How to Grow a Thicker Beard: The Complete Guide!

Do you want to grow a thicker, fuller beard and don’t know where to start? 

Well, today is your lucky day because, in this article, we will talk about everything, thick beards! We will drop some knowledge bombs about how to grow a thicker beard, including dietary adjustments, grooming methods, and natural cures. So if you want to know what it takes to grow an enormous beard and up your beard game in general, read on.

What Makes a Beard Look Thicker?

Before diving into the actual tips and advice on how to grow a thicker beard, it is essential to understand what makes a beard look thicker. By understanding this, you will better understand why you need to follow the tips we will discuss later on.

1. Hair Follicle & Diameter Size

As you can understand, the size of your hair follicles and their diameter are the two main elements that affect the thickness of your beard. Hair follicles are tiny structures within the skin that produce hair. Bigger hair follicles produce thicker hairs, making your beard look fuller. 

Just like scalp hair, the size of your hair influences the overall thickness of the beard (thicker beard hair equals thicker looking beard & thinner beard hair equals thinner looking beard). 

While a big part of these two elements is determined by genetics, living a healthy lifestyle, feeding your hair follicles properly, and adopting appropriate beard care practices can all help you achieve the thickest beard possible.

2. Beard Hair Coverage and Density

The level to which your facial hair covers your face is referred to as your beard’s hair coverage. Good coverage means your beard covers a good portion of your face without patches or whatsoever and gives your beard a fuller, thicker appearance. Your beard’s coverage and density significantly contribute to how thick your beard will look lie. 

On the other hand, density describes the number of hair follicles per unit area. A beard that seems thicker has a higher beard hair density. Again, genetics dictate your natural coverage and density to a considerable extent.

3. The Length of Your Beard

The length of your beard influences the perception of thickness. Due to the increased hair length, your beard looks thicker and fuller as it grows longer. Individual beard hairs are longer and fill in sparse places and, as a result, produce a denser appearance. To maximize the look of thickness and produce a robust and full-bodied beard, practice patience and let your beard grow to the desired length. If you are growing your beard for the first time, keep in mind that regular beard shaping and trimming can help by stopping straggly or uneven growth.

4. Your Beard Hair Color

The appearance of your beard’s thickness will also vary depending on its hair color. Darker beard hair tends to look thicker compared to lighter hair. This happens because dark hair absorbs more light. 

It’s crucial to remember that your beard’s color does not influence its actual thickness or growth. 

Related Article: Make a Homemade Beard Dye

5. The Color of your skin

Your skin color does not influence the thickness of your beard, but the contrast between your skin and hair color can give the impression of a thicker or thinner beard. This means that people with light skin and beard color or dark skin and beard color will give the impression of a thicker beard. On the other hand, if the contrast between your skin and beard color is high, your beard might look thinner.

Factors That Impact Your Ability to Grow a Thicker Beard

1. Dihydrotestosterone Levels

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone produced from testosterone, is essential for facial hair development. DHT stimulates the growth of hair follicles and encourages the creation of thicker beard hair follicles.

People with higher DHT levels typically have a better chance of developing a thick beard. Genetic and hormonal variables determine the amount of DHT in your body, and while it is out of your direct control, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and supporting overall hormonal balance can help maximize DHT levels and aid in developing a thicker beard.

2. Testosterone Levels

The length and thickness of beards are greatly influenced by testosterone, a hormone that males start to produce during puberty. Testosterone initiates and stimulates facial hair growth, and higher testosterone levels promote the growth of facial hair and the possibility of a thicker beard. 

It’s crucial to remember that beard thickness is mainly influenced by hormonal balance and individual genetics. While testosterone levels affect beard growth, preserving overall hormonal balance and implementing healthy lifestyle habits can maximize the likelihood of developing a full, dense beard.

3. Age

The ability to develop a longer and thicker beard is also affected by age. The spike in hormones that occurs throughout puberty, especially testosterone, causes the growth of facial hair and promotes the formation of a thicker beard. However, testosterone production gradually decreases as men age, which causes slower or thinner beard development. 

Related Article: At What Age Does Your Beard Stop Filling In?

