Facial hair typically grows 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters every 24 hours, meaning a full beard may take as long as 2 to 4 months to grow out. As with other hair on your body, it goes through stages, and understanding these can help maximize your facial hair.
Many factors impact the growth of your beard, from diet to exercise. Here, we’ll outline how fast a beard grows and the various stages, and we’ll also discuss other factors that affect growing speed.
The Five Stages of Growing a Beard
After freshly shaving your face, you can expect your facial hair to grow in five stages. For some men, facial hair grows back faster; for others, it comes in slower; however, this is the timeframe to anticipate for most men.
Stage 1. Throughout the first week, your beard grows stubble. How quickly or slowly your beard develops in this stage indicates the rate at which your beard will fill in.
Stage 2. Patterns in hair growth begin to emerge, so you’ll know by the end of this phase if you are dealing with any patchy spots. This stage lasts two weeks.
Stage 3. After another two weeks, you should boast quite a large quantity of beard. If you’re still struggling to grow hair after these next two weeks, it may not be in the genetic cards for you to get a long beard.
Stage 4. At this point, you can begin defining the shape of your beard. You can see a professional, or you can trim your beard at home. At this point, you’re at least halfway through month two.
Stage 5. After the two-month mark, the rate at which your beard grows begins to slow. To maintain a nice, defined beard, you’ll need to regularly groom it and keep its shape.
Most men undergo their most significant growth from 25 to 35, but it depends. Additionally, many studies indicate that an entirely unkempt beard will not grow longer than three feet. At this point, beard growth slows down dramatically, and after six years of complete growth, your beard won’t get any longer.
Related: What Are The Different Stages of Growing a Beard? Here's What You Need To Know
How Can I Accelerate Beard Growth?
Beard Oil
As is the case with the hair on your head, frequent washing of your beard destroys the natural oils that keep the hair healthy and shiny. Beard oil restores those oils, makes it easier to style, and promotes hair growth.
Beard oil is made of three main ingredients:
- Carrier oils
- Essential oils
- Preservatives (to prevent oxidation)
Carrier oils are the ones that provide the benefits, and some examples of them include grapeseed, jojoba, or castor oil.
To encourage hair growth and sport a healthy-looking beard, it’s time to pick up some beard oil. Beard Gains is proud to offer a selection of high-quality beard oils. Our beard oils soften, provide needed nutrients, and leave behind an enjoyable but subtle scent. Learn more here.
Eat Well
To promote healthy hair growth, make sure you eat a diet full of:
- Vitamin A
- B vitamins (especially biotin)
- Vitamin C
Being deficient in biotin leads to hair loss, so make sure to include egg yolks, fish, cauliflower, carrots, and more biotin-rich foods in your diet.
Additionally, folic acid helps promote hair growth, so include whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, and peas in your diet, too.
De-Stress
Stress and anxiety cause a myriad of health issues, including slowing hair growth. Eliminating key stressors in your life, meditating, and making time for activities that relax you can help decrease stress levels.
If you’re suffering from severe stress or anxiety, consider hiring a therapist. They can help you work through these challenges and drastically improve your quality of life. Growing a beard will be a nice perk!
Related: How to Grow a Beard If You Can’t
What Factors Impact Beard Growth?
Age
While there are always those kids with full facial hair before graduating high school, most men aren’t able to achieve a solid beard before the age of 18. Peak beard-growing years are often 25 to 35, with some men unable to grow significant facial hair until their 30s.
If you aren’t seeing the beard you want and are still in your 20s, don’t fret. It may come in due time.
Genetics
Genetics are responsible for many physical traits, including hair color, texture, propensity for male-patterned baldness, and more. Similarly, your genetics play a huge role in your ability to develop a beard.
If your father, grandfather, and other male relatives aren’t able to grow thick beards, this is an indication that genetics aren’t on your side. Hair patterns are often hereditary.
Hormones
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHD) are critical for proper beard growth. Exercise, particularly weight lifting, can help promote testosterone levels, and you can also try testosterone therapy.
Consult your healthcare team if you’re concerned about abnormally low testosterone levels. Never inject testosterone directly into your body, as this causes far more problems than it solves.
Ethnicity
Where you’re from plays a role in beard thickness. For instance, Middle Eastern men tend to grow thick facial hair, where Chinese men often have thinner beards.
Related: Great Tips on How to Grow Your Hair: The Ultimate Hair Growth Guide for Men
Conclusion
All in all, it takes anywhere from 2 to 4 months to grow a proper, thick beard. If you aren’t sporting a luscious beard by then, odds are genetics aren’t on your side. This means you may never be able to grow long facial hair.
Various factors other than genetics can impact the propensity for facial hair. Additionally, you can take measures to boost hair growth, such as using beard oil, exercising, and eating correctly.
If you’re looking to grow the beard of your dreams, Beard Gains has you covered. From beard oil to beard conditioner to more extensive beard care kits, we’ve got all the products you need. Check them out today!
Related: Why Some Men Can’t Grow A Beard
