26 Best Beard Products 2024: Service Every Type of Scruff

Here's a good rule of thumb: When assembling the best beard products, all of your gear should fit inside a normal-sized dopp kit. For the sake of your scruff, and bathroom counter, don't let your grooming toolkit spiral out of control. Your facial hair may benefit from beard trimmers, scissors, razors and shaving creams, oils, balms, washes, conditioners, mustache waxes, combs, brushes, after-shaves, or scrubs, but it will almost certainly suffer under the weight of all of the above. Put more simply: Don't overdo it, fellas.

But be warned, you under-groom at your own risk—beard dandruff and funk are very real. The best beard care products are what stand between perfectly groomed facial hair and a scraggly mess. However, finding the right combination of products takes trial and error. And the reason we know that is because our grooming aficionados have been conducting exactly that trial and error, on your behalf, for years.

We've got dozens of products for your consideration below, but check out our top picks right here.

• The Beard Trimmer: Philips-Norelco Multigroom Series 9000, $90 $70
• The All-In-One Groomer: Panasonic Multishape, $210 $170
• The Beard Oil: Baxter of California Beard Oil, $28 $21
• The Beard Brush: Zeus Beard Brush, $18
• The Beard Wash: Anthony Beard Conditioning Beard Wash, $26 $20
• The Beard Comb: Baxter of California Pocket Beard Comb, $26
• The Post-Shave Product: Cremo Post-Shave Balm for Sensitive Skin, $9
• The Facial Hair Scrub: Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub, $28

Beards aren't the ubiquitous style accessory they were during the pandemic, but they'll be back. Here in the states, beards have been going in and out of style since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But for many of us bearded gents, our whiskers aren't a fashion statement—they're a lifestyle. (If you're experimenting with facial hair for the first time, welcome to the brotherhood, my man.) And like a lot of endeavors in life, if you want to do it right, you need the right tools for the job. After extensive beards-on testing, from the must-have staples to the downright strange, we've collected our favorites for you here. Many are former GQ Grooming Award winners, and they've all been personally vetted to help you achieve peak beard.

The author's bathroom counter, right before a shave. Image courtesy of Timothy Beck Wirth

Philips-Norelco

Multigroom Series 9000

$89 $69

Amazon

According to countless men's grooming writers, the Multigroom Series 9000 is the crème de la crème of beard trimmers. I have to disagree. It's an excellent trimmer if you have a short beard and want dozens of attachments (it comes with 21 accessories, to be exact). Personally, I don't like wrangling so many pieces, and since it only cuts up to 16mm, my beard is too long for this trimmer. Still, the ergonomic steel handle feels great in the hand, and attachments like the foil shaver and nose hair trimmer are definitely handy. For guys with long beards, and guys who prefer fewer attachments, the Panasonic Multishape does a lot more with a lot less.

Bevel

Professional Hair Clippers

$273

Amazon

Bevel's original beard trimmer makes impossibly crisp lines, and the brand's hair clippers up the ante with comb guards that give guys more options for styling. The professional-quality clipper works equally well on beards and hair, and the precision blades can be adjusted by 0.1mm increments. Design lovers will also appreciate the sleek black finish and powerful magnets that snap the guards into place.

Panasonic

Multishape

$170

Panasonic

Guys really can have it all. When the Multishape first came out, GQ named it a “God tier” grooming tool, and it has yet to be surpassed. It's also the best trimmer for long beards thanks to the variety of lengths and attachments. But even clean-shaven guys will love this groomer, as it also does quadruple duty as an electric toothbrush, hair clipper, body groomer, and ear and nose hair trimmer.

King C. Gillette

Cordless Beard Trimmer

$35 $30

Amazon

Like Kiehl's, Gillette is one of the OG grooming brands, though it lacks the premium panache. The brand's cordless trimmer is actually made by Braun, and it's almost identical to the also-excellent Braun Series 7 trimmer with two important differences—it's a one-third the price and comes with two attachments instead of 12. The lack of attachments is actually a plus in my book. While the Philips Norelco Multigroom needs a dozen attachments to trim up to 16mm, this trimmer goes all the way up to 20mm with just two. The adjustment dial makes it easy to change lengths on the fly, and this is a great starter trimmer if you're new to beard care.

