How Much Beard Oil Should I Use? A Simple Guide

If your beard still feels greasy after applying beard oil, there's a good chance the oil isn't necessarily the problem.

You might just be using too much.

One of the questions I've been asked repeatedly since starting Braw Beard in 2012 is:

“How much beard oil should I use?”

You'll see very precise answers online.

Three drops.

Five drops.

Seven drops if your beard is this long.

Personally, I don't think it needs to be that complicated.

Different bottles dispense different amounts. Different oils have different consistencies. And different beards have completely different lengths, densities and textures.

So here's my rule:

Start with less than you think you need.

Work it properly through the beard.

Then add more if you need it.

You can always put more beard oil in.

Getting too much back out is considerably more annoying.

How Much Beard Oil Should You Actually Use?

There isn't one universal amount that works for every beard.

The amount you need depends on things such as:

• beard length;
• beard density;
• hair texture;
• how dry your beard feels;
• your skin;
• the formulation you're using;
• how effectively you distribute it.

For my beard - which is very long - I use roughly a small pool about the size of a 2p coin in my palm.

For American readers, that's roughly comparable to the diameter of a quarter.

That's enough for me to work through the skin and beard before distributing it properly with a comb and brush.

But I wouldn't put that amount into a three-week beard.

That's the important bit.

Adjust the amount to the beard you've actually got.

A Simple Beard Oil Amount Guide

Rather than obsessing over exact drop counts, I'd use this as a starting point:

Stubble and Very Short Beard

Start with a very small amount - roughly a small fingertip-sized pool.

At this stage, you've got relatively little hair to coat.

Your main goal is spreading a thin amount through the short facial hair and skin underneath.

Short Beard

Start with a small pool around the size of a 5p coin.

Work it thoroughly through the beard before deciding whether you need more.

Medium Beard

Increase gradually.

Something around the size of a 1p coin can be a useful visual starting point, then adjust according to density and texture.

Long Beard

For a substantial beard, work towards a larger amount.

I personally use a pool approximately the diameter of a 2p coin for mine.

But don't take that as a prescription.

Your beard might need less.

It might need slightly more.

The finished feel matters more than the coin.

Why I Prefer Coin Sizes to Counting Drops

You'll see advice everywhere saying:

“Use 3–5 drops.”

Or:

“A long beard needs 7–10 drops.”

Those can be useful rough guides.

But what exactly is a drop?

A drop from:

• a pipette;
• a reducer;
• a pump;
• a squeeze bottle

isn't necessarily the same amount.

Even using the same bottle, the amount dispensed can change depending on how you're holding or squeezing it.

Braw Beard Oil traditionally uses an anti-spill reducer cap, so I dispense a small pool into my palm rather than standing there counting:

One... two... three... four...

I find visual size much easier.

But use whichever method works for you.

The important thing isn't whether you counted five drops correctly.

It's whether you've applied the right amount for your beard.

How Do You Know You've Used Enough Beard Oil?

This is a much better question than:

“How many drops?”

After you've properly distributed the oil, your beard should generally feel:

• softer;
• conditioned;
• easier to comb;
• manageable;
• comfortable.

It shouldn't feel saturated.

Run your hand over it after the oil has had a chance to distribute.

You're looking for a conditioned beard, not an oily beard.

That's the distinction.

How Do You Know You've Used Too Much Beard Oil?

There are some obvious signs.

Your Beard Looks Wet

Beard oil can give the hair a healthy-looking finish.

It shouldn't look permanently wet.

If the beard becomes dark, slick and stringy, you've probably gone too far.

Your Hands Become Oily Every Time You Touch It

If you run your hand over your beard much later and your palm is covered in oil, that's another clue.

Oil Transfers Onto Your Clothes

Your beard shouldn't be leaving oil patches on your T-shirt.

If it is, reduce the amount.

Your Beard Feels Heavy

Too much product can cause individual hairs to clump together.

Instead of looking full, the beard can actually look flatter and less dense.

It Still Feels Greasy Hours Later

Give beard oil a little time to settle after application.

