Facial hair can be a fickle beast!
And it can make growing a beard a slow and erratic process.
But what if it were possible to encourage your beard to grow faster? Thicker? More even?
Well there’s certainly no shortage of myths out there to convince you that you can. And while in reality there is no miracle pill or lotion that will guarantee stronger facial hair, there are some things which will work.
We’ve sorted through all the myths to give you five proven strategies that WILL deliver strong, healthy growth - whatever stage your beard is at.
It's possible to encourage strong, healthy growth - whatever stage your beard is at
Can you accelerate beard growth?
Every guy is different and when it comes to growing out your beard, it may not grow as fast or as thick as you want it to at first. You may have annoying beard patches to start with too.
This is primarily because of genetics.
Your genes play a huge role in how your beard is going to grow. So if your father (or grandfather) was able to grow a naturally thick beard, you’ll likely be able to grow one too.
That being said it’s still possible to influence and encourage your beard to grow thicker and faster.
To show you what we mean, here’s a list of five natural ways to accelerate facial hair growth.
ACTION PLAN: How to grow your beard faster
Let’s start with the one that will give you the most immediate effect… Exfoliation.
#1: EXFOLIATE REGULARLY
Exfoliating is one of the best things you can do for your skin - giving your complexion a healthy glow, and helping to keep your skin looking younger.
But not only does it make an instant improvement to the appearance of your skin – it keeps your hair follicles healthy too!
How does exfoliation encourage beard growth?
When you exfoliate your face you get rid of dead skin cells and prevent a lot of ingrown hairs from appearing.
This keeps your hair follicles clear and healthy - making it easier for hair to grow in that area - and encouraging strong beard growth.
So the first step is to exfoliate your skin - but not with any old kind of exfoliator!
You don’t want to be using gritty facial scrubs – the kind that leave bits in your beard and make your skin red and irritated … and itchy!
No, we’re talking gently exfoliating using a natural Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (an AHA) that will stimulate your hair follicles and encourage a luxurious and healthy beard to grow.
The answer?
Our exfoliating Daily Face Wash - which includes the AHA, Lactic Acid.
It will keep your face (and your beard) looking clean and fresh – as well as gently exfoliating away the dead skin cells.
The result? Smooth, clean skin - and hair follicles that are clear and healthy.
And it’ll keep your beard clean and smelling great at the same time!
Best Face Wash for an Awesome Beard
#2: EAT A HEALTHY DIET
Your hair (like your skin) is a reflection of your diet - and your facial hair is no exception.
If you want to speed up how quickly your beard is growing out one of the best ways is to improve your diet.
Because a healthy diet that prioritizes protein, vitamins (especially the B vitamins), minerals and omega-3 fatty acids is going to encourage healthy beard growth.
The jury is still out on whether Biotin supplements accelerate beard growth (see below for more on that) but they are a safe supplement to take and may help.
And it’s worth prioritizing magnesium and zinc, as these minerals play an important part in keeping your skin and hair follicles healthy and hydrated.
Rich sources of magnesium include:
- Nuts, seeds and whole grains
- Dark chocolate
- Almonds
While zinc can be found in:
- Shellfish – Crab, Oysters, Lobster
- Meat - Beef, Chicken, Pork
- Legumes (Lentils and Chickpeas)
- Nuts, Seeds and Wholegrains
- Eggs
To be honest growing a beard isn't the only advantage of eating a healthy diet, but if it's going to get you to adopt a good one, then go for it!
We've got more on the best foods to include in your diet here:
"An A-Z of the best anti aging foods for men"
and here "11 Best Vitamins & Nutrients for Smooth Skin and Healthy Hair".
#3: GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Lack of sleep can have a direct impact on the quality and fullness of a man's hair and beard – leading to breakage and hair loss.
All hair growth begins in your hair follicles. And for them to function properly they need nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from blood flow. The increase in blood flow when we’re sleeping means more nutrients, resulting in stronger hair and improved growth.
