How Long Does It Take to Grow a Beard? Everything You Must Know

“Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruits” – Moliere

The saying is entirely relatable to the beard-growing process.

A beard is a symbol of masculinity, but not everyone can grow a full beard.  Well, it doesn’t mean that one may not be able to grow fuller & thicker beard hair.  Of course, he can, but that requires sheer dedication and a vital understanding of beard growth life.

Technically, you will start noticing light facial hair once you reach puberty age.  In this phase, you may come across many men or celebrities who have long facial hair, and you might have a question; how long does it take to grow a beard?

Ideally, it takes Two to Four months to grow a full beard if it is left untrimmed or unshaved.  But the thickness, quality, and speed of beard growth vary from man to man.

Even after you dedicate the time, you still face trouble growing a full beard; it’s high time to think about the several factors that might be disturbing or some unknown mistakes that may be disrupting or stopping your beard from growing.

We will be discussing it in our article to avoid those and make way for a full beard.  Unlike other articles, we will not summarize but will make sure that you know every nitty-gritty about full beard growth.

Why Beard Growing is Important & How It Grows?

Beard brings multiple benefits, such as protecting facial skin from UV rays, attracting women, moisturizing the skin, building up confidence, and standing different from others.  Many consider a bearded guy to be older, stronger, and aggressive as well.

A few studies show that a single man (not in a relationship) with a group of other beardsmen is likely to grow a beard at a faster pace.  Also, a beard helps in balancing out a bald head.  You must even know the biological pattern of growing a beard.

Just for information, Dihydrotestosterone is a sex hormone produced from testosterone that is responsible for beard growth, muscle growth, and fertility.  There are ample receptors in our body that function when there is a hormonal change.  Similarly, when DHT attaches to the hair follicle, it starts producing hair on various parts of the body.

8 Factors That Affect Your Facial Hair Growth

At the beginning of beard growth, everyone wishes to grow a full beard, which raises a question; how fast does facial hair grow?  Besides, another question that comes to mind is, what are the necessary things to consider for a full beard?

We know genes are one reason for beard growth but not the only reason for its growth.  We have sorted out the factors and divided them into two groups; one out of your control and one that you can control.  Age, race, testosterone, and stress come under the first group, while lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition are something you can control.

Genetics

Many of your cousins or even your siblings (if you have one) might have a full and flourishing beard, but you being the same branch of the family, have patchy beards.  It may be a bit disappointing, but you have to deal with it.  

Here, genes play a crucial role in not only growing a beard but also functioning your body.  RNA, a production from DNA, produces the protein that instructs the body to function.  It also includes the beard growth process and the time to sprout up from the skin.

That’s the reason why the family has similar-looking hair or more often suffers from male pattern baldness.  Genetics decide the pattern of beard growth as well.  A man with a full beard can also have patchiness, and in such cases, he needs to let the beard grow and not trim or shave.

As a beginner, it would be difficult to comment on how to grow a long beard.  You just need to stop trimming or shaving for a few months to a year or maybe two.  The game does not end after growing your beard; rather, it begins.  Maintaining and taking care of your beard is an essential aspect of good hair growth.

Skin Care

Skincare is one of the factors affecting beard growth.  Keeping your beard clean is not the only solution for growth; you must keep the facial skin underneath the beard clean.  Also, whatever product you use for keeping the beard and skin clean should stimulate beard growth.

Oily skin guys and ones who exercise a lot should keep their faces neat and clean.  This is because excessive oil may clog the skin pores, and excess sweat may irritate your skin.  Both situations may affect the beard growth process.

Age

Age becomes one of the most notable factors as boys between 12-16 years tend to feel facial hair and a light mustache grow on their face.  It is a puberty period where hormonal changes take place, and your testosterone levels spike up. 

Soon, you may notice your vellus hair transforms into terminal androgenic hair.  Well,  it does not happen with every man.  Some of them whose vellus hair does not transform have to wait for a few more years.