But if you've still got a noticeably greasy coating much later, try using less tomorrow.

Dermatologists similarly recommend using beard oil sparingly to avoid a greasy appearance.

Related Reading: A Dermatologist's Top Tips for a Healthy Beard

What Should You Do If You Use Too Much Beard Oil?

Don't panic.

You haven't destroyed your beard.

First, try thoroughly combing and brushing it.

That can redistribute oil that's concentrated in one area.

If you've massively overdone it and the beard is uncomfortably greasy, the quickest solution is simply to wash it and start again.

But usually you can just leave it.

Then remember tomorrow:

Use less.

This is why I always recommend starting small.

Adding another tiny amount takes seconds.

Removing half a bottle from your beard doesn't.

Why Beard Length Changes How Much Oil You Need

This should be obvious when you think about it.

A beard this long has dramatically more hair surface than a short beard.

I need enough product to cover:

• the cheeks;
• the skin underneath;
• the moustache;
• the underside;
• the full beard length;
• the ends.
• Someone with half an inch of growth doesn't.

That's why a universal number of drops isn't particularly useful.

As your beard gets longer, you'll naturally start adjusting the amount.

Beard Density Matters Too

Length isn't the whole story.

Two men can both have four-inch beards and require different amounts of oil.

One might have extremely dense facial hair.

The other might have lower density.

One might have coarse curly hair.

The other might have relatively straight hair.

So don't look at somebody with the same beard length and assume his application amount must also be yours.

Find your own amount.

How To Apply Beard Oil Without Making Your Beard Greasy

How you distribute the oil is almost as important as how much you dispense.

Here's my routine.

1. Wash Your Beard

I prefer applying oil to a clean beard.

That gives me a clean base rather than continually layering fresh oil over sweat, dirt and old grooming product.

2. Dry It

Gently dry the beard after washing.

You don't need to attack it with a towel.

3. Dispense the Oil Into Your Palm

Start conservatively.

Remember:

You can add more.

4. Rub Your Hands Together

Spread the oil across both palms and fingers.

This prevents you dumping the whole amount onto one section of beard.

5. Work It Through the Skin and Hair

Beard oil isn't something I try to keep away from my facial hair.

I deliberately work it through both.

Get your hands down into the beard towards the skin, then work the remaining oil through the lengths.

I've covered that in more detail in is beard oil for hair or skin?.

6. Comb the Beard

I use a wide-tooth comb to detangle and start distributing the oil.

7. Brush It Through

This is an important part of my routine.

I use a boar-bristle beard brush after combing.

The large number of bristles helps spread product throughout the outer beard while shaping the hair.

That means I can make better use of a relatively small amount rather than continually adding more oil because one section doesn't feel covered.

Why Distribution Matters

Imagine putting your entire amount of beard oil into your palms and then rubbing only the front of the beard.

The front becomes saturated.

The underside barely gets anything.

You think:

“I need more beard oil.”

You don't necessarily.

You may just need to distribute what you've already used.

Work through the beard properly.

Comb it.

Brush it.

Then decide.

Should You Apply Beard Oil to Your Skin Too?

Yes.

Beard oil is useful on both facial hair and the skin underneath.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends beard oil as a moisturising option for normal-to-dry skin once a beard has grown in, and advises applying moisturiser through both the beard and skin.

So don't simply coat the outside of the beard.

Get down underneath it.

But you don't need to drench the skin either.

Again:

Enough to condition. Not enough to saturate.

Why Does My Beard Oil Feel Greasy?

Using too much is the obvious possibility.

But it's not the only one.

You're Using Too Much

Start here.

Reduce tomorrow's application and compare.

You're Not Distributing It Properly

Comb and brush before deciding you need more.

The Formula Doesn't Suit You

Beard oils aren't all the same.

Different formulations contain different carrier oils and ingredients, creating different textures and finishes.

One may feel extremely light to you.

Another may feel heavier.

That doesn't automatically make either product bad.

Your preference matters.

You're Layering Too Many Products

Oil.

Then butter.

Then balm.

Then more oil later.

Eventually there's simply a lot of product sitting in your beard.