Zeus

Boar Bristle Beard Brush

$18

Amazon

If you have a beard, then you need a brush, full stop. A boar-bristle brush lets you avoid beard dandruff and its cousin, beard stank, by exfoliating the skin under the hair. Along with dead skin, these tools tame wiry beards, control flyaways, and evenly distribute natural oils. This particular brush features an easy-to-hold pear wood handle and is tough enough for tangles.

Live Bearded

Boar's Hair Beard Brush

$20

Amazon

I've tried a lot of beard brushes over the years, but this is the one I keep coming back to. Made by a small indie beard company based in Arizona, the Live Bearded brush is big, but not too big. It's bristles are firm, but not too firm. It massages, it untangles, it smooths, and it does it all equally well.

Kent

FOT Fine Tooth Beard Comb

$12 $8

Amazon

British brand Kent has been making combs since 1777, making them older than America. I've found that most beard combs just kind of push your hair around, but this FOT comb has deep teeth that actually slide through your hair for better styling—and damn does it look cool. If you're not a comb nerd, "FOT" stands for "Fine Overall Tooth," and it refers to handmade combs with fine, evenly spaced teeth.

Baxter of California

Beard Comb

$26

Baxter of California

Most pocket combs—especially for beards— are decidedly low-quality, which is why we recommend this one. Baxter's comb is handcrafted in Switzerland to be just the right size for styling, detangling, and maximum portability. Plus, the tortoise shell-style comb has both fine and wide teeth for added versatility.

Goodline Grooming Co.

Premium Grooming Comb

$7

CVS

We get it—we didn't expect to include a CVS product here either. But metal combs are an underrated anti-static styling tool, capable of busting through tangles to whip thick beards into shape. And after an exhaustive search, this is the only metal comb we can heartily recommend. Made from stainless steel rather than carbon fiber or aluminum, it's weighty and solid in the hand. Two teeth widths also give you more ways to groom.

Chicago Comb

Model 7 Carbon Fiber Pick Comb

$15 $13

Amazon

This small brand makes heavy-duty combs right here in the United States. The brand's carbon fiber grooming tools are lightweight but strong enough to slice through stubborn tangles. For thick, long beards and Afro-textured facial hair, consider this your top pick.

Baxter of California

Beard Oil

$28

Amazon

In our testing, no beard oil absorbs as quickly or spreads as evenly as this one. It also has a pleasing, complex, and sweet fragrance that's only grown on us over time. The formula uses squalene and avocado oil to moisturize and a mix of Vitamin E and botanicals to strengthen your hair. We also love that a little goes a long way, so you're not left with messy, oil covered hands.

Jack Black

Beard Oil

$28 $24

Amazon

This is a classic men's grooming product that's earned its sterling reputation. A blend of kalahari melon oil and Vitamin E delivers antioxidants and vitamins that nourish your hair and skin at once. Over time, the oil acts as a leave-in conditioner, softening up your hair for easier styling. In our experience, you have to use a little more than directed, but it won us over with its subtle fragrance.

Blind Barber

Beard & Face Replenishment Oil

$17

Ulta

Blind Barber's beard oil is so smooth you won't even want to wash it off your hands when you're done. The formula features a blend of jojoba oil, avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, botanical extracts, and a subtle tonka bean fragrance. Just a single application makes your beard noticeable softer.

Honest Amish

Classic Beard Oil

$12

Amazon

After testing dozens of beard oils, GQ’s Adam Hurly was forced to conclude that none could beat this Amazon brand. It’s a pure oil formula, meaning it has no non-oil ingredients, “with seven carrier oils and seven essential oils that give it an earthy scent and help tone the skin beneath your bushel.” And for guys with sensitive skin, this popular oil also comes in an unscented version.

Fulton & Roark

Formula 5 Beard Oil

$55

Amazon

For fragrance fans, Fulton & Roark makes beard oils with the most sophisticated scents. No one else even comes close. The hydrating formula instantly hydrates and softens coarse beard hair with natural oils from sunflower seeds, meadow foam, apricot kernel, olive oil, and shea butter. I’m partial to the brand’s musky Palmetto fragrance, the freshwater Blue Ridge aroma, and the woody tobacco of Calle Ocho. For winter, I’ve been obsessed with the Ramble fragrance, which has notes of black pepper, forest air, lavender, and lemon.

