How to Make Beard Butter: A Beard Butter Recipe

Tending for your beard might seem time-consuming at first. You have probably heard all about the different beard balms, oils, butters, trimming scissors, beard combs and brushes, and so on. Well, there is no need to worry about what all of those things are. Most are pretty easy to use, apply, and even to buy. In fact, let’s take a look at how to make beard butter yourself. This will allow you to give your beard that perfect shine without having to constantly buy commercial balms or butters.

The Basic Beard Butter Ingredients

Instead of listing the many different combinations of the various oils, butters, and waxes out there as separate “recipes”, we are going to give you a list of the most popular and practical types of butters, waxes, and oils that you can use to make your own special blend.

Butters

There are many different types of butters you can use, but the two best and most common ones are shea butter and cocoa butter. Both are very easy to find and moderately-priced. In addition, they both also have a lot of great benefits that they add to the whole mixture.

Shea butter is an excellent anti-inflammatory that is very easily absorbed. Cocoa butter, on the other hand, is very rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Both are typically used in conjunction in most recipes but you can use either one on its own as well.

A popular third butter in DIY beard butter recipes is mango butter. This butter is exceptionally rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants but it is harder to come by in comparison with the other two. Since it is also thicker than shea or cocoa butter, it tends to be more suitable for use in beard balms.

Waxes

Waxes are the other must-have ingredient for homemade beard butters or balms. The most popular type of wax is definitely beeswax.

This wax is frequently used in beard balms thanks to the fact that it stays solid at room temperature. When used in beard butter, the extra butter in the recipe will make up for any thickness that the beeswax might add.

If beeswax is not a good option for you for whatever reason (like if you are a vegan, for example) there are quite a few plant-based options out there as well. Soy wax and candelilla wax are quite good alternatives as are some of the broader mixtures of plant-based waxes.

Carrier oils

Carrier oils are the third essential ingredient in beard butters. Just like the butters, carrier oils act to soften the wax and make the whole mixture creamier. Carrier oils also carry the fragrance of any essential or scented oils that you might want to include in the recipe.

There are a lot of different types of carrier oils you might choose to put in your beard butter. They can make a big difference when it comes to the feel and consistency of the end product. Do not hesitate to experiment with different oils to see which one you like best. If you do not like how your first attempt at homemade beard butter turned out, simply try another oil!

Here are the oils you will want to look for:

  • Sweet almond oil
  • Avocado oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Walnut oil
  • Jojoba oil
  • Camellia seed oil
  • Apricot oil
  • Kukui nut oil
  • Hazelnut oil
  • Hemp seed oil
  • Argan oil
  • Emu oil
  • Macadamia nut oil
  • Grapeseed oil

Essential Oils and Other Scented Oils

These products are not necessary for a standard beard butter recipe. If you want your beard butter to be odorless, you can just skip these ingredients. You could also use cologne after applying the beard butter instead of using a scented oil. If you do decide to add some essential oils to your recipe, you might want to look at some of the following essential oils, depending on which scent feels right for you. Some great options are cedarwood, rosemary, lavender, sandalwood, bourbon, vanilla, myrrh, patchouli, or bergamot.

How to Make a DIY Beard Butter Yourself

To make your own beard butter, you will obviously need the ingredients mentioned above. But you will also need to mix them in the correct proportions. A good DIY beard butter recipe can contain any butter or carrier oil, but it needs to specify how exactly those ingredients should be mixed.

The general recipe most beard butters use is as follows:

  • 1/2 ounce of wax
  • 2-3 ounces of butter
  • 3 ounces of carrier oils
  • A few drops of essential oils

The way these ingredients are mixed is quite simple:

  1. Heat the wax, butter, and carrier oils in a vat over low heat.
  2. Stir occasionally as the mixture begins to melt and blend. Do not let it boil.
  3. Once the mixture has completely melted, remove it from the heat.
  4. Add the essential oils before the mixture has had time to solidify. Mix thoroughly to ensure the essential oils are well blended.
  5. Pour the mixture into its intended tin or storage container.
  6. Allow the mixture to cool overnight. It will be ready to use in the morning.

The Difference Between Beard Oil, Beard Balm, and Beard Butter

Most people have heard about beard oil and beard balm as these are the products that are most frequently used and purchased. Beard butter, in fact, is quite similar to beard balm. Both use the same ingredients and achieve the same effects. It is just the proportions between the ingredients that are a little different. Let’s give a quick overview of all three types of products.

Beard Oil

Beard oil is an oily liquid applied to the beard and the skin underneath it to quickly nourish and hydrate them. Beard oils are absorbed into the skin and hair almost instantly. They do not really give your beard too much shine but rather make sure that it has all the minerals, vitamins, and general nourishment that it needs.

Beard Balm

Typically a mixture of waxes, butters, and carrier oils, beard balms are thick substances that, like beard oils, are meant to nourish and hydrate the beard and skin. However, because of their thickness, it takes a while for beard balms to get absorbed. They also give your beard a longer-lasting shine.

Beard Butter

As we said before, beard butters have the same ingredients as beard balms. The important thing is that they are mixed in different quantities. Namely, beard butters include more butter and less wax. This makes beard butters softer and more like a thick cream in consistency. As a result, they are easier to apply and quicker to absorb than beard balms. This leaves beard butters as a midway point between balms and oils in terms of their application and immediate effects.

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