If you're a man of style, you know that beards are always in fashion. Even when they are less popular than normal, you can never go wrong with a well-styled, healthy beard. Is your beard an indicator of attractiveness? On the one hand, you have to consider that all people have different tastes and preferences. However, there have been studies over the last decade that ask the question, "Are beards attractive?" Should you consider enhancing your beard growth? The answer to this question isn't simple.
We've put together a guide including five facts about growing out a beard.
Table of Contents
- Why Are Beards Attractive?
- What if You Can't Grow a Beard?
- 5 Facts About Beard Growth
- How Long Can a Beard Grow?
- Do Beards Change How Others Perceive You?
- Can Beard Growth Protect You?
- Do Beards Stand a Chance Against Seasonal Allergies?
- Is Beard Growth Cost-Effective?
- How To Enhance Your Beard Growth
- To Shave or Not To Shave
- Use Self-Care To Grow a Beard
- Use Supplements for Enhancements
- Give Wild Willies a Chance To Help You Achieve Beard Glory
Why Are Beards Attractive?
On the one hand, some believe that beards have become more popular because they are prevalent in TV and movies. However, facial hair also makes men look mature, socially dominant and more masculine. Beards can enhance your masculine features. For instance, your beard may create a longer face or larger jawline. Additionally, it can cause your eyes to stand out.
Some men choose to groom their beards in a way that enhances or hides features that they love or hate respectfully. For example, if you have hollow cheeks, you can use facial hair to fill them in.
What if You Can't Grow a Beard?
For some men, beard growth is a sensitive topic. If growing a beard feels like a struggle, there may be reasons behind it. In some cases, you can increase your beard's fullness with a few lifestyle changes. Before you can learn how to grow your beard thicker or longer, you need to understand the circumstances that may affect your ability to grow a beard.
How Old Are You?
Age does contribute to how well you can grow a beard. If you are still a teenager or in your early 20s, you still have a lot of growing up. You may find that your facial hair is patchy, or you have hardly any coverage. Your coverage will continue to increase into your 30s. If you're worried about your beard right now, you may have to wait for the beard to thicken with time.
Do Beards Run in Your Family?
Your ability to grow a beard is determined by genetics. Look at your grandparents and your father. Do they have thick or sparse beards? If they have thick beards, then odds are you inherited that trait.
Likewise, your ethnicity could contribute to your ability to grow facial hair. For example, people in Mediterranean countries tend to have thicker beards than people from other areas of the world. Where your hair concentrates on your face may also be attributed to your ethnicity.
What Are Your Testosterone Levels?
Sometimes, testosterone will contribute to beard growth. If you have low levels, you are less likely to have any facial hair. Keep in mind that your facial hair may not be impacted by it unless you have clinically low testosterone. Low testosterone can be characterized by the following:
- Fatigue
- Low sex drive
- Muscle building trouble
- Mood changes and irritability
- Increase in body fat
- Do You Have Any Health Conditions?
Some conditions can affect your ability to grow hair. Alopecia areata, for instance, is an autoimmune condition. The condition causes the hair on a patient's beard and head to fall out in patches. While there is no cure for the condition, there are treatment options available. You do not have to give up on an awesome beard because of alopecia.
Instead, your doctor may suggest Rogaine, topical immunotherapy, cortisone tablets, steroid injections, phototherapy or oral immunosuppressants. If you have alopecia areata, consult with your doctor before you try any over-the-counter remedies.
Are You Eligible for a Beard Transplant?
Just because you cannot grow a beard doesn't mean that you have to give up. There are a variety of ways for you to grow facial hair. One way to give yourself facial hair is through a beard transplant. A beard transplant involves taking hair from one part of your body and transplanting it on your face.
The doctor has two transplant options. He or she can do an FUE transplant or follicular unit extraction. To do this, a doctor harvests a complete follicular unit and transfers it. The FUT or follicular unit transplantation, on the other hand, occurs when a surgeon cuts a strip of tissue and removes the follicles from it.
During the implantation stage, the surgeon numbs your face with a local anesthetic. Then, he or she takes each follicle and implants it in your skin. Before the operation, you and your doctor agree upon the shape of the beard you want to grow.
Once the surgery ends, you need to recover. You will need about one day to recover, and you may see a crust form around the hair, but it flakes off within a few days. It takes about one week to 10 days for you to begin to shave normally. Keep in mind that your beard hair may fall out in about two to three weeks. Expect new hair to grow in its place. Once it begins to grow in, you can shave and trim as desired.
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5 Facts About Beard Growth
Men have been growing beards for as long as humanity has been on the planet! Throughout history, beards have been representative of fashion, class and more. Some cultures encourage men to grow beards, where others may encourage men to shave. The following are some fascinating facts about beard growth.
How Long Can a Beard Grow?
