Tallow isn’t just for food or skincare...
It’s actually nature’s Swiss army knife. At Aloe Tallow we are what you could call "Radically Nose to Tail" and do not waste any part of the animal, and prefer to substitute animal products in for modern chemicals at any chance we get.
In that spirit, here are 38 hidden uses for Tallow/Beef fat. Let us know in the comments if we missed anything.
1. Makeup Remover: Ancient hunters would use this to get camo/war paint off. Leaves your skin feeling nourished and smooth after.
2. Tattoo Aftercare: Most tattoo places will recommend something like Lubriderm. Keeping it protected initial few weeks are crucial to how it keeps. Tallow moisturizes, creates a barrier, and promotes healing
3. Seasonal Allergy Relief: Rub a bit of tallow under your nose - it acts as a natural filter to help reduce the impact of allergens like pollen and dust. Can filter out bad smells as well.
4. Candle Making: The original ancient candle base - Tallow candles are long-lasting and non-toxic.
5. Leather Conditioner and Waterproofing: Keep your leather goods - boots, belts, bags, jackets shoes - conditioned and protected with tallow. It was known in the southwest cowboy days as an effective gun-holster conditioner.
6. Wood Polish: Apply tallow to wooden furniture to restore its shine and protect it from drying out. Great for wood cutting boards as well, for my micro-plastic avoiders.
7. Rust Preventative: Apply tallow to metal tools and equipment to prevent rust and corrosion.
8. Gun Care: Tallow works as a natural lubricant for black powder guns or any guns oil/grease
9. Seasoning Cast Iron: Use tallow to season your cast iron cookware, preventing rust and making it non-stick (sort of).
10. Brass Protection: Old school technique for preserving brass fittings and screws - dip them in tallow before using them to help prevent corrosion and oxidation.
11. Soldering Flux Substitute: Tallow can be used as a substitute for flux when soldering metal. It cleans oxidation from the metal surface, similar to how traditional flux works.
12. Fire Starter: Mix tallow with tinder or cotton balls for a reliable fire starter, perfect for camping or emergencies.
13. DIY Crayons: Combine tallow with natural pigments and beeswax to make homemade crayons for kids.
14. Apocalypse Engine Survival Kit: In a survival scenario, tallow can be used as motor oil, machinery lubricant, or even as an alternative to plant matter for biodiesel fuel. This next batch all has to do with hair:
15. Pomade: I used to use AXE hair gel (lol) and my barber put me on the the fact that it has balding/drying chemicals in it. You can literally use just tallow and it is just as effective. A little goes a long way.
16. Hair Conditioner: Actual hair conditioner, not the chemical weirdness you buy today. Apply a little tallow to the ends of your hair to prevent split ends and keep it healthy.
17. Anti-Dandruff: Massage tallow into your scalp to one-shot dryness and flakes immediately.
18. Head Lice Treatment: Mix two parts apple cider vinegar with one part tallow to help get rid of head lice. I’ve never had lice but my sister got it once.
19. Beard Balm and Mustache Wax: Keep your beard soft and your mustache in place without chemicals… Easy enough to apply, just rub it in your beard while you’re putting it on your face. Adds no time to an already simple routine.
20. Shaving Cream: Again, forget the foams and gels. Tallow creates a smooth surface for shaving and reduces irritation.
21. After-Shave: Tallow soothes your skin post-shave, no razor burn and feeling fresh. You can mix peppermint essential oil into your tallow if you like the minty feel of aftershave. This next batch is all skin relief:
22. Natural Anti Itch: Tallow can help reduce itching, swelling, and soreness from poison ivy, sumac, and oak. Works better than calamine lotion and you wont have pink arms/legs. Tallow also helps to soothe and reduce itching from bug bites. I personally have insane histimine reactions to bug bites and tallow makes them shrink in size immediately.
23. Stretch Mark Cream: Consistent use of tallow can help fade stretch marks, repairing the scar tissue over time. I have personal anecdotes of friends who have put on a lot of weight (100+lbs in a year) for sports and significantly reduces stretch marks this way.
24. Healing Salve and Scar Treatment: For minor cuts and scrapes, tallow speeds up the healing process and reduces the chance of scarring. If you already have a scar, the vitamins and nutrients in tallow aid in fading scars over time. I have had a scar on my arm since 8th grade that is now almost gone from tallow use.
25. Diaper Rash Cream: Babies love tallow. This is a natural, non-toxic way soothe the young ones without chemicals.
26. Lip Balm: I personally am not a chap lip sufferer and have never used lipbalm, but I have heard success stories of tallow locking in moisture and keeping lips soft and hydrated.
27. After-Sun Care: Vitamins in tallow calms and repairs your skin, bringing it back to life. (pair with Aloe Vera for best results ;) )
28. Eczema and Psoriasis Relief: Tallow’s anti-inflammatory properties work wonders on eczema. The fatty acids in tallow help to keep psoriasis flare-ups in check Protection against the elements:
29. Cold Weather Protection: Use tallow to create a barrier on exposed skin to protect against windburn and cold weather.
30. Natural Sunscreen Base: Mix tallow with zinc oxide for a natural, DIY sunscreen that’s easy on the skin. Or buy ours. Last but not least, personal care products:
31. Soap Making: Know anyone who makes awesome tallow soap?? haha Tallow was actually a key ingredient in traditional soap making, perfect hardness and lather and your skin feels unreal soft after.
32. Shampoo Bar: I’ve only used tallow shampoo bar on my hair for over a year now, and my hair has never been healthier. Simple, natural, and effective. Great for Dogs too.
33. Natural Deodorant Base: Combine tallow with essential oils to create a DIY deodorant that actually works. I use tallow deodorant right now and its the only natural deodorant that has ever worked for me. I apply once in the morning and live in a hot climate and exercise 2-4 hours a day.
34. Nails and Cuticle Care: Rub tallow onto your nails and cuticles to soothe and help them grow back stronger after they’ve chipped down to the quick. This is something I never personally cared about or paid attention to until I had a gf who was cuticle OCD and would always trim mine lol.
35. Massage Oil: Almost all massage oil is chemicals… I would never get a commercial massage for this reason alone. Your skin absorbs whatever you put on it. Tallow last long and leaves your skin soft and nourished.
36. Homemade Lipstick Base: This is interesting, have never used lipstick but heard tallow as a base produces premium product.
37. Pet Paw Balm: Some dogs get allergies in their paws. Use tallow balm to soothe and protect your pet’s paws.
38. Cooking Oil: Alright, this ones not hidden because I put it in the hook, but it is one of the simplest uses - Tallow is stable at high heat, making it perfect for frying and sautéing. High smoke point means no toxic fumes.
Thanks for reading Aloe Tallow gang - Feel free to reach out with any additional uses we may have missed.