Grab a bottle of beard oil, drop a dime size amount into the palm of your hand, apply to your beard, and work in well.
Those are the directions Wade Barbe, owner of Lufkin Beard Company, tells beard groomers when they use his 100 percent natural, locally made beard oils.
“Put a dime size amount in your hand, scrub it between your hands, and rub it into your beard,” he said. “A little goes a long ways, so start out with a little.”
Beginning last May, Barbe said he wanted to create something that “was a little more reasonable priced, something that was all-natural,” plus he wanted to create a product locally made. Along with beard oils, he creates soaps and balms at home.
“Whenever I really started, I did a ton of research on essential oils and ratios,” Barbe said. “I sat down and started doing the scents. I will have an idea of a scent, like a woodsy scent, but then you have to sit down and experiment and get your ratios correct.
“So the oils consist of a carrier oil and then I use pure essential oils for scents, you just have to get your ratios right,” he added. “You don’t want it to be so overpowering where it gives someone a headache. I like more of the subtle smells.”
Barbe currently sells four beard oils: Spiced Citrus, a spice, citrus scent; Days End, a woodsy, citrus, lavender scent; No. 1, a woodsy, mint, and coffee scent; and Piney, a pine, woodsy scent. The oils are $15 for one ounce. Other products such as beard palm, hand salve, and beard care start packs range from $12-$20.
“It’s cool that people would come out and spend their money that they worked for on something I made,” Barbe said. “It means a lot to me. It makes me proud of that, for sure.”
As he builds his business, one example Barbe looks to is the owner of The Pizza Place in Weatherford, who takes a personal touch with his customers.
“The owner would come out and say ‘How is your food today? Do you like it? I really thank you for your business,’” Barbe said. “I thought that was so cool. It makes you feel so appreciated, that he really cares that you’re there. That’s the way I want it to be with my stuff.
Barbe advises new business owners to have patience.
“It really is a lot of work when you own your own business; it’s really a 24-hour job. You’re constantly, constantly working,” Barbe said. “Be willing to put in the work. Nobody’s going to care about your business as much as you are; nobody’s going to be willing to work at your business as hard as you are. Be diligent and be consistent.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s rewarding, too. When you see people try your product, and they like it, that means something,” he added. “I’m really grateful for my customers, either if they buy one thing or a bunch of stuff, I think every customer matters.
Lufkin Beard products are currently available in Bloom, a local shop in Angelina County Farmers Market. Barbe said his goal is to add more products to several stores in Lufkin and Nacogdoches, with plans to grow to Jacksonville, Tyler, and Longview.
“I’m a huge supporter of the local community. When people buy local it really does matter,” Barbe said. “That’s why I wanted local beeswax; I think it means more when people from this area use your products, and their using balm and it has beeswax that is from this area. I think it means more than if you bought it online and its coming from no telling where.”
To shop Lufkin Beard Company’s products, visit lufkinbeardcompany.com.
