Garibaldi. Ernest Hemingway. Chuck Norris. There have been some beautiful beards throughout history, and you probably want to join yours in this group. You can learn how to grow and stimulate the growth of your facial hair, and how to adjust and care for your new beard.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting Facial Hair Growth
Step 1. Shave regularly until the hair grows evenly
The worst way to grow a beard is to stop shaving or never start. If you did this you would get an uneven, patchy, thin beard that won't look good. If your beard doesn't grow evenly across your face, keep shaving regularly and wait patiently.
- If you are unsure whether your beard grows evenly, shave your entire face and watch for regrowth. Does it grow at the same rate on the tip of the chin and above the lips? Does it grow under the neck at the same rate as sideburns? If the answer is yes, if you are ready to grow a beard.
- If your beard isn't growing evenly, you can do something to speed up the process and make sure your hair grows as thick as possible.
- Genetics play a very important role in beard growth. Some people simply will never be able to grow full beards.
Step 2. Increase Testosterone Levels to Accelerate Facial Hair Growth
If you're a teenager, or just past puberty but haven't grown facial hair yet, you can do a few simple things to boost testosterone levels and encourage growth. The effects won't necessarily be quick, but you will be able to grow hair if you do a combination of the following:
- Physical activity. Intense training, cardiovascular activity and some strength training a couple of times a week encourage testosterone production in males, promoting beard growth. Warm up for three minutes, then do an interval workout, with 30 seconds of activity at maximum intensity and 90 seconds of moderate activity. Complete set of seven circuits.
- Increase your vitamin D levels by taking a supplement or spending more time in the sun by absorbing vitamin D naturally.
- According to recently published research, ashwagandha is a testosterone booster in men. It is also known as an adaptogen and is commonly sold as a supplement.
Step 3. Take care of your skin in the winter
When trying to stimulate facial hair growth, it is important to take care of your skin and address issues that may be preventing the hair from growing evenly and looking good. Talk to your doctor about rosacea, acne, or dryness issues before deciding to grow a beard.
- See your dermatologist when you shave regularly. Apply prescription or over-the-counter medications for at least a month before growing a beard.
- Moisturizes the face, to keep the follicles healthy and stimulated. Use a natural cleanser to keep skin healthy.
Step 4. Start by shaving
Just as you need a blank canvas to make a painting, when you decide to grow a beard, you need a hairless face. Start from scratch, shaving off any facial hair you have. This will ensure that the hairs will grow as evenly as possible.
- Consider getting your beard shaved off with a razor at a barber. Typically this is the shortest shave you can get.
- After shaving, stop shaving for about four weeks and do nothing, besides washing your face regularly and taking care of your skin. The hair should start growing normally.
Step 5. Manage the itchiness of the early stages of growth
Many guys stop growing a beard and shave because their faces itch. Keep in mind that the itch will last about four weeks before you get used to it once your beard has softened.
Use a moisturizer or natural beard oil on the follicles to soften hair and control itching. While itching will always accompany body hair growth, it is possible to control it to some extent. Read the third section for more information on beard care
Step 6. Be patient
The hair on each man's face grows at different rates, and while some guys will take a long time to grow a beard, others will see the first regrowth before the evening shower after shaving in the morning. Whatever your age, it's important to be patient and wait for your beard to grow at its own pace.
Some guys will be able to grow a beard in two to three weeks, while others may have to wait several months to get the desired results
Step 7. Grow your beard whenever you like
Although many men prefer to grow a beard in the cold months to keep their faces warm, it is a common mistake to think that beards are more uncomfortable in hot climates. In fact, a beard helps protect against UV rays and cool the skin in hot weather by trapping sweat near the face, which evaporates and cools it. While beard itch can be more annoying during the hot months, it's not something that will make you hot.
The beard offers many other health benefits, including trapping dust and helping to avoid asthma attacks and upper respiratory infections and acting as a windbreaker, protecting the face from the cold winter wind
Part 2 of 3: Styling and Adjusting the Beard
Step 1. Trim your beard with a beard trimmer every 5-10 days
After the first waiting period during growth, when the beard has reached the desired length, it is important to start adjusting and shaping it. Most men should trim their beards once every two weeks or so, depending on the speed of growth, and the type of beard you want to have.
