If you are planning on growing a beard or just like to keep your facial hair short, you probably deal with a lot of the same issues - itchy skin, rough hair, and maybe some beard dandruff.
Fortunately, beard softeners help eliminate those annoyances. We've brought together a list of some of our favorite beard softeners, whether you need something with natural ingredients, a growth-targeted formula, or a lower price point.
Quick Take
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Overall Winner: Wild Willies Beard Soft
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All-Natural: Honest Amish Beard Balm
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Fastest: Cremo Cedar Forest Beard and Scruff Softener
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Beard Growth: Wild Willies Progro Beard Soft
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Budget-Friendly: Old Spice Beard Conditioner
Let's jump right in!
Table of Contents
Wild Willies Beard Soft
Overall Winner
The Wild Willies Beard Soft Conditioner is designed to support and replenish your body's natural oils and provide nutrients for your hair follicles to give you a softer, stronger beard. It is formulated to eliminate beard itch and dry skin. By using aloe leaf juice, pro-vitamin B5, and MCT oil, this product will leave your beard feeling smooth and moisturized.
Consumer Review:
"This stuff is great. As little as two uses, and your facial hair will be super soft. When my beard was just stubble, this also helped eliminate the initial itchy sensation. Combine with the Beard Wash for maximum effect."
Pros
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Scent is minty and refreshing from the lemongrass, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oils
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All-natural ingredients
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10% discount for subscriptions
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Highest rated
Cons
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Bottle is slightly smaller than other beard conditioners
Best Feature
An all-natural product that provides all the moisture and nourishment you need to get rid of flakiness, beard itch, and a dry beard.
Price & Rating
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Price: $12.94 for a 4 oz. container; $3.23 per oz.
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Rating: 4.8 ⭐️ (549 reviews)
Recommendation
Best for men with sensitive skin who want a soft, touchable beard without all the chemicals other conditioners have.
Honest Amish Beard Balm
Best All-Natural
The Honest Amish Beard Balm is full of organic natural ingredients, including a blend of jojoba, argan, avocado, pumpkin seed, apricot kernel, and sweet almond oils, as well as fruit and nut butters like shea, aloe, cocoa, and kokum. The balmy consistency helps to tame stray hairs and soften coarse hair and dry skin.
Consumer Review:
"This beard balm will leave your beard feeling healthy, happy, and full. The product smells great and moisturizes beyond belief; your beard will be softer than ever."
Pros
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Argan and jojoba oils
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No man-made chemicals, preservatives, artificial fragrances, or colorants
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Packaging is 100% recyclable
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Made in the USA
Cons
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Not a true beard conditioner, but a balm that conditions
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Smaller amount of product
Best Feature
The product is all-natural, and the packaging is even recyclable for those who want to do their part for the environment.
Price & Rating
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Price: $10.86 for a 2 oz. tin; $5.43 per oz.
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Rating: 4.5 ⭐️ (33,179 reviews)
Recommendation
Best for men who have sensitive skin or strive to live a healthier lifestyle
Cremo Cedar Forest Beard and Scruff Softener
Fastest Working
If you hate waiting for your beard conditioner to do its job, the Cremo Beard Softener is perfect for you. Just massage, wait about 30 seconds, and you're good to go. You also have the option to increase the softening results by leaving it in a little longer.
Consumer Review:
"I'm rocking a tight beard, and I've been able to leave in without rinsing, and I'm very pleased. I have no breakouts, reactions, or any skin conditions, and I love the scent. I personally believe it takes longer than 30 seconds to soften facial hair, but it's been staying on all day long, and I use a boar bristle brush it in to distribute throughout."
Pros
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The product works faster than other conditioners
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It contains ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe
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Silicone and cruelty-free
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Lower reviews than the others
Cons
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Not all-natural and contains some chemicals
Best Feature
Conditions beard hair in just 30 seconds, regardless of length or coarseness.
Price & Rating
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Price: $12.99 for a 6 oz. bottle; $2.17 per oz.
