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ON THE spectrum of men’s grooming, beard maintenance falls between skincare and hair care. That’s because you have to take care of both the hair growing out of your face and the skin underneath that glorious hair. It’s like the campsite rule: no matter how long your beard is, you should be using beard products that benefit both the hair and skin and won’t do damage to either. And now that Movember is in full swing, it's the perfect time to stock up on the best beard products for men.
The basic tenets of skincare still apply: cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting. Beard washes, for instance, are formulated to clean both your facial hair and face skin without drying or damaging either (unlike a regular shampoo). Beards also need to be trimmed and styled the same way you keep your hairstyle in check. Trimming and shaping your beard regularly keeps it looking its best, while using a styling product like beard balm keeps you from looking messy and disheveled.
So whether you’re growing your very first beard or can’t remember the last time you were clean shaven, these are the very best beard products to create the most comprehensive beard-care routine ever. Go forth and grow!
Best Beard Trimmer
Multigroomer All-in-One Trimmer Series 7000
Pros
- Extremely versatile
- Huge amount of length attachments
- Hefty metal casing
Cons
- No storage case
The single most important tool in a beard-care arsenal is a beard trimmer and the mark of a good beard trimmer isn’t just how well it works, but also how versatile it is. This budget-friendly trimmer comes with more length attachments than you ever thought possible, which means it helps shape and trim everything from perma-stubble to long, flowing chin-manes. Plus, it’s powerful enough to use on your head and beard.
Testing Notes: What we found in our beard trimmer testing process is that, while there are plenty of great beard-only trimmers out there, the best tools to invest in often serve multiple functions. This do-it-all trimmer is hefty and feels more like the kind that your barber would use than something you’d typically find for home use. It’s powerful, too, and the brand’s DualCut technology (which has twice the blades) really does power through all lengths and textures of hair with ease. We’ve used it to cut our beards, obviously, but also the hair on our heads and bodies - all with equally great results. You can’t beat the sheer number of length options that the set comes with, either. The power and design make it the easiest to use beard trimmer we tried.
Read more: Best Electric Razors for Men
Pros
- Easy to massage onto skin
- Leaves skin feeling moisturized
- Great scent
Cons
- Granules may get caught in coarse beards
Even if you wash your beard and face every day, product buildup and dead skin can accumulate on the surface of your skin below your whiskers. Use this scrub once or twice a week to help remove buildup and allow your skin to breathe (and reduce flaking and breakouts while you’re at it). Make sure to massage it into your beard with your fingers all the way down to your skin.
Testing Notes: This scrub looks thick in the jar, but it smooths through your beard surprisingly easily, even if it’s on the long side. We found that applying it in the shower is best, when your beard is nice and wet, and only a little bit is necessary to reach down onto your skin. You’ll want to massage it well and really work it through your whiskers. It also washes out easily, which we can’t say for all beard scrubs, and doesn’t leave grains or a weird film on your beard. There is a slight scent but it goes away quickly and mostly just leaves the skin underneath your beard feeling super fresh.
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Pros
- Lightweight and nongreasy
- Luxurious scent
- Formulated with hair-healthy oils
Cons
- Easy to use too much
Using a beard oil a few times a week or more will help soften facial hair and the underlying skin, so it stays smooth and itches less. Some oils are heavy, but using a lightweight version with hair-healthy ingredients like jojoba and avocado oil ensures they sink into the hair easily and don’t form a greasy film. Plus, you can’t argue with the spicy, elevated scent of this luxe oil.
Testing Notes: We tried a ton of beard oils in our testing process and found that the most important thing a beard oil can do is moisturize dry strands but not leave them feeling or looking greasy. So many beard oils fail at this simple task, but not this one. It’s super lightweight and sinks into your facial hair quickly. So quickly, in fact, that you might be tempted to apply more. Resist that urge! A little goes a long way with this stuff and it will make your whiskers smoother and healthier-looking, but won’t give a ton of shine. The second reason it rose to the top is the scent - spicy and woody like a fancy cologne but not so strong that you smell it in your nose all day. It’s by far the best fragrance of all of the oils we tried.
