Growing a fuller beard can require more than simply letting facial hair grow. This guide on how to grow a beard covers practical ways to support beard growth, explains common causes of patchiness, and outlines the treatment options available when natural growth isn’t enough.
Discover how to grow a beard in six clear practical steps from the Wimpole Clinic. Learn how skincare, grooming and growth treatments can affect beard growth, and why some beards remain patchy.
Key takeaways
Healthy skin supports healthy beard growth. To promote beard growth, treat any skin conditions and maintain a gentle daily cleansing and moisturising routine.
Beard density and development vary between individuals; full maturity may not occur until the late 20s or early 30s. Patchiness can also be linked to alopecia barbae, fluctuating hormone levels, and scar tissue.
Beard growth treatments like minoxidil and microneedling are available over-the-counter and can stimulate beard growth. Results take a few months, and require consistent use.
The Wimpole Clinic offers expert consultation for beard hair loss. If patchiness or limited growth persists, seek advice on suitable treatment options for how to grow a beard.
The Wimpole Clinic is an award-winning beard transplant clinic, so we know what works when it comes to beard growth. Follow these six steps and give yourself the best chance of full, natural beard growth without the need for a beard transplant procedure.
Just like a healthy scalp is the foundation for strong scalp hair growth, the skin of your face needs to be healthy for good beard growth. A good skincare routine can help, but the most important things to do are:
Treating these conditions will help promote healthy beard growth. If you have symptoms like persistent flaky skin or an unidentified rash in your beard area, and you’re not sure what’s causing them, seek advice from your GP in the first instance. They can help diagnose the issue and may be able to prescribe treatments.
Itchiness is a normal part of beard growth, and it can happen for a few different reasons. For some people, the new growth irritates your skin as it curls under itself (many men have sensitive skin, particularly on the face) [2]. New beard growth can also trap dirt and debris, which leads to contact dermatitis characterised by flaky, red, irritated skin.
The itchy period won’t last forever; it normally subsides when your beard reaches a certain length. In the meantime, you can deal with the itch by:
The itchy phase of beard growth normally subsides as the hair grows and stops irritating your skin. The rate of beard growth differs for everyone, but 2-3 weeks is a normal benchmark.
Washing your beard daily is important for a few reasons. Studies have shown that increased wash frequency can correlate with enhanced hair growth (results are related to scalp hair, but these findings can also apply to facial hair) [3].
Note that shampoos that claim to help with scalp hair growth may not have the same effect for beards. That’s because scalp hair growth formulas are often designed to inhibit dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. But DHT actually helps with beard growth, so avoid shampoos containing DHT blocking ingredients like caffeine, rosemary oil, and topical finasteride when washing your beard [4].
After a month or so, take a look at your beard growth results. You can expect around 0.3 to 0.5 mm of beard growth every day (with some variations based on age, ethnicity, and genetics) [2]. So over the course of a month, your beard should be 9 mm to 15 mm in length.
If you’re happy with your results so far, continue with your beard growth routine to promote further healthy growth. If not, you should now be able to tell exactly where your beard is thin or sparse, so you can take steps to fix your patchy beard.
Minoxidil is a proven beard growth treatment. Although not licensed for beard hair loss in the UK, minoxidil is available over-the-counter, and studies have shown that it can help stimulate beard growth when used consistently [5-6].
It takes at least 3 months to see initial results when using minoxidil for beard growth, so apply the treatment twice daily for at least 12 weeks in your patchy areas. Minoxidil dilates the blood vessels under the skin, enhancing follicle blood flow, which can boost facial hair growth.
To increase absorption of topical minoxidil, you can combine this treatment with derma rolling for beard growth. Also known as microneedling, derma rolling involves creating dozens of tiny wounds using a needle roller or press. The wound healing processes combined with minoxidil absorption may enhance beard hair growth. Bear in mind that this process can create small wounds on your face if the needle length is longer than 1 mm, which may be unsightly while they heal. You can adjust the needle length on many derma rolling devices.
After a few months of following your dedicated beard growth routine, you should start to see a fuller, longer beard. As your beard starts to grow, keep on top of your beard grooming:
Beard growth is a hormonal process driven by testosterone and DHT, which is metabolised from testosterone. Your testosterone and DHT levels are determined by your genetics, as is your follicular sensitivity to these hormones. As testosterone and DHT levels rise during puberty, beard growth begins.
It’s important to note that beard growth can reach full maturity in your late 20s or even early 30s, as androgen levels peak in your late teens but remain high until around age 30, allowing more time for beard development [7-8]. So age can also play a role — you may be destined for a full, thick beard, but for some men it takes several years for facial hair to reach full density.
Because beard growth is mostly down to genetics and hormones, there are limits to what you can achieve without medical or surgical intervention.
If your beard isn’t growing — or is very patchy in places — it’s likely down to one of a few factors:
If none of these apply, it’s best to get a professional diagnosis from a trichologist. They will perform specific trichology tests to uncover the cause of your beard hair loss or limited growth.
