From the Apothecary • Beard Oils, Butters, Now Balms & Waxes

Two years ago your barbers were struck by a bug. But not the germy sort, the idea sort. They had a great many grooming products on their shelves, beard and otherwise, but nothing that was fully Beardsgaard.

Here, you see, in this place in the world, we have seasons. In abundance. For ourselves and those who may not be so blessed/cursed (Chicago winters are no joke), this bug kept our minds on beard oils made to smell like the very essence of the seasons, and with formulas made for the next-level beards that grace our hallowed halls.

And so we launched River Peak Apothecary on Beardsgaard’s first anniversary, September 9th, 2015 with five beard oils. Then we added lip butters to sate our crippling Chap-Stick addiction, mixing in some refined, yet unexpected flavors. Then came the obscenely popular Deepwell Beard Butter, by far the biggest selling item in our shop and online.

But upon trying our beard oils, gents would always ask if the scents came in beard balm form as well. The answer for some time was, unfortunately, nope. But now, friends, the answer is a resounding yep. With styling balms too.

But which of our beard products is best for your beard, and how do you use them? Allow us to elaborate.

Beard Oils

• Beard Type: Medium to dense, full beards. Oils are often too much for fine beards, and are somewhat wasted on the very short ones.
• Conditioning: Literally all about the conditioning.
• Shaping: Very little, this is more about moisture.
• Hold: None, it’s just oil.
• Use: Damp beard, comb through.

Beard Butters

• Beard Type: Any beard except the fine and wispy ones, this is too much butter for such face creatures
• Conditioning: Loads. When we get combs stuck in beards, we reach for this immediately. Just as good for the under-beard skin as for the beard itself (it is also a spectacular body butter post-shower)
• Shaping: Moderate. It helps wiry hair begin to bend, and is excellent at shaping big, full beards
• Hold: Very little, there is no beeswax to offer advanced control
• Use: Damp beard, comb through.

Beard Balms

• Beard Type: Any beard, fine or thick, stubble to epic.
• Conditioning: Very softening, and sticks around due to the beeswax content. Good, but the least of the items mentioned here.
• Shaping: Phenomenal, if we do say so ourselves. It has made beards we know very well cooperate like never before.
• Hold: Light to medium, see waxes for more hold.
• Use: Damp beard, comb through.

Beard Waxes

• Beard Type: Fine to medium beards, or targeted use on any beard areas in need of control
• Conditioning: Good, but the least of the items mentioned here.
• Shaping: Excellent.
• Hold: Medium to medium-high, though not as much as a full mustache wax, by design.
• Use: Dry beard, unless lighter hold is desired.

And now that you know exactly which of our oily weapons to deploy for your individual beard, we bid you happy shopping.

Excuse us while we spend the next week trying to get the excess wax from the making off all the mixing vessels. Because we do make all of this ourselves, by hand. It’s as authentic as it gets, Gaard.