Hormone Imbalances
Many people struggle to grow a full beard, and it’s not just a matter of genetics. Hormone imbalances, such as too much testosterone or estrogen, largely influence our ability to grow facial hair. Testosterone is the hormone attributed to beard growth; it stimulates testosterone receptors in the derma to produce thick hair. Estrogen, on the other hand, works to block the effects of testosterone, which is why people with higher estrogen levels often find their facial hair growth stunted, or sparse in certain areas.
Diet and Nutrition
As with any type of hair growth, a healthy diet makes all the difference. Hair is composed of proteins, so without sufficient protein intake, our body will be unable to create the necessary building blocks for hair growth. Furthermore, vitamins and minerals, including biotin, zinc, and omega-3’s, are instrumental in creating healthy hair cells, and if we’re missing any of these essential nutrients, it’s likely we’ll struggle to grow a full and robust beard. Besides diet, lifestyle factors must be taken into account as well. For example, stress has been linked to beard loss; when we’re stressed, our bodies are inhibited from absorbing the necessary nutrients to nuture our facial hair.
Pituitary Gland Dysfunction
In some cases, a malfunctioning pituitary gland could inhibit an individual’s ability to grow facial hair. The pituitary gland is responsible for secreting hormones to various bodily functions and processes which includes the production of testosterone, and when the gland is impaired, testosterone levels drop, resulting in hair growth difficulties. When our bodies don’t have a sufficient amount of testosterone receptors, our ability to produce facial hair becomes limited.
Genetic Predispositions
To put it simply, some people are just predisposed to a sparse or patchy beard. For instance, Asian faces are so physiologically different from western faces that growing a full beard is much less likely. The same goes for individuals with curly hair; due to their tightly curled follicles, facial hair often takes longer to grow and may appear sparse on certain areas of the face.
Heredity
At the end of the day, genetics play a large role in the thickness and color of our facial hair. Let’s take men’s sideburns for example; if your parents or grandparents have thin or patchy sideburns, then it’s likely you’ll have the same problem. As a result, you may not be able to grow a full beard, or the beard you do grow will likely be patchy or sparse. Sadly, there’s no way to surpass our genetics.
Shaving and Hair Care
When it comes to growing a full beard, having a proper beard care routine is vital. That means refraining from excessive and forceful shaving; even if you can’t grow a full beard, it doesn’t mean you should shave aggressively in order to mask the patchy areas. If you do this, you’ll likely damage some of the hair follicles—an act which further damages the condition of your facial hair, and makes the situation much worse.
Facial Hair Transplantation
In some cases, going through a facial hair transplantation procedure may be the best and quickest way to obtain a full beard. Through this procedure, a doctor will extract healthy hair follicles from other parts of your body and transfer them to your face. After some time, you’ll be able to grow a full and natural-looking beard.
Growth Supplements
If you’re looking for a more natural alternative to facial hair transplants, growth supplements could be the way to go. Supplements are composed of a range of ingredients, vitamins and minerals which nourish the body and may promote healthy hair growth. Plus, since supplements are taken orally, there’s no need for a surgical procedure.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Eating healthy, exercising regularly and reducing stress are simple, yet effective methods for improving our facial hair growth. Eating nutritious food and taking care of our bodies gives us the energy we need to make hair grow. Furthermore, regular exercise has been linked to increased testosterone levels which in turn stimulates facial hair growth. Finally, reducing stress helps prevent hair loss, due to the lack of nutrients our body is able to absorb while distressed.
Facial Hair Oils and Balms
The right facial oil or balm has the potential to thicken and protect your beard. Natural oils and botanicals are the best options for keeping the hair follicles hydrated and healthy, as artificial moisturizers can strip away natural oil, clog pores and slow the growth of our hair.
Grow What You Have: The Best Way To A Full And Healthy Beard
The best way to achieve a full and healthy beard is by being patient and understanding that everyone’s facial hair grows at its own pace. Try not to get discouraged; we should focus on accepting what we have, and doing our best to look after it. A healthy diet, exercising regularly and reducing stressful thoughts can do wonders for the hair growth process. Plus, there are many products designed to help thicken and promote facial hair. And finally, if all else fails, facial hair transplantation is always the last resort.
Conclusion
Growing a full beard can be both difficult and intimidating. Thankfully, there are many ways we can speed up the process , from adjusting our diets and developing healthy lifestyle habits, to using facial hair supplements and even transplanting hair follicles. As long as you keep patient and understand that our genetics can be a limitation, you’ll eventually achieve the full beard you want.
