Home > Hair and Nails, Men's Skin > How to Grow a Beard

How to Grow a Beard

April 25th, 2008

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OK boys. Face it, women sometimes like a manly beard. But do you have what it takes? It requires patience, persistence, (and just enough testosterone) to pull it off.

  • The first step in growing a beard is deciding to grow one. This is no trifling matter. Growing a beard takes at least 4 weeks including enduring an uncomfortable itchy period and having to answer ridiculous questions like: “Are you trying to grow a beard?” from your friends and colleagues.

 

  • Don’t shave. Despite the popularly held belief, shaving will not make your beard grow faster or thicker.

 

  • Pick a time when you can get a running start like at the beginning of a vacation or even a long weekend.

 

  • Resist the urge to trim or shape the beard. Let it grow as much as possible before shaving, even if you are going for the “goatee” look. The hairs on your face will be in various stages of growth; not all are actively growing at the same time, so you have to be patient to see where it will fill in and where it won’t.

 

  • What if your beard is spotty? Unlike your scalp, the hair on your face will not cover every inch. Some men will have hair from their eyeballs to their neck. If you’re this guy, then feel free to shave areas to shape it. Most men will have some areas that are spotty or thin, like on their cheeks and chin. This is determined by genetic and hormonal factors. There is little you can do about it, so work with what you’ve got.

 

  • What about applying Rogaine (minoxidil) to your face? Minoxidil is a drug that was used to lower blood pressure until it was found it also grows hair. In topical form, it causes hair growth on the scalp of men and women with hereditary hair loss. Why it works is not really known. In theory, Rogaine could help you grow a beard, but this is never been shown in studies, nor is it FDA approved for facial hair. Applying Rogaine (minoxidil) to your face would likely be irritating and can also cause acne. If ingested or if applied in excessive amounts, it could cause serious side effects like a drop in your blood pressure.

 

  • Biotin is a dietary supplement known to help with hair and nail growth. Consider taking 2.5 mg of biotin each day.

 

  • You might find that growing a beard gives you an itchy, red, scaly rash on your face. Try using a little dandruff shampoo like Head and Shoulders on your beard two or three times each week. You can also apply a mild over the counter steroid cream like hydrocortisone 1% once a day.

 

  • When your beard starts growing, the hairs are often stiff at first; they will soften over time. Consider using a mild steroid like hydrocortisone 1% everyday to help with the itching.

 

  • After 4 to 6 weeks you should have a good idea what your beard will look like. If after 6 weeks you find people saying: “Oh, are you trying to grow a beard?” consider the clean-shaven look.

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  1. kero
    March 1st, 2009 at 22:58 | #1

    Rogaine helps to gain facial hair. just be careful using it ( apply it just on the area where u want hair) and stop using if experienced any of the side effects.

  2. March 21st, 2009 at 11:20 | #2

    “If after 6 weeks you find people saying: “Oh, are you trying to grow a beard?” consider the clean-shaven look.” haha, you made my day.

  3. Pavan
    April 10th, 2009 at 22:25 | #3

    Hi,
    This is good but, u have not mention any age groups over here.I think so it doesn’t minds.ok any way thanks for ur article.I will try it out.
    Thank you.

  4. aslam
    April 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 | #4

    sir hi …i m 17 yrs old,,but i have no beard ….my friends make a laugh on me …and calling me castrated …tel me the way that how can i grow up my beard….

  5. rasul
    May 4th, 2009 at 22:58 | #5

    sir,
    u have to help me out..i am 20 years old and i have no hair on my face or chest.it makes me look very young and immature.it is not heriditary..hope u will reply

  6. vinay
    May 7th, 2009 at 00:59 | #6

    hi …….tis is vinay…am 21 yr old….i dont have moustache n beard….so tel me how can i grow them?

  7. LimBer
    May 9th, 2009 at 09:51 | #7

    ye man im almost 21 and im only getin a bit of bum fluff whilst all my m8s av smart shaped beards! will i EVER grow 1 or is it possible that sum people cant ever grow a beard?

  8. pratik
    May 11th, 2009 at 10:29 | #8

    dude dis is pratik n me 18 yr old, i hav gt a gud amount of groth on ma face bt i need 2 grow it only 4m ma chin n like a long one like rock band ppl, wat wil i do…plzzz suggest!!!

  9. cryozo
    May 13th, 2009 at 10:46 | #9

    Some people aren’t genetically capable of growing facial hair.

  10. jeet
    May 14th, 2009 at 03:58 | #10

    sir I m 18 and have no facial hair and everyone makes fun of me which is really frustating . If I use rogaine then how to apply it and how much and how many time . Reply soon

  11. joby
    May 17th, 2009 at 23:54 | #11

    @Pavan
    AM 21 YRS OLD MY PROBLEM IS NO MUSTAGE&BEARD PLZ HELP ME

  12. joby
    May 17th, 2009 at 23:58 | #12

    bharat :tell me any good cream that i grow my beard.n that doest have side affects

  13. Gaan
    May 18th, 2009 at 02:58 | #13

    tell me any good cream that i grow my beard.n that doest have side affects

  14. ali
    May 20th, 2009 at 02:02 | #14

    hi sir i m 22 years old and still i dont have beard on my face how a=can i grow it can you please help me thanks………..?

