Can you afford olive oil for beard? Grooming a beard is quite expensive! Obviously it’s not expensive enough to impoverish you or something. If you want a thick, full, and healthy mane though, it would set you back a couple of bucks.
Beard oils are probably the most important beard grooming product every bearded man should have. It is also the most expensive. Therefore, many men seek cheaper alternatives to premade beard oils. One popular alternative is olive oil.
It is important you know about the products you apply to your skin and beard. Therefore, we would go into the details of Olive oil – its composition, benefits for beard, side effects, etc. Armed with this information, we would then answer the question ‘is beard oil good for your beard’?
At the end of this article, we hope you would be able to make an informed decision on whether olive oil suits your beard or not.
Table of Contents
Background Information on Olive Oil
Olive oil is a liquid that is naturally extracted by pressing olives (Olea europaea). The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region.
It is best known as a healthy, edible oil used for cooking especially in the Mediterranean area where it is mostly produced. Few, however, know that it can serve as a carrier oil for beard grooming and has some interesting benefits.
What has drawn many bearded men to olive oil is the similarities it shares with Argan oil, one of the most popular carrier oils for beard. They are both composed mainly of the same compounds which are scientifically proven to be beneficial to the skin and hair. The compounds are:
- Oleic acid
- Linoleic acid
- Palmitic acid
- Stearic acid
- Alpha – Linoleic acid
Olive oil is also rich in fatty acids and antioxidants. It contains antioxidants such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleuropein. These compounds give it its healing properties
While Olive oil has similarities with Argan oil, they are not considered in the same class of carrier oils. You could consider Argan and Jojoba oil as first-class carrier oils while Olive oil is like a second class carrier oil. This doesn’t quite diminish the potential benefits it could give your beard.
Benefits of Olive Oil on Beard
Olive oil can be highly beneficial for facial hair. Just like Argan oil which is similar to, it is also used for cooking. Some of the beard benefits of Olive oil include:
- Moisturizer: Olive oil is a natural moisturizer for the beard and skin underneath it. It leaves the beard softer and shiny.
- Consumption: Olive oil is rich in nutrients which when consumed, boosts the testosterone levels in men which stimulates beard growth.
- Enhances Beard Growth: It contains Vitamin E which is crucial for stimulating beard growth. It penetrates the hair follicles to stimulate the growth of thick beard.
- Reduces Itchiness: As a natural emollient, it nourishes the skin. This helps prevent itchy beards.
- Easy Styling: Since olive oil is an emollient which nourishes and softens the beard, it makes sense that it is used in styling beards. It is a cheaper alternative to beard balm and beard wax.
- Low-cost alternative to beard oils: “Premium” beard oils can cost as high as $20 -$40 per ounce. Olive oils are cheap alternatives that provide similar benefits. A thirty-ounce bottle could cost less than $20.
Other benefits include:
- Anti-aging properties
- Prevents Dandruff
- Prevents hair loss
- An important ingredient for homemade beard oils
- Anti-inflammatory and Antifungal
Is Olive Oil Good for your Beard?
We’ve highlighted the potential benefits of olive oil for the beard. There’s no denying its effectiveness in beard growth. However, is it a good alternative to a quality beard oil or other carrier oils? The answer is quite tricky.
When consumed orally, olive oil is a great fat source that boosts testosterone levels which in turn helps beard growth. When used topically, it serves as a great moisturizer for the skin and softens the beard. It also helps prevent itchiness and beardruff.
However, the thick consistency of the oil makes it quite difficult for the skin and beard to properly absorb. Compared to Jojoba or Argan oil, it is not easily absorbable by the beard, also making it quite difficult to wash out.
Despite this, it is still quite a popular ingredient amongst the beard gang because it is cheap and has quite a lot of benefits. It is found as an ingredient in many popular beard oils.
Olive oil might cause some problems as standalone beard oil, but it is perfect for homemade beard oils popularly known as DIY beard oils. Men who prefer to make their own beard oil find olive oil extremely useful.
Using it in conjunction with Jojoba, Argan would make fantastic homemade beard oil. The ingredients are not only cheap, but they balance each other out. There are several DIY beard oil recipes that would be beneficial to your beard.
PS: DIY – Do it yourself
Precautions for Using Olive Oils
- Do not use olive oils if you’re allergic to olives
- It can cause inflammation and irritation
- Use only Extra Virgin Olive oil for your beard
- It has a short shelf life
- It has a pungent smell
Final Verdict
If you can get past the few disadvantages associated with using olive oil for beard, it is an extremely useful oil for beard growth. It can be used in the stead of premade beard oils. It provides great moisturizing and also softens the beard.
Olive oil is also advantageous as a testosterone booster when consumed orally. Topically, it should be used only in emergency situations. If you can afford it, it is best to go for quality beard oils for your beard care routine.
We recommend using olive oil as an ingredient for DIY beard oils. It serves as a great balance for lighter oils. Jojoba oil can be an awesome companion for olive oil as it not only balances the thicker consistency but also neutralizes the bitter scent of olive oil.
We hope you enjoyed this article and have a little more knowledge about olive oils. We always love to hear from you and appreciate your comments.
Till next time. Ciao!
