Homemade Gifts for Men: Beard Oil, Balm, Shave Soap and More

Make beard oil, beard balm, beard wash, aftershave balm, shave soap or a solid lotion bar at home with Baraka's shea butter, shea oil, baobab oil and African black soap, all made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana.

What homemade gifts can you make for men?

Six gifts cover most men: beard oil, beard balm, beard wash, aftershave balm, shave soap and a solid lotion bar. Each needs only a few ingredients, and each packs neatly into a tin or bottle. Two or three together look like a shop-bought gift set.

Shea butter does most of the work. Baraka shea butter is the place to start because it is unrefined, strained and filtered only, solid at room temperature and melts on contact with skin. Shea butter is traditionally used on dry skin, lips, hands, feet and hair, and it naturally contains vitamins A and E. Its colour runs from ivory to pale yellow and varies between batches, and a mild natural smell is normal. Wayne Dunn has worked directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre for over 15 years.

• Beard oil is the quickest gift; try the basic daily beard oil with shea oil or the luxury beard oil with baobab and shea oils.
• Beard balm is firmer; the beard balm with shea butter, beeswax and baobab oil and the beard balm for shape control are both worth a look.
• A beard wash made with African black soap and baobab oil is in the simple beard wash recipe.
• An aftershave balm finishes a shaving kit, and the aftershave balm recipe shows how.
• Shave soap and the lotion bar are explained further down this page.

How do you make diy beard oil?

Mix equal weights of shea oil and baobab oil, stir in a few drops of essential oil if you want a scent, and pour the blend into a dark dropper bottle. It needs no heat.

A 2 oz (57 g) batch fills about 2 fl oz (60 ml). You need 1 oz (28 g) shea oil, 1 oz (28 g) baobab oil and up to 10 drops (0.5 g) of essential oil. Shea oil is the liquid fraction of shea, so it stays pourable at room temperature. It is lighter on the skin than the whole butter and absorbs more readily. Baobab oil also absorbs quickly without the heaviness of a richer oil, and both suit facial oils.

1. Weigh both oils into a clean jug on a kitchen scale.
2. Add the essential oil and stir for about a minute.
3. Pour the oil through a small funnel into a clean, dry dropper bottle.
4. Label the bottle and tell the recipient to warm two or three drops between the palms and work them through the beard.

The colour and smell of shea oil vary between batches, so each bottle may look slightly different.

How do you make a beard balm?

Melt beeswax and shea butter together, stir in baobab oil, let the mix cool a little, add scent and pour it into tins. It sets to a soft solid that warms between your fingers.

A 3 oz (85 g) batch needs 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax, 1 oz (28 g) shea butter, 1 1/2 oz (43 g) baobab oil and up to 15 drops (0.75 g) of essential oil. It fills about three 1 fl oz (30 ml) tins.

1. Put the beeswax and shea butter in a heatproof jar and set the jar in a pan of barely simmering water.
2. Stir until both have melted, then lift the jar out and stir in the baobab oil.
3. Let the mix cool for a few minutes, then stir in the essential oil.
4. Pour into tins and leave them undisturbed until set.

For a firmer hold, add 1/4 oz (7 g) more beeswax. For a softer balm, use a little less.

What is the difference between beard oil and beard balm?

Beard oil is a liquid blend of oils that spreads thinly and absorbs quickly. Beard balm adds butter and beeswax, so it is a soft solid that sits more on the surface and holds the beard in shape.

You can use both: oil first, then a little balm on top. That is why a bottle and a tin together make an easy gift set.

Shave soap from Black Soap Base

A shave soap can be made by re-melting Black Soap Base, which is sold as crumbs for soap making, with a little water and shea butter. Because the base is already soap, this recipe adds no lye.

You need 4 oz (113 g) Black Soap Base, about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water and 1/2 oz (14 g) shea butter. Add the water gradually and stop when you have a thick, spreadable paste. Make a small test batch first.

