Free Shipping on Orders $100+ — Canada
Short answer: Beard balm is a leave-in styling and conditioning product for the beard, made from wax, butter and oils. It conditions the hair, adds light hold and a natural finish, tames flyaways and gives the beard a scent. It is usually applied after beard oil and suits beards long enough to need some shape.
Key takeaways
- Beard balm is a soft solid of wax, butter and oils that melts as you warm it in your hands.
- It adds light to medium hold and conditions the beard; beard oil conditions too, but adds no hold.
- Apply oil first, then a pea-sized amount of warmed balm, and shape the beard with a comb or brush.
- Match the balm's scent to your beard oil, or choose an unscented balm if you prefer no fragrance.
Knightsmen Recommends
Organic Beard Balm | Classic
An unscented organic beard balm with light hold and no added fragrance, made with beeswax and shea butter.
Shop Now →What is beard balm?
Beard balm is a leave-in conditioning and styling product for the beard. Its texture sits between a beard oil and a traditional pomade: it is a soft solid in the tin that melts as you warm it in your palms. It typically combines four types of ingredient.
| Ingredient type | What it does in a balm |
|---|---|
| Beeswax | Gives hold and structure, and leaves a light coating on the surface of the beard |
| Shea or cocoa butter | Rich plant fats that give a creamy, softening feel to the hair and help moisturize the skin beneath |
| Carrier oils | Plant oils such as jojoba, sweet almond or argan that help the balm spread and soften the beard |
| Essential oils or fragrance | Provide the scent |
The result is a product that conditions the beard and shapes it without stiffness.
What is the difference between beard balm, beard oil and beard wax?
Beard oil, balm and wax sit on a scale from no hold to firm hold, and balm is usually used together with oil. Oil is a liquid that conditions the hair and moisturizes the skin; balm adds light to medium hold on top; wax is firmer again.
| Product | Texture | Hold | Finish | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beard oil | Liquid | None | Soft sheen | Conditioning, scent and the skin underneath |
| Beard balm | Soft solid that melts in warm hands | Light to medium | Natural | Shaping, taming flyaways and conditioning |
| Beard wax | Firm, usually needs more warming | Firm | More defined | Sculpted shapes and moustaches |
Short beards often need only oil. As a beard gets longer and needs some shape, many men add a balm. Our organic beard oil collection and organic beard balm collection are made to be used together: oil first, balm second. For a longer comparison, read beard balm vs beard oil.
What does beard balm do?
Beard balm has four jobs: it holds, conditions, leaves a light coating and adds scent.
- Light to medium hold. Balm tames flyaways and frizz and keeps the beard in its shape through the day, without the stiffness or tackiness of a firmer wax or pomade. It is the level of hold that suits everyday wear and lets the beard move naturally.
- A light coating. The beeswax in a balm leaves a thin layer on the surface of the beard that slows moisture evaporation. Many men reach for balm more in cold, dry weather.
- Conditioning. The butters and oils in a balm carry on the conditioning that beard oil starts, leaving the hair softer and helping moisturize the skin underneath.
- Scent. Because balm sits on the surface of the beard instead of absorbing fully, many men find the scent lingers longer than with oil alone.
How do you use beard balm?
Apply beard oil first, then work in a small amount of warmed balm and shape the beard with a comb or brush. Follow these four steps.
- Oil first. A balm leaves a light coating on the surface, so putting it on first makes it harder for the oil to spread through the beard. Our guide to using beard oil covers this step.
- Warm the balm. Scrape a small amount from the tin with a thumbnail, about the size of a pea for a short beard and more for a longer one. Rub it between your palms until it melts into a thin, even coating. Cold, partly melted balm clumps and spreads unevenly.
- Work it through. With the melted balm on your palms, work it through the beard from root to tip with your fingers. Pay attention to the outer edges and the tips, where frizz and flyaways show most.
- Shape it. Use a beard comb or brush to set the beard into its final form. The comb spreads the balm further and trains the hairs in the direction you want, and a brush smooths the outer layer for a neater finish.
How do you choose a beard balm?
Choose by scent, hold and ingredients. Start with the scent, because a balm that matches your beard oil makes a more cohesive routine. Our four balms are:
- Cedarwood beard balm pairs with our cedarwood beard oil for a clean, woodsy everyday scent.
- Sandalwood beard balm pairs with our sandalwood beard oil for a warm, dry, classic scent.
- African musk beard balm pairs with African musk beard oil for a bold, earthy scent.
- Unscented beard balm has no added scent, for men who prefer unscented grooming products.
Then read the ingredient list. Beard balms are typically made from beeswax, plant butters and carrier oils, and if you prefer to avoid petroleum-based waxes or synthetic fragrance, the list shows whether they are there. Our organic beard balms are handcrafted in small batches in Toronto, Canada, and made with certified organic ingredients; the product pages state no synthetic fragrance and no parabens. Many men use a balm more in autumn and winter, when cold, dry air leaves a beard feeling dry, and less in humid summer weather.
How does beard balm fit into a beard care routine?
A simple routine has three steps: wash, moisturize, then style. The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing your face and beard every day with a gentle cleanser rather than soap, and says moisturizing can help soften the skin and beard hairs. It suggests beard oil for normal to dry skin, used sparingly. Balm is the finishing step, for hold and scent. Our guide to washing your beard properly covers the first step.
Our beard care bundles include oil sets, balm sets and a kit that pairs the two. If you are starting out, the Beard Growth Starter Kit pairs a beard oil with a beard balm, and the Organic Beard Balm Variety Set has all four balms in 1 oz tins for trying the scents.
What if your beard balm feels too hard?
A balm that feels harder than usual is not spoiled. Balms are made from wax and butter, which firm up in the cold, and the texture usually settles back once the tin warms to room temperature. Rubbing a small amount between your palms softens it, which is how you apply it anyway.
If the tin stays too firm to scoop, leave it in a warm room, or in the sun on a warm day, until it softens, and stir in a few drops of a carrier oil to make it easier to scoop, rub in your palms and apply. Avoid direct flame or very high heat, and keep the lid on between uses.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need beard balm if I already use beard oil?
Not always. Beard oil conditions the hair and moisturizes the skin underneath, but it adds no hold. If your beard is short and you only want it to feel soft, oil may be enough. If you want light shaping, tamer flyaways or a scent that lingers, add a balm after the oil.
How much beard balm should I use?
Start with an amount about the size of a pea for a short beard, and use a little more for a longer one. Warm it in your palms until it melts, work it through the beard and add more only if you need it. Too much balm can leave a beard looking heavy, so build up slowly.
Can I use beard balm on a short beard or stubble?
You can, in a very small amount, but stubble often has little to shape, so oil alone may be enough. Balm shows its value once a beard is long enough to need some control. If you do use it, warm it well and keep to a tiny amount.
Is beard balm the same as beard wax?
No. Balm is softer: it gives light to medium hold while it conditions. Wax is firmer and is used for stronger hold and more defined shapes. Our balms are made for everyday wear, so the beard keeps its natural movement instead of looking stiff or coated.
Which beard balm scent should I choose?
Match your beard oil: Cedarwood, Sandalwood or African Musk, or choose the unscented Classic if you prefer no added scent. The Organic Beard Balm Variety Set has all four balms in 1 oz tins, so you can try each scent before you commit to a full size.
Shop These Products
All Organic Beard Balms Cedarwood Beard Balm Sandalwood Beard Balm Beard Balm Set (4 scents)Related guides
- Beard balm vs beard oil: which one does your beard need?
- Styling a beard: the top 7 men's beard styles
Sources
Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.
