There are many products available to help you maintain your beard. Two of the most common are beard butter and beard balm. For those who have never used either product before, they may seem quite similar. However, there are some important differences that you should know about before making your choice.
Beard Butter
Many who use products to compliment their beards will choose those based on shea butter, which provides for a fuller, healthier appearance. It helps if you understand how to use beard butter properly to get the most out of the product. Some of the advantages are as follows:
- Deep conditioning
- Holds hairs in place
- Helps shape and style the beard
The butter essentially locks in the moisture so that the hairs don’t dry out. There are no downsides to using shea butter for your beard, although it might not be the best suited for those who have short or tight beards.
Beard Balm
Most beard balms available today are made from a combination of beeswax and oils which have been blended together with other ingredients. Sometime, shea butter is used as part of a beard balm to help moisturize and soften the hairs. Some of the advantages in using beard balm include the following:
- Well-suited for tightly trimmed beards
- Provides excellent moisturizing agents
- Helps keep the unruly hairs in check
Despite some of the obvious advantages, there are certain types of beards that probably would not benefit from beard balm products. For example, balms don’t work as well as butters for long beards. And balms can sometimes make your beard stiff, which most men find undesirable.
The balm itself is easy to apply, especially if you have short beard. Plus, you can find balms with different ingredients which means you have some choices in finding the one that works best for your needs.
Choosing the Right Product for You
Just as everyone is different, so too does each beard have different needs. The product you choose should be based on the characteristics of your beard, so this will mean a little experimenting on your part. You should begin by learning how to use beard butter and getting to know more about beard balm products. This means choosing one type, applying it to your beard for a week and then trying the other.
Although balm and shea butter for beard products are made mostly from natural ingredients, there is always the small chance for an allergic reaction. On your first day, put a little on your arm and wait a few hours to see if there is a reaction. If your skin doesn’t react, then it’s probably okay to use the product on your beard.
Both balms and butter have their advantages, but it can be said that for longer beards using butter-based products generally work better. But then again, shea butter may not be right for you. So be sure to try both and give it enough time to see if a product works to your liking before making a final decision.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This site also participates in and links to other affiliate and advertising programs. When you click a link on this page or make a purchase after clicking a link, I may make some money.