1. Put the crumbs and water in a heatproof bowl over simmering water and stir until the mix softens into a paste.
2. Stir in the shea butter until it melts.
3. Press the paste into a mold or small tin and smooth the top.
4. Let it dry in an airy spot for a few days, until firm, before wrapping.

The soap will be dark brown to near-black, and the colour varies between batches. It contains raw honey, so it is not vegan. African black soap absorbs moisture from the air and softens if left uncovered, so wrap it or give it in a closed container. Tell the recipient to work it up with a damp shaving brush.

Solid lotion bar

A lotion bar is equal weights of beeswax, shea butter and shea oil, melted together and poured into a mold. It is a good gift for hands and body.

You need 1 oz (28 g) beeswax, 1 oz (28 g) shea butter and 1 oz (28 g) shea oil, which makes 3 oz (85 g). Melt the beeswax and shea butter in a jar over barely simmering water, stir in the shea oil, pour into a tin or mold and let it set. The recipient rubs the bar over dry hands until a thin layer is left.

For a massage-style bar, swap part of the shea butter for kombo butter. In Ghana, kombo butter is traditionally used as a massage butter. It is softer than cocoa butter, firmer than shea and has an earthy smell. Use 1/4 oz (7 g) kombo butter with 3/4 oz (21 g) shea butter, so kombo makes up 25% of the butter blend. Test a little on the inside of the arm for 24 hours before first use, and keep kombo butter out of anything for babies.

Scents, packaging and labels

Baraka's recommended limit for essential oils in leave-on products on the face is 1% of the batch weight, which is where the drop counts above come from. A woody oil such as cedarwood or a fresh peppermint suits most men. Keep bergamot and lemon out of anything left on the skin, and use sweet orange at the same number of drops if you want a citrus note. For the lotion bar, which is for hands and body, the limit is 2%, so up to 30 drops (1.5 g). Leave essential oils out of anything for babies or young children.

Use dark glass dropper bottles for oil and 1 fl oz (30 ml) tins for balm and lotion bars. Give shave soap a lidded jar or a wrap of paper. Each label should carry the name, the ingredients in plain words, the date you made it and the line "For external use". Shea butter keeps 2+ years when stored properly, away from heat and direct sun, so tell the recipient to keep the tin somewhere cool.

What diy gifts can you make for dad?

Match the gift to the dad. A bearded dad gets a beard oil and balm set, a dad who shaves gets shave soap and aftershave balm, and a dad who works with his hands gets a lotion bar. Add a handwritten card saying you made it yourself, and mention that the shea butter was made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre.

For more ideas beyond the shaving shelf, see the page on homemade Christmas gifts and natural skincare gifts you can make. For more recipes to make at home, see Baraka's recipe book bundle.

This is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or pharmacist for a skin condition.

Quick answers

What homemade gifts can you make for men?

Beard oil, beard balm, beard wash, aftershave balm, shave soap and a solid lotion bar are all easy to make at home. Baraka's shea butter, shea oil, baobab oil and African black soap, made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana, cover the main ingredients. A bottle and a tin together make a simple gift set.

How do you make diy beard oil?

Weigh 1 oz (28 g) shea oil and 1 oz (28 g) baobab oil, stir them together and pour into a dark dropper bottle. For a scent, add up to 10 drops (0.5 g) of essential oil, which stays within Baraka's recommended 1% for the face. No heat is needed.

How do you make a beard balm?

Melt 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax with 1 oz (28 g) shea butter, then stir in 1 1/2 oz (43 g) baobab oil. Let it cool a little, add up to 15 drops (0.75 g) of essential oil if you like, and pour into tins to set. Add a little more beeswax for a firmer hold.

What is the difference between beard oil and beard balm?

Beard oil is a liquid blend of oils that spreads thinly and absorbs quickly. Beard balm adds butter and beeswax, so it is a soft solid that sits more on the surface and holds the beard in shape. A bottle of oil and a tin of balm make a good pair.

What diy gifts can you make for dad?

Match the gift to the dad: a beard oil and balm set for a bearded dad, shave soap and aftershave balm for a dad who shaves, or a lotion bar for a dad who works with his hands. A handwritten card makes any of them personal.