Our Best Rated Beard Balms in 2021

‘No shave November’ is just around the corner and now’s the time to start looking for the best beard balm.

That’s unless you are okay showing off an unruly mess of facial hair, instead of a finely groomed beard.

Beard grooming might seem overwhelming at first with hundreds of products and brands vying for your attention.

But contrary to what most men think, you don’t need a closet full of grooming products to sport a sleek beard. In fact, a good beard wash and Beard balm might be all that you need.

Beard Balms are the middle ground between beard oil and beard wax.

They give you the best of both worlds, a little (or a lot of) moisturization like beard oil and the right amount of hold for styling.

That makes for the perfect recipe for scraggy beards.

If this is your maiden outing into facial hair, then you are at the right place.

We have handpicked the best beard balms in 2021 for you. Irrespective of the type of man hair you’re sporting, including Stubble, bushy, yeard, we have you covered.

And we have topped it up with a brief buying guide that will help you select the right one for your beard type.

Strap in and enjoy the ride.

#1 – Honest Amish Beard Balm

Honest Amish beard balm has been one of the most popular ones on Amazon for the past few years. The on-going appeal is totally justifiable though.

Great consistency, a mild aroma that lingers all day and excellent moisturization, it ticks all the right boxes that men look for from a beard styling product.

It is made of 15 organic, botanical ingredients that include a blend of nut butters that soften unruly hair. There’s shea, cocoa butter, and Aloe that also double up as great moisturizers for the skin underneath.

No parabens, silicon or synthetic additives. 15 botanical oils does seem like overkill. But hey, why fix something if it works? This balm works just fine.

If you have been struggling with the beard itch or the dreaded ‘beardruff’ (beard dandruff), this best beard balm is just what you need.

You just need to scrape off a wee bit, and it melts instantly in your palm, offering excellent coverage. The added beeswax gives it a very light hold. So if you are looking for a beard wax that can shape and hold the beard all day, this might not be the right choice for you.

The aroma is spicy and woodsy. There are notes of licorice and clove. If you are allergic to essential oils, there’s an unscented version of this balm as well.

• Top-rated brand
• Completely natural
• 15-organic botanical ingredients
• Softens the beard, repairs split ends
• Helps control beardruff
• Moisturizes the skin underneath
• Great consistency
• Mild, spicy aroma
• Unscented version available

• Light hold only

#2 – Smooth Viking

Beardsmen (we made that up) who prefer something with a firm hold can check out the Smooth Viking beard balm.

It is advertised as a leave-in conditioner. That might be due to the ingredient list that boasts of some of the best natural oils used for skin and hair. There’s olive oil, sweet almond, Avocado, Pumpkinseed, Argan Oil, Jojoba oil, and Shea butter.

You can rest assured that even the unruliest of hairs will be tamed with this blend.

It will also nourish your hair follicles and hydrate it, making it look healthier and fuller (If you know what we mean).

It has a sublime, non-greasy texture that offers even spread and coverage with just a wee bit of balm.

The hold is better than Honest Amish’s balm.

That’s because this has a blend of three waxes. There’s beeswax, Candelilla wax and Carnauba wax that gives you a strong hold that lasts for 12-14 hours at least.

Yet, it does not dry out your beard as synthetic beard waxes do.

It has a very mild citrusy aroma courtesy the lemon essential oil. But it’s not an overpowering smell.

In fact, you’ll notice the Shea butter aroma a lot more.

• Skin-friendly oil blend
• Hydrates and repairs rogue hair
• Sublime, non-greasy texture
• Excellent coverage
• Reasonably good hold with a blend of three waxes
• Mild citrusy aroma

• May not be ideal for men looking purely for a beard conditioner. This is more of a styling beard balm

#3 – Hoot’s Naturals

There’s a common gripe among consumers that beard balm tins are too tiny for their price.

That argument might be valid for someone who has a two-year growth of thick and long beard.

If that sounds like you and you have been thrown off by the size of a standard beard balm container, then you’ll love this balm from Hoot’s Naturals.

It comes in a giant-sized 3.5 oz. container that’s double the size of other brands, for an identical price.

As if it wasn’t good enough already, Hoot’s throws in a beard comb in the package.

So, if you were looking for great value for money, you’ve got it.

The price tag is not the only reason why it’s in this list of best beard balms though.

Hoot’s Naturals has a very light consistency with almost no fragrance. It’s so mild that you wouldn’t even notice. So, if you dislike scented beard products, this one fits the bill.

It is made of all-natural ingredients. Apart from the usual ones like Jojoba and Argan oils, there’s Organic Hempseed oil and rosemary extract.

Rosemary works phenomenally well to soothe itchy, irritated skin while the rest of the oils work for repairing split ends and hydrating hair follicles. There’s Murumuru butter which is fast becoming the buzzword in cosmetics for moisturizing.

It has beeswax for hold. But it’s not enough to give you heavy-duty hold that lasts all day.

This will last for a few hours at best.

• Almost double the size of standard beard balm containers
• Comes in a tin
• Package contains a beard comb (although a beard brush may be better)
• Organic hempseed oil and rosemary extract for soothing the skin
• Murumuru butter for softening rough beard hair

• Not the best choice if you are looking for a balm with a strong hold

#4 – Bossman Relaxing Beard Balm

Bossman’s beard balm is one of the best beard softeners in this list. It contains a blend of nutritious oils clubbed with Shea and Mango beard butter that can soften even the toughest, wiry beard strands.

Not to mention that it keeps the skin underneath the beard from getting scruffy and itchy.

Oh yes, it also helps control flyaway hair strands making the beard look more organized.

