If you're eager to grow a glorious beard, it's hard to accept that it simply takes time. In reality, your genetic profile is the most important (and unchangeable) factor in how fast your beard will grow.[1] There are things you can do to potentially speed up the process a bit, though. Take care of your beard as it grows, follow a beard-healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor if your beard needs additional help. And, above all, be patient, and don’t stress!
[Edit]Steps
[Edit]Caring for Your Face and Beard
- Be patient and let your facial hair grow. Your genetic profile is the primary factor in how quickly (and how fully) your beard grows, and there’s not much you can do about that. On average, though, most people will see their facial hair fully grow in after 4 weeks of not shaving.[2]While you can take measures to support the process and increase the growth, you should also accept that your beard will grow in its own way and at its own pace.[3]
- Some people say that regularly trimming your beard will stimulate faster growth, but there’s no evidence to support this.
- It’s possible that frequent shaving before you start growing a beard may stimulate the hair follicles to grow faster, but the evidence for this is also limited at best.[4]
- So, once you start growing a beard, just let it grow!
- Wash your face twice per day to unblock hair follicles. Wet your face with warm water. If you haven’t started your beard yet, massage in a gentle face cleanser. If you do have a beard coming in, also use a mild shampoo on just the facial hair. Rinse the cleanser and/or shampoo away with cool, clean water, then pat your face dry with a soft towel. Do this every morning and evening.[5]
- Washing your face regularly will help to remove dirt and oil from your hair follicles. This makes it easier for them to grow.
- To test if a cleanser is gentle enough for your skin, apply a small amount to your chin and leave it for 10 minutes. If you don't have any signs of a reaction (like redness or irritation), you can try washing your face with the cleanser.
- Massage your face twice daily to stimulate the follicles. Apply firm but not painful pressure on your face with your fingertips, then massage in small circles over your beard-growing area. Do the massage for about 10 minutes, twice per day.[6]
- Exfoliate your face once per week.[7] Wash your face as normal with your gentle cleanser or shampoo, but rinse with warm water and leave your skin damp. Gently massage in the exfoliant over your entire face (including any facial hair), then rinse it away completely with clean water and pat your face dry.[8]
- Exfoliating will help to clear away dead skin cells that may be impeding your hair follicles from achieving their full growth potential.
- Before using an exfoliant on your entire face, test a small patch on your chin for 5-10 minutes. If you don’t feel any burning or irritation, you should be good to go.
- Pamper your growing beard with beard oil or softener. While you should be wary of any product claims made for stimulating beard growth, beard oils and beard softeners may, in fact, provide some benefits. Keeping your beard hairs soft and hydrated may encourage slightly faster growth.
- Avoid beard oil if you have acne, though. It may worsen your breakouts.[9]
- At the very least, using beard products will make your beard look and feel better, no matter how fast it’s growing.
- Try homemade beard-stimulating recipes. As with most home remedies, the supporting evidence for beard stimulators is limited at best. They aren’t likely to cause any harm, though, so consider trying one or both of the following:[10]
- Create a thin paste out of of fresh-squeezed lime juice and 1 US tbsp (15 g) of ground cinnamon. Apply it to your beard in a thin layer, leave it for 20-30 minutes, then rinse it away and use your normal face cleanser. Use this paste 1-2 times per day, but stop if you notice any irritation.
- Blend 3 US tbsp (45 g) of dried mustard leaves with of amla oil until it forms a smooth paste. Apply it in a thin layer over your beard, leave it for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it away and wash your face with your normal cleanser. Refrigerate any remaining paste and use it daily for 2-3 days.
[Edit]Choosing a Beard-Friendly Diet and Lifestyle
- Eat more foods with vitamins B3, B5, B7, and B9. Several of the B vitamins promote healthy hair, so upping your intake may help your beard grow a bit faster and fuller. Biotin (Vitamin B7) seems particularly beneficial, so you may want to consult your doctor about taking a biotin supplement as well.[11]
- Nuts are a great source of biotin (Vitamin B7).
- You’ll find vitamins B3 and B5 in chicken, beef, fish, dairy, and avocados.
- You can get Vitamin B9 from cereals, nuts, and leafy greens.
- Increase your intake of vitamins A, C, and E. Like the B vitamins, each of these vitamins supports healthy hair in some fashion. They’re also important for your overall health.[12]
- Eat carrots, broccoli, and leafy greens for Vitamin A.
- Choose green peppers, tomatoes, and citrus for Vitamin C.
- Pick beans, nuts, and leafy greens for Vitamin E.
- Eat a balanced diet overall to support beard health. While it may be helpful to target key vitamins, make sure you focus on eating a healthy diet that provides a wide variety of nutrients. Think of it this way—whatever is good for your body is good for your beard![13]
- Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (like avocados and olive oil).
- Cut back on processed foods, excess salt and sugar, and unhealthy fats (like saturated and trans fats in processed foods).
