As a stylish Canadian bearded man, you have more products than ever to choose from when it comes to taking care of your beard and hair. At Viking Beard Brand, we are very often asked about the main difference between beard oil and beard balm, and what we think when it comes to which product is the most effective. There is no perfect answer but the simplest answer is that between the two both oil & balm are excellent choices for beard maintenance.

The real question is which one is best for YOU. That will ultimately depend on a number of key factors, as well as your personal choice and preference when choosing between the two. So for now let’s take a closer look shall we and some of the major differences between them.

The Canadian beard industry is saturated with lots of different beard products that you may choose from, all of them serve different purposes and attain different results. Ingredients are also a concern to watch out for. But when two beard grooming products have the same or similar effect on your beard, most people fumble when they are conflicted on which product to choose and which is best.

In Canada we have an ongoing stream of customers asking about the major differences between our Beard Oil and our All Natural Beard Balm. Since both our oil and our balm both moisturize your beard, which product works best for our bearded Canadians?

Although the answer to this question when choosing between beard oil vs beard balm generally comes down to personal preference and taste. There are some different aspects about both products that need to be considered. I'll start by giving you an example, what kind of beard are you sporting at the moment? Are you growing out a long beard that requires ton of product, or is it a shorter groomed beard for work? This small difference matters when choosing between products. 

Another thing you may want to take into consideration when choosing between products is your skin type as well. Is your skin dry or is it oily? Do you prefer your beard to have a shiny appearance vs do you prefer a duller matte type look? And don't forget to consider your work setting will also make a difference....especially if you work in a restaurant, office, or outside.

The Difference Between Beard Oil

Attain the perfect skin & beard health with beard oil

Beard oil is both a versatile product as well as an important product that is beneficial both for your beard and the skin beneath your beard. Natural beard oil acts as a sort of leave in type conditioner that naturally works to soften your beard hair and skin. You want to be sure that you find a beard oil that contains all natural essential oils, rather than synthetics. Essential oils are best for your beard hair and skin. Essential oils can act as a mild fragrance that lingers throughout the day giving you a pleasant, intriguing, but not too overwhelming scent trail.

Beard oil has both the moisturizing and softening effects you may expect from a men's beard product, without leaving your beard hair overly shiny. The benefits of a natural oil is that it will help provide your beard with a clean, somewhat matte appearance. It's always best to brush or comb your oil through your beard after applying it for a more sleek, sexy, healthy beard.

Who should use it?

The major difference with beard oil is it really works best for beardsmen rocking facial hair ranging between short stubble to a medium length beard. But that doesn't mean that it can't be used by those with more longer whiskers. If you have a longer beard it can help reduce itching especially in those men that have dryer skin. And don't think that you can't use beard oil if you have regular or slightly oily skin.

Natural beard oil is made to be light and contains natural moisturizer that will not leave your skin or beard feeling greasy. Some key elements to look for when your choosing a great beard oil are the types of oils used including jojoba, argan, grapeseed, and sweet almond, as well as fragrances made from real essential oils.

The Difference Between Beard Balm

Shape and style your beard with beard balm

Our beard oil comes in a bottle with dropper, our all natural beard balm is closer in texture to a wax mixed with paste. The difference is our beard balm actually stays on your beard and skin longer than our beard oil does before absorbing. Let's say it's kind of slow release, which essentially gives you more nourishment and moisture throughout the day along with a bit of extra shine while keeping your beard healthy.

Beard balm is a great product that will give you all of the moisturizing effects of a quality beard oil with some extra added benefits. The major difference is our balm is a great choice for Canadian beardsmen in need of a bit more taming action.

Some men with shorter beards who tend to have very dry skin will also use beard balm and they find that it works best to keep the flakes at bay. You really want to look for an all natural balm that contain shea butter, beeswax, as well as beneficial essential oils such as argan and jojoba. The shea butter or beeswax will both combine with and act as a sealant for the essential oils. This ultimately helps to lock in the essential oils providing effective moisturizing all throughout the day and even in the harsher Canadian weather. Depending on the essential oils or fragrances you select, your balm will emit a subtle fragrance to your beard that the people around you will swoon over if you select just the right manly scent. These are just some of the great benefits you'll find when choosing a beard balm vs beard oil.

The thickness of your Balm also makes a big difference when choosing between different products. When your trying to choose, look for a beard balm that has a bit of hold to assist your comb to help keep your stubborn beard hairs and fly always that go against your beard's shape. Beard balm is best used also as a low hold styling product for your moustache and sideburns.

One more thing that makes Beard Balm different from its oil based cousin is versatility. Beard Oil is fantastic for keeping the skin under your beard and your beard healthy, but an all natural beard balm is made to also use as a skin moisturizer. If your beard oil doesn't help moisturize your skin then that's the difference between putting up with beard flakes everyday or not. 

In Canada the winter months can get very dry and most men sporting a beard will need to use some added protection when growing out their beards so you will want to choose a solid hydrating and moisturizing balm that will assist and do the trick.

Finally:

If you're wondering whether you can apply both the oil and the balm to your beard at the same time, the answer is well......Yes, but with bit of a caveat:

Remember to be conservative if you choose to use both products at the same time. While using both in appropriate amounts can really level up your beard game, it's also very easy to overdo it.