Growing a beard seems to have become a national pastime for many men, thanks to the popularity of the ‘hipster look’ and perhaps because it seems like it is an easy, natural process that does not require much planning.
Let’s face it, there is no need for shaving, so it must make life easier, right?
But if you want to continue to look well groomed, keep your beard in good condition and get it growing just the way you want, then there are a few things you might need to know.
We have put together some essential beard growth tips, to help ensure that your beard grows evenly, feels nice and looks its best.
You can think about this as you begin to grow your beard, or if the facial hair growth is already well established.
How does a beard grow?
For some men, a beard seems to appear overnight, whilst for others, it can take what seems like forever just get a five o’clock shadow.
Understanding how your garden grows can help you to grow the beard you want and know how to care for it.
There is a common misconception that beard growth is linked to testosterone, but this is rarely a contributing factor.1
The extent to which your beard grows is more often linked to genetics, so look at your father and grandfather for a clue on what to expect.
The hair grows from the follicle, which is found beneath the skin and produces not only the hair shaft but also the oils that help to keep your hair healthy.
The hair shaft is made from a protein called keratin and grows in cycles which will vary from person to person.2
When you start the growing process, it may look like you will finish up with a patchy beard. You need to give your beard time to thicken, as it will fill in the patches eventually.
Should I use beard oil?
Beard growth oil is the new product that many men are reaching for, to make beard hair more supple and easier to style.
Beard oil helps to nourish both the hair and the skin, using ingredients such as Argan oil, baobab and jojoba.
It will hydrate and soften the hair, making it more comfortable to live with and much nicer for anyone who might be running their fingers through it!
A popular alternative is coconut oil for beard beauty as it is a fantastic hair softener, great for your skin and it smells fantastic too.
Can I take supplements for my beard?
There are a number of vitamins that help support the maintenance of normal hair, including biotin, copper, zinc and selenium. beard growth vitamins on the market now, that claim to give you a fuller, thicker beard, as they contain vitamin D, which can activate dormant hair follicles, and biotin and niacin, which help strengthen and condition hair.
These types of vitamins may help to improve the condition of your beard and leave it looking and feeling more lustrous.
How should I style my beard?
Unless you are styling yourself on Santa Claus, then you will need to embark on a little bit of trimming and treating to keep your beard on point.
Maintain your neck and cheek lines to keep things looking neat and give your beard definition.
As your beard grows, you will need to trim the length, which will have a degree of layering to it, as not all beard hair grows equally.
Growing a beard can be an itchy process, so a condition styler will help to soothe and keep your bristles soft and healthy, keeping flyaway hairs in place.
If your beard is on the longer side, then brushing will help to tame it and distribute the natural oils to nourish the hair throughout.
When it comes to beards, they might seem like the easy option, but they actually require quite a bit of time and care to make sure they look the way you want.
Keeping your beard preened, healthy and soft will make you look more like Chris Hemsworth than Tom Hanks in Castaway.
This dedication to your beard will make it much easier to live with and more kissable!
When you begin to grow your facial hair, have an idea of the style you want to achieve, and you can start the process of styling it as soon as that stubble starts to appear.
Last updated: 31 December 2020
Sources
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-make-facial-hair-grow#supplements
2 https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#2