Once you hit puberty, a patchy beard starts growing, which is a sign that your hormonal changes have started, and you will see a series of changes from your looks to your behaviour.  Everything will slowly and gradually change with time.  

When we were teenagers, we used to question how long it takes to grow a beard, but now we have the answer.  The ideal age is 18 to 25 years when the beards grow in a full-fledged mode.  It is the age when testosterone levels shoot up.  Some men may have a full beard without patchiness at the age of 25, while some still wish to have a patchy beard.

That’s the reality, but that doesn’t mean you lose hope or give up.  Even 25 to 35 is the phase where many men grow a thicker and duskier beard.  As said earlier, the process varies from man to man, and you should just wait and watch.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the factors that affect your beard growth in both ways, positively and negatively.  How?  Sleep decreases body temperature and boosts blood circulation, making it speedily flow to most body parts.

A sufficient amount of sleep increases blood circulation, resulting in hair growth.  Also, it helps in reducing stress levels.  To maximize beard hair growth, you must sleep for 7-8 hours each night.  Besides, nutritional intake and proper exercise are also other factors taken into consideration.

Having enough sleep can maximize growth, but excessively sleeping can slow hair growth.

Nutritional Intake

Nutrients play a crucial role in not only growing your beard but your entire body.  With insufficient or lack of nutrients, the body may suffer from detrimental effects.  Similarly, the diet decides whether the hair remains in the Anagen phase or moves to the Catagen phase.

Biotin is an important nutrient that handles hair growth, and a lack of that particular nutrient will result in slow to zero growth.  How?  It is responsible for improving keratin – A protein held with the duty of growing hair, nails, and skin.  The more keratin it produces, the more it helps in growing hair, and nails and improves skin condition.

A person suffering from biotin deficiency will notice poor skin conditions, acne, dermatitis, and beard itch.  Here, your entire focus should be on increasing the biotin level by taking 2.5 mg of biotin supplement.

Testosterone Levels

Testosterone levels mainly contribute to hair growth.  It controls the red blood cells of the body and influences beard growth.  You might have seen some men with bushy beards, which is a result of higher testosterone levels.

Race

Race can be one of the factors that affect your beard growth.  However, it doesn’t hold much importance, but you must know how different regions react to the body.  It also includes temperature, weather, and other external factors.

It mainly impacts the thickness of the beard and not how fast a beard’s hair grows.  Globally, Caucasians have the thickest facial hair, while African-American men face challenges growing a fuller beard.  Even Asians do suffer from the challenge of growing a long beard.

So, your region also contributes to your hair growth.

Stress

Stress weakens the immune system, resulting in slow beard growth on both the face and scalp.  You should avoid too much stress to enjoy life fully and grow your beard hair flourishingly.  Stress is also important as it allows you to spot the danger and react.

You should practice stress management by doing meditation, yoga, or joyful activity.  Regular stress may result in hair loss or rare cases, baldness as well.

Now that you know what factors affect your beard growth, you can consider the controllable ones and work on them.  It will help the beard grow, but what about the mistakes that unknowingly hamper the body hair growth?

4 Unknown Mistakes That Hinder Your Beard Growth

Admit it- you have been cultivating a few habits that are the reasons for the slow growth rate of your facial and head hair.  Nobody can stop you from achieving the beard growth and length the way you want, only if you avoid the below mistakes.

Impatience

You must have read the saying at the beginning of the article, and by now, hopefully, you are clear with the idea of being patient while growing your beard.  The process is time-consuming, but at the same time, it is natural to be impatient, you must remember the end product for what you are working hard on.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Also, you must not come across rumours that shaving regularly will boost growth.  We have seen many of my friends who regularly shave without having the patience to let it grow fully.  You have seen how the anagen phase works, so it is advisable to let time play its role and nurture the fruits.

Buying into Myths

As discussed in the earlier paragraph, you must not come into the talks of self-proclaimed gurus or beard experts.  These fake experts will try to sell products that are not even worth a penny.  The elusive image that they show is just a way to make money.

