So Exactly How Much Beard Oil Should You Be Using?

Beard oil is an essential product in every man’s beard grooming routine. But many men often agonize over whether they’re using too much, or not enough. So, how much beard oil should you use? 

As a general rule, use 1 drop of beard oil for every 5mm of length. 1 drop should be enough for anything less than this. As your beard grows more than an inch long, use 4 drops of beard oil for every inch of length. This is a broad rule-of-thumb that works well for most beards. Having said this, the amount of beard oil you should be using depends on a couple of other factors as well. You should also consider the texture of your beard, as well as the climate you live in. 

Regardless of these factors, one important rule of thumb is to always apply less than you think you’ll need. Too much beard oil will leave your facial hair with a greasy feeling and look, and will also be a waste of product. 

Remember, you can always add more oil to your beard, but you can’t take it away without being wasteful. So, let’s take a look at how much beard oil you should be using based on your beard’s length, texture, and style. 

How much beard oil you should use for your length

The length of your beard will definitely impact how much oil you will need to be using. Generally speaking, longer beards will require more beard oil. 

This is because you will need to coat a larger number of hair shafts with oil to keep the beard looking its best.

Short beards and stubble will still benefit greatly from the application of beard oil, but you typically won’t need to use as much. 

I’m about to provide practical guidance on how much beard oil you should expect to use for stubble, short beards, medium beards, and long beards.

Stubble

If stubble is your facial hair length of choice you will only need a very small amount of beard oil to produce the desired effect. 

Stubble generally refers to beards that are less than 5mm in length. Because your beard hairs are much shorter they won’t be able to absorb as much oil. Therefore, start by applying only one drop of oil for stubble. 

After you’ve applied this to your beard and skin, you can choose whether or not to apply more.

This will prevent you from applying too much oil at once, which can leave you with a greasy and uncomfortable feeling.

I’ve written an entire article on why applying beard oil on stubble is a great idea despite many men not believing that it’s necessary. 

A quick and easy way to tell if your stubble requires more oil is to run the back of your hand across your facial hair. Both the skin and the stubble should feel uniformly soft as it rubs against your hand. 

If your stubble still feels like sandpaper, feel free to apply another drop of oil.

If your hand feels excessively oily, consider using less next time. 

You can apply beard oil to your stubble daily, especially if you’re going through a growth stage that’s particularly awkward or irritating.

However, you shouldn’t feel obligated to use it every day. If you want to save it for every other day or even just special occasions, that’s OK too.

Your budget does play a role as well, as beard oil costs money. 

Short or Medium Beard

For every 10mm of beard length, expect to use an additional 2 drops of beard oil. This can, of course, vary based on texture and style. 

As your beard surpasses the stubble phase, your hair and skin will require more oil to achieve the same effect. This is because your facial hair wicks the natural oils away from your face.

This can leave your skin feeling dry, itchy, and can even cause beard dandruff (commonly referred to as ‘beardruff’). 

Beard oil replenishes the natural oils the beard draws away from your skin. Again, start with a smaller amount than you think you’ll need. 

Most beardsmen agree that applying oil to a short or medium-length beard every day is best practice. This varies from person to person, so if you feel like it’s too much or too expensive, feel free to apply it only every other day. 

Alternatively, if you think you’re not applying enough, experiment with applying the oil twice per day, as opposed to increasing the volume applied each time. In other words, try applying it once in the morning and once before bed.  

Long Beards 

If your beard has reached over an inch in length you will most likely need a relatively large volume of beard oil for each application.

Following on from our rule-of-thumb, consider using 4 additional drops of beard oil for every extra inch that you grow. For a 1 inch beard, 4 drops. For a 2 inch beard, 8 drops, and so on. 

Men with longer beards often apply beard oil more than once a day. Many beards become more coarse, curly, or wiry as they grow, so they often need more oil to soften them. 

Again, this amount varies. Every beard is different, so you will need to adjust based on your individual preferences, as well as the texture and style of your beard. 

How much beard oil you need to use for your texture

Your beard’s texture will have a significant impact on how much beard oil you need to use. As a general rule, finer hair doesn’t require as much beard oil as thicker hair. 

Thin, straight, or fine beard

If you have a thin, straight beard, you won’t usually have to use more than the average amounts we described above. 

This is due to fine hair’s reduced ability to absorb oil. Because the strands are thinner and have less surface area, they don’t need as much oil to coat your beard from root to tip. 

Straight hairs are often softer, as the shaft is more relaxed. Therefore, you won’t need to use as much beard oil to soften and nourish your beard.

Thick, coarse, or curly beard

Those with thick, coarse, or curly beards may need to use more than the average amount. Thick hair has a greater surface area, and so requires more oil to completely coat the entire hair shaft.

You might need to increase the amount of oil you use, as well as the number of times you apply it per day. 

Thicker hair can absorb more oil than their thinner counterparts.

You will most likely notice that your skin feels drier as your beard becomes longer. This is usually due to your beard requiring more natural oils to stay healthy. 

Your beard will absorb the natural oils your skin produces, leaving your skin dry, flaky, and itchy. Applying beard oil not only nourishes the beard, but also the skin underneath.

How much oil you need to use for your climate

The climate you’re in can change, and your beard care routine should change with it.

How much oil you apply to your beard will be different in the colder and the hotter months. 

Hotter climates

In warmer or more humid climates, I’m generally a little more conservative with my application of beard oil. I take care not to apply too much, because it can at times feel a little uncomfortable when coupled with sweat. 

Beard oil doesn’t evaporate, as it isn’t water-based. Because of this, you shouldn’t have to worry about needing to apply more throughout the day.

But just be mindful not to apply so much as to feel overbearing. On particularly humid days, consider using a drop less than you usually would. 

Colder Climates

For many people, cold weather is synonymous with dry skin. Unfortunately, this dryness will potentially get worse when you’re sporting a full beard. 

Although your beard will keep you warm in the cold weather, it will also require more beard oil to keep you comfortable. You will most likely notice that your beard will absorb more during the winter months. 

Don’t be afraid to use a little more oil than you usually would, as long as you go slow and don’t go overboard.

You want to apply enough to keep your skin and hair as healthy as possible without creating a greasy look or feeling for yourself.  

What to do if you’ve poured out too much beard oil

You don’t want to waste valuable product by literally washing it down the drain. Consider running your fingers through the hair on your head to make the most of your product. Using beard oil on head hair usually isn’t a bad idea. 

Conclusion 

Deciding how much beard oil to use requires a lot of trial and error, as it differs from person to person. Following the tips in this blog post should help a lot. 

As long as you’re considering your hair’s length, texture, and the climate you live in, you can easily determine where to start. 

As a general rule, start with less than you think you need, and build it up from there. It’s always simpler to apply more than to remove excess. Whatever you do, don’t waste it. It’s beautiful stuff. 

Once you’re comfortable with how much beard oil to use, your daily grooming routine will become much easier.