Can You Put Cocoa Butter On Your Beards?

Before we get to whether you can use cocoa butter on your beards, let’s first get to know certain terms and terminologies.

What is Beard Oil/Balm/Wax?

This is a quite common asking among beard gang enthusiasts.

A combination of all natural (and/or artificial a times) oils whose only function is to keep the beard moisturized, healthy and sometimes smelling good is what beard oils are.

Having a softer, healthier, shinier and less wild beard is the reason for the use of beard oils.

Beard Balm on its own is also like the Beard Oil, just that it’s composition of natural Shea or Cocoa butter base and it’s balm or paste or cream consistency differs it from beard oils.

They serve the same purpose though.

Beard Wax, which is the last, is also similar to Beard Balm. The only difference is the presence of Beeswax added to the base. This is to allows for a little control over the beard.

Although their primary function is to keep the beard in check but the Beard Oil/Balm/Wax also serves good purpose for the skin underneath the beard.

Can Beard Oil stop my skin from being itchy?

Many people do not know, therefore they consider the use of beard oils/balm as a waste of resources. This is totally untrue. This beard oil/balm/wax helps a lot with itchy skin.

These products also help to nourish the skin beneath the beard so that the beards have this awesome look.

What is in Beard Oil/Balm?

Most beard oils/balms have a blend of 3 or 4 natural base oils. Each of these blends has their different health benefits and scents of course.

The base oils mostly are avocado, grapeseed, sweet almond and jojoba oils.

These oils, like you have read, have their different health benefits. Take a look at them one after the other:

Jojoba Oil – because it is a liquid plant wax, this is oil is thicker than most oils. The natural oil that is being washed off our skin when bathing and jojoba oil are extremely similar. So what this oil does is to help the beard oil absorb into the skin and hair fast.

Grapeseed Oil – containing high level of Vitamin E, this oil from grapeseed is efficient for moisturizing and it also helps to strengthen your beard hair.

Avocado Oil – a great and excellent source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E; avocado oil is especially good for improving sensitive skin. It can help in relieve of beard itch and ‘beardruff’.

Sweet Almond Oil – this oil is not only a good source of Vitamin E, D but also of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Due to its having a natural tendency to relieve muscle pain, it therefore is used most times as massage oil. It is also perfect for treating split ends and reducing frizzy hair. This, makes it a perfect part of beard oil and balms.

Shea Butter – rich in vitamins and minerals, Shea Butter is a cool combatant of dry, itchy and flaky skin. It can be used also to relieve chapped skin and wind burn in the extremely cold weathers.

Cocoa Butter – this product from cocoa is a great help in reducing hair breakage and increasing the manageability of your beard. It also coats the hair, adding volume to it.

Can You Put Cocoa Butter On Your Beards?

Some reviews from users have attested to the fact that cocoa butter is good for the beard as it provides moisture to the hair. It acts as a conditioner sort of as it makes the hair stronger and fuller.

Also it has a component of vitamin E in it.

Some of the benefits for cocoa butter are:

• The vitamin E in it keeps the skin free from irritations causing free radicals. The antioxidants in the vitamin E protect the cell, thereby preventing these radicals from forming as they can cause damage to the skin.
• A massaging balm containing vitamin E will do well to stimulate and increase the circulation if blood to that particular part of the body. And when there is a healthy supply of blood to the face, then the beard hair is stimulated to grow well. And asides this though, vitamin E is well known for its prevention of premature graying which is as a result of its nourishing properties.
• Skin experts, Dermatologists, assert that vitamin E is a unique remedy for treating beards with split ends. As a combination of different harmful beard products, blow drying, lack of beard treatment and over washing with hard shampoos is the cause of splits ends, regular treatment with beard oils which has a composition of cocoa butter will ensure that the hairs remain smooth and well moisturized.
• Vitamin E in the cocoa butter will deeply condition the hair and skin around it thus hydrating and at the same time treating any dandruff on the beards. A daily use of it will achieve this.
• It is highly beneficial to Beard Hair as the vitamin E in it is extremely popular because of its benefits to the beard hair. It will promote its growth, moisturize the skin underneath and the beard hairs, it will increase shine and at the same time repair split ends, it will work as an antioxidant and also prevent premature graying and anti-aging.

Cocoa butter: What is it, and what is it good for?

With reference to its name, cocoa butter is related to cocoa and chocolate.

The cocoa beans are seeds from ‘Theobroma cacao L plant’ and you already know that these are used in the production of the renowned world obsession called chocolates.

Over the years, these beans have been known to house excellent properties as they have been in use thousands of years back by the ancient civilizations.

Before we can get the butter from the cocoa, the beans have to be roasted; you can now separate the butter from the rest of the beans after this.

To make any kind of chocolate, the butter needs to be pressed to form liquor first. Now, look at it this way, if we had to choose between making chocolates and smearing the butter on our body, well most people will opt for the former no doubt. This, is mainly the reason cocoa butter in actual facts go to the chocolate making factories.

