A thick and rugged beard is admirable in most cultures around the world. However, growing a mustache, let alone a full beard takes patience mainly because the growth rate is dependent on genetics as well as an individual’s testosterone levels.
How Long Does it Take to Grow a Beard?
Contrary to popular belief, facial hair grows at a different rate when compared to the hair on other areas like the scalp.
The good news is; the beard grows faster than the hair on your scalp. In fact, you develop facial hair follicles when you are just a 5-month old fetus.
However, it’s only until puberty that your hormones are activated to trigger the growth of facial hair. It’s worth noting that; not all men can grow a full beard when they hit puberty.
The density and thickness of your beard is dictated by the level of two hormones in the body – testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone or DHT.
Men who are only able to get little amounts of facial hair or those who have problems growing facial hair entirely tend to have low testosterone and DHT levels. It may also mean that their bodies aren’t sensitive enough towards the hormones.
The Beard Growth Pattern
Step 1: DHT and testosterone travel via the bloodstream to the androgenic receptors before reaching the hair follicles.
Step 2: The body uses micro and macronutrients like minerals, vitamins, proteins, fat, and carbs to produce keratin.
Step 3: The hormones and keratin trigger hair growth which passes through three growth phases namely; anagen, catagen, and telogen.
Increasing Testosterone and DHT Production In the Body
If you don’t have adequate levels of testosterone and DHT, your beard growth pattern will stop at step 1. Fortunately, you can increase the levels of these hormones without using supplements.
Exercising regularly and maintaining a balanced diet can help you grow your beard faster. A balanced diet offers the body all the nutrients it needs to produce keratin which plays a crucial role in hair growth. Exercising regularly and having enough sleep reduces stress which in turn, increases testosterone levels in the body.
What if Your Body Isn’t In Good Shape, How Can You Grow a Healthier Beard In Record Time?
Genetics play a crucial role in beard growth; however, you can follow some simple steps to boost your beard-growing process.
How can a teenager grow their beard faster?
It takes patience to grow a beard. This is the key reason why teenagers struggle with beard growth. Between the ages of 13 and 18, patience is a rare virtue. However, you’ll have to embrace the fact that, just like puberty, beard growing varies from one man to another.
Some teenagers grow facial hair faster than others although the fastest growth happens when you are between 18 and 20 years old. It may be different for you if you are a late bloomer. If that’s the case, you need to wait for a couple of years.
In the meantime, take care of what you have. If you have a mustache and/or some facial hair, that’s ok. You can nurture facial hair on your chin into a goatee. You can also shape your mustache as it grows. Grow A Beard’s Gentleman’s giveaway mustache scissors do a great job.
The crucial thing here is working with the facial hair you have at the moment, i.e. trimming patchy areas you aren’t satisfied with. There’s nothing wrong or bad about wanting to increase the rate at which your beard grows; however, you need to understand how things work. All in all, there is no magic formula even when you get older. Patience and proper care is crucial in the meantime.
Here are Simple Steps to Follow During your Beard Growing Process.
1. Take care of your body
There is a direct link to health and the condition of your facial hair. You need adequate quantities of the right nutrients in your body to grow facial hair fast and easy. For your body to make sufficient amounts of keratin (the main structural protein in hair), you need to consume adequate quantities of foods rich in protein, i.e. eggs, fish and beans.
To get rid of factors hindering hair growth such as stress, you need to exercise and rest adequately every night. You also need to care for your skin, i.e. using an exfoliant often to get rid of dead skin cells that stop new hair from growing. Clean facial skin will encourage tiny hairs to sprout.
2. Commit to the beard growing process
You also need to stay committed even when the progress is slow. The beard growing process can also be discouraging when you experience discomfort when your beard is growing, i.e. periods of itchiness. You must be willing to let your beard grow for at least a month uninterrupted even when you are tempted to shave it off. The itchiness tends to subside with time.
3. Supplement with minerals and vitamins
You can boost the beard growing process by using supplements. Taking mineral and vitamin supplements that are rare in our diet, i.e. biotin will boost the rate at which your beard grows. However, talk to your doctor first to get the best and safest supplement recommendation and advice.
4. Leave your beard alone
As mentioned above, you must give your beard time to grow. Resist the urge to shave it off even when you feel itchy. You should give your beard 4 to 6 weeks before you start shaping it up. Don’t fall for the trimming tale for a while. It only works after you give your beard time to grow.
5. Drink more water
The beard needs adequate amounts of water to grow faster and become fuller. Since the body also needs adequate amounts of water, if you don’t hydrate accordingly, the amount of water that reaches your face will decrease drastically.
