Most men can grow a full beard by their mid-20s to early 30s, as growth continues and thickens well into this period, though genetics play a big role and some men see full development as late as their 30s or even 40s. While facial hair starts in the teens, it often takes time to fill in patchy areas, with peak growth occurring between ages 25 and 35 when hormones are highest.
There is no one-size-fits-all for what age your full beard will come in, but generally, your beard will have fully grown once you hit your mid-20s. While this may be the case for most people, it really depends on the age at which your testosterone levels are at their peak.
There's no set age where you can or can't grow a beard, some people just can't at all. Sometimes it's a dice roll. I knew people who had full beards down to their chests when we were 16, others have kept clean shaven or were never able to grow them into our 20s.
The 3-month beard rule is a guideline to let your beard grow untouched for 90 days to assess its natural growth, thickness, and potential, overcoming the itchy, patchy "awkward phase" (weeks 2-6) where many men quit too early. This commitment allows slower hairs time to catch up, revealing true density, filling in thin spots, and giving you enough length to decide on styling, making it ideal for seeing what your beard can truly become before making shaping decisions.
Some people can even take a few more years to grow a beard. It can even delay up to the early 20s to get the increased facial hair coverage. And in most cases, one can have a full beard growth by the 30s. So, you must wait until your 30s to confirm that you can't grow a beard.
Your genetics play an important role in your hair quality but there are also lifestyle factors that come to play. A nutritious diet, grooming your beard, and applying medical treatment can all optimise the growth of your beard.
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 perfect beard length depends on your face shape and personal style. For most men, 10–20mm (about 3/8 to 3/4 inch) is the sweet spot. It is long enough to look full but short enough to stay neat. It is versatile, low-maintenance, and almost universally appealing.
Each November, you might notice more men sporting new mustaches or letting their beards grow wild — but it's not just a style trend. It's part of Movember, a global movement dedicated to raising awareness about men's health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.
Not being able to grow a beard is a hard feeling to grapple with, but there might be some science-based reasons for it. Genetics is usually the main reason, but it might also have to do with age, ethnicity, testosterone, underlying conditions like alopecia, diet, exercise, or stress.
What Foods Help Beard Growth?
It's true—the aging process does change facial hair and the way our beards look. It usually starts with a silver or gray hair here and there, but as aging persists, older guys might notice their beard growing more slowly, feeling rougher, or starting to thin out in certain spots.
Dixson and Robert C Brooks aimed to decipher the role of facial hair in women's perceptions of attractiveness, and the results were undeniable. After judging a number of pictures featuring men with varying degrees of facial hair, the vast majority of women found full-bearded men to be the top dogs in the mix.
Vitamin A is a powerful supplement that pairs nicely with beard oils, as it helps your body produce hydrating oils. Vitamin B (specifically B6 and B12) gives us biotin, which improves hair follicle strength and beard growth.
Many men aren't able to grow a beard or may have a few stranded hairs dotted around their face and neck. Although this isn't uncommon, the reason why it occurs varies. If you're struggling to grow a beard, fear not - treatments are available.
Not always. While testosterone and DHT play a big role in beard growth, genetics determine how your body responds to these hormones. Some men with normal testosterone levels may still struggle with patchy or thin beards.
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.
Just like hair on the scalp, the growth and thickness of your facial hair are largely determined by your genetics. Some men inherit genes that promote robust and fast facial hair growth, while others have genes that result in sparser or slower growth.
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The "4-week beard rule" is a guideline for new beard growers to wait at least four weeks before significant trimming, allowing natural growth patterns to emerge, revealing potential patchiness, and giving you a better sense of your beard's potential shape before shaping it, while only cleaning up the neckline. This initial month helps avoid resetting growth and provides a clearer picture for styling later.
Shaving less, exfoliating more, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting plenty of restful sleep, taking care of your skin, and keeping your stress low. These are all vital steps for faster beard growth.
By moisturising the skin and nourishing the hair follicles, beard oil can promote healthier and stronger hair, which in turn may lead to better beard growth over time.
Key Takeaways. Tweezing facial hair can cause hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and potential scarring. Pulling facial hair out near moles, acne, and ingrown hairs can be make inflammation and potential scarring worse. Alternatives range from creams and waxing to laser removal and electrolysis.