Grow a Beard Faster: How to Increase Beard Growth

Can’t grow a big, thick, bushy beard? Or is your beard patchy and slow to grow? Whatever your beard growth woes, it is possible to grow a beard faster and thicker. The initial phases of beard growth often put most people off. They never find out what their follicles are capable of because they hate the awkward, uncomfortable, and downright scruffy stage between clean-shaven and fully-fledged beard.

Well, there’s a solution. Armed with a little bit of science, you hack your body to get faster beard growth. It’s just about knowing what fuels beard growth and how it works.

How Fast Does Your Beard Grow?

If you stopped shaving today, how long would your beard be after a month? The answer (frustratingly) is it depends. The average beard growth rate for men is around half an inch per month. But that isn’t the same for everyone – some people will see much less, whereas other men are squeezing out over an inch.

Your beard actually grows faster than your scalp hair. However, the rate of growth is heavily determined by your genetics, hormone levels, age, lifestyle, and much more.

Factors Affecting Beard Growth

Want faster beard growth? You’ve got to have a solid understanding of the factors you can and can’t control. Your genetics are out of your hands. But, within the limits of what’s possible, you can maximize the different factors to achieve the best results.

Let’s go over the primary factors determining beard growth:

Your DNA: It all starts with genetics! If your dad or grandad had a killer beard, you’re in luck. If not, blame them (kidding!). Genetics are the biggest factor in how thick and fast your beard grows.
Hormones on Your Side: Testosterone and DHT are the MVPs here. The more you’ve got, the better your beard growth chances. But don’t worry – every guy’s levels are unique, so even a little boost can go a long way.
The Big Three – Diet, Sleep & Exercise: Eat well, sleep deeply, and keep active. Proper nutrition fuels beard growth, sleep helps your body (and beard!) recover, and exercise keeps the blood flowing to those hair follicles.
Stress Less, Grow More: Believe it or not, stress can mess with your beard! Keep stress in check, and your beard might just thank you by filling out a bit more.
Healthy Skin = Happy Beard: Clear, healthy skin is the base of any good beard. A simple routine to keep your skin clean and moisturized can help your beard grow in stronger and healthier.
Care, Groom, Repeat: Show your beard some love! A little exfoliation, some beard oil, and regular trims go a long way in keeping it looking its best – and encouraging it to grow out even more.

Don’t despair if your male family members haven’t got the greatest beards. You should focus on boosting your male hormone levels to maximize beard growth. Increasing levels of testosterone and DHT will lead to higher levels of beard growth – alongside other elements of beardcraft.

How to Increase Beard Growth

Wondering “how can I increase beard growth”? You’re in luck! With the right diet and lifestyle, you can absolutely achieve faster beard growth. It takes a little time and dedication. But the results are more than worth it.

1. Eat to Support Beard Growth

Your diet massively impacts the rate of beard growth. You want to include foods that have the building blocks for future hair. There are a few key nutrients you want to focus on:

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is known as the “hair growth vitamin” due to its role in strengthening keratin – the protein that makes up hair.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports hair follicles, keeping your beard hair strong and shiny.
Vitamin D is central to creating new hair follicles.
Zinc supports testosterone levels, which directly impact beard growth.
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and improve skin health and hair growth.

2. Try Minoxidil

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is one of the only products proven to increase men’s beard growth. Applying 3% minoxidil to your face rapidly increases the number of new beard hairs compared to a placebo. Thousands of people have successfully tried minoxidil – and it’s not the expensive. Just be careful – it can irritate the skin of some people.

3. Increase Your Testosterone Levels

Low testosterone levels are one of the main reasons for poor beard growth. It’s actually a big problem in the developed countries.

Counteracting this drop in T levels is as simple as losing weight, getting a good night’s sleep, and avoiding harmful chemicals (think BPA in plastics). However, you can also support your testosterone levels with diet and supplementation:

Alfalfa sprouts, olive oil, sorghum, coffee, and raisins all increase testosterone levels and indirectly support beard growth (at least, according to the evidence).
Ashwagandha, fenugreek, saw palmetto, and Tongkat Ali have some evidence indicating an increase in testosterone levels. Speak to your doctor before starting any supplementation.

4. Look After Your Skin

Don’t neglect your skin. Support your beard growth with beard oil, balm, or cream to nourish and soften the skin. Any dryness or irritation will impair your body’s ability to create hair. Also, avoid excessive brushing or combining – this stresses the hair follicles.

5. Massage Your Face

Increasing blood circulation to your face boosts the rate of hair growth. That could be as simple as a gentle face massage or using a beard roller. The latter option promotes blood circulation by puncturing tiny holes in the skin’s surface. The body repairs the damage, directing nutrients to the location and supporting further beard hair growth. It’s a simple way to grow a beard faster.