Without enough water, all body cells can’t regenerate as fast as they should since they will be receiving small amounts of nutrients. If you don’t hydrate properly, you will get a drier coarser beard that grows slowly. According to scientists, men are supposed to drink 64 to 80 oz. of water daily.
6. Quit smoking
Although the effects of cigarettes on beard growth aren’t uncovered fully, there are a few conclusions so far. For instance, smoking affects the hair the same way aging does.
There is evidence showing that smoking daily hinders blood circulation in the hair’s root. Smoking also induces satiety which reduces intake of healthy nutrients needed to grow your beard. Lastly, smoking can grey your beard prematurely.
7. Condition your beard
You can’t moisturize a beard without washing it first. You need the best beard shampoo to complement the best beard moisturizer. Look out for all natural moisturizers made using known effective ingredients like tea tree oil proven to get rid of oil buildups, dead skin, and ingrown facial hair and dandruff.
After shampooing your beard, you need to use a good beard conditioner. We recommend Grow A Beard’s beard balm. The conditioner is all natural and organic with impressive softening qualities for a softer healthier beard.
8. Exfoliate
Your beard growing process can be impeded by dead cells on your skin. For this reason, it’s advisable to scrub and rinse your skin and beard often with warm water and mild soap at least once every week.
After exfoliating, you can apply a good organic beard oil and then massage thoroughly to boost circulation.
9. Don’t pick your beard constantly
You can stroke your beard occasionally, but don’t grab or pick it constantly if you want to avoid unnatural patchiness. Instead of grabbing or picking your beard, consider brushing it. We recommend brushing at least twice daily.
Our beard comb recommendation: Grow A Beard 6-in-1 multifunctional grooming kit with a wooden beard comb, brush, trimming scissors and more.
We recommend Grow A Beard’s Unscented Organic Argan and Jojoba beard oil. This beard oil is natural with notable benefits like relieving itching and adding a shine and style to your beard.
10. Avoid falling for popular beard grooming myths
We mentioned earlier that shaving your beard won’t increase the growth rate especially when the beard hasn’t grown for 4 to 6 months. Other myths revolve around products promising quick results. There is no magic to growing your beard faster or making it fuller. Avoid products giving such promises. They don’t work! Beard oils offer a variety of benefits; however, increasing the growth rate of your beard isn’t one of those benefits.
11. Moisturize your beard
Keeping your beard clean and moisturized improves appearance (making your beard fuller) and also helps the beard grow faster. To moisturize and get the best results possible, use beard oil made with 100% natural ingredients. Natural beard oils make your beard fuller and boost growth without producing harmful effects like causing irritation or dryness.
Since there are countless beard oils on sale today, you can get confused when selecting the right one.
Extreme Ways of Growing a Beard
1. Rogaine
Rogaine (antihypertensive vasodilator medication for countering hair loss) is popular for increasing hair thickness and growth. Rogaine products increase the levels of nutrients, DHT and testosterone reaching the beard follicles.
There are reports of faster growth by some men (within 6 to 12 months after use); however, the same men have also reported that the effects subside after stopping Rogaine use. It’s also worth noting Rogaine may not work for you.
2. Microneedling
Microneedling is believed to work by boosting blood circulation in specific regions which in turn increases delivery of nutrients and hormones required for hair growth. The method involves poking small holes in the treatment areas. The pricks are supposed to signal the body that a specific area in the face is damaged. The body then sends collagen and keratin to the area repairing the skin and boosting hair growth. Men who have used this method state that it is more effective when used alongside Rogaine.
3. Red light therapy
This method isn’t popular. However, scientific studies suggest that exposing beardless areas to a red laser 20 to 30 minutes daily can boost cellular energy in beard follicles which can, in turn, increase beard growth. Like most extreme methods, red light therapy works best in combination with other methods.
4. Beard transplant
This has to be the most extreme method of making your beard grow faster. As the name suggests, this method is about transplanting hair from other areas to the face. The method can increase beard volume and growth, but it is costly and comes with health risks.
Conclusion
All the extreme methods above shouldn’t be done before you consult your doctor. In fact, extreme ways of growing your beard should be avoided given there are effective natural ways that work without exposing you to health risks.
Give your beard the best chance it has to grow longer by keeping it healthy and clean. To do just that, check out our 6-in-1 Grooming Kit that includes a beard brush, beard comb, balm, oil, trimming scissors, and shaper. Your beard will be grateful.
Appreciate this post. Will try it out.