How Often Should You Apply Beard Oil? | The Bearded Musician
TL;DR
For most people, once a day is plenty. That’s it. Go shred.
The Opening Riff: Your Beard Has a Setlist Too
You spend hours on the grind nobody sees…
late-night takes, broken sticks, sore fingers, botched solos, and that one riff you re-recorded 37 times because it still didn’t feel right.
We get it.
At The Bearded Musician, we believe that ritual deserves real respect.
You’re not background noise. YOU ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION. WHY WOULDN’T YOUR BEARD CARE ROUTINE BE JUST AS UNIQUE AS YOU?
So let’s talk about something every bearded musician eventually asks:
“How often should I use beard oil?”
If you’ve ever stood under stage lights feeling your beard go from “album-ready” to “desert tumbleweed” in one set, this one’s for you.
How Often Should I Use Beard Oil?
Short answer:
For most beards, once a day is the sweet spot.
Slightly less short answer: it depends on a few things, length, climate, skin type, and how often you shower, sweat, and headbang.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
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Short beards / stubble (0-1 month growth):
- 2-4 drops, once a day.
- You’re mainly hydrating the skin so it doesn’t itch like a wool sweater made of cactus.
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Medium beards (1-6 months):
- 3-6 drops, once a day.
- Daily is usually enough to keep things soft, shiny, and not smelling like last night’s bar gig.
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Long beards (6+ months, wizard-in-progress):
- 4-8 drops, once a day, with the option to top off in the evening if your beard gets dry or you’ve gigged in hot, dry, or smoky venues.
If your face feels tight, itchy, flaky, or your beard looks like it’s been soloing in a sandstorm, you may want to bump it up. If your beard looks greasy or feels heavy, dial it back.
Think of beard oil like reverb on a mix:
Just enough = magic. Too much = swamp.
Not All Beards Are the Same (So Don’t Shower in Beard Oil)
Your beard is like your tone: you and your buddy can play the same riff with the same gear and somehow sound totally different. Same thing with beard oil.
A few things that change how often you should apply:
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Skin Type
- Oily skin: Start with once a day or even every other day. Your skin is already producing more sebum (natural oil), so you don’t need to drown it in more.
- Dry skin: Once a day is still the baseline, but your skin might love an extra light application at night.
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Beard Thickness & Texture
- Thin or straight hair: It doesn’t drink up as much oil. Overdo it and you’re in “fried pickles” territory.
- Thick, coarse, or curly hair: These beards are thirsty. They’ll soak up oil faster and may benefit from a bit more product or a light second application.
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Climate & Environment
- Hot & humid (sweaty gigs, packed venues): Sweat + oil + grime = no thanks. Stick to once a day and make sure you’re washing your beard regularly.
- Cold, dry, or windy (touring in winter, AC-heavy studios): The air wants to steal every drop of moisture from your face. Daily oil is clutch, and a second light dose can help.
Bottom line:
Don’t “shower” in beard oil.
If your beard looks like it could deep-fry a drumstick, you’ve gone too far.
Best Times to Apply Beard Oil
You can slap on beard oil whenever you remember, but if you want your routine to actually work (and not feel like a random afterthought), timing matters.
1. After a Shower (Prime Time)
This is the golden moment.
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Your pores are open.
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Your beard is clean.
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The hair is slightly damp and ready to absorb oil like a good crowd absorbs your chorus.
How to do it:
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Towel-dry your beard so it’s damp, not dripping.
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Drop the recommended amount of oil into your palm.
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Rub hands together and work it into the beard, starting with the skin underneath, then the hair.
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Comb or brush through to spread it evenly.
This is the best time to ask:
“How does beard oil work?”
It works by:
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Replacing the natural oils stripped away by washing.
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Hydrating the skin underneath your beard (reducing itch and flakes).
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Softening the hair so it’s easier to manage and style.
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Adding a light, healthy shine, less “haystack,” more “album cover.”
2. Morning, Before You Head Out (Or Log On)
Even if you don’t shower in the morning, a quick oil session sets the tone for the day.
You’re basically sound-checking your face.
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Keeps your beard from drying out in the sun, wind, or air conditioning.
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Makes you look like you have your life at least somewhat together, even if you’ve been up mixing since 3 a.m.
3. Pre-Show / Pre-Gig Touch-Up
Got a show tonight? Filming content? Date night?
A tiny top-off (1-3 drops) before you step on stage or hit “record” can:
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Tame flyaways.
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Freshen the scent.
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Make your beard look intentional, not accidental.
Does Using More Beard Oil Grow My Beard Faster? (Debunking Time)
Let’s rip this band-aid off:
No, using more beard oil does NOT make your beard grow faster.
If that stings, sorry. Still better than neckbeard myths on Reddit.
Beard oil is not a “miracle growth serum.” It doesn’t:
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Spawn new follicles.
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Override your genetics.
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Transform your patchy “new bassist” beard into a full “touring frontman” overnight.
What it does do is set the stage for your beard to be the best version of what your genetics gave you.
How does beard oil work in real life?
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Hydrates the skin under the beard, which can reduce itchiness and flaking.
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Helps prevent your beard hair from breaking or splitting.
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Makes your beard softer and more manageable, so you’re not ripping hairs out while combing.
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Gives the illusion of a fuller, healthier beard because the hair is smoother, less frizzy, and more defined.
So… how long does it take beard oil to work?
Realistic expectations:
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After 1-3 uses:
Your beard starts to feel softer and less itchy. Skin feels calmer.
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After 1-2 weeks:
You’ll usually see less flakiness, fewer wild hairs, and easier styling.
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After 1-3 months of consistent use:
Your beard will generally look healthier, fuller, and more “on purpose.” Less breakage means more length over time, but that’s because your beard is staying intact, not because it’s magically growing faster.
So yeah, beard oil is more like conditioning your strings than buying a new guitar. It doesn’t change what you’ve got, but it makes what you’ve got play way better.
Can I Use Beard Oil Twice a Day?
Short answer: Yes, you can.
Slightly longer answer: only if your beard and skin actually need it.
Twice-a-day might make sense if:
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You live in a very dry or cold climate.
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You work in harsh environments (dusty warehouses, outdoors, stage lights melting your face).
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You have a long, thick, or coarse beard that drinks oil like a bassist drinks free bar water.
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You’ve washed your beard or showered again after a sweaty gig.
If you’re going for two-a-days, keep it controlled:
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Morning: Normal amount (3-6+ drops depending on length).
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Evening: Light amount (1-4 drops), just enough to refresh and hydrate.
If your beard starts looking greasy, clogged, or feeling heavy, back off.
The goal is “well-conditioned frontman”, not “deep fryer at the venue kitchen.”
The Final Riff: Make Your Routine Part of the Music
Everything you do as a musician is built on the grind people never see:
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The late-night takes.
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The broken sticks and chipped picks.
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The sore fingers and second guesses.
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The quiet, personal ritual before you step into the spotlight.
Your beard care can be one of those rituals.
So, how often should you use beard oil?
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For most people: once a day.
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For drier, longer, or harder-working beards: once a day with the option for a light second round when needed.
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For everyone: listen to your skin, your beard, and your lifestyle. Adjust like you’d adjust your mix, subtle, intentional, and in tune with what the moment needs.
At The Bearded Musician, we’re here for all of it, the rehearsals, the shows, the studio days, the off days, and the “I just rolled out of bed but still need to look somewhat human on Zoom” days.
We’ll meet you where the music starts,
in the quiet rituals, the first riffs, and yes, right there at your bathroom sink when you cue up the beard oil and get ready to face the crowd.
Now go oil up, tune up, and give your beard the same respect you give your music.
