Daccanomics
Facial hair is a prehistoric trend that has survived every fashion holocaust. Beard has become a style statement in recent times and more and more men are sporting a hunky beard.
Beard has become a part of pop culture as actors, footballers, and rockstars are flaunting their facial hair in style.
Over the years there has been a lot of debate if facial hair is still in fashion. Beard is no longer just a no-shave November trend. A well-groomed beard has become more of a sartorial statement in the 21st century.
Apart from a stronger-looking jawline, it gives you a manlier and more testosterone-infused look. A well-groomed beard can change your facial structure and how you look.
But growing facial hair is not a cup of tea. Some men are blessed with good genes and can grow nice-looking beards. While some can’t even grow a patchy beard. Struggling to grow facial hair is a very common problem.
If you are someone who tried to grow a beard but struggling, this article is for you.
You might have already read a lot of articles and bought some magical tonic online to promote facial hair growth. Let me save you some time… if it is not in your genes, it’s just not going to happen.
Having said that you can promote facial hair growth naturally and make them grow faster. The speed at which your facial hair grows depends mostly on your genetics.
Just like your hair, you can’t grow your beard overnight. Your beard will not suddenly sprout if you’re in your 30s and haven’t seen much hair on your face
Here we will share some expert tips that can help you accelerate your beard growth.
Understanding The Concept Of Beard Growth
For some people growing a beard might seem impossible and some struggle with a patchy beard. When you get old, new hair follicles stop growing altogether. Till then all of your hair goes through a phase where they grow and then falls out and eventually regrows.
There is a false impression that shaving frequently promotes new hair growth & makes your beard looks thicker. In reality, shaving doesn’t affect facial hair growth.
For years men have been blaming lack of testosterone for not being able to grow facial hair. While it is true that testosterone is important for facial hair growth, but it is not the only factor.
There is a common misconception that low testosterone can cause sparse facial hair growth. This is barely true.
Your beard hair growth is triggered by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. It converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
The function of DHT is to attach to receptors on each follicle of your beard hair to make it grow. So your facial hair growth actually depends on how receptive your follicles are to DHT.
It is medically not proven that taking testosterone supplements promote beard growth.
But there are some natural remedies that can help stimulate beard growth.
Why Can’t I Grow A Beard?
This is one of the most common questions asked by teenagers and men in their 20s. There are a few conditions that could affect your beard growth. Here we will discuss the most common reasons why you’re having trouble growing your beard.
1. Genetics
Genetics can be one of the primary reasons for beard growth and thickness. If your father has patchy facial hair there is a very good chance that you will also have a patchy beard.
Dr. Amy McMichael, a dermatologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston, says that genetics is the primary reason for slow beard growth. Androgens hormone testosterone stimulates beard growth and estrogens slow it. People who have thick beards are more sensitive to testosterone than their smooth-faced peers. The sensitivity of your hair follicles to DHT is largely determined by your genetics.
2. Ethnicity
Your ethnicity can also be an important factor in beard growth. Most Korean men usually struggle to grow a beard compared to other races.
According to 2019 study men who have Greek and Italian lineage tend to be able to grow thick beards compared to people from other regions.
Caucasian & Asian men can also grow a full beard and have thicker facial hair. They have facial hair on the cheeks, neck, and chin
Most black men usually grow a patchy beard and have thicker facial hair.
3. Age
Men can grow facial hair till their early 30s. Although it is a steady process. If you don’t have much facial hair growth in your 20s, you can’t expect a sudden sprout in your facial hair in your 30s.
Men who have average facial hair in their early 20s or teens are likely to have a thicker beard at the beginning of their 30s.
How To Grow Beard Faster Naturally
Here are some natural ways you can promote your facial hair and have a thicker and fuller beard. It takes some time to grow a beard. But following these tips can fast-track the process and give you healthier facial hair.
Change Your Diet
A change in your diet plan might trigger beard growth. Add more vitamins to your diet to promote facial hair growth & help hair follicles that stopped growing become active again.
Add more vitamin D to your diet plan. Vitamin D can reactivate receptors in follicles that no longer grow hair. Low levels of vitamin D can cause alopecia and hair loss.
