Beard growth can be extremely frustrating if you are not having it 1st time. It can seem like no matter what you try, your beard is not thick enough and you are met with hurdles at all points.There are so many issues that can lead to the process of thicker beard growth. From genetic predisposition to your hormone levels, food intake and even stress levels play viral role. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to growing a beard and caring for it, here is all you need to know to get it.
Natural beard growth
Your beard can start growing anywhere between the teenage years to the late 20s and even later in some cases. The color, time of growth, texture and thickness of your beard is generally tied into your DNA, and patience is the key to growing in a beard. Your health, testosterone levels and genes also determine the beard growth. However, it is also very crucial to realize that your general health is also a factor in beard growth. In order to present your beard with the ideal environment conducive to its growth, it is extremely important to take care of the body, your diet and the exercise you are getting.
Hormonal factors
Growing beards boil down to testosterone and dihydro testosterone or DHT. Higher levels of testosterone and DHT are generally linked to greater levels of facial hair. Sensitivity to these hormones generally causes people to grow hair earlier. Men with lower DHT levels generally tend to retain their head hair. There are ways to increase the levels of testosterone in the body with the help of exercise and weight lifting. It is also a good idea to increase the nutritional intake of your body to increase energy levels, metabolism and testosterone production. Rest and stress reduction are also ways to get a better and fuller beard.
Foods that promote beard growth
- Sweet Potatoes – They are rich in beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A which helps with beard growth.
- Oysters – Zinc found in Oysters enables cells to boost hair growth.
- Eggs – Their protein content and biotin content can improve beard growth. They are also rich in calcium, zinc and iron.
- Spinach – With their high calcium, protein, magnesium and iron content, it boosts beard growth.
- Liver – High in both iron and biotin. You can also get supplements for both.
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon can boost oxygen flow to hair follicles.
Exercise
With appropriate exercises like resistance training which has been linked to increasing testosterone levels with a body fat percentage of 8-14% being ideal for high testosterone levels. Boosting testosterone levels is also related to getting enough sleep with 7-10hours daily. It is also necessary to go for a full diet.
Beard issues
Itchy beard
Itchiness is natural as your beard grows and with time it eventually stops. Beard oils are your best friend as they can condition the hair and make the skin less dry. Ensure that you get products meant for your beard as well to prevent damage to your hair.
Shaver vs Razor
It is very necessary to ensure that your beard is properly groomed for it to look good. Using the perfect tool can help you get the beard in shape. Electric trimmers tend to leave sharper edges which can lead to itchiness, irritation and split ends. Trimming with a razor can be a better idea and can lead to more natural growth.
Beard dandruff
Caused by Malasseziaglobosa, a micro-organism that feeds on the oils secreted by the skin or the sebum, which it breaks down to oleic acid, which can, in some people cause over production of skin cells that causes dandruff. A good solution for this is to exfoliate using physical or chemical means. Use a good quality scalp brush or a beard brush targeted for dandruff or use some chemical exfoliates like lactic acid or glycolic acid and to be gentle on the skin and do the step in the shower.
Patchy beard
While some people are blessed with full, thick and dense beards, others often find the process really difficult, especially if you are met with sparse and wiry hair follicles interspersed with patches that are hairless. However, it is so necessary to not be disheartened, since there are ways to make your beard look fuller and denser. The first thing to focus on is giving the hair some time to grow. Stick it out throughout the estimated 4-5 moths that it can take to look fuller and denser. By styling the hair into place, you can even disguise the sparse areas.
Every beard is different and none grow uniformly. With regular trimming and pruning, your beard can definitely look more even and symmetrical. Even though in certain cases beard patchiness is irreversible, it can be a good idea to go for shorter lengths or a ‘scruff’.
Split ends
Split ends occur when the follicles become too coarse or brittle and can cause the ends to split. Since it is caused by a lack of moisture, or sebum oil, it is necessary to use good quality beard oil that can help remedy the issue. Split ends can also be caused from dyeing your beard, since the chemicals can dry out the skin and hair follicles and can cause damage. It is very necessary to care for the beard even more if you dye it often. Also ensure that you are using a beard shampoo for your beard and not a hair shampoo, since the ingredients can dry out the beard hair.
Beard hair fall
Just like any other part of your body, you are likely to lose beard hair. Since beard hair follicles are thicker and coarser, it does show up more and it is not indicative of time to shave it all off. Preventing hair loss is easy if you simply reduce the time you are taking to brush or comb your beard and use a high-quality beard comb that does not tug at hair particles. It is very necessary to be gentle on the beard and not touch, grab, comb or brush it too much. Also consider satin sheets instead.