balm. Many people use both: one dropperful of oil, then balm to finish. Both Freedom Soap Co. Beard Oil and Beard Balm are handmade in small batches in Conway, Arkansas.

Beard oil and beard balm get lumped together, but they do different jobs. Here's how they differ, when to reach for each one, and how to use them together in about two minutes.

What's the difference between beard oil and beard balm?

  • Beard oil is a light blend of plant oils. It absorbs quickly, softens coarse hair and moisturizes the skin under your beard. It doesn't add hold.
  • Beard balm is a blend of beeswax, shea butter and plant oils. It softens too, but the beeswax adds light hold, so it tames flyaways and keeps your beard shaped.

Think of oil as the conditioner and balm as the finisher.

Original Beard Oil in a 2 oz amber dropper bottle

When should you use beard oil?

Reach for oil when your beard feels dry, coarse or scratchy, or when you want softness without any hold. It works on every length, from stubble to a full beard.

How to use it: add one dropperful (one squeeze of the dropper) to your palm. Massage it into your beard and the skin beneath, then comb or brush through.

When should you use beard balm?

Reach for balm when your beard is hard to keep in place, has flyaways, or needs a little shape for the day. It leaves a soft, matte finish, not a shiny one.

How to use it: It depends on your beard size. Start with a small amount and use more for longer beards. Warm it between your fingertips, rub your hands together, then massage it into your beard.

Original Beard Balm in a 2 oz round tin

Can you use beard oil and beard balm together?

Yes. This is the routine most of our customers use:

  1. Wash your beard with a handmade bar soap.
  2. Massage in one dropperful of beard oil and let it absorb.
  3. Apply beard balm, using more for a longer beard.
  4. Brush or comb through to spread it evenly and set the shape.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, read The Two-Step Beard Routine You Have Been Missing. For more on balm alone, see What Is Beard Balm? A Simple Guide to Using It Right.

What's in our beard oil and beard balm?

Beard Oil has seven ingredients: jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, vitamin E and pure essential oils. It comes in a 2 oz dropper bottle.

Beard Balm is made with beeswax, shea butter, apricot kernel, jojoba, sweet almond and grapeseed oils, vitamin E and pure essential oils. It comes in a 2 oz round tin.

Neither one has synthetic fragrance.

Which scents are available?

Beard Oil and Beard Balm come in the same two scents, so they're easy to match:

  • Original: earthy and woodsy, made with cedarwood, pine, lavender and peppermint essential oils.
  • Lemon + Mint: bright and crisp, made with lemon and peppermint essential oils.

Get both in the Complete Beard Care Bundle

The Complete Beard Care Bundle includes Beard Oil, Beard Balm, a Beard Brush and a 4 oz Eucalyptus + Mint bar soap for $44.95. That's about 10% less than buying each item separately. You pick the oil and balm scents. Want a different bar? Add an order note in your cart before checkout asking to swap it for Activated Charcoal or Pine + Eucalyptus.

Complete Beard Care Bundle with beard oil, beard balm, beard brush and bar soap

Beard oil vs. beard balm FAQ

Do I need both beard oil and beard balm?

Not on day one. Choose oil if your beard feels dry or coarse, and balm if it's hard to keep in place. Many people use both: oil first, then balm to finish.

How much beard oil should I use?

One dropperful (one squeeze of the dropper). Massage it into your beard and the skin beneath, then comb or brush through.

How much beard balm should I use?

It depends on your beard size. Start with a small amount and use more for longer beards. Warm it between your fingertips, rub your hands together, then massage it into your beard.

Which goes on first, oil or balm?

Oil first. Let it absorb, then apply balm to add shape and light hold.

What sizes do they come in?

Beard Oil comes in a 2 oz dropper bottle. Beard Balm comes in a 2 oz round tin.

Do beard oil and beard balm come in the same scents?

Yes. Original is made with cedarwood, pine, lavender and peppermint essential oils. Lemon + Mint is made with lemon and peppermint essential oils.

Shop the Men's Collection β†’

Back to blog