Anthony

Conditioning Beard Wash

$26

Amazon

If you find oils too messy, then opt for this wash-out beard conditioner, which quickly softens up and hydrates your hair. In addition to moisturizing coconut oil, it also contains black currant and rosemary to soothe your skin and banish beard itch. Paraben- and cruelty-free, it's also friendly on sensitive mugs.

Cremo

Post-Shave Balm

$9

Amazon

Need a post-shave salve for your sensitive skin? Cremo's balm gently calms irritated skin with a fragrance-free formula. That means you don't have to worry about dryness, redness, and razor burn every time you touch up your facial hair.

Kiehl's

Ultimate Razor Burn & Bump Relief

$26

Kiehl's

When we apply this after-shave lotion, we find fewer bumps and ingrown hairs in the days ahead. The fast-absorbing cream also feels cool and satisfying in the moment, and it uses aloe vera, willow herb, and Vitamin E to nourish the skin. We also love that the formula includes witch hazel, a natural astringent. A masculine and fresh-smelling fragrance only adds to the experience.

Claus Porto

Musgo Real, Classic Scent

$55

Amazon

Musgo real is the last of the old-school aftershaves. This fast-absorbing aftershave has a lot of the same ingredients as our favorite beard oils, making it the ideal post-shave tonic for guys with facial hair. Claus Porto uses sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter to calm the skin. It also has a classic fragrance with notes of lavender, bergamot, vetiver, patchouli, and violet.

Nivea Men

Sensitive Soothing Post Shave Balm (3-Pack)

$19

Amazon

For sensitive skin types, shaving can be extra dangerous. Nivea's new alcohol-free lotion has skin-soothing ingredients such as vitamin E and chamomile, and it provides a light cooling effect thanks to your friendly neighborhood astringent, witch hazel. Bonus: because it's super affordable, you can apply it generously and really slather it onto your face and neck.

Harry's

The Winston Razor

$12

Harry's

The Winston isn't just the best razor for guys with beards, it's GQ's all-around consensus pick for guys, period. Friendly to all hair and skin types, the 5-blade razor creates sharp lines for a polished look and a smooth shaving experience. We also love the weighty metal handle, as well as the affordable price tag.

DSC

Shave Gel

$7

DSC

There are plenty of high-brow shaving creams we love, but for guys that shave only seldomly, we recommend combining Harry's Winston with DSC's popular shave gel. It might feel blasphemous to mix products from these shave club rivals, but it's a pleasing one-two punch that will keep your beard in shape—even on a budget.

Philips Norelco

Wet/Dry Compact Electric Shaver

$70

Amazon

It's a common misconception that guys with beards don't shave, but that's simply not true. I like to maintain clean lines along my chin, cheeks, and neck, and I've found that this travel shaver actually works better for my purposes than some of the premium $300 shavers I've tried. It leaves your skin noticeably smooth, and the boxy shape makes it easy to shave with precision.

Kiehl's

Facial Fuel Scrub

Shop at

Kiehl's

You might not think of scrubs as a beard care product, but they can be even more important for guys with facial hair. All that extra hair leaves lots of space for germs and gunk to hide. The scrub uses finely ground apricot kernels to exfoliate, while a skin-tingling blend of caffeine, menthol, Vitamin E, and citrus oils wake up your skin. Somehow, it manages to feel both luxurious and heavy-duty, and we recommend using it in the shower a couple of times a week. Plus, it's paraben and sulfate free.

Horace

Gentle Face Scrub

$17

Horace

For men with shorter beards or more sensitive skin, try this scrub instead of a more intense option. In the GQ Grooming Awards 2023, we named this the best exfoliator for men of the year. Use this product once or twice a week and it will gently wipe away any impurities hiding under your beard. Unlike cheap alternatives that use plastic microbeads, it uses natural argan seeds to buff away dead skin.

Other Skincare

Cardon

Face Mask for Bearded Men (4-Pack)

$24

Amazon

If you love sheet masks, then you know they're not exactly made for guys with beards. Korean skincare brand Cardon is changing that with a charcoal bamboo face mask made specifically for men with facial hair. This is actually a twofer, as each mask also comes with a single-use serving of beard oil made from argan and jojoba oil. Step one: Apply the beard oil to your beard. Step two: Apply the sheet mask to moisturize and soothe your skin.