It will result in a waste of time and money, and most importantly, leave you disheartening.  Sometimes, many men give up on growing a beard, but remember, it’s only your loss and no one else’s.  It is advisable to stop listening to these people and start taking care of your facial hair.

Poor Skin Care

The hair on the head or face alone is not responsible for the growth; even the skin requires equal attention, care, and nourishment.  The secret behind the full beard growth you see in most men is how well they take care of the skin beneath the beard. 

Improper care or negligence in buying quality beard care products will impede the beard growth process.  Using the right and quality product is necessary, especially when you exercise a lot.  Exercising will release sweat that might irritate or affect beard growth.  You must use the best beard shampoo or wash to clean the beard and skin underneath it.

It will moisturize the skin and stimulate hair growth.  Always remember, the product you buy should not only moisturize but also grow hair.

Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health – It is what we have known since our childhood days.  It is a hazardous thing for hair growth.  It completely stops beard growth and ends up in baldness as well.  Do not develop the habit of smoking.

If you unknowingly smoke, thinking it only damages the lungs, then read the bold words again.  It is injurious to health, meaning overall health.  So, if you are a beard lover, you have to be a smoking hater.

Now that you know the mistakes that are impeding your beard growth- let’s dive deep into the essential promoters of beard growth.

4 Ways To Promote Beard Growth

By now, you have understood why your beard is growing slowly and the factors or mistakes that were equally responsible.  But believe me, not everybody is as dedicated as you.  Many give up, but this is not the game of giving up.  If you follow the routine, you are soon going to raise your standards.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise shoots up testosterone levels, decreases stress levels, increases blood flow, and strengthens the immune system, which results in beard growth and overall health of the body.

Weight lifting, squats, bench presses, deadlifts, and rows can spike testosterone levels.  Running and sprint workouts are also a good way to boost your testosterone levels.

Another benefit that also contributes to stimulating beard growth is a reduction in stress levels.  With the help of regular exercise, you will be able to decrease your stress level, which is very important for the overall development of the body and the beard.

Change In Diet

Diet and exercise both go hand in hand.  A regular gym-going guy should maintain a proper diet to enhance the overall growth of the body.  The overall growth includes beard growth as well.  A proper diet that consists of essential nutrients required to grow your beard will maximize the time of the Anagen phase.

For growing a beard, add vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E to your diet.  And not only vitamins but protein-rich ingredients should be in your basket.

• Vegetables:  eggs, fish, salmon, steak, lentils, turkey,
• Fruits: peaches, apples, bananas, pineapples, kiwis, strawberries, apricots, oranges
• Proteins: lean beef, milk, soy milk, beans, seeds and nuts, chicken, fish
• Grains: raisins, chickpeas, yogurt, seeds

According to the health organization, one must consume 25% of the protein from overall calorie intake.  Monounsaturated fats like milk, dairy products, and olive oil are rich in protein.  Besides, potatoes and whole grains are a good source of carbohydrates.

Use Beard Care Products

Beard oil, beard balm, or beard wax are beard care products that moisturize the facial hair and skin underneath it. To some extent, using beard oils will stimulate beard hair growth. Also, it relieves you from a very serious problem, i.e., beard itch.

The beard care product consists of beard oil, beard wax, beard balm, beard brush, and beard comb, but do you know the right mystery tool that ensures a consistent beard growth rate?  Well,  beard combs and beard brushes bring a world of difference to your beard appearance, growth, and patchiness. Besides, derma roller for beard is also another effective beard growth product to ponder upon.

Both tools are perfect for boosting blood circulation, resulting in hair growth.  But using it excessively can damage your hair.  And, in rare cases, it may pull out your hair follicle as well.

On the other hand, beard oil and beard balm are good at providing nourishment essential for the beard.  Without nourishment, the beard will turn dry, resulting in beardruff.  Your aim should not only grow a long beard but also to take care of it.

