While a good razor is important, when you’re looking to let your beard grow, there’s no better way to do that than with natural ingredients that won’t irritate your skin or introduce harmful chemicals into your body.
Here’s our list of the top four natural beard-boosting ingredients every man should try for the perfect facial hair.
1. Coconut Oil
You can use coconut oil for anything. Really, anything. However, it’s perfect for beards as it’s not as greasy as other oils and contains vitamins E and K, which can repair broken skin underneath your beard to help prevent flaking that turns into less than appealing beardruff.
Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, which has conditioning properties that not only allow it to penetrate your skin more effectively but makes the roots of your facial hair healthier and softer.
For the application, it is important to use extra virgin coconut oil. Make sure your hands and beard are clean, warm the coconut oil in your hands for 10 seconds, and massage it into your beard starting from the tips and working your way towards the roots. Leave it in for 20-30 minutes or overnight if you’re looking for extra strength and shine.
2. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is known to reduce inflammation of capillaries in the skin and provide moisturisation to the skin, and encouraging hair growth. It has also been shown to have aromatherapy benefits that can lead to increased mental stimulation and a decrease in stress.
We suggest using a moisturiser with eucalyptus as the main ingredient. Massage it on your face to grow your beard faster, as clean, healthy skin is crucial in stimulating hair growth.
You can also purchase eucalyptus oil and apply a few drops of it directly to your beard twice a day. The great thing about eucalyptus oil is that you can mix it with carrier oils, like sesame or olive, to increase effectiveness in its absorption, or you can add it to your normal shampoo or conditioner.
3. Biotin
For a luscious, full-grown beard, try taking 2.5 mg of biotin every day. If you’re already taking a men’s daily multivitamin, you can take a dose of biotin every morning with the vitamin, or you can simply add more biotin-rich foods to your diet.
Cauliflower, beans, fish, carrots, bananas and eggs all contain high levels of biotin. Try a breakfast of scrambled eggs with mushrooms, which are both high in biotin, or add more bananas and vegetables to your daily snacks.
How exactly does it work? A water-soluble B vitamin, biotin aids in the metabolic process by breaking down protein, fats and carbohydrates. It also helps cells proliferate, which in turn aids in healthy hair growth, including facial hair.
4. Avocado
This one can get a little messy, but it’s well worth it. To restore balance to your skin and hair, mash an avocado and massage it into your beard. Sounds crazy, but this green superfood is packed with nutrients that work to reduce inflammation and dryness and also nourish the skin needed to grow hair.
Avocados are high in amino acids and proteins that help restore the natural pH levels of your skin, which is crucial in maintaining healthy hair follicles that promote beard growth. However, if you’re looking for a less messy daily routine, you can use avocado oil in a similar manner as eucalyptus oil.
Taking Care of Your Beard Means Taking Care of Yourself
Whether you’re trying to grow your beard, increase its natural shine or provide yourself with overall skin care, the four natural remedies listed above will make sure you and your facial hair are healthy.
And, when it’s time to shave the beard and expose that healthy skin to the world, we’ve got you covered.