DIY Beard Balm Recipe

This DIY Beard Balm helps to nourish the skin and can be used to style beards (and keep stray hairs in check). It’s so easy to make (just a few ingredients) and so much cheaper than buying those beard balms from the store.

Closeup of beard balm in a tin with pine and lavender essential oil bottles and sprigs of fresh lavender and pine branch

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Implementing a beard balm into your facial grooming routine is a great way to improve the health of your beard and decrease rashes, itchiness, and damaged hair.

If you have done any shopping around for facial hair balms, you already know that at $15-$25 per tin, it can quickly become very costly to maintain that healthy beard.

This DIY Beard Balm recipe will allow you to create large quantities of beard balm at a fraction of the store bought cost.

About the Ingredients

  • Shea butter is derived from the nuts of the shea tree, grown in Africa. It’s incredibly moisturizing and helps to protect skin from dryness. It’s also what gives this recipe a pomade-like texture so it helps with beard styling too.
  • Aloe vera gel is a natural moisturizer and helps to soothe the skin. It works well to disperse essential oils too.
  • Essential oils are used as a natural fragrance and help to soothe and moisturize the skin.

How to Make This DIY Beard Balm Recipe – Step by Step

This DIY Beard Balm takes just a few minutes to make using the double-boiler method. The shea butter needs to be softened but you don’t want to put it in a pan directly and heat it up (it will make it turn liquid too fast).

1. In a small pan, add 1/2 cup water and turn heat to low-medium heat.

2. In a glass measuring cup (one that will fit into the small pan), add 2 tbsp shea butter.

3. Heat for a 3-4 minutes to allow the shea butter to soften (do not let it turn into a liquid) like the consistency of room-temperature butter.

4. Remove shea butter from heat and add to a glass mixing bowl.

5. Add 1 tsp aloe vera gel, 4 drops Pine essential oil, and 4 drops Lavender essential oil to the mixture.

6. Mix well and combine until smooth. Store in tin or glass container. Allow to cool down for a a couple of hours before using.

NOTE: Be sure you do NOT heat up the aloe vera gel or essential oils with the shea butter. These should be added after the shea butter is warmed up.

Step by step tutorial on how to make DIY beard balm

Beard Balm vs. Beard Oil

So you might be thinking what’s the difference between a beard balm and a beard oil? They are similar but there are some differences and honestly both can be incorporated in beard grooming maintenance.

First, beard oil is like a moisturizer for the skin and leave-in conditioner for facial hair. My recipe is made with jojoba oil, almond oil, and essential oils – which is pretty similar to my DIY facial serum recipe. It’s lightweight and helps to nourish the skin (helping with itchiness and in-grown hairs) and moisturize facial hair so it’s soft. The consistency is liquid – like what you’d expect in a hair serum.

All men could benefit from beard oil – even those without a full beard (like a 5 o’clock shadow).

Beard Balm, on the other hand, is more geared for men with a beard. It’s got a thicker, pomade-like consistency. In fact, that’s what it is.. it’s a pomade that can be used to style a beard and keep stray hairs in check. It’s not as thick as a beard wax (that’s a whole other recipe that I need to make). Beard balms are also ultra moisturizing, so it’s perfect in the winter or for dry skin and facial hair.

Want to learn how to make a DIY Beard Balm? It’s so easy and it’ll last a long time – like up to a year, depending on your usage. Keep reading to learn how to make it, and if you want to learn more about DIY and how to make your own DIY personal care products check out my webinar on a non-toxic home here.

Can I Put This in the Microwave?

Another option is to put the shea butter in a microwave-safe container and put that into the microwave for 10-15 seconds. I personally don’t own a microwave (find out why you should ditch your microwave) but I wanted to give you the option.

How to Use This Beard Balm

The consistency of this DIY Beard Balm will be like a pomade – thick and waxy in texture – once it’s cooled down. Stick a finger to get a pea-sized amount and work it into the hands for a few seconds. Then apply to the beard to condition the hair and skin.

Closeup of DIY beard balm canisters with a bottles of pine and lavender oil in the background

Tips for DIY Beard Balm

  • Be sure you do NOT heat up the aloe vera gel or essential oils with the shea butter. These should be added after the shea butter is warmed up.
  • The results are the best if you do it right after showering and towel drying your beard. A pea size amount of the beard balm is enough.
  • If by any chance, you scoop out more beard balm than needed you can simply wipe it off with a towel. If you apply a beard balm at night keep the extra and let the product soak into your beard because it will condition your beard even more.
  • Store in a tin container.

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

More DIY Tutorials

Did you try this? Don’t forget to rate it and comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

DIY Beard Oil in container next to two bottles of essential oils

DIY Beard Balm

Don’t Mess With Mama
This DIY Beard Balm helps to nourish the skin and can be used to style beards (and keep stray hairs in check). It’s so easy to make (just a few ingredients) and so much cheaper than buying those beard balms from the store. 
No ratings yet
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a small pan, add 1/2 cup water and turn heat to low-medium heat. In a glass measuring cup (one that will fit into the small pan), add shea butter. Heat for a 3-4 minutes to allow the shea butter to soften (do not let it turn into a liquid). like the consistency of room-temperature butter. 
  • Remove shea butter from heat and add to a glass mixing bowl. Add aloe vera gel. 
  • Add pine essential oil to the mixture.
  • Add lavender essential oil to the mixture.
  • Mix well and combine until smooth. 
  • Store in tin container and use as needed.

Notes

  • Makes about 1.5 oz of DIY Beard Balm.
  • This beard balm recipe has a shelf life of 6-12 months. 
  • Store in a tin container like this one or small Mason jar with a wide mouth to make it easier to scoop out. 
  • You can warm up the shea butter by putting it in a microwave-safe bowl and heating in a microwave for 10 seconds. I don’t have a microwave so I prefer the double-boiler method. 
  • Be sure you do NOT heat up the aloe vera gel or essential oils with the shea butter. These should be added AFTER the shea butter is warmed up. 
Keyword diy, men
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2 Comments

  1. Excellent Beard Balm with these ingredients from Tracey. I’ve been using it for a year now and have enjoyed the ease of making it and using it. My beard and skin feel wonderful. You can’t go wrong with her recipe. Thank you Tracey for making beard balm easy to make a use.

    Once you find a recipe that works for you it’s okay to modify it very slightly. Last month I modified it slightly just for a change of smell. I dropped the Pine and Lavender oils and added 3 drops Australian Sandalwood oil, and 1/2 tsp of Sweet Almond oil. I like both versions about the same. I will rotate making them every other time I need more.