- Drink water to hydrate your body and your beard hair follicles.
- Follow health guidelines for exercise and sleep. Like eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise and enough sleep are good for your overall health and your beard health. Aim for the following:[14]
- Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. Moderate intensity means your heart rate is elevated and you’re breathing hard enough that it’s tough to make conversation.
- Do 2-3 strength training sessions per week, each for 30-60 minutes.
- Get roughly 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night.
- Reduce stress to encourage beard growth. You’ve probably heard that excessive stress can cause hair loss. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that it might also slow down hair growth. That means the less you worry about your beard, the better it might grow![15]
- Find the stress reduction techniques that work best for you. Try things like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, nature walks, listening to calming music, talking to friends, or reading a good book.
- Work with your doctor and a mental health professional if you're having significant difficulty handling stress.
- Stop smoking for your overall (and maybe beard) health. There’s no direct evidence that smoking is specifically bad for beard health. However, smoking is clearly bad for so many aspects of your overall health that it's not unreasonable to think it may hinder beard growth. Whether you're trying to grow a beard or not, focus on quitting as soon as possible.[16]
- There are numerous smoking cessation aids available today. Work with your doctor to find the right method (or combination of methods) for you.
- There is some evidence that smoking may cause your beard hair to turn gray faster.
[Edit]Considering Medical Options
- Seek medical advice regarding your testosterone and DHT levels. Testosterone can be broken up into 2 types, often referred to as T and DHT. DHT levels impact beard hair density, while T impacts beard hair thickness. Managing T and DHT levels under medical supervision may enhance your beard growth.[17]
- Do not use testosterone-boosting pills, creams, injections, or other products without the advice and guidance of your doctor. There can be a range of unwanted side effects, and you could end up impeding beard growth.
- Your doctor may recommend engaging in regular strength-training sessions as a way to naturally boost testosterone levels.
- Talk to your doctor about using minoxidil (Rogaine) on your face. Rogaine, the most common brand name for minoxidil, is widely used to slow the progress of male pattern baldness. If applied to the face properly, it should help stimulate beard growth. However, even though Rogaine is available over the counter in many areas, you should always consult your doctor before using it on your face.[18]
- This may be a better treatment option if you have patches where your beard doesn’t grow in well, as opposed to wanting your entire beard to grow in faster.
- If and when you stop treatment, any new hair growth may fall out.
- Ask a medical expert about micro-needling to stimulate hair growth. Microneedling involves rolling a device on your face that’s similar to a lint roller—except instead of sticky paper on the roller, it has hundreds of tiny needle points. Some advocates for micro-needling believe the tiny pinpricks stimulate the hair follicles and enhance beard growth.
- Some dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use in-office micro-needling to address issues like acne. Talk to a medical professional you trust before undergoing micro-needling treatments or buying a device yourself.[19]
- If used correctly, the process should be safe and relatively painless. However, it’s essential that the device is sanitized properly before each use according to the product instructions (usually by soaking it in alcohol).
- Look into facial hair transplants as a final option. If there are areas of your beard that simply won’t grow in, hair transplants may be your only choice. As with top-of-the-head hair transplants, individual hair follicles are relocated from one area (like the back of the neck) to another (like your cheek).[20]
- Hair transplants usually require multiple procedures that are both costly and time-consuming. It may take up to 2 years to see the full results, and the procedure doesn’t always work.
- Transplants may help fill in gaps in your beard, but it won’t make your beard grow faster.
[Edit]Video
[Edit]Tips
- Remember to be patient and persistent. You can encourage your beard to grow faster, but your genetics will play a large role in how quickly the facial hair grows. Look at the beards your male relatives have; that will help you figure out what you can expect.
[Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary
- ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/beard-mustache-skin-problems/
- ↑ [v161234_b01]. 17 January 2020.
- ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/beard-mustache-skin-problems/
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/beards-facial-hair-men-cant-grow-dermatologist-testosterone-2018-11
- ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/beard-mustache-skin-problems/
- ↑ https://wisebeards.com/beards/how-to-grow-beard/#grow-beard
- ↑ [v161234_b01]. 17 January 2020.
- ↑ https://wisebeards.com/beards/how-to-grow-beard/#grow-beard
- ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/beard-mustache-skin-problems/
- ↑ https://www.md-health.com/How-To-Make-Facial-Hair-Grow-Faster.html
- ↑ https://www.beardgrowthworld.com/grow-a-beard-faster/
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-best-foods-for-vitamins-and-minerals
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-best-foods-for-vitamins-and-minerals
- ↑ https://wisebeards.com/beards/how-to-grow-beard/#grow-beard
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7126460
- ↑ https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/beard-mustache-skin-problems/
- ↑ https://www.healthline.com/health/microneedling#overview
- ↑ https://www.iahrs.org/hair-transplant-basics/facial-hair-transplants
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