Assess Your Growth
For some, the beard grows in quickly, but for others it can take weeks or even months before the desired, full beard can appear. If you want to assess whether your beard is growing in, you can use a few simple methods. Begin by simply looking in the mirror to determine how evenly the bristles of the beard are distributed. If everything looks uneven, then it could mean you’re in the early stages of growth and that it just won’t take much longer for your desired length to appear.
Next, comb through your beard daily to assess the patches of growth throughout your face. This can be done with a light brushing of your fingers or with a comb. Combing the beard can help you determine whether it’s patchy or already growing in evenly. If it is patchy, and in just a few places, it’s likely that it will only take a few weeks or so to fill in.
Doing a wet assessment can also be done to determine how your beard is filling in. Wet your fingers and run them against the bristles. This will help to draw out any ‘hairs’ that were more difficult to feel before, and that gives a better indication of how quickly your beard is growing in.
Expect the Timeline to Vary
How quickly your beard fills in can be influenced by a range of factors, from genetics, to age. Typically, it can take up to a few weeks for your beard to fill in, but for some men this timeline can take up to a few months.
The length of hair follicles can also impact the timeline, particularly if the follicles are thick and wide, or thin and narrow. This can lead to a longer period of time before the desired length is achieved.
Your lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise, can also influence the rate at which your facial hair fills in. Factors such as stress and sleeping habits can have a direct effect on how quickly your beard will make its appearance. Eating some foods that are known to have a positive effect on hair growth, such as fish, lentils and other healthy proteins, can also contribute to your facial hair growth throughout the weeks or months.
Beard Care and Maintenance
Aside from simply allowing your beard to fill in, there are some things that you can do to support its growth journey. Beard care is an essential process that needs to happen in order for your facial hair to remain healthy, and therefore grow in consistently.
Using an exfoliating scrub once a week can help remove the build-up of dirt and product residue, and allow your hair follicles to open up and absorb nourishment such as oils and moisturizers. Conditioning your beard can also help to give it a healthy appearance and encourage confident growth.
Be sure to regularly apply a beard oil or moisturizer in order to maintain the health of the facial hair and provide it with necessary nutrients and proteins. This might include using a butter-based moisturizer every day, or an oil which may also contain vitamin E, to increase the hair follicle’s strength and help prevent breakage.
Manage Stress Levels
In order to promote full and healthy hair growth, it is important to manage your stress levels. Stress levels can have a direct effect on how quickly your beard will fill in, as it can potentially contribute to hair loss and slow down the growth process. High cortisol levels, the hormone released due to overwhelming stress, can cause your beard to thin and grow slower.
Managing stress also means trying to reduce or cut back on bad habits such as smoking and drinking, since these habits can also make your facial hair weak, limiting the fullness of your beard. Simple relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and walking can also help to reduce stress levels and to help you maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, which will help to promote a full beard.
Seek Medical Advice
In rare cases, an individual may find that the beard’s growth is severely stunted and this could be due to an underlying medical condition. Speak with a doctor if you feel that your beard’s growth is significantly delayed, as it is possible that there may be a medical issue at play, such as a problem with the thyroid, hormonal imbalance, or a skin condition.
The doctor may prescribe medication or suggest lifestyle changes to help promote the growth. It is important to go and get advice from a doctor if you are in any doubt, as this could help to get to the bottom of any potential problems and suggest the best course of action for facial hair growth.
Try Growth-Accelerating Products and Procedure
Some may find that the process of letting their beard fill in takes too long and may choose to take an alternative route. For those who want immediate results, there are a range of procedure and products that promise to accelerate the growth of your facial hair.
Beard transplants, for example, are an increasingly popular treatment that transfers follicles from one area of the body to the face in order to achieve a fuller appearance. While the procedure is highly effective, it should be carefully researched and discussed with professionals before going ahead.
Alternative treatments such as minoxidil and hair-growth supplements can also be used to promote facial hair growth. However, these products should only be used as suggested by a doctor and after carefully researching the pros and cons associated with the treatment.
Understand Genetics
Ultimately, in order to assess how well your beard is filling in, it is important to understand your genetics. Everyone’s facial hair will grow differently and the rate of growth can vary among individuals.
Researching your own genetics is the best way to assess how quickly your beard will grow, and to understand why some may be thicker and some thinner. Researching your family tree can also provide important insight into how your beard will grow and fill in over time.
Be Patient with the Process
Patience is essential when trying to determine whether your beard will fill in. Some may find that it takes a few weeks or months before the desired beard length looks the way they want it, but it is important to be patient with the process.
Allowing your facial hair to grow in at its own pace will ultimately help you to achieve the desired look, while avoiding impatience that can be damaging to the overall health of the beard. Once the beard has grown in, daily maintenance and care are essential. Taking the time to learn about your genetics and using the right products and procedures to promote growth can make a huge difference.