Pros
- Spray formula is lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Easy to apply
Cons
- Spray formula can be hard to control at first
Using a beard conditioner after your shampoo is important, because it replenishes healthy oils that can be stripped in the cleansing process and makes your hair easy to manage with a soft feel. This applies to the hair on your face as well as the hair on your head. We especially love this conditioner spray because it won’t leave your beard feeling greasy or oily—just soft and healthy—and you can even apply it multiple times a day if the urge strikes.
Testing Notes: In our beard product testing, we found ourselves gravitating toward sprays because they’re so easy to use and hard to overdo. Unlike a more traditional beard conditioner or oil, it’s actually pretty hard to over use this spray. Spritz this jojoba-oil laced spray onto your beard a few times and work it through with your fingers or a comb. Just a few sprays is enough to hydrate your strands, but if you have an especially dry or textured beard, you may want to add more until you get the desired level of moisture. Our one gripe is that the bottle is big so it’s hard to take with you if you travel, but we’re willing to overlook that because it just works so well.
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Best Ingrown Hair Treatment
Bevel 10% Glycolic Acid Toner Pads
Now 27% Off
Pros
- Helps to reduce ingrown hairs
- Glycolic acid exfoliates skin without granules
Cons
- Can be hard to apply under long beards
Ingrown hairs and razor bumps are a reality most men face, whether they shave every day or not. They happen when facial hair curls underneath the skin while growing and gets stuck there. As you grow out your bead, you may experience more ingrowns than usual, so use this targeted ingrown treatment to gently exfoliate your skin and release the caught hairs.
Testing Notes: When it comes to ingrown hair treatments, and exfoliators in general, we found that pads like this are the easiest to use. Use one pad to swipe over any area you want to exfoliate, areas you regularly shave, stubbly areas that you’re growing out, or really your entire face. The glycolic acid helps to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and keep the channels clear as hair grows out, preventing them from getting stuck and leading to ingrowns. These pads are way easier to use than a spot treatment and gentler than a scrub. And while they work well for areas that are shaved (like the edges of your beard, your cheeks, and neck) and for guys with shorter beards, if you have a long beard you may find it can be difficult to get the product to reach all the way down to your skin.
Pros
- Can be used on beards of all lengths
- Multiple scent options
- Lightweight balm texture
Cons
- Easy to apply too much
Think of beard balm as pomade for your beard: it will help shape and style the hair into the exact look you want. It’s more of a styling beard product than a moisturizing product, but it should still have nourishing ingredients and be lightweight enough that it doesn’t weigh your facial hair down (which would make it look greasy.)
Testing Notes: What made this beard balm stand out in our testing process is the perfect balance between texture and hold. While it’s beeswax and shea butter-based like many balms out there, somehow it warms in your hands easier and spreads through your beard more easily without clumping or leaving those weird little balls of wax behind. It effectively softens the beard and imparts a little bit of hold, but won’t leave your beard too stiff. We think it’s ideal for short to medium-length beards, though our testers with longer beards liked it too; they just noted that sometimes they like a little more control than this balm gives. But as an effective balm for most beard types, it’s a winner.
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Pros
- Soothes itchy stubble
- Hydrates skin
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Best on beards under 1-inch
Growing a beard is a process, and anyone who has attempted it knows that the growing out phase is the hardest. As facial hairs grow out they can get itchy and uncomfortable. This innovative spray instantly soothes itchy skin by delivering hydration to your skin and stubble to keep it soft and calm.
Testing Notes: Did we mention we love sprays? There aren’t many products out there specifically designed for the grow-out phase of your beard, or for just stubble looks in general, which is part of why we love this product so much. When your new beard gets itchy, a few spritzes of this moisturizing spray instantly calms itch and has a pleasant cooling effect as well. It helps to soften shorter whiskers, so you can use it even if you just have a really short beard or stubble look, and also moisturizes the skin leaving it feeling softer and more supple.