The return of the American beard in the 21st century coincided with a renaissance in men's grooming. Men now have entirely new ways to primp and groom every hair on our bodies. The men's skin care boom also fathered many new brands and products for your bathroom shelf (too many, frankly), and we want to narrow it down for you. To help us out, we consulted Matty Conrad, owner of Victory Brand and one of GQ's go-to grooming gurus.

Conrad is a professional beardsman with a wealth of knowledge, and we wanted to know, what are the bare necessities for a well-groomed mane? He told us he separates beard care products into two categories for his clients: tools (trimmers, combs, brushes) and care (oils, washes, styling). “These two can get very convoluted and busy given the amount of beard care that suddenly seems to exist. It’s become quite an industry over the last eight years."

Conrad considers the following items essential: beard trimmers, beard brushes, a beard pick, moisturizing washes, beard oil, and styling products. But he also warned us that it's easy to misuse many of 'em. Take beard oil as an example. “Beard oil has become the most popular product for beards in the last decade, but most guys use it wrong or just over-use it period,” Conrad says. "Beard oil is meant to condition the skin underneath the beard and to help replenish the moisture that is lost due to the moisture-wicking effect of having a beard. Unfortunately, beard oil has been sold as a must-have/must-use daily product to every guy that endeavors to sprout some facial hair, but honestly it’s more prescriptive than that. Just use it when your beard feels dry or your skin is irritated and flaking.”

For beginners, we advise starting with the basics—a good trimmer and brush. “A good trimmer [for] keeping your beard outlined and clean looking is paramount for getting through that awkward grow-out stage and is necessary for maintaining a quality beard and keeping you from looking like a toilet brush has taken up residence on your face. A beard brush stimulates blood flow helping your beard grow healthier and stronger. It also disperses natural conditioning oils through the beard. It will keep your beard looking healthy and sharp and is often better than a beard comb for controlling fly aways."

There are far too many beard products for there to be so few good beard products. Sadly, despite the explosion of options in the men’s grooming space, most of these new products can be safely ignored.

So, how do you find the products worth adding to your grooming routine? I’ve found word of mouth to be the most reliable indicator of a product’s quality, but you can also glean a lot from ingredients lists. Besides the obvious (look for products free of parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances), check labels to make sure the product uses natural ingredients that hydrate and nourish your facial hair and skin without irritating it. I look for ingredients such as witch hazel, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, squalane, and grape seed oil.

Guys with sensitive skin may also want to avoid products with heavy fragrances and essential oils, which can be too harsh on the skin. You can’t find many fragrance-free beard products, but they do exist if you look hard enough. Personally, products with plant extracts and essential oils don’t irritate my skin, but tread lightly regardless.

When shopping for beard trimmers and combs, be 100% sure the product can handle your beard length before ordering. Many popular trimmers, including the ubiquitous Phillips Norelco Multigroom Series 9000, only trim hair up to 16mm in length (about 0.63”). For longer beards, Panasonic, Bevel, and Braun’s trimmers work better. Likewise, look for beard combs with deep, fine teeth, otherwise they won’t be able to glide through your hair properly.

Finally, let me reiterate one piece of important advice: Don’t overdo it. Your beard doesn’t need a million washes, conditioners, oils, and balms. Choose the ones that apply to your specific facial hair needs—not an “all-of-the-above” approach.

This year, we celebrated 10 years of the GQ Grooming Awards, and we've been advising fellas on how to style and groom their facial hair since the beard boom of the ‘70s. Every year, our editors and grooming experts test new beard care products, and we consult barbers and stylists for their insight as well. All of the products in this piece were chosen after careful hands-on testing by a member of the GQ Recommends team. Only the most elite products get the nod, and we never recommend a product we wouldn't use personally.

Timothy Beck Werth has been rocking a beard for over a decade. In that time, he's been fully clean-shaven for a grand total of two weeks. As an experienced grooming writer and editor, Werth has tested more grooming products than he can count, and he's extremely picky when it comes time to give his own whiskers some TLC.