If you have a shorter beard or experience dry skin beneath it, beard oil is a great place to start. If your beard is longer, thicker or difficult to manage, beard butter provides richer conditioning and helps keep it softer.
Personally, I think they work best together: apply beard oil first to care for the skin beneath your beard, then use a small amount of beard butter to condition the facial hair.
What is beard oil?
Beard oil is a lightweight daily grooming product designed to condition facial hair and care for the skin underneath.
Our beard oils combine jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil. The liquid formula spreads easily through the beard without feeling as heavy as a butter or balm.
Beard oil is particularly useful for:
- Short and medium-length beards
- Dry-feeling skin beneath the beard
- Coarse or uncomfortable facial hair
- Daily beard maintenance
- Anyone beginning a beard-care routine
Start with a few drops, rub them between your palms and work the oil through your beard and down towards the skin. Longer beards may need a little more, but it is always better to start with a small amount.
What is beard butter?
Beard butter is a richer leave-in conditioner made for softening facial hair and making longer or thicker beards easier to manage.
Our whipped beard butter combines shea butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil and avocado oil. It melts between your palms and spreads through the beard.
Beard butter is particularly useful for:
- Medium, long or thick beards
- Coarse facial hair
- Beards that become dry or difficult to manage
- Adding softness without using a firm styling product
- Conditioning the beard after applying oil
Begin with a small, pea-sized amount. Melt it between your palms before working it through the length of your beard.
Beard oil vs beard butter
| Beard oil | Beard butter | |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Skin and all beard lengths | Medium, long or thick beards |
| Texture | Lightweight liquid | Rich, whipped butter |
| Where to apply it | Beard and skin underneath | Mainly through the beard |
| Main purpose | Daily conditioning and skin care | Deeper conditioning and softness |
| When to apply | After washing or whenever needed | After beard oil or on its own |
| Starting amount | A few drops | A pea-sized amount |
Should you use beard oil and beard butter together?
Yes. You do not necessarily have to choose between them because they perform slightly different jobs.
I recommend applying beard oil first. Work it through the beard and towards the skin, then allow it a moment to absorb. Follow it with a small amount of beard butter, concentrating mainly on the length of the beard.
Using too much of either product can make your beard feel heavy, so begin with a small amount and add more only when necessary.
Which one should you choose?
Choose beard oil if:
- You have a shorter beard
- The skin beneath your beard feels dry
- You want a lightweight everyday product
- You are starting your first beard-care routine
Choose beard butter if:
- Your beard is longer or thicker
- Your facial hair feels coarse
- Your beard is difficult to manage
- You want richer conditioning and softness
Use both if:
- You want to care for the skin and beard
- Your beard is particularly coarse or dry
- You want a complete daily conditioning routine
If you are still unsure, begin with beard oil. You can add whipped beard butter as your beard becomes longer or when it needs additional conditioning.
Handmade beard care from Kent
The Bearded Viking’s beard oils and whipped beard butters are handmade in Kent and available in a range of woody, fresh, fruity and unscented options.
All our beard oils and beard butters contain nut-derived ingredients. Check the complete ingredient and allergen information on the individual product page before use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use beard oil every day?
Yes. Beard oil can be used daily. Start with a few drops and adjust the amount according to the length and thickness of your beard.
Should beard oil be applied before beard butter?
Yes. Apply the lighter beard oil first, working it towards the skin. Follow it with a small amount of beard butter through the beard.
Is beard butter the same as beard balm?
No. Whipped beard butter is primarily intended for conditioning and softness. Beard balm normally contains wax and provides a firmer styling hold.
Does beard oil make your beard grow?
Beard oil does not make new facial hair grow. It conditions your existing beard and cares for the skin beneath it, helping your beard look and feel better maintained.
Can I use beard butter on a short beard?
You can, but most people with shorter beards will find beard oil is a lighter and simpler place to start.
About the author
Lewis Hickman founded The Bearded Viking in Kent in April 2021. He creates handmade beard oils and whipped beard butters and has spent years developing, using and improving beard-care products for beards of different lengths and styles.