4. Nutrients

Nutrients are essential for promoting beard thickness and development. For optimal hair follicle function and general hair health, consuming the recommended amounts of critical vitamins, minerals, and proteins is crucial. 

Keratin, the protein that makes up hair strands, is produced with the help of nutrients, including biotin, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, and protein. These vitamins and minerals support strong hair follicles, encourage hair development, and increase beard thickness. 

A balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains can offer the nutrients required for healthy beard growth. Taking vitamins or using topical solutions designed specifically to support beard health may also be advantageous, but ask your doctor before doing so.

5. Alopecia Areata

An autoimmune disease called alopecia areata might make it challenging to develop a thicker beard. Hair loss caused by alopecia areata can occur in patches or throughout the entire body, including the beard area, due to the immune system wrongly attacking hair follicles. 

It will be challenging to grow a full beard if alopecia areata affects the beard since it can cause scanty or thinning hair. Topical prescription drugs, corticosteroid injections, and immune-modulating therapy are all available treatments for alopecia areata. 

The regrowth of hair in the beard area cannot be guaranteed, and the efficacy of these therapies may vary. A dermatologist should be consulted for diagnosis, management advice, and information on how alopecia areata affects beard thickness.

12+4 Tips On How to Grow a Better Beard

1. Skin Care Routine

A good skin care regimen is necessary for optimal beard growth. Maintaining healthy skin beneath your beard promotes a favorable environment for hair development. Regular skin care can stop dryness, irritation, and flakiness, which can impede beard growth. 

Exfoliating your skin will help remove the dead skin cells and helps follicles stay healthy. 

2. Keep Stress Levels Low

According to studies, ongoing stress can result in hair follicle damage and reduced hair growth. This is because high amounts of stress can affect hormonal balance, including the synthesis of testosterone, which is essential for beard development, as already mentioned. 

You can assist hormone levels function optimally and encourage healthier beard development by reducing stress through relaxation techniques, physical activity, and a balanced lifestyle. 

3. Rest Well

Just like your body, your beard needs enough sleep to be healthy. Getting enough sleep enables the body to produce enough testosterone, which, as you know by now, is necessary for healthy beard growth. This is because when you sleep, your body does many restorative activities, including hormone regulation and cell renewal. 

Lack of sleep can throw off hormonal balance, which results in slower hair growth and thinner beards. Making good sleep a priority and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night helps promote healthy beard development and thickness.

4. Eat Well

A healthy diet with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like carnitine will help you grow a healthier beard. Carnitine, present in meat and dairy products, improves the health of hair follicles and encourages hair growth. Vitamins such as Biotin (B7), Vitamin A, and Vitamin E are essential for healthy hair growth and can make your beard thicker. Iron and zinc, two essential elements, help maintain healthy hair follicles. 

A balanced diet with a mix of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains will help nourish your beard from the inside out and promote healthier, thicker growth.

5. Exercise (Weight Lifting)

Exercises like weightlifting and other strength exercises encourage testosterone synthesis. And as you know by now, the higher the testosterone levels, the healthier your beard. 

Additionally, weightlifting enhances blood circulation, which supplies your hair follicles with vital nutrients and oxygen that promote their health and growth. Adding weightlifting activities to your fitness regimen will not only make you look shredded but also give you a killer beard.

6. Hydration

Getting enough water is vital to maintaining good health, which includes healthy hair follicles. Hydration ensures the hair follicles get enough moisture, encouraging strong hair development. 

Water supports a healthy and clean environment for beard development by removing toxins from the body. Staying hydrated can help beard hair grow thicker and healthier by preventing dryness, brittleness, and breakage. So drink plenty of water throughout the day to promote healthy beard development.

7. Take Vitamins

Vitamins can help you grow a better beard by giving your body the necessary nutrients to encourage hair development. Vitamins, including biotin, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin D, are believed to support healthy hair and encourage the development of beards.

These vitamins support healthy hair growth, stop hair breakage, and hydrate the beard from the inside out. Ensuring you have enough of these vitamins in your diet or taking supplements will promote healthy beard development and achieve a thicker, more youthful-looking beard.

8. Stop Shaving

A thick beard can only be achieved by not shaving it and letting it grow. When you stop shaving, you allow your facial hair to grow and develop fully. This makes it possible for a beard to grow fuller and thicker over time. 