Have you ever looked at record-holders for beard growth? In 1997, a man named Shamser Singh from Punjab, India, received the title for longest beard in the world. His beard measured to about 6 feet in length from chin to tip. Now, the longest recorded beard in history was from a Norweigan man named Hans Langseth. His 17-foot-6-inch beard is stored at the Smithsonian Institution.
On average, your beard will continue to grow about 5 1/2 inches every year. If you stop shaving, your beard may reach a total of about 27 1/2 feet.
Do Beards Change How Others Perceive You?
You may feel like the same person with or without a beard, but how do others see you? Studies show that men who have beards may appear older and of a higher social status than other men. Of course, if you grow your beard too wild, it may have the opposite approach when it comes to a status symbol. However, compared to clean-shaven men, a face full of facial hair causes men to look more aggressive or angry when they are upset.
Can Beard Growth Protect You?
When you grow a beard, how protective do you think it is? On the one hand, you could be at a disadvantage in a battle because an opponent could grab your beard, but it is protective in other ways. When you stop shaving, your skin may clear up. As you shave, you spread bacteria on your face and may cause yourself follicle infections or razor rash. Additionally, the beard blocks about 95% of UV rays from the sun. Beards can protect you against skin cancer and may help prevent visible signs of aging beneath the beard.
Do Beards Stand a Chance Against Seasonal Allergies?
When you think about growing your beard, you probably don't think about your issues with seasonal allergies. Think of your beard as a pre-filter. It captures the spores, hence preventing them from entering your airways. When your beard captures the allergens, it releases them slowly over time. Sometimes the allergens enter the environment, but they do end up in your airways in other cases. Exposure over time to allergens will acclimate you to it and help reduce your reaction.
Is Beard Growth Cost-Effective?
Growing a beard can actually save you money in the long run. Even if you spend money on beard oil and beard growth kits, you'll still probably spend less than you would if you keep having to stock up on razors and shaving cream. If you want to buy different products to moisturize and shape your beard, you don't have to worry about the additional cost of shaving.
How To Enhance Your Beard Growth
The first rule to growing a beard is to know your facial hair. If you aren't familiar with your facial hair, how can you know what to expect? Think about how far down your neck you have to shave. When you shave every day, you know how far down your beard grows and which direction the hair grows in. Even if you only let yourself collect a few days of stubble, you would know if your facial hair is full or patchy.
To Shave or Not To Shave
Before you grow a beard, shave your face. A close shave stimulates the hair follicles. Likewise, it may reduce possible ingrown hairs as your beard begins to grow. When you shave first, you also have the opportunity to prep your skin. Use a pre-shave oil and massage it to cut down on razor burn and lubricate the skin. Use a fresh blade to shave with the grain slowly. Never rush through your shave. Rushing maximizes the possibility for cuts and nicks. Once shaved, rinse your face and apply a moisturizer.
Once you begin growing your beard, do not trim it for at least two months. You don't want to shape or trim your beard because you may not know yet what you're working with. You need to see your beard's shape before you can decide how to cultivate the perfect beard! If you have a patchy beard, you may notice that longer facial hair can cover up those spots. If you have trouble with itchiness from the beard early on, consider using beard oil to keep your skin smooth and moisturized.
While you do not want to shave or trim, you do want to keep your lines crisp. To keep the lines crisp, decide where you want the beard to stop on your neckline. You do not want hairs creeping from the main part of the beard.
Use Self-Care To Grow a Beard
Your beard growth relies on your health. If you want to grow a healthy beard, take care of yourself first. Like the hair on your head, your facial hair requires a healthy diet, regular sleep schedule, and hydration. If you need help reaching your goal, try to reduce stress as much as possible. Hair loss can occur due to being under too much stress. To ease stress, make sure you get plenty of rest at night.
Additionally, keep your diet balanced. Your body needs nutrients to grow hair, after all. Don't forget about skincare too. Skincare is important to your overall look, but caring for your skin and keeping a routine may help you grow a thicker, healthier beard.
Use Supplements for Enhancements
Some supplements may help men grow their beards out. Some studies show vitamin D may activate hair follicles after they become dormant. Likewise, B vitamins have the ability to strengthen and condition hair. Much like the hair on your head, some vitamins and nutrients promise healthy hair for your face. Daily vitamins or supplements may help with your beard growth.
Give Wild Willies a Chance To Help You Achieve Beard Glory
Growing out your beard doesn't have to be a long, arduous process. While it does require a little patience, it may not be impossible for you to have the beard of your dreams. Everyone's journey looks a little different.
We’re invested in your ability to grow the best possible facial hair. We’re happy to provide you not only with the tips and tricks of growing the best possible beard, but we also have products to enhance your growth and to keep your beard looking awesome for as long as possible. We know how important it is for you to take care of yourself, and we’re happy to help. To find out more about how to care for your facial hair, contact us today!