Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

To grow a beard faster, focus on living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your skin and beard hair. Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of lean protein to promote hair growth. You should also eat plenty of foods that are rich in iron, like tofu, lentils, and spinach. Omega-3 fatty acids are also good for hair growth, which you can get from fish, nuts, and plant oils. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and work out every other day to help regulate your hormones, since your hormone levels can affect hair growth. Make sure you wash your face twice a day and exfoliate once a week to keep your hair follicles open. Apply beard oil to your beard hairs daily to keep them hydrated and healthy as your beard grows in. Growing out a beard can take time, but if you take care of your body, skin, and hair, you'll have a beard before you know it. To learn how to groom your beard so it grows faster, scroll down!

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Food and water are your body’s building blocks so getting the nutrition you need is essential to repair and growth. In terms of how to encourage beard growth, there are certain nutrients to be aware of and make sure you are consuming these as part of a balanced diet.

Proteins, vegetables, dairy and whole grains are all staples of a healthy diet. While protein is the main force encouraging thick beard hair, foods containing A, B, C and E vitamins all promote hair growth. Some ingredients rich in the right vitamins are spinach, sweet peppers, nuts, avocados, sweet potatoes and berries.

For most men, growing a beard is always a possibility. Whether or not you actually do it depends how long you're willing to endure the uncomfortable and awkward stage of going from clean shaven to imperfectly scruffy. However, not all beards are the same, and some men have an easier time growing a beard than others. But if you really want to grow a beard, all it takes is a little commitment.

If you're ready to grow a beard, you can't do it alone. You need support in the form of beard-friendly products and a dedicated plan for how you want you want your beard to look. It's similar to starting a new exercise program: you have to have an idea of what you want the end goal to be, and you work backwards from there to figure out the steps to get you there. In order to reach that goal, you have to commit to the process, and most of all, be patient. You don’t get a six pack overnight and nor do you wake up with a flowing Jason Momoa beard after just a few weeks.

With proper planning and a carefully curated array of products, a beautiful beard is possible. But be wary of comparing you beard to others; you have to work with what you have and maximize your own beard's potential for the best results.

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

To help you along your beard-growing journey, we tapped Chris Brownless, owner of Northwest Barber Co. and Uppercut Deluxe ambassador and education manager for his best tips and tricks for bypassing the inevitable awkward stage and growing a beautiful beard ASAP.

How to Grow a Beard

Understanding your facial hair is the first step in both managing expectations and formulating a solid plan. You don’t have to have been bearded before to know what your facial hair is like. If you shave every day, you already understand how far down your neck your whiskers grow and what direction they grow in. If you’ve let yourself have a few days of stubble, you may already know whether the hair on your face comes in patchy or full, not to mention how quickly it grows.

These are all things to consider when you’re planning a beard. Patchy hair, for instance, may mean you need to go for a longer beard and thick, fast growing hair could mean you’re in for more regular trimming.

1. Take Care of Your Skin

Healthy hair starts at the root. If you take good care of your skin, your hair will grow longer and faster. You might think of hair care and skin care as different, but they're actually intertwined when it comes to your beard.

"A good skincare routine is key," says Brownless. "Growing healthy facial hair requires healthy skin, keeping your skin clean will allow your beard to grow healthier, and even faster!"

2. Use Your Face Shape to Sculpt Your Beard

Just like assessing your whiskers, you need to take a good, long look at your face. If beards are good for one thing, it’s enhancing or changing the shape of your face. Take a step back and consider the overall shape: if it’s round, a beard could make it look longer and leaner (by trimming the sides short and leaving length on the chin); if it’s an oval, it could make it look wider and more angular (by doing the opposite - leaving the sides longer); and if it’s square, it can soften the harsher angles (by trimming rounded angles).

"We can’t change the shape of our chin, but we do have the power to shape a beard," says Brownless. "A good barber will be knowledgeable in how to manipulate a beard shape to suit you best and also compliment your hairstyle."

Generally speaking, a beard should work to make your face as close to an oval as possible, but beards can also make jawlines look more angular and defined. Turn your head slightly to each side to see if you’re going to want to trim your beard with sharp angles in mind.

