Dealing with a patchy or sparse beard is frustrating. It's hard not to look enviously at those blessed with impeccable genetics – who need only blink to grow a full beard. While some of this lackluster growth can disappear with age, as your face increases in density, it's not stopped many from seeking a solution.
Beard growth oils promise to not only nourish and hydrate your beard hair but also increase overall growth. Made from carrier oils, essential oils, and hair growth ingredients (typically biotin or palmetto oil), there are mixed claims about their effectiveness.
Do these supposed miracle cures work? And how do they stack up to traditional beard oils? We're answering your questions below.
Beard growth oil doesn't differ substantially from regular beard oil. As mentioned, it contains carrier oils and essential oils that, as the claims suggest, make your beard grow faster and thicker and stimulate new growth.
Some make even bolder claims, promising six-fold faster growth or a noticeable increase in facial hair. But is this true?
In a word, no. Because the ingredients in most beard growth oils are identical to any ordinary beard oil, there's no credible evidence to suggest they can stimulate facial hair growth.
Normally, the basic carrier oils are jojoba oil, almond oil, castor oil, etc., and the essential oils could be tea tree oil, peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and more.
In fact, many of those ingredients you'll find in our own beard oils, and while we're called Beard Sorcery, we can't perform actual magic.
That's not to say beard growth oils are totally useless. They're pretty good at nourishing, softening, and hydrating your beard hair, just like any other high-quality beard oil.
Don't be dismayed! Just because beard growth oils are proven to increase your facial hair, that doesn't mean nothing works. Indeed, there are two reasonably effective treatments demonstrated to boost hair density and growth.
Minoxidil is currently the only beard growth serum with strong scientific backing. Using a 3% minoxidil solution for 16 weeks is demonstrated to increase the amount of new facial hairs by 500%. Nor is it only useful for facial hair; minoxidil can treat your scalp, chest, and eyebrows.
If you apply the product to your face, you may notice a slight burning sensation; this is expected. Do not continue to use the product if you get any type of serious reaction. For most men, however, it's a safe and effective treatment for improving beard growth.
The other effective treatment is the Derma Roller, aka the Beard Roller. It involves a small roller covered in microneedles. This technique prompts the body to repair the damage by puncturing the skin with microscopic holes, leading to increased circulation, collagen synthesis, hair production, and nutrient delivery.
Best of all, the Derma Roller can be used alongside minoxidil to get the best of both worlds. You'll want to go for a Derma Roller with a 0.5 mm to 0.75 mm needle length to reach the skin's epidermis.
Perhaps the best recommendation to boost your beard growth is the most boring: exercise, sleep, a good diet, and low stress. Ensuring your body has adequate vitamin D3, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and boron will boost your overall growth. But don't rely on beard growth oils for some kind of miraculous transformation. It's never going to happen – go back to basics!
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