About Us

It's funny how things just happen sometimes, but they do. Growing up, I never thought a beard was possible for me, but as I got older, it happened. On August 31st, 2014, I shaved for the last time before the first cyclocross race of the season, and as my facial hair grew out, I used clippers to keep it tidy until it came time for my barber to take over. 

As my facial hair (I can't call it a beard yet) started to grow, I started looking at products. After trying oils, I eventually found some products that I liked that helped keep my skin hydrated and the hair soft and manageable. It wasn't until an encounter at Interbike 2016 that got me thinking about what I was using, and is really the beginning of Lancaster Beard Company.

During a meeting with a rep from the German brand Lightweight, we were discussing their new clothing line that uses chemical free dyes. The idea was that when you sweat, your pores open up to let sweat out, but also can let chemicals in, which can include dyes from your clothing. My wife and I already were eating as organic as we could, but didn't think about the various products we use on our bodies. When I looked at my beard balm, there were some ingredients that I couldn't pronounce. Maybe it was time for something new.

From there, I tried a bunch of organic products on the market. I wasn't happy with any of them. Too oily, too tacky, smell wasn't right, it was a Goldilocks scenario. So my wife says, "Try making your own, it can't be that hard...", or so we thought.

Six months later, after researching ingredients, their benefits, looking up DIY recipes, and testing batch after batch after batch, I had it nailed down to a few different ratios of ingredients. I happened to mention to my barber that I was making my own balm, and one of the other barbers asked more about it, and for a sample. A month later, he was asking me for more, saying it was one of the best products he has ever used. Maybe we were on to something?

At that point, I started making more, giving it to some friends to try, and everyone wanted more. I never imagined something that I had made for myself, would actually turn into a business, but things just kinda happen sometimes.

We named the company after where we had made our home, Lancaster County, PA. It is an area with a strong agricultural history that continues today. While neither my wife or I are originally from here, we have planted our roots, and created many incredible friendships and memories for more than a decade. Lancaster is also known as the Red Rose City due to its connection to Lancashire, England, hence our take on the Red Rose of Lancaster used in our logo to always remind us where home is. 

We are a small company, working to create and deliver handmade, organic products using natural ingredients. Even though we ship around the world, we still attend local makers markets to connect with our friends and not forget where it all started.

-Scott, Vee, Idle