Conversely, a lack of sleep can lead to more stress and the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Another cause of hair loss!
And a final reason to prioritize sleep…
The testosterone in your body is primarily released during sleep.
And why is this important?
Well, the hormones responsible for beard growth are testosterone and its by-product, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
It’s a complicated relationship which is determined by your hair follicles’ sensitivity to DHT. And that sensitivity is heavily influenced by genetics.
But anything that has a positive impact on your testosterone levels tends to result in healthier, stronger beard growth.
So it’s worth somehow trying to fit in an extra 30 minutes of sleep a night!
#4: LIFT WEIGHTS
Working out in general improves blood flow, which in turn helps to stimulating your hair follicles.
But exercises like weightlifting and strength training are some of the best natural methods of stimulating both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as well.
So try varying your workouts to include lifting weights.
The health of your body is reflected in the health of your skin and your hair.
So as with a healthy diet and more sleep, working out regularly leads to healthier and stronger beard growth.
The health of your body is reflected in the health of your skin and your hair - and your beard
#5: MANAGE STRESS
Too much stress can have a tremendous impact on your beard growth.
It leads to the production of cortisol in your body. And when high levels of cortisol are present, your body produces less testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormones that promote hair growth.
And while there isn’t a definitive link yet, the Mayo Clinic believes that stress may cause the loss of hair on your scalp – and affect your beard thickness too.
How to reduce stress isn’t a one size-fits-all, but our “30 healthy habits that will transform your body“ is a good place to start. Pick one and work up from there.
BONUS TIP: MOISTURIZE
To be fair this won’t encourage your beard to grow faster, but it will make it feel a lot more comfortable as it grows.
Moisturizing reduces any dryness and itchiness - as well as rehydrating and protecting your skin.
(Just make sure that you thoroughly rub the moisturiser into your beard).
And using a good moisturizer has the added benefit of making your skin firmer - smoothing and reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
But depending on how thick your hair is it can sometimes stop the moisturiser reaching your skin, so make sure to use your fingers to dig deep and rub through your beard.
Our Hydrating Daily Moisturiser has been designed to be the best for you bearded guys. It’s super lightweight, so it absorbs easily – leaving your skin and your beard feeling soft and smooth.
And it’s incredibly hydrating! Packed with the finest anti-aging ingredients, including Hyaluronic Acid, the gold standard for moisturising.
Best Moisturizer for a Luxuriant Beard
FAQ’s
Does beard dandruff affect beard growth?
Beard dandruff doesn’t necessarily affect the growth of your beard.
But you can certainly encourage your beard to grow faster if you exfoliate away the dry skin cells that show up as dandruff.
Exfoliating improves the texture of your skin and keeps your hair follicles clear and healthy, encouraging strong beard growth.
For more on exfoliating your beard check out – “EXFOLIATION: The Secret to an Awesome Beard”.
Does biotin help with beard growth?
Biotin is one of the B vitamins (found mainly in red meat, nuts, bananas and cooked eggs).
It plays a key role in the production of keratin, which is the major protein found in hair. So you might assume that taking biotin supplements would encourage beard growth.
However, whilst you can correct a biotin deficiency with supplements, most healthy men are already getting enough from their diet and aren’t likely to benefit from extra biotin.
So, although it’s quite safe to take the supplements, more data is needed to prove whether it makes a difference to beard growth or not.
The Takeaway
Factors like genetics and hormones that affect hair growth, are largely out of your control.
But there are things you can do to encourage strong, healthy beard growth.
These are 5 proven strategies that WILL help to deliver a full, soft, awesome-looking beard.
- Exfoliate Regularly
- Eat a Healthy Diet
- Get Enough Sleep
- Lift Weights
- Manage Stress
And a bonus tip…
- Use a Moisturizer
Leaving your beard well on the way to looking luxurious and healthy.
SHOP THE ROUTINE.
All you need to stay looking handsome.
PRESTIGE SKINCARE FOR MEN.
MADE IN FRANCE.