If you’re still seeing beard patchiness or slow growth after following the steps above, other options are available to you. While minoxidil and microneedling are good first-line tactics for how to grow a beard, a trichologist or dermatologist can prescribe other treatments, such as [9-10]:
If none of these are suitable, a beard transplant is also a great option for people with permanently limited beard growth. Beard transplants involve extracting hair follicles from the back of your scalp and transplanting them to your face. Over several months, the grafts heal, root, and start to grow, giving you a fuller, thicker beard. Full results are normally visible within 12 months of your facial hair transplant.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we have decades of experience diagnosing and treating beard growth problems. So if you’re concerned about how to grow a beard, and over-the-counter treatments haven’t helped, we’re your next port of call.
At your nearest Wimpole Clinic location, you can get a beard graft quote based on your facial hair goals, plus an assessment of your symptoms and an estimated cost for restoring your beard. There’s no obligation to commit to surgery, and we’ll answer all your questions with honesty and professionalism.
Take a look at our beard transplant before and after gallery, then book your free consultation to meet a Wimpole Clinic beard transplant specialist at your most convenient location.
Learn more about growing a beard and achieving fuller, thicker facial hair in these frequently asked questions.
Based on a typical beard growth rate of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm per day, you can expect your beard to be around 2.1 to 3.5 mm long after 7 days of growth.
There are lots of reasons your beard might be patchy, from autoimmune conditions like alopecia barbae, to inherited genes that limit your beard growth. Many patients have limited beard growth due to their age; if you’re under 30, it’s possible your beard hasn’t yet matured, leaving you with patchy beard growth.
Minoxidil and microneedling are the best first-line beard growth treatments, and can be started without a professional consultation or prescription. Like all hair growth treatments, you’ll need to use these consistently for at least 3 months to see initial results, and continue using them indefinitely to retain the effects.
If these treatments don’t give you the results you want, off-label treatments like tretinoin and oral minoxidil may be available to eligible patients.
The next phase in most cases is beard transplantation. Beard transplants don’t stimulate growth from existing follicles; they replace inactive follicles with grafts from the back of your scalp, which are resistant to the effects of DHT.
In some cases, yes. Allowing your beard to grow longer and thicker can hide patchiness in some areas, although it mostly depends on where the patches are located.
If you opt for surgical beard enhancement, research suggests that careful graft placement during beard transplantation along the jaw and chin can increase density in the most visible areas [11].
Beard growth is driven by your hormones. As testosterone levels increase during and after puberty, beard growth progresses. If you have naturally low testosterone levels — or they’re suppressed, perhaps due to medical treatments or health conditions — beard growth may be hindered.
Genetics also play a role. If your hormone levels are normal but your beard follicles have low sensitivity to their effects, beard growth may be limited. Follicle sensitivity is determined by your genes.
Yes, beard growth is at least partly driven by genetics. Studies show that beard thickness and growth onset are influenced by genetics [12]. So look at male blood relatives on both sides of your family to see how your beard growth could look, and when you might see this level of density.
Beard growth normally kicks in during puberty, meaning anywhere from 14 to 18. But it’s unlikely to mature until much later. Many men don’t reach full beard density until they’re in their 20s or 30s. That means beard transplant surgeons may be reluctant to perform beard transplant surgery until you’re at least 25.
To an extent, lifestyle factors like diet, sleep, and exercise can have a positive impact on beard growth. Eating a balanced diet ensures you have all the nutrients your beard needs to grow, while evidence suggests healthy sleep patterns can offer benefits to patients with hair loss [13].
However, these factors may help boost growth in your existing active follicles, but they won’t override genetics or hormone levels.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Peter Barron (GMC: 7841164) is based at our London Harley Street hair transplant surgery headquarters and specialises in FUE hair transplants. Dr Barron received his medical degree alongside a 1st class Masters in Medical Sciences from the University of Southampton. He was awarded a distinction in his pre-clinical years, received a letter of commendation during his clinical placements and after graduation received a certificate recognising his work as a neurosurgical clinical fellow at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Alongside his career in the NHS, Dr Barron worked as an honorary research fellow within the University of Edinburgh. His work has been published and presented internationally and has culminated in awards.
Dr Peter Barron sought to further incorporate his creative, precise and forward thinking nature within his surgical practice by joining the internationally renowned Wimpole Clinic as an FUE hair transplant surgeon. He had the privilege of learning from the elite team of surgeons under the prestigious Wimpole Training Academy. He has been able to master the sapphire blade to craft high density results whilst minimising inflammation and scarring. He continues to appraise the latest advances in hair restoration surgery to ensure his consultations with prospective clients are evidenced-based, with his practice remaining at the cutting edge.
Dr Barron prides himself on working with his clients to reconstruct ultra-natural looking results. He utilises his interest in photography to ensure that symmetry and fine details are not overlooked. Attention is given to matching the angulation and direction of existing hairs as well as incorporating macro- and micro-irregularities to advance his work into the highest tiers of the industry. Alongside producing visually impressive results, Dr Barron aims to make sure that his clients have a positive, personalised and well-supported experience from their first consultation through to their results follow up.