Pros
- Good for all beard lengths
- Durable boar bristles
- Portable
Cons
- Can be harsh on skin
A quality beard brush helps distribute products like balms and oils through the entire length of your facial hair. Use the brush every time you apply product to ensure even distribution. On long beards, it helps them stay soft an controlled; on short beards, it helps exfoliate skin and cut down on itch.
Testing Notes: We’ve heard from experts of the years that boar bristle brushes are the gold standard in beard brushes and after trying every beard brush we could get our hands on, we can see why. This handleless brush is easy to hold and apply just the right amount of pressure to reach through thicker beards and really smooth them out. The boar bristles are strong and don’t feel like they could break off in your beard like some flimsier ones do and they power through tangles and knots with minimal discomfort. It’s ideal even if you have a shorter beard because it helps to exfoliate the skin beneath; just go a little gentler when you’re using it to avoid scratching yourself up.
Read more: Best Hair Brushes
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Pros
- Creamy formula instantly hydrates
- Fresh fragrance
- Keeps whiskers soft with consistent use
Cons
- Heavier formula is best for longer beards
Similar to moisturizing your face, a beard moisturizer will help keep facial hair healthy and protected from outside elements that can dry it out and make it scraggly. Just like a face moisturizer, use this daily to keep everything fresh. And since you’re still applying it to your face, make sure you use a moisturizer like this option that contains ingredients that won’t clog your pores.
Testing Notes: Unlike conditioners which can be thicker because you rinse them out, this lightweight moisturizer sticks around your beard to help keep it soft and supple. It’s similar in texture to a moisturizer for your face; in fact, it can easily double as one so you don’t have to use multiple products for moisturization, which we always love. Just a little bit goes a long way and we found that it’s most effective when you really work it through your beard and reach the skin underneath (use a brush to smooth your beard out after applying it). We also think it’s best for longer beards which tend to get dry more quickly as it imparts longer lasting moisture, but truthfully it can work for any beard length; even those without beards at all.
Pros
- Deeply moisturizes very dry beards
- Multiple masks in the pack
- Easy to use
Cons
- Must be kept on for 20 minutes
- Best for longer beards
File this under things you didn’t know you needed—or existed for that matter. This extremely moisturizing mask is specifically designed for especially dry or coarse beards. Apply the super thick cream to your beard then cover it with a dry mask to help the product penetrate your whiskers. After 20 minutes, remove the mask and enjoy the softest beard you’ve ever had in your life. You might look silly while it’s on, but it’s a small price to pay for a happy beard.
Testing Notes: Ok we, like you probably are, were skeptical of this at first because it’s just so out there. Not only does it look bizarre when you’re using it but we weren’t convinced that it would make that much of a difference. But after testing it out, we definitely came around. Think of this as a hair mask for your beard. You apply the thick, rich moisturizing mask to your beard first, then wrap it all up in what is basically a pouch that hooks behind your ears. Keep it on for 20 minutes and when you take it all off, your beard has soaked up all the ingredients like shea butter and it looks shiny, healthy and super moisturized. It’s ideal for medium to long beards, especially those that are thick or textured and tend to get dry easily. It’s not an everyday thing, but using it about once a week made a huge difference in how healthy and hydrated our beards were.
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Pros
- Specifically designed for the neck area
- Built-in precision trimmer for lines
- Multiple blades give a close shave
Cons
- Cartridges need to be replaced often
Just because you have a beard doesn’t mean you can throw out your razor. You still need to keep the lines clean, so use a razor to shave your cheeks and neck. This option is specifically designed for the neck area and has a built-in edger to easily keep the lines of your beard crisp. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, this razor will be just as important as your trimmer.
Best Beard Shampoo
Beard Wash
Pros
- Specifically formulated for beards
- Aloe helps soothe itch and dryness
- Softens whiskers as well as cleans
Cons
Think about it: beards can get dirty—really dirty. Use a specially-formulated beard shampoo which will cleanse the facial hair without stripping and drying out the skin underneath. A good rule of thumb is to wash your beard every time you shampoo your hair.
