Let's talk about accessories and what not. I always have customers asking if I have shave mugs, brushes, beard combs, and razors. The short answer is no, not at the moment. Read on for the long answer.

Why don't I carry these accoutrements? I would love to. I am so small, though, that in order for me to have these items in my inventory, I would have to guess what you like, guess what you would use the most, guess what will sell and in what time frame. In short, I don't have the market research on my clientele yet. I do know that over the last 2 years or so, I have gotten very few requests for these items. They are readily available from local sellers, online shops and everything in between.

I decided I will compile a list of suppliers here for you and when I do get enough capital and information on what my clients are looking for, I will definitely have some on hand. Right now, it's faster and easier for you to jump to one of these links and get exactly what you want!

I will leave you with this little tip: my mug soaps are able to fit any size mug.  If the puck is too big or too small for your mug, and it won't lay in the bottom or moves around too much do this: cut it into little chunks and microwave it for 10-15 seconds at a time (don't let it boil!!!). It will melt into the shape of your mug and you'll be all set. Give it a little stir after melting to make sure nothing separated.  If your mug isn't microwave-safe, find a container that is and do the melting in there. Then just pour into your mug to set up.  This is a great way to use cool, vintage mugs that may not have been purposed for shaving but are meaningful to your guy. Shop the thrift and vintage stores that are local to you and get a bowl or a mug and stock up on my mug soap. DONE!


Shaving Brushes and Mugs on Etsy

Classic Shaving


These are two great resources. One for handmade and one for one-stop-shopping.





Beard Oil Recipe for DIY and Gift Giving


Hey all, it's been a while since I posted, but I promised to share my formula for beard oil. It's getting close to the holidays, and some of you may be in a DIY mood and may even be trying to reduce needless consumerism. I dig that. Of course, you'll be buying things to make this, but the ingredients can be used in other at-home grooming recipes, spa treatments, and for general well-being. Use the oils in the bath, as moisturizer, or on your cuticles, and the essential oils can be used in all kinds of aromatherapy applications. So go splurge and treat yourself or your man to this recipe.  Ready? Here it is!

BEARD OIL by Locust + Ash:

Oily/ Sensitive/ Acne-prone:

2T (1 oz.) total oil. Grapeseed, Sesame or Hemp Oil are wonderful for this type of skin. Mix them up or use one.                             

2 Vitamin E 400iu capsule

Essential oils: 8 drops orange, 8 drops patchouli, 10 drops rosemary, 10 drops lemon.

Dry/ Sensitive:

2T (1 oz.) total oil. Avocado, Sweet Almond Oil,  or Jojoba oil are good choices. Mix them or use just one.                                                 

2 Vitamin E 400iu capsule                                                                                                                       Essential oils: 8 drops cedarwood or sandalwood (or 4 of each), 8 drops lavender, 10 drops rosemary, 10 drops lime.


That's a good basic recipe. I could go nuts and break down every oil out there and the benefits and get you all confused and overwhelmed. I picked more readily available and affordable oils (they will be easily found in stores--shop local!) but there are some really nice, pricier oils you could use. We'll save that for another post on features and benefits of beard and skin care products.

So for now, use these recipes and just mix and match. Pour everything into a dark colored dropper bottle. You want the bottle to be dark to keep sunlight from spoiling it; glass or plastic is fine. I have used twist-top bottles like the ones in the photo also and wrapping a handmade label around it is good for protection if you have clear glass. **One note: hemp oil goes bad quickly: 30 days without refrigeration. So keep it cold or make a small batch and use it up.

Once you've got it mixed up, shake well, and use once a day. The Vitamin E will act as a bit of a preservative, but make sure you note any changes in the scent; it will go bad after a while. This size recipe of beard oil should be used up fairy quickly, but in case you decide to scale up and make a lot at once you'll know to note the expiration dates on the oils you purchased for the project and mark your DIY bottles.

I hope you like it! I have never sold this beard oil but it was tested in my barbershop. The scents got some pretty great feedback. You can always substitute your own favorite essential oils,  but these were chosen for their benefits to the specific skin type. For normal skin, you can use any combination of these ingredients.

Beard oil is a major trend right now and I find it's a nice thing to make for a gift.  Of course, I stand by my dry oil formula. I find it absorbs better and the light wax locks in moisture. Plus, it has multiple uses and even women love it for an all purpose "wonder balm".

Let us know in the comments if you make some! Happy Holidays!




What is beard Dry Oil and why do you need it?

The "dry" in Beard Dry Oil refers to the absorption rate of the butters and oils used: the faster the drier. The reason I decided to make a "dry" oil formula in a solid form is easy: market testing.  I concocted and tested quite a few versions of beard oils, beard balms and beard wax. The Dry Oil got the best feedback.

I have a wonderful liquid beard oil recipe. In fact, I'll share it with you in my next post. You can whip it up and use it (sparingly) and see what you think. I don't make a beard oil for sale, because I just don't see the benefits. Not to say there are big drawbacks, but I need to make products that work and work hard.

Even if you make your own beard oil, I think you'll still want to try the Dry Oil recipe. Why? It's made from dry oil butters, a light, water-soluble wax, and very little liquid oil,  You get better moisturizing with the heavier butters and the addition of the wax to hold them and that means less split ends and more growth if that's what you're after.  There are no petroleum products or beeswax, so it washes right out, but the light wax gives some control for those scraggly whiskers. You also won't have any oil transferring to your hands if you are touching that glorious beard all day...not to mention your significant other's face when you kiss. Hemp butter and horsetail butter are 2 of the "driest" butters you can use.

I worked as a barber for years and never liked when my hands felt slippery or greasy after using healing balms on my dry, cracked hands. In fact, I developed a lotion bar and a tattoo balm with "dry oils" long before the Beard Dry Oil just for those reasons. The transfer of oils to my shears and clippers was annoying (not to mention a little dangerous), and I found out that guys felt the same way. You don't need an oily keyboard, or smartphone screen, or steering wheel, or anything else.

And there you have it. If you've been wondering why guys use beard oil and if you should take the plunge, I'd say try some. I bet you'll want to try the Dry Oil next.