It is not a coincidence also that even as I write this article I am munching on chocolate bars and sweets just to keep my brain more active.

That apart now, cocoa butter is amazing even as a skin care ingredient, so let us check it out.

Physical Properties of Cocoa Butter

Starting from its physical properties now, the first appealing and unique attribute of the cocoa butter is that it melts at 93-101 degrees F. This indicates that it does have a higher melting point than coconut oil or babassu oil as it melts slowly when placed on skin.

I am saying this because cocoa butter is very hard but it is an excellent ingredient to firm up recipes.

Shelf Life of Cocoa Butter

It does not go rancid easily as it can last more than 2 years. This is due to the fact that Cocoa Butter is one of the most stable fats, as it has in its components natural antioxidants.

Cocoa Butter for Hair and Beards

Yes, cocoa butter works wonders with the hair and beards and we will check how out. Follow me.

Top Notch Conditioner

As you have read earlier about the fantastic moisturizing abilities of this butter, it is also safe that you know that it does a great job with the hair too, as a conditioner. When your hair is healthy and well-conditioned, its chances of breaking and having split ends are very low.

Scalp Health

For healthy hair, a healthy scalp is important. This is what the cocoa butter does. It creates a natural healthy oil production which not only minimizes dandruff and beardruffs now, but also produces healthy hair follicles. This in turn leads to having a thicker and stronger hair.

Cocoa butter benefits for your beard hair

As cocoa butter comprises of natural emollient, it sure has a lot of benefits! Let’s start.

• It moisturizes the hair and makes it more manageable.
• It prevents hair loss which might be as a result of breakage
• It strengthens the hair shaft more, thereby adding volume and strength to the hair.
• It is ideal for replenishing hair oils that are lost due to some chemical processes.
• It is just perfect for repairing damaged hair strands
• And lastly it can prevent further damage to the facial hairs.

This product is an undisputed great helper from nature as you have seen. Cocoa butter will do wonders, not with just your skin and hair now but also facial hairs and beards.

If you are trying to grow your beard, cocoa butter is ideal for keeping it healthy and soft in the process.

Also like the coconut oil, cocoa butter has healing and softening properties that will make your hair healthy and shiny. And the great deal about it is that it smells so delicious! Trying not to touch or smell you hair after applying the cocoa butter in it is the hardest part of the whole process.

Convinced? Well I am. Now before we find out how to use it, let me sound this warning out.

Warning

Always keep the fact that Cocoa butter solidifies at room temperature in mind. So you now you should never leave it on for more than 20 minutes if you are using it as a hot oil treatment. This is mainly because it will solidify and trying to get it off your beard can be very horrifying. So be smart and cautious. Leave it on your beard for only 10 or 15 minutes at the most.

How to Use Cocoa Butter for Beard Hair

Its ability to solidify at room temperature is what distinguishes Cocoa butter from coconut oil. Use your fingertips to rub it and then let friction melt it. It however takes longer to melt in this way than coconut oil.

So, here are few tips on how to use this wonderful gift of nature.

1. Pre-Wash

For pre-washing you will need to melt the cocoa butter, massage gently into the hair and the skin beneath and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. It makes a wonderful pre-shower treatment.

Remember to not leave on for more than 20 minutes. If you do otherwise, it will harden the hair making it hard to wash off. Have a timer set and ready when you are applying it.

2. In the Shower

It has a quality of versatility and this makes cocoa butter a wonderful conditioner. You can either melt it and add to your conditioner product or use it as a conditioner on its own.

3. As a conditioner

You can decide to use your melted cocoa butter plainly as a conditioner. Only apply it to the ends of the facial hair and make sure it stays away from the skin.

A little amount of cocoa butter goes a long way so do not apply too much. The measured amount would be a nickle sized drop. Then spread this through the ends of the facial hair and leave for some 3 to 4 minutes.

Cocoa Butter as Leave-In Conditioner/Cream

Now if you are opting for the option of using your cocoa butter as a conditioner, then there is very little need to apply a leave-in conditioner afterwards. But if you do not choose that option, then you can tame your fly-aways with cocoa butter.

There is a tested and accepted mixture which you might want to try your hands on. This is a mixture of cocoa butter, coconut and jojoba oil. Just apply it to the ends of your facial hair and scrunch it up. Be careful not to use too much, as you would not want to end up looking all greasy.

And then a melted cocoa butter by itself also makes a great leave-in beard cream/pomade.

And in closing, keep in mind that your beard hair will thank you if you use less harsh chemicals.

Going natural is just perfect.

Shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera and cocoa butter are very awesome natural products which you can lay your hand on easily and you will be sure to have a good testimony of it all.

They are gifts of nature to us. So keep experimenting and stay cool in the natural way.