Have you ever wondered how long does it take to grow a beard? Read this article to find out the answer and what you can do to speed up this process.
Whether you do it for the first time or you are trying to grow a beard again, you’re probably wondering, How long does it take to grow a beard?. If this question crosses your mind and you can’t find anything except some elusive answers, this article is for you. Many factors play a role in this process, so it is better to understand them clearly before committing to growing your beard.
Some Facts About Beard Growth
You need to know some general facts about beard growth as well as factors affecting this process, including overall health and thickness. This is the foundation to help you accelerate its growth process.
First, a beard typically grows about 0.5 inches per month. This is an average value, so your beard may actually grow slightly faster or slower. Some studies have also shown that if you leave your beard untrimmed, the maximum length it can have is 3 feet.
Of course, most men don’t want to have a giant strand of facial hair hanging below their face. But the conclusion is that a beard can hardly grow longer than that number, as it takes multiple stages before it reaches that milestone, which equals six years of full growth.
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Beard?
Men usually prefer a much shorter beard. For a typical full beard, the process may take up to two or four months, varying from man to man. Some may experience a quick growth with more than one inch of growth in just a month, while others may end up as short as 0.5 inches.
Men usually see their fastest beard growth in their 20s and 30s, but this also depends on each individual. There are some factors playing a big role in this process. Learning more about them may help you influence your beard’s growth.
Stages of Beard Growth
Like scalp hair, facial hair goes through many stages during its growth, and understanding this will help you achieve your desired result. After you stop shaving your facial hair, it will grow back following these stages:
The first stage lasts for about a week, resulting in some stubble at the end of the period. The amount of this stubble is the biggest early indicator for whether your beard is growing slowly or quickly. If you have a lot of it after seven days, then congratulations! There are many weeks ahead, but there is a big chance you are going to have your desired beard length in the end.
The next stage is a bit longer, lasting approximately 14 days. During this period, your facial hair mostly keeps growing like before, but the result can tell you another important thing about your beard. After 2 weeks, you can see whether your beard grows evenly or there is any patchiness that you must expect and deal with later.
At the end of the third stage, which takes around 2 weeks, you may finally see a significant result of your beard growth. However, if you still don’t see much facial hair after all these days, having a fully grown beard may not be your thing. Sorry.
On the other hand, if you still see your beard become longer and thicker at a stable rate in this second month, you should now think about taking care of it. See a barber to groom and trim it to the shape you like.
At this point, your beard’s growth will slow down significantly, and it will have the final shape, which you have to decide whether to commit to the upkeep of your full beard.
Factors That Affect How Fast Your Beard Grows
Ethnicity
People for certain ethnic groups may be easier to get hairy than others. It’s a well-known fact that East Asian men, for instance, usually have much less facial hair than their white counterparts. People of Mediterranean descent, on the other hand, are more likely to succeed in having a thicker beard.
Genetics
Ethnic origin is not the only factor that was already determined when you were born. Some specific traits inherited directly from your family could also make a difference in whether you can grow a full beard. Your genetics may also have an impact on the texture of your facial hair and even the possibility of you going bald.
This is why you can have an early idea by looking at one of your male relatives, such as your dad and your uncle. It doesn’t guarantee anything. Your dad had a full beard doesn’t have to mean you can pull that off too. But hair patterns, including facial hair, have shown a tendency to be hereditary.
Age
When we were in high school, there was hardly any guy that could have much facial hair, let alone a full bear. And there is a reason for this.
While a beard can start to grow when men enter their age 18, this is the case for everybody. Some don’t experience steady growth until they are in their 30s, which makes many guys frustrated when they can’t have the look they want in their first job. If you’re just out of college, don’t be gloomy. Perhaps your time hasn’t come yet, and in a few years, there could be a surprise for you.
Your skin
How your beard is going to grow also depends on the facial skin underneath it. Keep it clean by washing and cleaning it daily using nature shampoo to stimulate beard growth, especially when you work out and end up with excess sweat.
Hormones
Another major factor that most of us can’t easily know and adjust is the level of some hormones like testosterone in our body. When you have not enough of this sex hormone, for example, growing a beard will be more difficult. But unlike ethnicity or genetics, you can try to fix these issues with testosterone therapy or by taking supplements.
Exercise
Doing exercise on a regular basis is another great way to improve your wellness, and when you have become healthier, your beard will have less trouble growing itself. One of the hidden benefits of exercise most of us usually overlook is its ability to increase the level of testosterone in our body. As we have said above, this hormone plays a crucial impact on beard growth.
