Bio-oil is an award-winning, world-leading treatment for scars and stretch marks product. But does it help facial hair in any way? Read on to learn how you can use bio-oil in your beard.
You can use bio-oil for beard grooming but it will not stimulate beard growth. Bio-oil is a mixture of several natural oils some of which block beard growth-stimulating hormone DHT, meaning bio-oil does not promote beard growth. Applying bio-oil on your beard will moisturize, soften, prevent dandruff, prevent split ends and frizz, and add shine to your beard.
Since bio-oil has some DHT blockers oils, make sure you do not apply it on regular basis. Just use it as a beard oil substitute when you ran out of your beard oil and not as entirely your daily beard oil. Applying it on daily basis may affect your beard growth negatively.
Will Bio-Oil Promote Beard Growth?
Bio-oil will not promote beard growth at all on the contrary bio-oil may end up impacting the growth of your beard negatively. Here is how:
The growth of the beards is promoted by two factors, genes and the two androgens [testosterone and DHT]. Testosterone primes beard follicles while DHT promotes linear growth of the facial hair. This is why beards are called androgenic hairs.
Given that testosterone and DHT plays a major role in the growth of beards, any product, be it natural or synthetic that blocks testosterone and DHT production will slow or impact beard growth.
Bio-oil contains the following oils
- mineral oil
- sunflower seed oil
- tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
- anthemis nobilis flower (chamomile) oil
- Lavandula Angustifolia (lavender) oil
- Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oil
- calendula Officinalis (marigold) extract
- glycine soja (soybean) oil
Among these natural oils, there are several oils that have been associated with blocking DHT. These include rosemary oil and lavender oil source
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This means that when you apply bio-oil to your beard follicles it may impact your beard growth negatively.
Since bio-oil will negatively affect the growth of your beard, I would recommend that you keep bio-oil for beard growth or grooming. After all, there are better options for beard grooming and growth. Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and mink oil.
Benefits of Bio-Oil for Beards
While bio-oil is not good for beard growth it is excellent for beard grooming due to some of the natural oils it has.
Moisturizing
Keeping your beard moisturized is a must if you want to tame frizz, dryness and split ends.
However, you have to understand the products that you are putting in your beard for moisturizing as some products may cause you more harm than good.
For instance, you cannot just grab body, hard, or face lotion and apply it to your beard or hair oils. These products are meant to moisturize your face, body, and hand and not your beard.
As a rule of thumb, your beard moisturizer should have oils that will penetrate your beard cuticles and hydrate it from the inside while preventing excessive absorption of water that can cause more damage.
The second rule of thumb when it comes to moisturizing your beard is you will need an oil that can seal in the beard cuticle to prevent loss of moisture.
Well, as stated earlier, bio-oil is a mixture of several natural oils most important in this case being sunflower oil. Sunflower oil has high penetration power due to its chemical bonds.
The other oils such as rosemary oil, lavender oil will also help moisturize and condition your beard.
Mineral oil also found in baby oils will help seal in moisture in your beard, the combination of these oils will with no doubt keep your beard well moisturized.
You can mix them with other oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil, mink oil, and argan oil to create a DIY beard oil and moisturize your beard.
Soften Your Beard
While beard hairs are naturally coarse, lack of enough moisture and protection from environmental damage will cause your beard to become more brittle.
Therefore, to soften your beard always make sure you are avoiding grooming techniques that dry it by stripping it off its oils. Such as washing your beard with hot water, perming your beard, using heat beard straighteners, and using shampoo to wash your beard daily. Sometimes you can just wash your beard with water only.
Given that bio-oil is made of natural oils that have great moisturizing properties. Applying it to your beard while avoiding your beard roots will help keep it moisturized and hence soft.
Other oils that you can mix with bio-oil for a softer beard is coconut oil, avocado oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil.
Treat and Prevent Dandruff
Dandruff can be a nuisance especially when you are combing or brushing your beard and all over a sudden it is full of white stuff.
This white stuff is what we call dandruff, and it is caused by either fungi or dry and flaky skin underneath the beard.
Given the moisturizing benefits of bio-oil it will help you prevent dandruff caused by dry and flaky skin underneath your beard.
Oils such as rosemary oil and lavender oil have some antimicrobial properties and being part of the bio-oil ingredients, applying bio-oil to your beard will prevent dandruff caused by fungi and bacteria.
Prevent Frizz, Split Ends, and Add Shine
Every bearded man hates dealing with stray beards, split ends and dull beard.
Frizzy beard is normally as a result of lack of moisture in your beard, same with split ends and dullness.
Applying bio-oil to your beard will moisturize it and protect it from damage that causes frizz and split ends. Using natural butter such as shea butter or cocoa butter will help seal in moisture and in styling too.
Make It Easy to Comb Your Beard
Combing your beard is very important if you want to prevent it from entangling.
It can be very hard and frustrating combing a dry beard that has split ends that knot and form tangles.
Research shows that mineral oil will help you comb through your beard especially when you comb it when it is damp right from the bathroom.
Apply some bio-oil to your beard when it is damp and use the right beard comb or brush to groom your beard. A damp beard does not break easily since it will be able to stretch under the pressure of the comb or brush.
How to Use Bio-Oil for Your Beard
I normally recommend applying bio-oil or any other oil to your beard right from the shower when it is damp.
Make sure you wash your beard with lukewarm or warm water, as it will open up your beard hair cuticles and allow for easy absorption of the bio-oil. Use your fingertips to spread bio-oil properly into the beard avoiding the beard follicles because of the DHT blocking oils in bio-oil.
Conclusion
Bio-oil was specifically made for treating scars and stretch marks. However, you can use it on your beard when you ran out of beard oil. Just do not make it a routine of always applying bio-oil to your beard as it can stunt your beard growth due to the DHT blocker oils found in it. A once in a while application will just be fine.
