Your genetics are the primary factor that determines how thick your beard will grow. You can't change your genetics but living an overall healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet can help you maximize your beard growing potential. Many men's beards continue to get thicker into their 30s.
If you genetically don't have a beard then you'll never have one. Genetics drive that.
It's a fairly common misconception that a man's beard is inherited directly from his father. The truth is that beards are just like most other genetically derived features: they can come from either side of the family.
Does No Beard Mean Low Testosterone? That's not entirely true. Testosterone can influence facial hair quality, but when your genes are not favorable for beard production, testosterone can't help. Most men have similar levels of testosterone, including men without a beard.
Most men will have a full beard by their early 20s, but some may need to wait until they hit 30 to reach full beard growth. Puberty might initiate the facial hair growing process, but how fast and thick your beard grows will depend on factors that we'll discuss below, including genetics and hormone levels.
Genetics also affect where facial hair grows and when your beard reaches its full potential. “From ages 18 to 30, most beards continue to develop in thickness and coarseness,” he says.
Dr. Jennifer Chwalek: It's based on genetics as well as hormones. Some men, you know, have more hair follicles, so they can grow denser, coarser beards than others. Testosterone gets converted in the hair follicle to a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone.
Testosterone home testing kits are widely available from several companies, including LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, and Progene. They use your blood or saliva to test your hormone levels. After taking the test, you'll send your sample to a laboratory for testing.
The results showed that beard length (directly measured and self-reported) was not related to testosterone levels or dominance; thus, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that beards are honest (or dishonest) signals of the beard owners' testosterone levels and dominance.
What race grows the best beard? People from Mediterranean countries tend to be able to grow thick beards compared to people from other regions. According to a 2016 study , Chinese men generally have less facial hair growth than Caucasian men.
No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out. During this phase, the hair might be more noticeable and perhaps appear darker or thicker.
One of our most inspirational female record holders is Harnaam Kaur (UK), who became the world's youngest female with a full beard at 24 years 282 days old. We had a chat with Harnaam to learn more about her life and how she does her amazing eyeliner!
Does shaving every day speed up beard growth? No. This is an old myth that has no research to support it. Your beard hair may look thicker when you shave because you've trimmed off the thinner tops of the hairs and exposed the thicker, darker base near the follicle.
It is down to genetics unfortunately. Some people just don't have the genes to grow thick facial hair. Many people just don't give themselves the best chance and give up before seeing any results!
Much the same way not all men's haircuts will suit you, beards are not one-size-fits-all.
Yes, your beard can get thicker with age. But you'll need to be patient—it may take years to achieve the fullness and density you want. The exact amount of growth depends on a number of factors: genetics, diet, stress levels and overall health—all things that affect hair growth in general.
Most cases of low testosterone are treatable, and being aware of the symptoms can help a person receive an early diagnosis and treatment.
Acquired circumstances that can lead to secondary hypogonadism include: Normal aging: Aging affects production and response to hormones. Obesity: High body fat can affect hormone production and response. Medications: Opioid pain meds and steroids can affect function of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
You can't grow a beard if the genetics for it simply aren't there. But, if you provide the healthiest environment for hair growth, it should help even out patchy spots or thicken existing hair. If nothing seems to work, then take comfort in the fact that fashions change every few years.
Consider Shaving Your Face Before Growing a Beard
It seems counterintuitive, but shaving could help grow a beard, at least at first. Many barbers recommend giving yourself a good, close shave to stimulate the hair follicles and possibly cut down on the amount of ingrown hairs you get once the hair starts to grow out.