How Long Will It Take to Grow a Full Beard​?

One of the most asked questions from our chairs at our local barber shop near the Scottsdale area is about patience. A client will come in, scratch the week-long stubble on his face, and ask, “How long before I can get a full beard?” The answer, while not necessarily one the client wants to hear, is quite simple: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Hair grows, and it grows in ways that are unique to the individual. While we can certainly style, cut, and shape the facial hair to look the best it can, it really does come down to the individual’s hair follicles. While it may not be the most fun, the science behind the growth of the person’s facial hair can certainly help you understand the process and get through the difficult parts.

The Timeline: From Stubble to Full Beard

For the average person, the rate of beard growth is about half an inch every month. This means that if you’ve ever wondered…how long will it take to grow a full beard? It will usually take between two and four months of growth.

The first two weeks will result in the formation of heavy stubble. This is the most difficult period in the formation of the beard because the hairs will be short and will have the tendency of curling back onto the skin, thus causing itchiness. By the end of four weeks, the beard will have grown by half an inch. During this period, the itchiness will have stopped, but the beard may not look good.

The magic will begin in the second and third months of the process. During this period, the length of the beard will have grown enough to fill in the gaps, and the hairs will have grown heavy enough to lie flat on the skin. By the end of the fourth month, the average man will have grown enough beard for it to look thick and substantial.

Factors That Influence Speed

Although half an inch of growth is average over a month in most men, this may vary in individual cases. Genetics is responsible for determining your length and growth speeds. If men in your family struggle with growing a full beard, it may take you slightly longer to get to that point.

Age is another key aspect that should not be ignored when growing a beard. Ideally, beard growth is most pronounced when one is between 25 and 35 years of age. It is also the period when one has the highest level of testosterone in their system, and this hormone is key to beard growth. In addition to this, one’s state of health should also not be ignored. Eating healthy food that contains proteins, vitamins, and biotin will help in beard growth.

Practical Tips to Help It Along

You may not have the power to change your DNA, but you can certainly create the right environment that allows you to grow a full beard to its best. You should ensure that the area underneath your beard is clean and well moisturized. Our advice to you is to use beard oil on your beard from the very beginning. Not only will this oil ensure that your beard does not itch during the initial stages of growth, but it will also ensure that your beard is soft and silky.

Avoid cutting your beard too soon. Many men have cut their beard growth short by attempting to shape their beard too soon. You should not make this mistake. Just let your beard grow wild for at least four to six weeks before you allow us to work on it with a pair of clippers.

Patience is the Best Grooming Tool

Growing a beard is one of the true tests of patience that anyone may have to undergo in their entire life. There are some stages in beard growth when one may feel that their beard looks quite awkward and wild. However, it is during these stages that one should show their patience if they are truly interested in getting the kind of results they desire. Once you have reached the three to four months mark in your beard growth, you should visit us at First & Mane and let us shape your beard perfectly!