It’s important to take good care of your facial hair whether you have a massive beard like James Harden or neatly trimmed scruff like Drake. As you’ve realized, the whiskers on your chin are not the same as the hair on your head. They are coarser and prone to acne and ingrown hair, so beard products for Black men need to be conditioning and non-comedogenic.
The best beard oils for Black men meet those two requirements and more. Moreover, Black-owned brands have developed beard oils that strengthen brittle strands, soften the beard, and reduce inflammation in the skin. They may even help fill in a patchy beard with the growth stimulators like rosemary, castor oil, and pumpkin seed.
What to look for in a beard oil
Obviously, you’ll take a pass on products with ingredients that trigger your allergies. Artificial fragrances fall into this category for some people. (Besides, who wants beard oil that clashes with their cologne?)
You might get more mileage out of a Black-owned grooming brand like Scotch Porter or Frederick Benjamin. SheaMoisture used to fall into this category, but unfortunately, they were bought out.
If you have sensitive skin, choose a beard oil with fewer ingredients, no fragrance, and no preservatives. Acne-prone complexions do best with lightweight oils like grapeseed and argan.
Lastly, look at the container the oil comes in. Do you prefer a pump top or an eyedropper? Is it the right size to go in your gym bag or carry-on?
Now, keep reading to see in-depth reviews of the best beard oils for Black beards.
| The best beard oils for Black men | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Scotch Porter Smoothing Beard Serum |
|
| Frederick Benjamin Easy Primer Skin & Beard Oil |
|
| NATURE BOY Beard Oil No.1 |
|
| MARLOWE. Beard Oil Conditioner for Men No. 143 |
|
| Bulldog Mens Skincare and Grooming Original Beard Oil |
|
| SheaMoisture Beard Conditioning Oil |
|
| Cremo Revitalizing Beard Oil |
|
| Honest Amish - Classic Beard Oil |
|
Best Beard Oils for Black Men in 2024
Scotch Porter Smoothing Beard Serum
Pros:
- From a Black-owned brand
- Features jojoba and avocado seed oils
- Pleasant masculine fragrance of sandalwood and musk
- Free from petrolatum, mineral oil, parabens, silicones, and phthalates
Cons:
- Strong fragrance
Frederick Benjamin Easy Primer Skin & Beard Oil
moisturizer for the hair and face.
The blend of grapeseed, avocado, soybean, and olive oils is surprisingly not as greasy as you’d imagine. It’s lightweight and fast-absorbing, softening both the skin and beard in a matter of moments. There’s a manly scent, too.
Now, you can stop there or apply it as a pre-shave oil to prevent razor burn and ingrown hairs. (We saw that some men also use it outright for shaving instead of shaving gel or cream).
Pros:
- Pre-shave oil that doubles as beard oil, face moisturizer, and scalp conditioner
- Blend of avocado, grapeseed, soybean, and olive oils
- Non-greasy and lightweight
- From a Black-owned brand
Cons:
- Not unscented
NATURE BOY Beard Oil No.1
Here’s another Black-owned beard product with a long list of benefits. First, there’s no artificial fragrance. The refreshing scent is all-natural, but it doesn’t have the typical nutty or earthy smell of plant oils. Instead, it uses essential oils for a subtle scent that makes your face smell good and still allows you to wear cologne.
Next, it contains no mineral oil, preservatives, or alcohol. It offers tons of nourishment for your beard and skin with macadamia, argan, jojoba, grapeseed, and coconut oils. Put a couple of drops in the palm of your hand and massage it through your beard. It strengthens the hair follicles, stimulates skin repair, and even prevents beard dandruff.
Pros:
- Rich blend of macadamia, jojoba, argan, grapeseed, and coconut oils
- Conditions, repairs, stimulates growth, and prevents beard dandruff
- From a Black-owned brand
- Subtle masculine scent from essential oils
Cons:
- Not unscented
MARLOWE. Beard Oil Conditioner for Men No. 143
Pros:
- Fragrance-free, odorless
- Tames unruly beards and gives them a natural sheen
- Large bottle lasts for months
- Cruelty-free, with no parabens or phthalates
- From an American brand that supports Clean the World
Cons:
- None
Bulldog Mens Skincare and Grooming Original Beard Oil
Pros:
- Cruelty-free beard oil with vegan ingredients
- Packed with antioxidants and fatty acids protect the skin and hair against harsh environments
- Dries to a matte finish, provides light styling ability
Cons:
- It may disappear from the bathroom cabinet – we’ve heard stories about women borrowing this beard oil to take care of split ends and tame frizz
SheaMoisture Beard Conditioning Oil
Pros:
- Features Fair Trade shea butter with grapeseed, maracuja, and castor oil
- Lightly fragranced with essential oils
- Softens the beard, leaves a natural finish, lightweight and non-greasy
- No mineral oil, phthalates, parabens, or petrolatum
Cons:
- The pump bottle is easy to use, but needs occasional wiping
Cremo Revitalizing Beard Oil
jojoba, coconut, argan, cedarwood, and spruce. (Yes, we just gave you the full list of ingredients).
The result is a multipurpose conditioner that’s good for short and long beards alike. The lightweight texture keeps the hair smelling clean and fresh all day long while it conditions the skin, too.
However, if you’re not a fan of the fir-like fragrance, we suggest trying Tea Tree Mint, Citrus and Oak, or Palo Santo with cardamom.
Pros:
- Calms itching, softens coarse beards
- Conditions the skin and hair, keeps them smelling fresh all day
- Prevents dandruff and may stimulate hair growth
- Available in a variety of fragrances
- No parabens, petrolatum, or mineral oil
Cons:
- Not fragrance-free, but scented with essential oils
Honest Amish – Classic Beard Oil
Pros:
- Handcrafted beard conditioner made with natural, organic, sustainable plant oils
- No chemicals, no synthetic ingredients
- Non-comedogenic, may stimulate hair growth
- American-made
Cons:
- None
Conclusion
These days, there is a wide variety of beard oil suitable for Black men. In this article, we explored Black-owned beard products and other brands worth noting. We made recommendations for the best beard conditioners as well as help for itchy and patchy beards.
We hope our reviews helped you find the grooming products you need today. If you’re pleased with your new beard oil, we’d love to get your feedback. Feel free to drop us a comment below.