Are you trying to get better beard growth? You’re not the only one. Around the world, men are sporting facial hair more than ever. One online poll revealed that 62% of men right now are letting their facial grow, and over 17% of those respondents want to grow a full beard.
The time required to grow a beard depends on your own growth rate, testosterone levels, genetics and age. For some men, it may only take a few weeks, while for others it may take many months before seeing a full, bushy beard.
We’re here to help you with some tips on how to grow out your beard faster and get the look you’ve always wanted. Now is the perfect time to get started, as you’ll need at least 30 – 90 days to see a full beard.
How Fast Does Beard Hair Grow?
Most people think all hair grows at the same rate, but if that were true, you’d be a lot hairier all over your body.
Studies suggest that beard hair grows about a quarter of an inch every 14 days on average.
However, many men experience longer facial hair growth in a shorter amount of time depending on your growth stage.
Early Growth
Your beard actually grows faster than your regular scalp hair. In fact, facial hair starts to grow even when you’re a child, and as you hit puberty, your facial hair is triggered to grow faster.
When this moment hits, you should be able to grow significantly more facial hair, and by your 20s, it could be even easier to grow a full beard.
See our guide on Teen Beard Growth.
There are some cases where men can’t grow a beard. Slow beard growth may mean that you have a deficiency, a genetic issue, or even a testosterone problem.
How Facial Hair Grows
If you’ve tried to grow a beard in the past and given up due to lack of hair, you’re not the only one. There’s a scientific answer that reveals why some beards never come in as full as others:
- Testosterone and DHT are necessary to improve blood flow to your hair follicles. If your testosterone is low, you may have trouble growing facial hair.
- The human body creates keratin from what you eat, such as eggs and red meat, so it’s important to change your diet if you’re not getting enough protein.
- Facial hair must go through three phases for a healthy rate of growth. This includes the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases.
Your Beard Routine
In addition to diet and hormones, there are other things you can change about your routine. From using beard growth products to taking supplements for hair growth. Men with slower-growing beards have found several ways to get a full and complete beard, even if they started off with a nonexistent or patchy beard.
Shaving doesn’t necessarily increase facial hair growth. In fact, hair may become more brittle and thinner in areas. Currently, it’s inconclusive whether shaving leads to more hair growth in some men or not.
How to Grow a Beard Faster
Whether you’re growing a beard out for the first time or want to grow your beard the way you’ve always wanted, there are a few things you can try to grow your beard quickly.
1. Exercise
Everything I’ve read and researched suggests that living a healthy lifestyle matters, and it’s how I live my life. So, diet and exercise truly have the most impact on your follicular health and beard growth, along with reducing stress.
Exercise matters, as many men have issues with hormones because of the link between obesity and male estrogen. This can lead to a lack of testosterone and poor hair growth. It’s also just a good idea to take care of your body and get plenty of rest, as that’s when hair grows the most.
2. Eat a Healthy Diet
Along with exercise, you need to give your body the best food for facial hair growth. So, if you want strong, healthy follicles, then you must eat a balanced diet that’s high in protein, keratin, biotin, and other nutrients.
To get your beard growing quicker, add a few things to your grocery list:
- Eggs
- Lentils
- Cottage cheese
- Pumpkin seeds
- Greek yogurt
- Red meat
- Turkey
- Tuna
- Spinach
- Dark chocolate
- Tofu
- Mushrooms
- Almonds
- Sweet potatoes
- Cauliflower
- Whey protein
- Blueberries
- Oysters
3. Take Vitamins and Supplements
When you’ve waited weeks for hair growth, changed your diet, and still don’t see longer facial hair, then it may be time to introduce vitamins, minerals, and supplements specifically for beard growth.
To speed up beard growth, take better vitamins and supplements:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Biotin AKA Vitamin B7
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Beta-Carotene
- Flaxseed Oil
- Nettle
Biotin supplements may be the answer to your problems and it’s showed amazing beard results. Be sure to check with your doctor if biotin is safe for your circumstances.
We typically ingest biotin with our everyday diets by eating red meat and eggs, so you needn’t go overboard with these supplements to see growth.
Just 2 mg of biotin can help your beard grow faster.
4. Wash, Condition and Brush
The dry skin under your beard can lead to itching and irritation and will diminish your beard’s potential for growth. Not to mention leaving behind dead skin cells and beard dandruff.
A simple regimen:
- Use a gentle beard wash to clean your beard and skin.
- Use a good conditioner or beard oil to combat itchy beard.
- Use a beard brush or comb to direct the hair where you want it to grow.
5. Topical Treatments
For some men, facial hair loss is a real condition treatable with medication and topical methods. Many men have found great success by using a minoxidil foam or hair growth shampoo to grow their beards.
6. Don’t Give Up
It’s likely going to take at least 4 to 12 weeks to see longer beard growth. Many men simply don’t have the patience to wait for beards to grow in.
They’re too patchy and difficult to grow while also trying to look professional, and why does new facial hair growth always itch? The discomfort can drive you insane, and typically it will pass.
