Beards are awesome. Despite overeager stylists declaring they are over, one stroll down the street reveals men are growing out their facial hair more than ever.
Do you want in on the action? Trouble is, there’s no fairy that comes to your room at night and magically beards you up. It takes time and effort to get to a bushy face, but we’re here to help you along on your way. Here, we’re sharing some crucial advice on how to grow your beard faster naturally.
Right off the bat, you should know one basic thing about growing a beard: you don’t have to do it. If you’re just forcing yourself to adapt to some old notions of masculinity without actually wanting a beard for yourself, just keep shaving. Or, if your stubble is stronger in some places and weaker in others, then shape it to your liking. Just do your thing basically. If that thing happens to be growing a formidable beard, then look no further than this guide.
1. Don’t Stress
As with most things, the beard journey starts from within. If you’re trying to do anything, from a work project to cleaning your house, stress can only get in the way. It’s no different with facial hair. You can’t will it into existence, so try not to be impatient.
Relaxation helps your body to be at its best. When you rest, your skin rests and is then more able to work on those hair follicles. Sure, you’ve got stuff to do, but try to leave some time for yourself and soon you’ll be watching those hairs coming out every day.
2. Get Moving
Another way to deal with stress is to exercise. This seems like a cliché at this point, but training your body regularly brings you countless benefits. Among other things, your blood circulation gets a boost, which means it also reaches your face more easily. And you guessed it – more blood means more hair on those cheeks.
Sure enough, yoga and meditation can also help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The bottom line is that you need to take care of your body if you want it to give you the results you want.
3. Keep It Clean
You lose skin cells all the time. Eventually, dead skin cells will fall off on their own, but you can give them a little nudge by exfoliating your face. There are many products for this, so you’re sure to find one that works best for your skin. Once a week of scrubbing is enough to remove dead cells and pave the way for your beard.
In addition to this, it’s important to cleanse your skin with a mild soap, allowing it to breathe. This advice you should follow regardless of your facial hair situation, but it’s particularly important for that coveted bushy beard. Warm but not hot water works best here.
And you should know this one – if you’re washing your face, you have to moisturize it after. Your face needs this to stay looking fresh. Most moisturizers will work, but if you want to maximize blood flow, it makes sense to go for products that contain eucalyptus or vitamin B5.
4. Eat Well
Nutrition plays a huge role when you want to make your beard grow faster. A well-rounded diet is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s particularly protein that helps with your hair growth. Some of the more potent protein-rich foods that you might want to consume more include:
- lean red meats
- poultry (white meats)
- eggs
- fish (salmon, tuna, tilapia)
- dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)
- nuts (almonds, pistachios, peanuts)
- beans
Of course, you can’t disregard the essential nutrients you get from fruits and veggies. Carrots, broccoli, spinach, avocado, and citrus fruits all help with your hair. Focus mostly on vitamins A, B, and C, but vitamin D also helps with healthy skin, so don’t hide from the sun! You might also want to consider biotin (vitamin B7) supplements, as there is evidence of it stimulating hair growth.
Finally, drinking enough water every day is crucial for all aspects of your health. It is surprising just how many of us don’t hydrate properly. The recommended amount for men is at least 120 oz. daily, although you’ll get a part of this through your food. This will provide your body and skin with enough moisture to get cracking on those hairs.
5. Don’t Tamper with the Process
OK, so you’ve followed the advice above. Maybe a week has passed and you’re seeing progress. Congratulations! This stubble is the basis of what could become a superb beard. But don’t mess it all up now!
If this is your first beard, the stubble could get itchy and you might get an urge to scratch – resist it! Instead, double down on the cleansing and moisturizing. Don’t worry, itching is a normal part of growing facial hair and it will soon be over.
You might also be tempted to shave off the growth you have because you’ve heard somewhere that hair comes back stronger. Don’t do this! There’s no evidence to support this and you’ll end up having to start from scratch. If it seems counterintuitive to shave in the middle of growing a beard, it’s for a reason. Just give it time to develop, just like you would if you were tending to a plant.
6. Don’t Doubt Your Decision
Here’s the bad news: As it grows, your beard can appear unruly. As hairs sprout, they can appear to have a mind of their own, going in every direction. Combined with the itching, you might think the whole thing is not worth the hassle and just shave it all off. But you’d be wrong to do this.
Most men who grow beards go through this awkward phase where the beard is all over the place, but rest assured that this passes. Your best solution is to power through. Don’t trim at this point in an attempt to give some definition to the mess. For this, you should at least wait till the 4-week mark. You’re just getting to know your growth patterns, so it’s best to keep away.
What you can do at this point is figure out your neckline. To keep a clean look, it’s useful to trim, or even shave, the bottom part of your beard. If you place two fingers above your Adam’s apple, you’re forming a line below which you probably shouldn’t grow hair. Or, maybe the unkempt look works for you? Talk to your friends and see what they say. But you’re slowly getting to the fun part – figuring out what looks good on you!
I should say that there’s some evidence that people prefer the heavy stubble-level of beardedness. If you’re happy with this, then you should stop growing your beard after around 10 days and just trim it to the length you want. But where’s the fun in that? If you stick with it, you could end up with a majestic beard that will be the envy of others.
7. Give Your Beard Some TLC
If you’ve followed the previous instructions, you’ll arrive at the stage where you have a fully-fledged beard. That’s awesome! But the work isn’t over yet. To keep it at its nicest, you should give your beard some care. There are several ways you can do this.
Beard Shampoos
Formulated to keep your beard healthy and shiny-looking, beard shampoos should be used about as often as your regular hair shampoos. In order to get at all the dirt that finds its way into your facial hair without stripping it of the oils that give it its amazing look, you would be well advised to look into the best shampoo for you.
Beard Conditioners
If you’ve decided on shampoo for your beard, then you can’t go wrong with a conditioner, too. There are different kinds for, say, dry beards or stinky ones – you’ll figure out which one you need once you get to know your beard a bit better.
Beard Oils
These have become a must for all people who like to care for their beards. Beard oils can work both to soothe any irritation of the skin and to keep the hair looking healthy. They help with any dandruff you might develop and can even give your beard a nice scent. The carrier oils provide the base and most of the benefits of your chosen beard oil, while the essential oils mostly just give off a nice smell. There’s a huge variety of oils available on the market. Once again, it’s up to you to find the right one for your beard type.
Beard Waxes
Similar to those used for hair, beard waxes help you tame your beard and give it the shape you want. This is more of a styling than a care product and it helps you sculpt the beard and hold it in place.
Beard Balms
Much like oils, beard balms help keep your beard moisturized and healthy, but with the added benefit of holding it in place like waxes. This is a nice middle-ground, unifying product.
Beard Combs
The clue’s in the name – a beard comb helps you keep your hair groomed and growing in the right direction. They come in a variety of materials and teeth widths, all depending on how soft or hard your beard is.
Through the above, you’ve hopefully gained an idea of how to grow a beard faster naturally. It’s a fairly easy process, but one that requires patience and some care on your side. It’s important to be realistic, you can’t expect miracles overnight. Great beards grow at the confluence of self-care and a relaxed state of mind. But once you’ve gone through the motions, get ready to turn some heads!
