Smoky Mountain Beard Co.
Well. I guess it is time for a shower. It has been 4 days since my last. In that time I have gone on 3 bike rides, gone to 4 bars, had a birthday party bonfire, had an outdoor movie night on the projector, swung my axe a few times, hung out at Frog Island park in Ypsilanti on the banks of the Huron River, and written 2 reviews. I think this may be the longest I’ve willingly gone between showers (except for camping).
I personally am a firm believer that no one should shower daily, we can go a day or two between showers and be perfectly, if not more, healthy. The reason for this is because showering daily strips our bodies (and beards) of our natural, healthy bacteria that helps us build immunity and be better at fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses. Daily washes strip away our essential oils, can dry out our skin and hair and can cause our beards to become more fragile. Most washes and soaps contain chemicals that “clean” by “stripping” away our natural essential oils, and natural and healthy bacteria.
When I do take my shower I like to have something natural and organic without chemicals or detergents to use on my body and beard. We here at Beard Advisor found exactly that in Smoky Mountain Beard Co.’s Black Willow Bark Beard & Body Soap.
Located in North Georgia near the foothills of the Appalachians founder Nate lives life by the Smoky Mountain tradition:
“Work hard. Help a neighbor. Live life on your own terms.”
Here is an excerpt from their website:
“Smoky Mountain Beard Co. was founded with those traditions in mind. With the idea that the every day hard workin’ man should be able to take care of his beard at a price he can afford. The idea that we are not all “Lumbersexuals”. The idea that your character tells the world that you are a man, and your beard is just the exclamation point.”
Smoky Mountain Beard Co.’s soap is handmade with the finest selection of organic and premium oils. The list includes, but is not limited to:
Premium Saponified Vegetable Oils:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Simply, for hair growth. A hormone called DTH is responsible for the narrowing of the hair follicle shaft, causing thinner, weaker hair and olive oil stops this protein loss from occurring.
Organic Coconut –Helps slow hair loss by slowing the protein loss in damaged hair. It has cooling properties that are great for hot skin and scalps and can help reduce sweating. Great for the long summer days working or relaxing. It helps your beard follicles retain moisture thus acting as a natural conditioner and nourisher for you beard all day.
Organic Sunflower Oil – The main component in sunflower oil is linoleic acid, as well as Vitamin A, D, and E. These are great for hair growth as well as strengthening the hair follicles, repairing damaged hair, as well as combating harmful bacteria and free radicals.
Organic Castor Oil – A GREAT ingredient to have! It contains high levels of ricinoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids which increase blood circulation to your skin and scalp which in turn increases hair growth and health. It promotes thicker beard follicles and stronger roots to increase your beards size and strength. It can also help thinner beards “grow-in” and fill in any patchy areas. The components of castor oil also help fight dry, itchy beards and dandruff; as well repairing damaged hair and split ends.
Organic Aloe – Not mentioning the plethora of health issues aloe has, when it comes to skin and hair care it also is extremely beneficial. It helps heal skin issues with its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. These could be scrapes or cuts, acne, eczema, or simply regular old dandruff. Aloe is often under appreciated as an ingredient.
Bentonite Clay (Living Clay) – Aged volcanic ash. How cool is that!! Though they have decreased in popularity, healing clays have been widely used throughout history and in many cultures and societies because they remove toxins from the body and are used both as an external and internal detoxification. It works on the skin (and beard) by producing an “electrical charge” when it becomes wet, allowing it to absorb toxins. It can even absorb heavy metals, free radicals, impurities, toxins, and chemicals. It also increases your oxygen intake. This is great stuff!
Essential Oils:
Tea Tree- Hair growth. Sorry, beard growth. It also unblocks the pores, it moisturizers your beard and prevents dry and itchy scalp caused by fungal and bacterial infections. It slows hair loss, helps remove the dead cells, and repairs damaged or weakened hair. Not to mention it smells great!
Eucalyptus – Relaxes sore muscles and often used in aromatherapy. Much needed after a long day.
Lavandin - Soothes sore muscles and aches, stiffness, and cramps. It can help heal sinus infections, open nasal passages, and aide in removing chest congestion. It also has anti-depressant properties.
Patchouli – Smells great!
Activated Bamboo Charcoal – Absorbs dirt, impurities, and free radicals to leave your body and beard feeling clean and free from harmful bacteria.
Black Willow Bark – Removes dead skin cells from your skin, causing your skin to look healthier, and feel softer.
We here at Beard Advisor are in love with the ingredient list! We can tell a lot of time and consideration went into the creating of their soaps.
By using these all-natural and organic ingredients Smoky Mountain Beard Co. is able to create an excellent beard & body soap that cleanses you beard and body without stripping away your natural and essential oils through the use of chemicals or detergents.
The soap leaves your body feeling clean and hydrated, and your beard will be clean, softer, and more manageable.
The actual bar itself is handmade in small batches to ensure quality control. It costs $5.95 for a 3.5oz bar, a great deal. Because it is organic it should last most men a good while.
We tried the soap for the first time two days ago and my skin still feels soft and clean and my beard has great volume and a healthy look, feel, and smell to it.
The actual bar itself had a few sharp edges, not uncommon in handmade soaps, but after our first wash the corners rounded and it wasn’t as angulated and hard on our arms and chest. I did hit a nerve in my right armpit while I was scrubbing away, but again that is probably going to be the first, and last time that happens since the corners are now smoothed out.
I washed my body first and I was a bit disappointed at the little amount of lather that was being produced, but I could feel the soap working and I immediately felt clean. Then I moved onto my beard, scrubbing my beard directly with the bar. Boy did it lather then! My beard was covered in a cleansing lather and I could feel the essential oils, bentonite clay, and bamboo charcoal working and really doing their thing! My nasal passages opened and a big grin appeared on my face.
I gave my body a second wash.
I recommend you do the same, start with your beard to get a good lather going, this will help release the ingredients and help them activate, then move onto your body.
Because this is an organic soap we recommend leaving it on a little dish outside of the shower. The water from the other showerers in your household will make the bar dwindle quicker than it normally would, and you don’t want to waste that precious bentonite clay. Plus the soap smells so great that the other members of your household will want to use it themselves, bearded or not.
We are glad we finally found a beard and body wash that works great, has fantastic ingredients, is organic, handmade, affordable, and works as advertised!
So what have we learned? Well, we have learned that Smoky Mountain Beard Co. makes a great beard & body soap. They use all natural ingredients and hand make each bar near the Appalachian foothills in Georgia.
We here at Beard Advisor are especially impressed with the use of castor oil, sunflower oil, aloe, lavandin, bentonite clay, activated bamboo charcoal, and the black willow bark in the soap and we think that these set them apart from other soap brands.
We really loved Smoky Mountain Beard Co.’s bar soap and we will most definitely buy another bar once ours runs out. We also cannot wait to try and review their other line of products!
Thanks for reading everyone, now go buy a bar of your own!
You can use the promo code “GROOM10” at checkout to receive 10% off your entire order!
- Andrew, for Beard Advisor
Beard advice for the real people.