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Best Beard Conditioner
The Best Beard Conditioner Ever
Pros
- Lightweight formula won’t weight down whiskers
- Keeps whiskers moisturized for a long time
Cons
- Fragrance is strong
Using a conditioner after your shampoo is important, because it replenishes healthy oils that can be stripped in the cleansing process and makes your hair easy to manage with a soft feel. This applies to the hair on your face as well as the hair on your head. Use a beard conditioner—which is specially formulated so it won’t clog the pores on your chin—every time you use your beard shampoo.
Pros
- Strong hold
- Small, portable tin
Cons
- Too much can make your mustache greasy
Depending on how long your mustache is, you may need a specific styling product to keep it in check. Enter mustache wax. It’s thicker than a beard balm and too heavy to use on your entire beard, but it will keep your mustache in check and out of your mouth. It’s also handy to shape your mustache into whatever style you want, so if you’re aching for a handlebar, this is your jam.
Read more: How to Grow a Mustache
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Pros
- Easy to use
- Multifunctional design can shave and trim
- Budget friendly
Cons
- Blades need to be changed regularly
Whether you’re going for a crazy Tony Stark-esque design or just want to keep your lines crisp, a small detailer can be your best friend. This small, easy-to-use shaver can help detail your facial hair, while the length guards help fade sideburns and trim short beards. Its small size is ideal for keeping your beard fresh on the go, too.
Read more: Philips Norelco OneBlade Review
Pros
- Smoothly cuts whiskers
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive (for scissors)
As your beard gets longer, the best way to get rid of flyaways and scraggly strands is to bust out old-school scissors. Don’t use these to trim lots of length (that’s a job for your trimmer), but instead use this to gently chop down those unruly hairs. First, brush your beard into the shape you want and then use the scissors to trim any hairs that fall out of that shape. Finish with a beard balm to keep it all in place.
Read more: Best Eyebrow Trimmers
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What to Look for in Beard Products
Overall, you want to look for products that are specifically designed for beards. This means that they’re formulated or designed to work on facial hair, which is often coarser and thicker than hair on other parts of your body. This is important when it comes to tools like trimmers and brushes as they’re more likely to work better on coarse facial hair. When it comes to things like washes, balms, oils and similar products, you want to make sure that they use ingredients that are good for your hair and your skin, since they’re likely going to be touching the skin underneath your beard as well as the whiskers themselves. Look for ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, aloe and other botanical ingredients that are moisturizing but not heavy. If you’re prone to breakouts, you’ll also want to look for products that are noncomedogenic, which means they won’t clog pores. And for stylers like waxes and balms, look for natural waxes like beeswax.
How Many Beard Products Do You Need?
Officially, the limit does not exist because beard care, like hair or skincare, is an ongoing process that should be done every single day. However, depending on the length of your beard, you may not need everything at all times. Everyone who has a beard should have a dedicated beard wash (think of it as a combination shampoo/face wash that can do both) and some sort of moisturizer to keep the whisker hydrated and healthy. This could mean an oil, conditioner, balm or something else depending on your personal preference. The most important thing is to find one that you like the feeling of and can tolerate using every single day. Depending on how long your beard is, you may want some sort of styler to help keep it in place, like a balm or wax. The longer beards get, the more likely they are to get flyway hairs that you’ll want to keep in check. Finally, all bearded guys should have some sort of tool to cut their beard. This could mean a beard trimmer if you have a short or medium-length beard or just a good pair of scissors of you’re a long beard guy.
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How We Selected the Best Beard Products
Munce is a seasoned Grooming Editor and Writer with more than a decade of experience testing the best beard products for men. We've been updating this story since 2021. Since then, Munce has tested more than 75 beard products, spanning beard balms, beard washes, and beard trimmers, and more. He evaluated products based on their formulas, design, and just how well they worked.
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