Bare beards

This article first appeared in our summer ’18 issue of MyGreenPod Magazine, The Natural Revolution, distributed with the Guardian on 03 Aug 2018. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox

You can end up spending a small fortune trying to find the right beard oil or balm – particularly if you have sensitive skin.

Putting the wrong ingredients on your face can cause spots, rashes, dryness, itchiness and flakiness – also known as beardruff. Alcohol and silicone can lead to a dry and brittle beard, and synthetic fragrances can also cause problems.

Get it right and your beard can actually help to protect your skin from the dirt, oils and interactions that can cause problems, including irritations associated with shaving.

Vegan friendly

When Becky and Alan Fraser set up Original Beard Co (OBCo), they decided to use natural ingredients to minimise the risk of any kind of reaction. For ethical reasons, they also chose to keep everything vegan friendly. ‘We found that we could develop a much smoother plant-based balm that avoids the problem of grainy lumps you get with many beeswax-based balms’, Alan tells us.

Becky and Alan always offer case-by-case advice, according to the specific problem and the skin and hair types. As a general rule, they advise those with shorter beards (less than 1 inch) to use OBCo balms and suggest those with longer beards use both the balms and oils to keep their beards looking tip-top.

Beard care routine

With these products, a fantastic beard can be maintained with a five-minute daily routine.

• Wash the beard every second day with a beard-friendly shampoo.
• Pat (don’t rub!) dry with a soft towel.
• Immediately apply a natural oil or balm while warm, as your pores are still open and the hair is most receptive to moisture.
• Top up during the day with an oil or balm as required.
• If you straighten or style your beard with a hair-dryer, use its coolest setting to avoid heat damage.