Much like the hair on your head, your facial hair needs proper maintenance in order to look and grow its best. While there are a lot of different factors involved in the optimization of beard growth, one of the most frequently asked questions to arise when it comes to facial hair is whether or not conditioner helps beard growth. After all, the same basics of hair care that apply to your scalp hair, apply to your facial hair. But is there any proof that conditioners can actually help in the overall growth of your beard?
In order to understand if conditioner helps beard growth, we first need to explore what the effects of using a conditioner on your facial hair are.
The Effects Of Using a Conditioner On Your Facial Hair
Surprisingly, there has been very little research done on the effects of using a conditioner specifically on facial hair – most of the research being focused on scalp hair. That said, there have been some studies done that have seen some positive results from the use of conditioner when applied to facial hair.
First and foremost, conditioner helps to soften facial hair, reducing the uncomfortable feeling of a coarse, bristly beard. Not only does this provide a more pleasant physical sensation when brushing or running your hands over the length of your beard, it also works to reduce split ends and breakage. This breakage can occur due to a variety of environmental factors, such as excessive sun exposure, wind, and temperature changes.
Furthermore, using conditioner on facial hair can also help to repair damage that is already done. This is done by forming a protective barrier around damaged hair cuticles, helping them to heal over time. As a result, conditioners can help to reduce frizz and keep facial hair looking neat and tidy.
Does Conditioner Help Beard Growth?
So, if conditioner helps to protect and soften facial hair – does than mean it can help to promote beard growth? The simple answer is: not necessarily.
The general consensus from experts is that conditioner helps to maintain already existing beard growth, however, it will not necessarily spark or increase beard growth.
In fact, facial hair is particularly sensitive to stripping of its natural oils, and most store-bought conditioners contain chemicals or fragrances that can often cause more harm than good. For example, strong detergents or fragrances can further strip away facial hair of its natural oils, leading to dry, brittle hair that might even break off.
Also, depending on the type of conditioner being used, some can actually cause more friction and tension between the hairs of your beard, resulting in split ends, breakage, and brittleness over time.
What Can Help Actually Promote Beard Growth?
So, what can you do to promote beard growth, aside from using a conditioner?
The most important thing to remember when growing out a beard is to keep it clean and healthy. This means that you should be washing your facial hair at least twice per week with a specific beard shampoo, as regular shampoo can strip away too much of the natural oils. Plus, you want to opt for a beard shampoo that is specifically made to nourish and moisturize facial hair.
You can also apply a beard oil to your facial hair regularly, as this can help to soften, hydrate, and nourish facial hair – all of which can help promote hair growth. Depending on how much help your beard needs, you might find that combing or brushing your beard on a regular basis can encourage beard growth.
Finally, it can help to switch up your diet and make sure that you are getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals in our meals. Key vitamins and minerals like zinc, biotin, vitamin B, and protein can be particularly beneficial in promoting beard growth.
Supplement Suggestions
If your diet is lacking in some of the essential vitamins and minerals required for proper beard growth, you might want to consider taking nutritional supplements. Of course, as with any dietary supplement, it is important to speak to your doctor or health care professional before taking them – just to make sure that there are no possible side effects of taking them.
Some of the main supplement choices to look into include zinc, biotin, vitamin B-complex, and vitamin A. Zinc, in particular, is an especially important mineral when it comes to the growth of facial hair, as it helps to produce sebum, the natural oil found in the scalp, which is important for keeping hair well-nourished.
Other vitamins that can help to promote beard growth include vitamin B-complex, which works to produce healthy hair cells, and vitamin A, which helps to repair any damaged tissue in the scalp. Lastly, biotin supplements can be taken to further support facial hair growth, as biotin helps to give hair cuticles the necessary strength to resist breakage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while conditioner can help to maintain already existing facial hair and protect it from environmental damage, there is no scientific proof that it can directly promote beard growth. Instead, there are other methods and products, such as exercising, eating healthy, supplementing, and washes and oils, that are better suited for cultivating facial hair growth. Doing research, speaking to experts, and consulting with doctors can help you to make the best decision for your facial hair needs.