Vitamin D also creates new hair follicles for new hair growth. Direct sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D. You can also find vitamin D in fatty fish, cod liver oil, some mushrooms, and fortified plant-based milk.
Vitamin C is also important for facial hair growth as it creates a protein known as collagen which is an important part of the hair structure. Furthermore, it is a powerful antioxidant that protects your hair from quick aging.
Fruits are one of the primary sources of Vitamin C. You can eat strawberries, peppers, and guavas which are enriched with vitamin c.
Biotin is also a very important vitamin for facial hair growth. Studies show that deficiency can cause hair loss. Biotin is available in most foods. You can get biotin naturally from a wide range of foods. You can also get vitamin b supplements.
Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating your skin regularly can clear away dry and dead skin. It also increases your skin’s radiance, clarity, and youthfulness. Exfoliating your face can help you grow your beard faster.
When you exfoliate and moisturize your skin it unclogs your pores. Exfoliation can nourish your skin’s surface and improve blood circulation which promotes facial hair growth. You can exfoliate your skin by using a scrub or a natural exfoliant.
Exercise Regularly
Even though there is no medical proof that exercising regularly can increase your facial hair growth, but it might speed up your hair growth. Exercising regularly can promote facial hair growth as it increases blood flow and circulation throughout the body. Regular exercise also increases testosterone levels which influence hair growth.
Microneedling
Microneedling is the insertion of very fine short needles into the skin for rejuvenation. By poking tiny holes in your face you can promote facial hair growth by increasing blood flow to your follicles and encouraging healthier hair.
Get Quality Sleep
Not having enough sleep can decrease your testosterone level which is responsible for hair growth. Quality sleep is very essential for hair growth. It is necessary for protein synthesis of the hair and the release of enzymes that promotes hair growth. Not having enough sleep can decrease the rate at which your facial hair grows.
Keep Your Face Moisturized
Moisturizing your face is conducive to healthy hair growth. Keep your face clean and moist. Cleaning your face stimulates oxygen-rich blood to feed and nourish the skin’s surface which promotes facial hair growth. Moisturizing your face with mild moisturizer can break down dry and dead skin while smoothing your facial skin texture.
After moisturizing clean your skin by washing your face with warm water and a mild cleanser. The warm water will open up your clogged pores and the cleanser will get rid of all the oil and dirt.
Quit Smoking
Smoking has been one of the main reasons for hair loss. Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that cause shrinkage in your blood vessels and block the blood circulation to your hair follicles. Due to inflammation of blood vessel, your hair follicles fails to receive nutrients from the blood that promote hair growth.
Some Common Questions About Beard
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about beard and facial hair growth. We have tried to answer all your queries related to facial hair.
Does Shaving Increase Facial Hair Growth?
Shaving has nothing to do with beard growth. This is a myth that has been going on for ages. Many people still believe that shaving regularly can promote beard growth ad produce new facial hair. Some even believe that shaving can make a beard look thicker. There is no medical proof that shaving stimulates beard growth.
How Can I Increase Facial Hair Growth?
Adding vitamins to your diet plan and getting enough sleep can help your beard grow faster. Also, exfoliating and keeping your face moisturized can promote new hair follicle growth. You can also try microneedling to rejuvenate your asking.
What Foods Increases Facial Hair Growth?
Adding lean meats, eggs, rice, beans, fatty fish, cod liver oil, mushrooms, and fortified plant-based milk to your diet can help increase facial hair growth. Make sure your diet contains fruits as it contains vitamin c which is essential for hair growth. Also, get enough vitamin D from direct sunlight and get biotin supplements to increase facial hair growth.
How To Stimulate Facial Hair Follicles?
To stimulate your hair follicles, you can apply 1 tablespoon of warm olive or jojoba oil and massage it into your face for 5 minutes. You can also try microneedling to rejuvenate your skin.
What To Do If You Can’t Grow A Beard Naturally?
If you can’t grow your beard naturally you can try medicines like minoxidil and finasteride. It will help you grow a beard and promote new hair growth.