- If you want to get a Gandalf-style wizard beard, it's still a good idea to adjust it using a beard trimmer or scissors to make it grow evenly.
- If you want a very short beard and have very stiff hair, you may need to trim it more often, perhaps once every two or three days.
- Always shave your neck, up to the chin line, or wherever you like. If you don't shave your neck hair, your beard will typically give you a caveman look.
Step 2. Use an electric beard trimmer
While it is possible to trim longer beards with a pair of barber scissors, it is very difficult to keep your beard tidy without an electric beard trimmer, or at least an electric hair razor. The only differences between these tools are typically the size of the guards and the tool itself.
- Use a regular beard trimmer for shorter beards or the first few months of growth and switch to a larger razor for thicker beards.
- A common mistake is to trim too much beard the first time you learn how to use the beard trimmer. If you have a short beard, practice your beard trimmer before shaving to understand how the tool works and which combs are best for you.
Step 3. Choose a beard style that suits your face shape
There are many ways to style and shape your beard, but the choices will mostly depend on your face and personal style. If you like a beard, try it out. In general though, if you have full cheeks, try to keep the beard shorter on the sides. If you have a narrow face, you can instead keep it longer for a rounder look.
Decide the line on the cheeks. You will have to decide how long to keep the beard on the cheeks. Most people can leave their beard at the natural line, but if your beard seems to climb up to your cheekbones, you should shave off the top
Step 4. Use the step comb on the trimmer if possible
In most beard trimmers you can use the stepped setting, which allows you to shave the beard in smooth movements, scaling it towards the neck, without having to change the height of the guard itself. You can scale the cheeks, neck and chin if you wish, to have a nice and clean look.
Step 5. Consider less usual shaped beards
If you want to try more complex styles, you have many options at your disposal. Try one of the following beard styles:
- The goatee plans to trim the beard on the cheeks, leaving the one on the chin and mustache.
- The pencil beard involves leaving only a thin line of beard along the jaw, connected to the mustache. This style is best suited for very short hair or if you are bald.
- Pharaoh beards typically involve shaving everything except the chin, and letting the beard grow in that area, in some cases tying it in braids.
- The wizard, or American Civil War beards take time to grow, but in practice they involve growing the beard as long as possible, continuing to adjust the neck and mustache periodically.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Beard
Step 1. Clean your beard with a moisturizing shampoo before adjusting it
It is important to trim your beard when it is clean to make sure the hair is softer and not tangled. Wash your beard in the shower with warm soapy water.
- You can use hair shampoo or beard specific shampoo, depending on how your skin reacts, but most guys use the same soap they use on their face in the shower.
- People with longer beards may prefer a special shampoo, such as those from the Bluebeard brand. Leaves less residue than facial cleansers and some shampoos.
Step 2. Regularly comb your beard
Most beard trimmers come with combs, but you can also use the same brushes or combs you use for your hair and comb your beard down, following the direction of the hair, to make sure it stays flat on your face. This will also allow you to understand if it is appropriate to cut it.
Especially if you have a long beard, it can happen that food, dust or other dirt gets stuck in it. Comb it regularly to keep it from becoming a bird's nest
Step 3. Hydrate yourself every day
If you have sensitive skin, try plenty of moisturizers before you start growing a beard and continue to moisturize the hair follicles and face after you start growing it to keep the skin underneath healthy. A healthy beard can only grow from a healthy base.
You can use lotions like Lubriderm on your face to make sure your skin doesn't dry out
Step 4. Try "beard lube" to combat itchiness and dryness
While they are not widely used by bearded men, you can find plenty of beard oils on the market, which you can apply as you comb them to keep them shiny, hydrated and clean. You could improve your appearance and find relief if your sensitive skin is itchy a lot.
- Put a drop of oil on the comb and lubricate it before using it to comb your beard. This is the best way to distribute the oil in your beard evenly.
- Coconut oil is excellent for hair and makes a great natural substitute.
