Beauty
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How Can I Encourage Beard Growth?

Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden

While many of the factors that govern beard growth are completely beyond one's control, there are a variety of steps that one can take to try to grow a beard. One of the most important and most often overlooked aspects of encouraging beard growth is commitment — giving up too early is a very common source of failure when trying to grow a beard. Most of the other methods used to encourage beard growth are supported only by anecdotal evidence. Such methods include exercise, biotin supplements, and frequent shaving, though empirical support for these methods is largely nonexistent and even anecdotal accounts often conflict with each other.

The most important part of encouraging beard growth is commitment to growing a beard. There are many challenges on the path to growing a full beard, particularly for the first time, and giving up because of any of them will result in failure to grow a beard. Growing a beard can cause significant irritation and itchiness on the face, for example, but this passes over time, so perseverance is essential. During the first days or even weeks of growing a beard, one's facial hair may appear patchy and uneven, with hair growing thickly in some areas and not at all in others. Over time, as the facial hair grows in more densely, this should pass as well.

Growing a beard can cause itchiness and irritation, especially at first.
Growing a beard can cause itchiness and irritation, especially at first.

Another of the challenges to beard growth is predominantly social and can, again, be overcome through perseverance. People may frequently ask the individual attempting to grow a beard if he is, in fact, trying to grow a beard or if he forgot to shave. Others may insist that the beard grower looked better without a beard. The decision to grow a beard is personal and should not be greatly influenced by others, so it is best to ignore the naysayers. The best way to overcome all of these issues is to set a minimum time, perhaps two months, in which one does not shave at all for any reason.

Some people with a patchy beard may shave it off completely to promote even growth.
Some people with a patchy beard may shave it off completely to promote even growth.

There are a variety of other methods that might encourage beard growth. For example, some anecdotal evidence suggests biotin supplements taken daily may promote hair and nail growth. Frequent exercise might also promote beard growth because of increased blood flow through the body and because of an increase in testosterone levels. Many also claim that frequent shaving may encourage one's beard to grow, though no conclusive scientific evidence for this claim exists.

Discussion Comments

anon322167

What I've discovered is that it is down to your genetics. I am a 23 year old male and my beard is patchy, mainly on my cheeks. I've tried dry shaving, wet shaving, electric razors. You name it, I'll have tried it.

Looking at photos of my granddad though, I discovered his facial hair was about as bad as mine is now. If someone in your family has a really thick hair growth, then you'll more than likely take after them.

feasting

I can't help but wonder if the real magic behind beard growth cream lies in the massaging. I know that massaging stimulates blood flow, so it might seem like the cream was actually working, while in fact, it might just be the way you are rubbing it into your face.

seag47

@giddion – That's what my husband thought, too. Exercise did nothing for his beard growth, though.

He had very patchy beard growth the first time he ever tried to grow one. He tried exercise and biotin, but nothing really helped.

He just had to go through that awkward phase where some of the beard grows in faster than other areas. He stuck to it, and eventually, he had an even beard. He kept it trimmed once the slow parts caught up so that he could have a neat, uniform beard.

giddion

Exercise would probably stimulate beard growth. Sticking to a workout routine does good things for your whole body, so I'm sure that it would be good for your hair, too.

lighth0se33

I believe that shaving often could influence the beard growth rate. I know that shaving my legs seems to make the hair grow back in quickly.

I have really hairy arms, and I went through a phase where I would shave them every other day. I would get noticeable stubble during this amount of time, but once I stopped shaving them, it seemed to take forever for the hair to fully grow back.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Growing a beard can cause itchiness and irritation, especially at first.
      By: nebari
      Growing a beard can cause itchiness and irritation, especially at first.
    • Some people with a patchy beard may shave it off completely to promote even growth.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Some people with a patchy beard may shave it off completely to promote even growth.