9. Be Patient

Regardless of your hair type, always remember that facial hair takes time to develop and reach its full thickness and length. 

Rushing the process or getting angry can result in bad choices, such as over-trimming or over-grooming. 

Exercising patience gives your beard a chance to develop at its own rate and attain its full potential. A better beard will develop over time if you embrace the growing process and maintain consistency in your grooming practices.

10. Trim Your Beard

Trimming your beard can help it grow better. Regular and thoughtful trimming removes split ends, helps your beard grow better, and delays the onset of a scraggly look. Trimming can also help define and shape your beard, boosting its overall appearance and making it appear fuller and better-groomed. 

Additionally, trimming encourages uniform development, minimizing the visibility of any patchy or uneven growth.

11. Use Beard Oil

Beard oil can help grow a healthier beard by providing nourishment and moisture to the facial hair and skin beneath. The oil formulation, which should include only organic components like carrier and essential oils, helps hydrate the beard and lessen its dryness and brittleness. In turn, this lessens the possibility of hair breakage and encourages healthy development.

Related Article: When To Start Using Beard Oil?

12. Shampoo and Condition Your Beard

Beard growth can be improved by frequently shampooing and conditioning your beard. Shampoos for beards, aka beard washes, clean the skin beneath the hair and the hair itself, removing dirt, oil, and product buildup that obstruct healthy development. 

Moisturizing, nourishing, and conditioning your beard using a beard conditioner or oil will make it softer, smoother, and less prone to breakage. Additionally, maintaining a clean, healthy beard create a better environment for hair growth, resulting in thicker, stronger hair. Shampooing and conditioning your beard regularly promotes its general health and aesthetic appeal.

Related Article: Best Beard Shampoo for the Cleanest Beard

4 Options for Getting a Thick Beard (That You Shouldn’t Try Before Talking to a Medical Professional)

1. Use a Derma Roller

The derma roller’s tiny needles cause tiny skin injuries and activate your body’s healing process. During this procedure, more blood and collagen are sent to heal the injured area, which results in increased nutrient delivery promoting hair growth. The derma roller should, however, be used correctly, a specialist should be consulted.

2. Supplements

Healthier and thicker beard development can be aided by supplements like biotin, vitamins (A, D, and E), and minerals (such as zinc and iron). These supplements, as already mentioned, support general hair health by nourishing the hair follicles and strengthening the hair strands. 

However, speaking with a medical practitioner before beginning any supplement regimen is crucial to ensure they suit you and your individual requirements.

3. Minoxidil

A topical drug called minoxidil can help you develop a luscious beard by encouraging thicker, longer hair. Minoxidil expands blood vessels and stimulates hair follicles when administered to the beard area, increasing hair growth. 

However, because minoxidil has potential side effects and must be applied consistently for long-lasting results, it is crucial to use it under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

4. Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy can help you grow a thicker beard by treating hormonal imbalances that may impede your beard growth. Hormone therapy can aid in restoring hormonal balance and aiding beard development in people who suffer from low testosterone levels or other hormone deficits. 

This therapy entails using medications prescribed to control hormone levels. However, hormone therapy should only be pursued under the guidance of a medical expert who can assess your unique circumstances and decide on the best course of action.

Common Myths About Growing Facial Hair

There are several common myths and misunderstandings regarding the growth of facial hair. Let’s dispel some of the most widespread misconceptions and clarify the facts:

Myth 1: Shaving Makes Hair Grow Thicker and Faster

The idea that shaving your facial hair will cause it to regrow thicker and more quickly is one of the most pervasive fallacies. In truth, shaving has no effect on how thick or quickly hair grows.

Myth 2: Applying Certain Products Makes Beard Grow Faster

Numerous products on the market promise to quicken the growth of facial hair and make it thicker, but the majority of them are unsuccessful. Topical treatment cannot magically accelerate the growth of your facial hair and make it thicker. Genetics, hormonal factors, and general health are the main determinants of facial hair growth.

Conclusion

It’s crucial to comprehend the elements affecting beard growth and thickness. You can increase your chances of growing a thicker and more remarkable beard by following a regimen for taking care of your beard, making good lifestyle choices, and exercising patience.