Virgin Coconut Oil for Beard Growth

• Coconut Oil Benefits

• Types of Coconut Oil Available 

• How to Apply Coconut Oil to your Beard?

• Natural alternatives for beard balm & beard oil

• Take Away 

• Frequently Asked Question

• References

Do you want to have a beard that's soft, shiny, and free of frizz? If so, adding coconut oil to your morning shaving routine can help you achieve your goal. It also has many other benefits for your skin— especially if you're growing a beard!

If you’re struggling to grow your beard, or want it to look nice and shiny, coconut oil for beard growth can be the solution you’ve been looking for.

Here are some proven benefits of coconut oil for healthy beard growth.

Coconut Oil Benefits

1. Beard Growth:

Coconut oil improves beard health. It is known for improving hair length and conditioning them. It applies the same to the beard as well. If you are looking for products to improve beard growth and thickness, then coconut is the right choice for you.

2. Controls and gets rid of Beard Dandruff:

Also known as beardruff, it can be troublesome if you have a beard. It can be due to dryness or due to microbial growth. Coconut oil is known to fight both the causes of beardruff.

3. Beard Health:

Coconut oil is a triglyceride of lauric acid (a fatty acid) and has a high inclination toward hair proteins. Due to the low molecular weight of coconut oil, and its straight linear carbon chain, coconut oil can easily penetrate into the hair shaft easily.  A study conducted in 2003 found that coconut oil reduces the loss of protein significantly for both damaged hair and undamaged hair.

4. Antibacterial and Anti-Fungal:

Coconut oil is known for its anti-microbial properties. Many studies have shown that coconut oil inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria and fungi.

5. Moisturizer:

Coconut oil hydrates the skin and hair.  Massaging your beard and skin beneath the beard with coconut oil so that the follicles reach your skin and moisturize them.

6. Increase Beard Growth Hormones:

Hormones such as Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are responsible for beard growth till a certain age. Higher levels of these hormones (not if you are sensitive to these hormones) help you in growing thick beards. Coconut oil helps in protecting testosterone from oxidative damage from free radicals due to its antioxidative properties. This helps in improving the testosterone effects on your beard and hair.

7. Prevents Itching:

As the beard tends to be itchy most of the time including its initial growth stages due to dryness, coconut oil helps in moisturizing the skin beneath the beard and reduces itching.

8. Prevents Balding:  

Coconut oil protects hair protein from external conditions, styling, and chemicals. Many studies have shown that coconut oil promotes healthy hair growth and rejuvenates hair follicles. 

9. Protects Skin:

Your skin, including the skin beneath your beard, is prone to damage due to various factors such as UV rays, dry climate, cold weather, microbes, etc. Due to its low molecular weight and moisturizing properties, it easily penetrates into your pores and hair follicles, protects them from damage, and prevents microbial growth. It improves skin health and makes them look healthy.

10. Softer Beard:

Coconut oil is a powerful moisturizer and conditioner which can soften your beard hair and makes it manageable. If you are looking for something which could help you improve your beard texture, coconut oil will be your saviour.

11. Shiny Beard:

Coconut oil is light and not too greasy when it comes to moisturizing hair and beard. It forms a thin layer of oil, giving your hair and beard a shiny but not greasy look.

12. Makes Shaving Easy:

Among its numerous benefits, coconut oil also helps in shaving your beard with ease.  It provides extra lubrication for the razor to glide over your face easily. It also softens your beard and moisturizes skin, helping you in making shaving your beard a much easier process than shaving without applying oil. 

It can also be used as an aftershave as it decreases itchiness, moisturizes skin, and promotes healthy beard growth.

Types of Coconut Oil Available 

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil or Virgin Coconut Oil:

It is the oil that is the least processed. This is made from the first pressing of fresh coconut without any added chemicals. The strongness of the flavour differs due to the extraction methods. It is much superior to refined oil as it has most of the properties well preserved in it.

Refined Coconut Oil:

It is made from a dried coconut that goes through 3 stages, refining, bleaching, and deodorization (RBD process). This processing is mandatory as dried copra is not suitable for consumption and therefore it must be processed to remove all the impurities from it.

How to Apply Coconut Oil to your Beard?

Using pure coconut oil for a beard is no tough work, but if followed with a few simple steps, it will enhance the growth process.

 Here is a simple and effective way to apply coconut oil to your beard.

• Wash your beard with good quality and mild beard shampoo and rinse well.
• Apply a beard conditioner of your choice and leave it for at least 5 mins before rinsing it off.
• Gently dry your beard with a microfibre towel or cotton cloth 
• Take a teaspoon of coconut oil into your palms
• Work it in between your palms and finger well to make it a little warm and apply easily.
• Massage the oil in your fingertips on the skin beneath your beard including the sideburns, chin, and moustache region. Massage your skin in a circular motion to improve blood circulation.
• Use the rest of the oil left on your palms and fingers on your beard length. 
• Make sure to not miss any spot and apply it from your beard root to tips.
• Emphasize the beard ends or the bottom-most part of your beard as they tend to be the driest part of your beard.
• Use your beard brush to brush your beard. It helps in spreading the oil evenly and also tames them.

Natural alternatives for beard balm & beard oil

• Jojoba Oil
• Baby Oil
• Cold Pressed Castor Oil
• Organic Meadowfoam Seed Oil
• Virgin Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil

Take Away 

Best coconut oil for hair is one of the most helpful products that anyone can use for the beard. With its moisturizing, anti-microbial, and hydrating properties, coconut oil helps in reducing problems such as dryness, beardruff, skin irritation, itchiness, etc. It is also a great product and ingredient used for styling your beard.

Frequently Asked Question

If you are thinking of using coconut oil for your beard and have some doubts about it. You’ve come to the right place. Here are a few most frequently asked questions about coconut oil and its usage.

1. Which type of coconut oil is good for the beard?

For any beard, hair, and skin purpose, we recommend using virgin coconut oil i.e., unrefined coconut oil as they are not heavily processed chemically. It might cost a few extra bucks but they don’t have any remnants of harsh chemicals which be more harmful and cost you your loss of hair and beard.

2. Products with coconut oil for beard 

Many brands use coconut oil for its plethora of benefits. Many beard grooming products such as beard oil, beard conditioners, beard balm, beard wax, etc contain coconut oil in them. Read the labels properly and look for products with coconut oil.

3. How often should I use Coconut Oil?

To maximize the benefits of coconut oil, you can use coconut oil on a daily basis, especially if you live in dry climatic conditions. Make sure to include them in your daily grooming routine and use the products which contain a good amount of coconut oil for your beard.

Apply it either before sleeping or in the morning after shampoo and conditioning. Using it once a day is enough unless you feel the need for the second time. You can apply coconut oil even before shampooing and conditioning your beard, it will prevent the loss of natural oils and also improve beard texture.

4. How much Coconut Oil should I apply?

Little is more in the case of coconut oil. For any styling or grooming process, you don’t need to apply loads of coconut oil.  Take as little as possible and apply.  If necessary, take a few more drops. Remember too much coconut oil will make your beard look greasy. So instead apply a little and brush your beard to see if it’s good enough for you. If not you can always apply a little more.

5. Can I use coconut oil with other beard grooming products?

Yes, you can. In fact, doing so will help you in protecting your beard from chemicals.

Apply just a little bit of coconut oil before using any beard-styling products.

References

1. Effect of Topical Application of Virgin Coconut Oil on Skin Components and Antioxidant Status during Dermal Wound Healing in Young Rats

2. The male beard hair and facial skin – challenges for shaving