A patchy beard is often due to factors out of our control, like genetics passed down from parents or varying levels of hormones. Sparse facial hair growth can also occur if your diet lacks certain nutrients and vitamins. Have no fear. A patchy beard doesn't have to be scratchy and weird.
Genetics
Genetics can be responsible for your patchy facial hair. However, it's not necessarily for you to imbibe all the genes from your father. Genetics are complex and sometimes if you are lucky you might skip on patchy facial hair growth that has been in your family for generations.
So, if your beard is less dense, it's likely that you produce less testosterone and DHT or that your hair follicles are less receptive to these hormones than a man with a fuller beard.
Testosterone: There are many factors that affect beard growth, but the number one has to be testosterone, the male hormone. Specifically speaking, the growth rate of the beard depends on dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It is a by-product of testosterone and 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.
Also, the research found that the density of facial hair was correlated to the concentration of testosterone in the plasma. Interestingly, the research found that the participants who were engaging in a gluten-free diet experienced more pronounced effects in either group.
Age is a big factor in beard growth. While most men experience some facial hair growth around the age of 16, it doesn't usually turn into a full beard until the mid 20's. Your beard will continue to thicken well into your 30s and 40s, so if your beard is still patchy in your early 20s, try again in a few years.
Trimming your beard won't change the density or thickness of your facial hair. What it does help with is maintaining a neat appearance and preventing split ends. Regular trims can also help manage the shape of your beard as it grows, making it appear fuller and healthier.
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.
Even with unfortunate genetics, there are treatments available to help stimulate beard growth. Minoxidil, a solution for hair loss, is becoming an increasingly popular method of treatment for beard growth and is most effective when combined with a derma roller and proper beard care.
There is no specific ethnicity that can't grow facial hair, but East Asian individuals, such as Japanese and Chinese, tend to have less facial hair and slower growth rates compared to other ethnicities.
BEARD OIL - ALMOND & THYME: Almond oil nourishes the beard, promotes growth, treats any damage, and adds lustre. It is suitable for the skin as well, keeping it moisturised, smooth and soft. Thyme makes the hair softer, shinier and more manageable.
The genes responsible for facial hair growth are passed down from both your mother and father. So, next time you're admiring (or cursing) your beard, remember – it's a living testament to your family's genetic history!
Vitamin D. Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles, which promotes beard growth and thickness and is essential for hair's overall health. Low vitamin D levels are often associated with hair loss2 or thinning hair. Maintain optimal vitamin D levels by ensuring sufficient exposure to natural sunlight.
Studies have shown that using a beard roller can increase the thickness and number of hairs in the beard in as little as 4-6 weeks. Additionally, beard rollers can help to reduce itchiness and beardruff, as well as soften and condition the beard. What is beard microneedling?
Where you fall on the spectrum of thickening beard growth depends on your genetics. Some men are able to grow full beards in their teens, and others have to wait until their late twenties – but in general, the trend is the same: Thickening growth over time until about the age of 30.
The results indicated that the women found men with light stubble most attractive; these men were preferred as both short- and long-term partners. However, the women perceived male faces with full beards as the most masculine, aggressive, and socially mature; the women also thought these men looked older.
Do Beard and Scalp Massages. You can promote healthy hair growth by performing regular scalp massages — or beard massages, as the case may be. These massages stimulate blood circulation, delivering a greater amount of oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles, promoting healthier hair growth.
Shaving your beard so that it can grow back better is a myth. Scientific studies have shown that our knowledge of hair follicles and our skin has greatly evolved to allow us to understand how it works, and shaving your beard has no impact on its growth, its thickness, or even its hardness.
It is not uncommon for a patchy beard at month one to develop into a glorious full beard by month four. When it comes to beard growth, patience truly is a virtue. Age. Most men do not reach their full beard potential until the age of 35.
STAGE 3: THE AWKWARD STAGE (WEEK 4-8)
Different areas of your beard grow at different rates, so patchiness and uneven growth might start to show. Hang in there! As your beard comes in, you will begin to get an idea of your natural beard shape and growth patterns.