While you are doing exercise like rows, squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, the blood circulation inside your body will get better, enhancing the beard-growing process. It’s also an amazing and effective way to reduce stress, and as many researches have shown, stress is a common source of hair loss or slow hair growth.
Diet
While most of the factors above aren’t controllable, you’re the one to be in charge of the next one. Die has a huge role in a lot of aspects of people’s life, including a man’s beard. If you can maintain a healthy diet, you can grow it faster while allowing for a longer anagen phase.
Stress
When you’re growing your beard, it will be ideal if you can have peace of mind and remove yourself from stressful moments. When you always feel worried or worn out, your beard will be less likely to grow fast like you want. Learn some stress management methods like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to get rid of negative thoughts and bring back a tranquil state in your mind.
Sleep
An adequate amount of sleep is always important for all of us. It improves the rate of beard growth by dropping the temperature, therefore increasing blood circulation and enabling fuller and faster hair growth. An uninterrupted sleep of at least seven or eight hours is usually recommended to combat stress and improve your health at the same time.
Smoking
We are all aware of the long list of hazards that smoking can cause, but not many of us know that it may also result in hair loss. If you’re serious about your health and your beard, just stop smoking or not get into this habit in the first place.
How To Grow A Beard Faster
Have a reasonable expectation
Don’t be too eager to anticipate that your beard is going to grow fast. Unrealistic expectations don’t result in anything positive but disappointment and may even make you lose track of the development of your facial hair. Never expect to see a full beard overnight. Instead, wait for a few days and see what happens.
Committed to your plan
Many men feel tempted to shave off all of their beards during the early stages. Remember that it has taken a long time to reach that point, and you could undo much of your effort if you listen to your impulse. If you feel itchy, focus your mind on something else, and it will get past that point quickly. It’s just a phase in your beard-growing process.
Come up with a healthy diet
You should consume more foods that have silica, selenium, zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, B, C, and E as they both accelerate the growth of your beard and enhance its health. Protein is also vital in this process, which comes from common sources like tofu, yogurt, salmon, eggs, chicken, and fish. The recommended amount of protein you should consume per day is 25% of calorie intake, according to many health experts and organizations.
Biotin, also known as vitamin H, is a B complex vitamin that should be taken as a supplement to improve your facial hair’s growth and quality. It is especially useful if you suffer from patchy, thin beards. Some biotin products also contain vitamin C and E. However, remember that it comes with some downsides too. It doesn’t only enhance the growth of your facial hair but also nails and other body hair. Make sure you are aware of this before taking biotin.
A healthy diet should also include a significant amount of vegetables and fruits to help reduce the time your beard needs to grow. To speed up this process, eat more peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, avocado, carrots, bananas, apricots, strawberries, and apples.
On top of that, olive oil and dairy products should be at least 25% of your diet. They provide monounsaturated fats, while healthy carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, and potatoes should make up the rest.
The final important note here is you should increase your protein intake. The outer layer of human hair mainly consists of keratin. Foods with plenty of protein like eggs, meat, meat, nuts will improve the production of keratin, making your beard look shinier and stronger.
Exercise more
Unless you’re already a gym rat, put some more exercise sessions into your schedule, both for your health and your beard. When you work out regularly, your body has a better chance to recharge and build up its resistance, making sure that your facial hair keeps growing steadily.
Take care of your beard and skin
A fluffy and smooth beard surely looks good, but it also suffers from a rugged life. Sitting on your jaw, it is exposed to everything in the world: cold, heat, spittle, dirt, dust, sunlight, and all other elements. If you don’t forget to take care of your hair, remember that your beard needs some attention too.
Condition it with some beard oils rich in natural ingredients. This also protects the face skin underneath in addition to making you look classy. On a dry or cold day, it’s a good idea to change it to beard balm, which usually has beeswax for extra protection and conditioning. Use a beard wash every day to keep your beard clean and free from dirt and dust.
Castor oil, like this bottle from Rain Lillie, is also a great solution, which promotes beard growth while conditioning it. Apply some of it before going to bed, and wash it off when you wake up. Keep this routine until you’re satisfied with the length of your beard.
Enjoy what you have
Just because your facial hair is as long as you prefer, it doesn’t mean you can’t be proud of what you currently have. Be patient and embrace each stage in the process. You can take advantage of this to try out new styles even when it’s still some stubble.
Final Words
It may take a long time to grow a beard, so don’t become too impatient. How long does it take to grow a beard? This duration varies from men to men, and the results may not be what you have anticipated. The best things you can do are taking care of your body and watching for anything abnormal. When you have a healthy lifestyle, your facial hair will have a greater chance to grow faster into a full-fledged beard.