Take Supplements

We have read about How Biotin works and why it is important for hair growth, but minoxidil is also a popular product to grow a beard.  It is approved by the FDA and is easily available even without a doctor’s prescription.

Minoxidil is a supplement that has turned out to be a patchy beard solution.  The liquid form is easy to apply on patchy beard areas with the use of a dropper.  Also, Minoxidil is scientifically proven as a beard growth stimulator.

There are other supplements as well in the market, such as Beardalizer and Vitabeard, that consist of biotin.  And you already know what Biotin is.  To brief you, Biotin is a B-complex vitamin that comes in tablet form, which you can take orally and found in food as well.

Tip: These are just supplements and not diet replacements.  You must have a proper diet and if you cannot take a proper diet, then opt for Minoxidil, Vita Beard, or Beardalizer.

Boost Blood Circulation

The way your body needs nutrients to grow is the same way your hair follicles also need nutrients and vitamins to pop up and grow faster.  All your efforts for growing a beard will go in vain; if the nutrients fail to reach hair follicles.  And it reaches with the help of blood circulation.

You can pump up the blood circulation by two methods:

Massage

Massage your cheeks and other face areas for about 5 minutes every day.  Why do we point out the cheek area?  Because it has a very low blood supply, which results in a patchy beard.

Exfoliation

Another way to make sure that your beard hair grows freely is by exfoliating the beard with a boar’s hair bristle beard brush.  Doing so will remove all the dead skin cells, dirt, and debris that clogs skin pores and hinder beard growth.

If not a beard brush, then you can use beard scrub twice per month to clean the beard and the skin beneath.  It is essential to keep the beard and skin clean and kempt.

That’s how you would be able to pump up the rate at which the beard hair grows. Now, let’s unveil the growth stages through which your beard growth passes.

How Long Does it Take to Grow a Beard? How Fast Does Facial Hair Grow?

An average beard grows half inches per month, which means you will be able to notice a full beard after 2-3 months of the waiting period, i.e., without thinking of cutting, trimming, or shaving.

Here is a tabular representation of how average beard growth takes place.  

You can learn more about growth stages by going through the article.  Now let’s look at some beard growth facts.

Universal Facts About Beard Growth

• The average beard growth rate is ½ inch per month.
• The terminal beard length is 3 feet long.  It remains long only if you don’t trim or shave it.  Also, the growth stage lasts for only this much length.
• The 6-year time period is the maximum where your beard grows to its fullest.
• Normally, it takes two to four months to grow a full beard, but it depends on how your hormones react when you reach puberty.
• How long it takes to grow a beard entirely depends on your lifestyle, the type of food you eat, your growth pattern, and genetics.
• Testosterone is primarily responsible for beard growth.
• The first time you will notice a patch beard and an embarrassing mustache on your face.

What are Terminal Hairs?

You have read this term in the article but couldn’t get the exact meaning.  These are long-grown beard hairs like head hair.  Other body parts have vellus hairs, while the scalp has terminal hair.

The terminal hairs are transformed from the vellus hairs when there are hormonal changes during puberty.  You might have seen beard hairs growing differently like the hair on the cheeks and chin are shorter than the hairs that grow below the jawline.

Usually, the terminal length is preset, and you cannot alter it.

Conclusion

There is no shortcut to growing a beard, and one must stay patient and positive.  We have seen how from puberty to the age of 35, the beard grows.  The only things you should focus on is eating healthy foods, regularly exercising, maintaining a proper lifestyle, and avoiding mistakes.

We hope this article finds you well.  You can share your experience, thoughts, suggestions, and feedback with us.  We would be more than happy to listen to our readers cum potential customers.  For more such good reads, you can subscribe to our website.

Reet Patel

As a college student, I understand the value of a polished appearance. My dedication to a well-groomed beard signifies the importance I place on self-presentation and consistency in my personal and professional life. My commitment to a well-maintained beard reflects my broader attention to detail. Whether in my studies or my appearance, I strive for precision and quality.