  15. Tom
    May 20th, 2009 at 10:24 | #15

    I m 28 years old and I and have little beard. I’ll try the rogaine but I don’t know if I will find it because I m from Paraguay. Anyone knows another way to make my beard grow up?

  16. Tom
    May 21st, 2009 at 02:47 | #16

    and what about coco oil?

  17. Gaan
    May 23rd, 2009 at 06:40 | #17

    HOW CAN I ROGAINE GET FROM

  18. Vin
    May 27th, 2009 at 10:23 | #18

    Hi Sir,
    I am 24 years old and have a very little hair only in my mustache and chin (not in the part just above the neck). I need to get a thick mustache and beard (full, in my cheeks and chin). Please help me with some tips to achieve the same. My father has a good mustache and a good beard and so i think this is not some genetic problem.

  19. Lj
    May 28th, 2009 at 16:36 | #19

    seriously u lot are loosers to say the least – if ya wanna grow a beard the dont shave end of discussion – u can’t grow a beard then sorry ur weren’t meant to have a beard yet. by bye

  20. ayn13
    May 29th, 2009 at 02:13 | #20

    i hav mustache en vry few in my chin( just below my face) or goatee u say..but i hav no chip (beard that grows beside the ear) i just want 2 make chip. hepl me

    >

  21. ayn13
    May 29th, 2009 at 02:14 | #21

    hw cn i grow side burns

  22. nikhil
    May 30th, 2009 at 20:21 | #22

    i am 25 years old and have a very little hair only in my mustache and chin (not in the part just above the neck). I need to get a thick mustache and beard (full, in my cheeks and chin). Please help me with some tips to achieve the same. My father has a good mustache and a good beard and so i think this is not some genetic problem.

  23. Syvistic 3325
    June 5th, 2009 at 16:51 | #23

    Sure it’s capable. Occasionally, you “might” get side affects.

  24. SAJAN
    June 6th, 2009 at 21:03 | #24

    dear sir
    I am 25 years old male my problems is i have not growing beard please give me a suggetion or tratment for this problems

  25. raheel
    June 10th, 2009 at 10:18 | #25

    dr.i want to hairy beard and my chest also im 24 year old please give me answer

  26. bryant
    June 12th, 2009 at 08:33 | #26

    Hi Sir
    I am 32 years old and from in Viet Nam and have little beard. I’ll try the rogaine but I don’t how to get that. Now I need to help!! how to grow a beard? Anyone knows another way to make my beard grow up? let me know my email is bryanthuynh12@yahoo.com
    Thank you very much for your help

  27. June 12th, 2009 at 12:50 | #27

    Hell am Prince from Toronto, Canada am 24+ and i have no sign of Beard And Mustache on my face.. my chest is flat with no trait of hair… i have lil hair on my legs nays.. i need a Beard And Mustache am lacking that my younger one who is just 18 has Beard And Mustache and he looks like my dad.. please save me.. and have sent my resume to God for him to help me more…

    prince Tdot Canada

  28. paschalis
    June 13th, 2009 at 04:51 | #28

    hi,man im 17 years old , ihave a little moustache ,little chicks and chin but they dont grow and i want t make beard heeeeelp,,,,,,

  29. hair
    June 15th, 2009 at 23:23 | #29

    im 15 ive got a beard, just wanted o piss u guys off,lol…………castrated

  30. June 16th, 2009 at 20:58 | #30

    wow im 16 and i have a beard hahaha

  31. angry erick
    June 20th, 2009 at 07:31 | #31

    hi my names erick im 19 and very angryy i have a mustash (dont want that) but i do want the dirty chin strap (i think thats wat u call it) THE PROBLEM IS i grow hair on my right side of my face and chin and neck NOTHING ON THE LEFT WTF???? DOEs This hAve something to do with me being right handed???? -_- im super angree i hope ur theory works

  32. Jb
    June 21st, 2009 at 02:33 | #32

    @pratik
    You can start by learning how to spell and type, then perhaps you’d get a respectable response.

  33. nitin
    June 22nd, 2009 at 22:43 | #33

    Is there any cream without side effects which can increase my beards hair???

  34. Rion
    June 30th, 2009 at 16:46 | #34

    Hey, i’m 17 and this guide has been fairly helpful. i was wondering how long the thing was going to itch, and when i should start to shape it.

  35. July 1st, 2009 at 08:13 | #35

    @vinay
    you have to keep shaving a lot like 3times a day and you will start to grow a beard

  36. hector
    July 1st, 2009 at 20:00 | #36

    sir
    please help me! I am 22 and have no hair anywhere. I need beard and to have big hairy chest and big bushy, bush. Please help me.

  37. ahmed
    July 3rd, 2009 at 09:37 | #37

    sir
    I am 56 years old and i have no bush on ghram
    I need harry chest and face or my wife say she want my sex
    PLZ HELP FRIEND

  38. fasal
    July 4th, 2009 at 02:43 | #38

    iam 24 years old.i have no beared .so please give me the suitable medicine and remodies

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