Nutrition & Diet
Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is essential for the optimum functioning of the body. As with any other part of the body, beard hair needs a range of minerals, vitamins, and proteins to remain healthy and to be able to promote growth. It is well known that biotin is important for facial hair growth and nutritionists recommend a diet rich in this essential vitamin, which can be found in foods such as eggs, salmon, nuts, and avocados. Eating foods which contain the minerals zinc, selenium and magnesium can also help promote beard growth, with good sources for those minerals including oysters, Brazil nuts, legumes and whole grains. Additionally, a diet rich in protein is necessary to promote facial hair growth, with good sources of protein from a range of meats and vegetarian options such as nuts, beans, and tofu. It is important to note here that diet alone will not cause a beard to grow, it merely helps to provide the optimal conditions for the hair to grow.
Grooming & Maintenance
Beard grooming is essential for promoting growth. Keeping the skin and hair clean by washing with a beard-specific shampoo or cleanser encourages the growth of healthy, strong facial hair. Damage can occur to the hair if it is not washed and dried properly, leading to compromised growth. It is beneficial to have a general trim of the beard every few weeks to keep any loose ends under control and to maintain the desired shape of the beard. Additionally, using a conditioning beard oil or balm on a daily basis not only helps to keep the beard soft and healthy looking, but it can also help promote growth and prevent ingrown hairs.
Stress Reduction
When it comes to the wellbeing of the body, stress is an element that should not be treated lightly. When a person is stressed, a range of hormones are released, which can have a direct detrimental effect on a person’s physical health. Reducing stress is beneficial for the promotion of beard hairs since hormones such as cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, can be harmful to facial hair growth. Therefore, methods such as practising mindfulness, exercising, and deep breathing, can be useful for reducing stress and allowing for optimal beard growth.
Stimulating Growth
In addition to the more passive methods of increasing beard hair growth, there are also more active techniques. A popular method is to massage the skin which stimulates the hair follicles, increases blood flow and encourages growth. This can be done with either your fingers or with a specialised brush. Applying warmth to the skin increases blood flow to the area, causing the hair follicles to become more active, resulting in more rapid beard growth. One popular method is to use a hot cloth or a hot towel to stimulate the skin and hair follicles, and allow the skin to absorb the heat.
Topical Treatments
Over the counter products are available that are specifically designed to stimulate facial hair growth or to improve the appearance and condition of current facial hair. Products such as serums and oils that contain ingredients such as jojoba oil, castor oil, caffeine, and biotin are often recommended for stimulating beard growth. Additionally, some products contain DHT blockers which serve to reduce the amount of DHT, a hormone thought to interfere with beard growth, in the body.
Hormone Balance
Maintaining a balanced hormone level within the body is essential for the promotion of beard hair. Low testosterone, or other hormonal imbalances, can often be to blame for reduced growth. As such, it is important to have regular tests to check that hormones are within the correct range and balanced. If the tests reveal an imbalance, changes in lifestyle or medications may be recommended by specialists, in order to promote healthy facial hair growth and to maintain healthy testosterone levels.
Medications
In more serious cases of facial hair reduction, medications can be prescribed by a specialist in order to encourage beard growth. These medications tend to be either oral medications or topical products and they often contain hormonal stimulants. It is important to note here that such treatments should only be undertaken in consultation with a healthcare specialist and that any recommendations are followed precisely in order to minimise potential side effects.
Alternative Methods
Alternative methods that have been used to promote beard hairs include the use of essential oils, folk remedies, and herbal supplements. Such techniques may be beneficial, however, it is important to note that they do not enjoy the same level of clinical evidence that is associated with medication prescribed by healthcare professionals. As such, it is important to research any potential alternative methods carefully, and to proceed with caution.
