Regularly lubricating your beard trimmers is imperative for their performance and longevity. However, beard trimmer oil can be hard to find and rather expensive. So, we’ve compiled a list of some affordable beard trimmer oil substitutes that you can find in any supermarket grooming section.
Beard trimmer oil can be substituted with various oils with similar compositions, such as coconut oil, olive oil, baby oil, or anything else able to withstand high temperatures and have low toxicity levels. However, they may not have the same results, and there are some oils that you shouldn’t use.
It is important to note that you may encounter difficulties when lubricating your beard trimmers, and you need to take extra care not to make any mishaps. Keep reading to find out which beard trimmer oil substitutes you should use, which you shouldn’t and how to apply it to keep them performing at their best.
What Can You Use As A Substitute For Beard Trimmer Oil?
The best approach to beard trimmer maintenance is to get hold of some hair clipper oil. The good news is that you’ll be able to save some money shopping online, and it’s rather convenient. But be wary that they go out of stock very quickly, so you have to act fast!
Perhaps you’ve already missed your opportunity, and that’s why you’re here looking for a substitute. Here are a few everyday items from your home that can do the same job:
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has low levels of toxicity and can withstand high temperatures. Don’t be concerned that coconut oil has a different consistency from other oils. A quick fix is to fry it up in a hot pan first, heat it until it takes on a more liquid-like consistency. Let it cool down for 10 minutes and put it into a bottle with a dropper.
Olive oil
Olive oil also has high temperature tolerance and low toxicity. It is very light and serves as a perfect lubricant for your beard trimmers. However, be wary of extra-virgin and virgin olive oil, which are naturally extracted without heat and retains anti-oxidants. Stick to either olive oil and do not use olive-pomace oil, which combines the properties of regular, virgin, and extra-virgin olive oil, and takes on a heavy consistency.
Baby oil
Baby oil is a less popular substitute for beard trimmer oil because it can be heavy and prone to clogging. However, combining it with essential oils (±50-50) can thin the baby oil out and make it less prone to clogging while retaining the properties necessary (low acidity and being able to withstand high temperatures) to lubricate your beard trimmers.
Over and above this, essential oils will also help prevent rashes, meaning it also serves as a shaving oil for the first shave or two! You can also push the essential oils’ component up to ±75/25, but you might find that the oil gets too light, and you may not be getting much lubrication out of it.
Vegetable oil
Another easy substitute for beard trimmer oil is vegetable oil, which also has all of the necessary properties to lubricate your blades and not cause any clogging.
A good rule of thumb is to use any oil that you could use to saute an onion. There are plenty of other substitutes out there, such as canola oil or any other light oil that can withstand high temperatures and has low toxicity levels.
What Shouldn’t You Use As Substitutes For Beard Trimmer Oil?
Now that you know what to use as a substitute for beard trimmer oil, you also need to note what you shouldn’t. Do not improvise and pick the wrong lubricants to use for your beard trimmer oil because it will damage your beard trimmers’ machinery.
Motor oil
Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can use motor oil on their beard trimmers. However, these heavy, dark oils should only be applied to heavy machinery and do not apply to small blades and motors that run your beard trimmers.
Water
Water is another thing that is often mistaken as an appropriate substitute for beard trimmer oil. However, water has no enduring lubricating properties and cannot withstand high temperatures. Beyond this, water can cause damage to your blades or the internal machinery in your beard trimmers.
Water-displacing spray
Water-displacing sprays like WD-40, as well as penetrating lubricants, are also a bad option for a beard trimmer oil substitute. They are not efficient, smell bad, and do not contain any type of oil. They will not smoothen the blades on your trimmers whatsoever and will be completely ineffective.
Vaseline
It’s probably crossed your mind that vaseline might be a good beard trimmer oil substitute, but the problem is that vaseline while containing lubricating properties, is thick and can cause your motor to get gummed or even stop operating.
Heavy lubricants & greases
The rule of thumb when it comes to what not to use is to avoid heavy oils, greases, or lubricants that can clog up your beard trimmers’ blades. Furthermore, all of these heavy oils, greases, and lubricants can be bad for your skin. So it’s best to steer clear of them at all costs.
How To Apply Beard Trimmer Oil
So, either you’ve got your hands on some beard clippers oil, or you’ve found an appropriate substitute. The last thing left to learn is how to apply it.
1. Determine suitable alternatives
It’s incredibly important not to use a bad substitute for beard trimmer oil because it can damage your trimmers themselves as well as your skin and give you an unpleasant shaving experience. So make sure you go through this article again to ensure that you’ve picked a suitable substitute.
2. Turn off motor
Every beard trimmer manual will tell you to add a few drops of oil to the blades while your trimmers are turned on, but unless your oils are in a bottle and applied with a dropper, this is not advisable. So turn off the motor if you do not have a dropper handy.
3. Apply oil
Now that you’ve got your oil ready and have turned your beard trimmers’ motor off, you can use your finger to take out a small amount of oil (one drop or two at the most) and move that finger across the surface of your beard trirmmers’ blades to spread the oil. Once you’ve done this, rinse off your fingers and turn the motor on.
4. Signs you’re doing it wrong
If you’re wondering if you’re following the instructions correctly, there’s one way to tell if you’ve followed the lubricating process incorrectly. If a pair of beard trimmers is rattling, it means that the oil is causing damage to your motor. It’s having difficulty creating the oscillating motions with the blades and their teeth that allow your beard trimmers to function.
If your beard trimmers do start rattling, turn off immediately and let the motor rest for as long as it takes you to rectify the issue.
So, you now have all the information you need to carry out the routine lubrication of your beard trimmers’ blades. Simple beard trimmer maintenance like this shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and you will thank yourself when you see the results.
Well, lubricated blades will keep your trimmers performing at their very best, and it isn’t even necessary for you to buy beard trimmer oil. There are plenty of substitutes out there. Just be sure to take care when finding a suitable substitute.