More beard care doesn't automatically mean better beard care.

Use each product for a reason.

Your Beard Doesn't Need That Amount

This is probably the simplest answer.

Use less.

Is a Greasy Beard a Sign of Bad Beard Oil?

Not automatically.

You can make virtually any cosmetic oil feel greasy if you use far too much of it.

That's why I'd test the quantity before throwing the bottle away.

Tomorrow, use half as much.

Distribute it thoroughly.

See what happens.

If the beard suddenly feels much better, you've found the problem.

If you've reduced the amount significantly and still dislike how the product feels, the formulation simply might not suit you.

That's fine too.

Find one you enjoy using.

Does More Beard Oil Mean Better Conditioning?

No.

There's a point where you've adequately coated and conditioned the hair.

Beyond that you're simply adding more product.

Think about painting a wall.

Once you've got an even coat, endlessly throwing more paint at it isn't necessarily improving anything.

Same principle.

Your goal isn't:

Maximum possible beard oil.

It's:

Enough beard oil to leave my beard feeling how I want it to feel.

Can Too Much Beard Oil Make Your Beard Look Thinner?

It can certainly change the appearance.

When individual hairs become heavily coated and start clumping together, the beard can lose some of its natural volume.

That can make it appear flatter or stringier.

If your beard suddenly looks less full immediately after oiling, don't assume you've lost density.

Try less product and brush the beard out properly.

You may get much more volume.

When Is the Best Time to Apply Beard Oil?

I usually apply mine after washing.

That works well for my routine because I've got:

• clean facial hair;
• clean skin;
• no old product build-up.

Then I apply the oil, comb and brush.

Some people prefer using it later in the day or before bed.

That's fine.

The best routine is one you'll actually maintain and that leaves your beard feeling good.

Should You Use Beard Oil Every Day?

I do.

But again, your beard gets a vote.

Daily application may work particularly well if your beard is:

• long;
• coarse;
• regularly washed;
• exposed to outdoor conditions;
• prone to feeling dry.

You may find you need less frequently.

Don't use beard oil because the calendar says you have to.

Use it because your beard benefits from it.

Related Reading: The Best Time To Use Beard Oil

Should Your Beard Feel Oily After Applying Beard Oil?

There's a difference between being able to feel that you've applied a conditioning product and your beard feeling genuinely greasy.

Immediately after application, you'll obviously notice the product.

Once distributed, though, I want my beard to feel:

soft rather than slick.

conditioned rather than coated.

manageable rather than heavy.

Those are better targets than trying to judge whether every molecule has “absorbed”.

Don't Obsess Over the Perfect Number

This is the point I want you to take from this article.

There isn't a secret beard-oil equation.

You don't need to stand in the bathroom worrying because you accidentally used six drops instead of five.

Start with a small amount.

Apply it properly.

See how your beard feels.

Need more?

Add a little.

Too greasy?

Use less tomorrow.

After a few applications, you'll stop thinking about it.

You'll simply know what your beard needs.

A Simple Beard Oil Rule to Remember

If you forget everything else:

Start small - distribute properly - add more only if necessary.

That's it.

It works whether you've got:

• stubble;
• a short beard;
• a medium beard;
• a massive beard.

The amount changes.

The principle doesn't.

Final Thoughts

So, how much beard oil should you use?

There isn't one exact amount.

For my large beard, I use roughly a pool around the diameter of a 2p coin.

For a shorter beard, start considerably smaller.

But don't get obsessed with drops or exact measurements.

Your beard will tell you when you've got it right.

It should feel softer.

It should be easier to manage.

It shouldn't be dripping with oil.

And it shouldn't still be coating your hands hours later.

If your beard feels greasy, don't immediately assume you've bought bad beard oil.

Tomorrow, try half as much.

Work it through properly.

Comb it.

Brush it.

Then see how it feels.

Less is much easier to fix than too much.

Feel the difference and join the #Brawtherhood

Scottish beard care.
Born in Scotland, enjoyed Worldwide.

P.S. Use code – brawblog – at www.brawbeard.com for 10% off

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