In only the last 100 years, men’s grooming products have blossomed into a multi-billion dollar industry. Despite the fact that beards have been worn for millennia, beard oil has only been a relatively recent invention, developed and sold in the 1930s.
Since then, more and more beard grooming products and variations of original products have hit the markets. Some of the most famous are beard balm, butter, and wax. meant to allow men to not only hydrate but style their beards for more professional or unique appearances.
Today, beard oil and beard balm are some of the most popular products on the men’s grooming market, and we’re going to set them against each other in a cage-match style fight to see which beard product is superior! We’ll be judging the fight based on a few key criteria that we look for in any beard grooming product!
- Application (Ease, Comfort, Speed)
- Hydration (Longevity, Softness, Scent)
- Styling Capabilities
- “It” Factor
Real quick, if you’re curious about which beard product is best for you, we’ve got an awesome quiz you can take by clicking the button below!
Let’s jump into it!
Beard Oil vs Beard Balm Round 1: Application
When it comes to overall application, there are three main things we’re looking for in beard products: How easy they are to apply, how comfortable they are, and how fast they are to apply.
To apply beard oil, all you have to do is remove the small dropper tip, squeeze a few drops into your hands, and apply to your beard. Beard oil can be applied almost everywhere and can provide some immediate hydration and softness to your beard! This makes beard oil a super quick and convenient product to use in a multitude of occasions.
Beard balm is also extremely easy to apply, however beard balm contains an extra step. To apply beard balm, remove the lid, scrape some balm out with your fingers, rub it together and warm it up in your palms and apply by massaging it into your beard. Beard balm can also be applied anywhere for some immediate hydration, however, it is not as quick or convenient. Oftentimes beard balm will leave a slight residue on your hands after you apply the product, meaning you may have to wash or rinse your hands off if you don’t want to wait for them to dry.
Because beard balm leaves this slight residue and beard oil does not, the winner here is going to be beard oil!
WINNER: Beard Oil
Beard Oil vs Beard Balm Round 2: Hydration
When it comes to hydration, what you want from a good beard grooming product is something that will last and provide a soft and well-moisturized beard for as long as possible. If it can provide a nice and relaxing scent while it does so, then that’s even better! The scent will generally last as long as the hydration does.
Beard oil is known for its hydrating properties, however, beard oil is not known for its longevity. This is because high-quality beard oil is going to feel light and non-greasy, and is going to absorb quickly to give some immediate hydration. The upside to this is a product that is easy to apply like mentioned in round 1. The downside is a product that doesn’t last as long because it is absorbed so quickly.
Beard balm, by its nature, is thicker and more resilient than beard oil. Beard balms are often made of butters, waxes, and other ingredients that, while thick, are extremely durable and last far longer than beard oil does because they don’t dry as quickly. This is why beard balm is often called a “leave-in conditioner” for your beard. Also, because beard balm coats the hairs for a longer period of time with a thicker and more robust formula of hydrating ingredients, the hair becomes noticeably softer than with beard oil to the touch. Don’t believe me, just try it for yourself! Because beard balm dries more slowly, the scent lasts longer also.
Due to the longevity, softness, and more, beard balm is the winner of this round!
WINNER: Beard Balm
Beard Oil vs Beard Balm Round 3: Styling
This point is an open and shut case. Beard oil is thin and light and because of this, doesn’t make for a great styling product because it isn’t strong enough to hold beard hair in place or cause hair to stick together. In fact, beard balm was originally meant to bridge the gap between the hydrating properties of beard oil and the styling properties of beard wax, so naturally, balm has more of an edge when it comes to styling your beard than beard oil ever will.
Put simply, if you want a product that can hydrate your beard and provide some styling edge, beard balm is the only relevant answer. However, there is another option. MIXING! Check out the video below on what happens when you mix beard balm and beard oil together.
WINNER: Beard Balm
Beard Oil vs Beard Balm Round 4: “It” Factor
And finally, we get to the “it” factor. The “it” factor is, essentially, which product I would choose based on experience with using it alone due to anything I like about it or don’t like about the other product. It’s a personal thing but most people who have tried both of these products agree with me when I say that without a doubt, I’d choose the beard balm.
Think about it, the only thing that beard oil has against the beard balm is that it doesn’t leave as much of a residue on your hands after applying, but this is immediately offset if you consider you’ll have to apply the beard oil more often because it doesn’t last as long, making it a moot point in terms of convenience.
Beard balm lasts longer, helps control and style your beard, and makes your beard feel softer and more hydrated for a longer amount of time, enough said. The only instance when you might want beard oil instead is if you are in a hurry and can’t spare the minute it takes to wash your hands.
WINNER: Beard Balm
Overall, what we can gather from this beard oil/beard balm shootout is that beard balm is more versatile. Although that versatility comes with drawbacks, it also comes with many more advantages to consider. But, if there’s something I can say with utmost certainty, it’s that no matter which product you choose, you can’t go wrong with Volt.
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