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Rating: 4.3 ⭐️ (3,350 reviews)
Recommendation
Great for those that want a quick beard grooming routine
Wild Willies Progro Beard Soft
Best for Beard Growth
Wild Willies Progro Beard Soft was designed to lock in moisture to ensure your beard stays hydrated all day. This conditioner uses caffeine and biotin to promote healthy beard growth to help you thicken and grow your beard. All-natural carrier oils work to keep your beard healthy without leaving behind a sticky, oily residue.
Consumer Review:
"This is the best beard product I've ever tried. Noticeable difference in just one day. And I've tried dozens over the past 4 years."
Pros
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Promotes hair growth
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All-natural ingredients
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No chemicals, preservatives, and colorants
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Made in the USA
Cons
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Smaller bottle size
Best Feature
Infused with biotin and caffeine to promote facial hair growth.
Price & Rating
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Price: $12.29 for a 4 oz. bottle; $3.07 per oz.
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Rating: 4.5 ⭐️ (639 reviews)
Recommendation
Best for men who are just starting to grow their beards or who have fuller beards but need to fill in some patchiness.
Beard Soft - with PROGRO
$13.00
Soften your beard. Revitalizing Conditioner locks in moisture and hydrates your beard after washing. Help your beard stop feeling like a Brillo pad and start feeling like a plush pillow. Deep hydration Nourish & Strengthen … Read More
Old Spice Beard Conditioner
Budget-Friendly
Old Spice is a staple men's grooming brand for a reason. Whether it's the iconic scent, price point, or results they deliver, there's a reason they're still so popular. The Old Spice Beard Conditioner gives you a soft, moisturized beard while offering light hold for styling unruly beards if you choose to use it as a leave-in conditioner.
Consumer Review:
"This is a good product to moisturize my beard to eliminate the "beard dandruff." I've noticed I can wear dark shirts without concern now. It also allows for a bit of beard styling without using another product."
Pros
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Iconic "Old Spice" scent
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Acts as a conditioner and styling product, if needed
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Affordable and widely available
Cons
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Scent can be overpowering for some
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Not a natural product - many chemicals and artificial fragrances
Best Feature
Available at most stores at an affordable price or can be ordered online
Price & Rating
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Price: $12.14 for a 5 oz. container; $2.43 per oz.
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Rating: 4.4 ⭐️ (642 reviews)
Recommendation
Great for men who are on a budget or who just don't want to overspend on products
How to Choose the Best Beard Softener for New and Short Beards
When choosing a beard softener, you'll want to consider what beard type you have, how long you plan on keeping it, if you want to grow it longer, and whether you'd like to use a daily conditioner or a leave-in.
If you struggle with a patchy beard, it may be beneficial to choose a softener that promotes hair growth. If you have beard itch and dry skin, finding a product full of natural ingredients that are formulated to soothe and nourish will be the best fit.
The Bottom Line
Our overall winner for the best conditioner for beards that are new or short is the Wild Willies Beard Soft Conditioner.
The blend of all-natural ingredients, including aloe leaf juice, pro-vitamin B5, and MCT oil, helps keep your beard soft and supple and your skin moisturized. It's great for all beard textures and skin types. This conditioner has no added fragrance, sulfates, or parabens, making it safe for sensitive skin. The affordable price point is just another bonus, along with the subscription discount option. This beard conditioner should be considered for your beard care routine!
Other great options include:
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All-Natural: Honest Amish Beard Balm
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Fastest Working: Cremo Cedar Forest Beard and Scruff Softener
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Beard Growth: Wild Willies Progro Beard Soft
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Budget Option: Old Spice Beard Conditioner
Beard Soft - with PROGRO
$13.00
Soften your beard. Revitalizing Conditioner locks in moisture and hydrates your beard after washing. Help your beard stop feeling like a Brillo pad and start feeling like a plush pillow. Deep hydration Nourish & Strengthen … Read More