Sons of Anarchy fans will love the strong hold that the beeswax in the balm gives you. Should last all day with ease.

The consistency is a little hard courtesy of the beeswax. So, you might have to warm the balm a little.

Just scrape off a pea-sized glob and rub it in your palms to melt it instantly.

It’s non-greasy and doesn’t leave your facial hair shiny.

The standout though is the aroma, which is a blend of different notes.

There are distinct notes of sandalwood, citrus, patchouli, vanilla, and frankincense. Yet, it doesn’t feel overly fragrant. Not a girly aroma either.

This is the original Bossman flavor. You can also find this balm in three other fragrances and one unscented version.

Overall, the Bossman’s Relaxing Balm is perfect for itchy, dry beards that desperately need some taming. The extra hold is also a welcome addition.

• Nutritious oils and butters that help soften and tame the beard
• Soothes itchy skin
• Helps remove beardruff
• Non-greasy consistency
• Extra hold with beeswax
• Mild but unique fragrance

• None

#5 – Prophet and Tools Premium Beard Balm Beard Butter and Beard Wax

Beard problems are often as unique as beards themselves.

Some men have impossible to control beards, others have patchy beard growth, and some can’t control the itch.

As implied by the name, Prophet and Tools aim to solve multiple beard woes with a single product.

And to be fair, they succeed to a large extent.

This is a beard balm that’s designed to tame rogue beards. It contains a bunch of skin and hair-friendly oils that soften your beard, nourish it, repair split ends and hydrates it.

How about Emu and Tamanu oils? You don’t see that too often.

One application lasts for almost 24-hours during which it’s like having an invisible layer on your beard that keeps it protected from pollutants, sun exposure and dust. Resulting in a healthier-looking beard.

Vitamin-E oil also softens the skin and helps reduce beard itch. Not to forget that this also prevents some of the other oils from oxidizing.

But that’s not all.

It is designed for the active man who likes to style his beard without feeling weighed down by beeswax or synthetic wax. So, while it does give you the hold you seek, your beard never feels heavy.

The coverage is excellent, with just a small amount. It is entirely non-greasy and gets absorbed instantly on the beard.

The aroma is citrusy. But it’s very mild. Just the way we like it.

Prophet and tools also claim that their beard balm can help stimulate beard growth.

Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with the Prophet and Tools beard balm. It is perfect for beards of all ethnicities and all hair types.

• Comes in an attractive glass jar as opposed to a tin
• Some good ingredients that differ from the competition
• Beard softener and moisturizer
• Also works as a wax with a gentle hold
• Mild citrusy fragrance
• Non-greasy formula

• Just as with a lot of beard growth oil products, we didn’t notice faster beard growth as claimed

Beard Balm Buying Guide

A lot of men who are new to beard care products don’t have the faintest idea of what makes up a good quality beard balm.

So we’ve created a checklist for you to consider before you go balm shopping.

The intended use

Why do you need a beard balm?

Is it to moisturize? To style? To tame rough hair? To control beardruff?

While most manufacturers claim that their products can do everything, take that with a pinch of salt.

Instead, look closely at the product label.

Are there more natural fats (beard butter) than waxes? The balm will be a terrific moisturizer but won’t give you an all-day lasting hold.

Does it contain more liquid oils? It will help you soothe your skin and tame flyaway strands.

Does it have a blend of waxes? That’s the one you need for styling.

Pick a balm that’s best suited for your intended use.

Ingredients

Beard balms mainly have four types of elements.

There are solid fats , which can be Shea butter , Mango butter or Murumuru butter.

Carrier oils like Jojoba, Argan, Coconut oil, Hempseed, sweet almond oil and olive.

Essential oils in trace amounts for the fragrance.

And lastly, there are natural waxes like Carnauba and beeswax for the hold.

The good thing is that most beard balms are made of entirely natural and organically-grown ingredients.

But just because it’s organic does not necessarily mean it’s right for you, particularly if you have any known allergies.

Check the ingredient list in detail.

Does it contain any known allergens?

Essential oils, in particular, are known to trigger allergies in some people with sensitive skin.

Sometimes there might be generic phrases on the label, like ‘Fragrance’, which does not really specify the actual ingredient that’s used for fragrance.

For all you know, it might be an artificial flavoring.

Reach out to the manufacturer and inquire if you are unsure.

Price vs. Size

The average cost for a 2 oz. tin of beard balm ranges from $10-20.

But if you have a long and lush beard, you will run out of that 2 oz. tin in no time.

Do the math for a year’s supply of beard balm. That’s when you seek a bigger tin at an identical price. Like the Hoot’s Naturals Beard balm which comes in a 3.5 oz. tin.

Also, there are some products and brands that are terribly overpriced. Like $30 or more for 1 oz. That’s a plain rip-off. Stay away from such brands.

The scent

Most beard balms use essential oils for fragrance.

However, the actual aroma of the product will depend on what beard oil is used and in what quantities.

For example, a balm might contain a blend of citrusy and woodsy notes. But if the top note is citrus, that’s what it’ll smell like.

The last thing you need is to buy a balm that’s too aromatic. Or has floral notes.

Thankfully, most manufacturers explicitly mention the scent in their product descriptions, and you should be able to make a decision pretty easily.

If you find essential oils too volatile for your skin, you might want to check out unscented versions of beard balms like the Honest Amish and the Bossman’s balm.

Closing thoughts

That sums up our list of the best beard balms in 2021. We hope that you enjoyed reading our recommendations.

If you feel that we’ve missed out on a great product that’s worthy enough to be picked as the best beard balm, do give us a holler.

We’d love to check it out.

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