"The main thing to keep in mind, and the hardest part of growing a beard, is that it isn’t necessarily going to look great or suit your face for the first few weeks," says Brownless. "Getting through that initial growth period can be tough, when you look in the mirror and it doesn’t look how you imagined. You’ve got to push through that stage until it’s grown out enough to be shaped and groomed, so hang in there!"

3. Consider Shaving Your Face Before Growing a Beard

It seems counterintuitive, but shaving could help grow a beard, at least at first. Many barbers recommend giving yourself a good, close shave to stimulate the hair follicles and possibly cut down on the amount of ingrown hairs you get once the hair starts to grow out. It’s also a way to prep skin to make sure your facial hair can grow out smoothly and without as much itch.

"If [your hair is] really short, a clean shave can be a really good way to have a full reset, and it’s always fun to take a before and after photo!" says Brownless.

Right out of the shower, apply a pre-shave oil and massage it into your skin to help the hairs stand up for easier shaving (it will also lubricate the skin to help cut down on razor burn). Then apply a thick shaving cream in a circular motion to create an even layer. Using a new blade on whatever kind of razor you prefer, begin shaving with the grain (the direction your hair grows). Don’t rush through it—make sure you’re taking smooth, even strokes to minimize nicks and cuts. Finish by rinsing off the cream and applying a moisturizing, alcohol-free lotion to calm and hydrate your skin.

Read more: Best Beard Products

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Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

PURE by Gillette Shaving Cream for Men

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

GilletteLabs Heated Razor Starter Kit

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Dollar Shave Club 4-Blade Razor Set

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

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Baxter of California Men's After Shave Balm

You don't necessarily have to shave your face clean if you're wanting to grow a beard. If you're the kind of man who can grow a long stubble in a few days and your skin underneath is in good condition, Brownless suggests just going for it! Stay home for a week or so while your beard fills out and then give it a quick trim before doing the big debut. It may take up to a month before you really start to feel confident in your beard growth, but don't let that deter you from going out. It's all part of the process, so just embrace it.

Read more: Best Beard Trimmers

4. Let Your Beard Grow for at Least Two Months Before Trimming

After your *final* shave, step away from a razor. To start a beard, you have to be patient and just let it do its thing. Plan on allowing your facial hair to grow for at least two months before you start even considering trimming or shaping.

"Go as long as you can before the first trim," says Brownless. "The more hair growth there is, the more options the barber has when giving it its initial shape. This can be tough, but [wait] until you feel like it’s really messy—then call in the pros."

Knowing what you’re working with is key to cultivating a perfect beard and the only way to do that is to allow it to grow. You may be surprised— length can fill out and hide patchy areas and a beard could grow in fuller and thicker than you ever imagined.

As your whiskers grow out, they can be itchy and uncomfortable, especially if the sensation is new to you. Many men who embark on bearded life don’t make it past the first month. To help soothe the itch, use a stubble balm to soften the shorter hairs of your beard and make them more tolerable or use a beard oil to help keep the skin underneath smooth and moisturized (dry skin will make your new beard itch more). If you feel like you could be mistaken for Bigfoot, it's time to see a barber for your first trim.

"[Once] you’ve dialed in the perfect beard shape with your barber, ask them for their advice on how to tame any fly aways in between appointments, and for grooming/product recommendations to keep it healthy and in shape," says Brownless. The styling products you choose to use are crucial for taming your beard, so heed your barber's advice in their suggestions for your new hair care routine.

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Uppercut Deluxe Beard Balm

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Golden Grooming Company Beard Oil & Balm Bundle for Men

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Typology. Beard & Hair Care Pair

5. Plan Your Beard Lines

There’s a caveat to not touching your growing beard: you still need to keep the lines crisp as it grows out to start creating what will be its final form. There’s a fine line between an intentional, well-maintained beard and just a bunch of wild growth and it all comes down to the neck.

As you start to get some length to the facial hair, decide where you want your neck line to fall. Some men prefer a higher line, about an inch or so above the Adam’s apple, and some men like a slightly lower line. Visualize a “U” from ear to ear with the lowest part hitting where you want the neck line to fall (turn your head from side to side to make sure you see it from all angles). Then use a razor or trimmer to shave below it. When you look straight ahead in the mirror, you should not see any hair on your neck below your chin. The same goes for your cheeks—keep them free of straggling hairs creeping up from the main part of the beard.

How crisp you keep those lines is up to you, but keeping your cheeks hair-free will say “I have a beard!” rather than “I haven’t shaved in a week!” Start experimenting with the lines as your beard grows out, so by the time you have enough length to start shaping it, you know exactly where you want the lines to fall.

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Schick Xtreme 3 Pivot Ball Disposable Razors

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Philips Norelco OneBlade Hybrid Electric Trimmer and Shaver

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Andis 32400 Slimline Pro Lithium Ion T-blade Trimmer

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Bevel Safety Razor, Double Edge Safety Razor for Men

6. Trim Your Beard Into Shape

Congratulations—you’ve made it through the hardest part! Once you have about two months of beard growth, the fun part begins. You now have an honest-to-god beard and it’s time to give it some shape. Begin by washing it with a beard wash (bonus points if you follow with a beard conditioner) to help soften the hairs. Then, using downward motions, brush it out with a coarse-bristle beard brush, which helps to smooth the hair and immediately identify flyaways and stragglers. Use scissors to trim those errant hairs so they don’t stick out (also use these scissors on any mustache hairs that fall over your lips). Then using a beard trimmer with multiple guards, begin to trim your beard into the shape you want. Start with the longest guard and gradually work your way shorter as you shape it. If this all sounds go complicated to you, head to your barber to ask him to shape it for you - then all you have to do at home is maintain the edges.

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Braun MGK3060 8-in-1 All-in-One Beard Trimmer

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Remington MB4700 Smart Beard Trimmer

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Cremo 100% Boar Bristle Beard Brush

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

BRV MEN Facial Hair Scissors for Men

7. Get Regular Trims

Once you have your desired shape, it's important to get a trim every few weeks—about as often as you would get a haircut. Shape is everything when it comes to beards, and a few weeks of uninterrupted growth can take you from scruffy to fluffy real fast. Keep your beard in check by keeping a regular appointment with your barber or trimming every few weeks at home.

Beard Products Help Your Beard to Look Its Best

Now that you have a full, mighty beard of your own, it’s time to make it shine. Right after you trim it, use a few drops of beard oil to smooth and moisturize your facial hair. Beard oils work best if you massage them into the skin underneath as well, which can get dry easily when it’s covered by facial hair.

Then use a beard cream or balm, depending on how coarse your facial hair is and how much control you want, to smooth it and shape it into place. You’ll want to do this routine often, even if you’re not trimming your beard (which you’ll want to do every two weeks or so). Use a beard wash every time you shampoo your hair (which should be about every two days) and brush your beard every day after you shower. This will help distribute the natural oils and keep the wiry hairs moisturized as well as exfoliate the skin underneath. Use your beard oil and balm after every time you wash it and on the days between as needed.

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Shea Moisture Mens Beard Wash

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Jack Black Beard Oil with Kalahari Melon Oil & Vitamin E, 1 Fl Oz

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Scotch Porter Hydrate & Nourish Beard Conditioner

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Beardbrand Lumber Yard Beard Utility Balm

Read more: Best Beard Oil


How We Selected

For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top beard products for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, and our Deputy Editor of Commerce, Christian Gollayan, tried dozens of beard products and evaluated their ingredients, feel, consistency, and effectiveness. We also considered top-reviewed beard products that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.

Read more: How to Grow a Mustache

Tips on how to grow facial hair faster

Garrett Munce writes about men's style and grooming. He's written for Esquire, New York Magazine, Spotlyte, and Very Good Light and held staff positions at GQ and W. Follow his skincare obsession on Instagram at @garrettmunce.

Can you speed up facial hair?

There's no way to make your beard hair grow faster. But there's plenty you can do that may help your beard hair grower in thicker, stronger, and healthier. Try adjusting your diet, lifestyle, and daily hygiene habits to see what works for you.

How can I grow my beard faster in 7 days?

How to grow a beard faster?.
Exfoliate your skin. To grow a beard faster you need to start taking care for your face. ... .
Keep your skin clean. ... .
Moisturize your skin. ... .
Check your face for ingrown hairs. ... .
Manage stress. ... .
Take Vitamins and Supplements. ... .
Do not trim..

Can facial hair grow in 3 days?

A full beard can take 2 to 4 months to grow, as facial hair tends to grow between 0.3 and 0.5 millimeters (mm) every 24 hours. This works out to between one third and one half an inch per month.