Beard Growth Phases: When Does Facial Hair Stop Growing?
If you’ve seen a man with a beautiful, long, luxurious beard, then you probably wonder how long it took for that hair to fall down that low in the first place. For signature beards like Gandalf, when will those beards ever stop growing in the first place?
If you’re looking to achieve a wizard-like appearance, or if you’re wondering when the heck your beard is ever going to stop getting longer, here’s what you need to know.
What Causes a Beard To Grow?
The speed at which your beard grows will vary based on a variety of different factors, mainly related to genetics. If your dad or grandfather had full sets of facial hair that seemed to grow at the speed of light, then the chances of you experiencing the same are super high.
However, other factors like hormones can also affect the speed at which your beard grows. Testosterone is a major contributor that affects the way facial hair grows, and this hormone can be determined by lifestyle habits, diet, and exercise.
While some people think they can’t grow a beard, that’s usually not the case. Mostly every man can grow at least some facial hair. However, the fullness of a beard, the color of the hair, and the texture of the hair can vary. Some people grow beards at extremely slow rates, while others only grow hair in certain areas of the face (like the upper lip or jawline). This can make it seem like you can’t grow a beard.
But if there’s one thing for certain about everyone’s facial hair — it should keep coming if you give it some time.
When Will a Beard Stop Growing?
Good news for men trying to put on a beard and bad news for those who can never tame their wild beasts: Your beard will never stop growing. You’ll likely never need to worry about your facial hair in the same way that you need to worry about the hair on the top of your head. Basically, for as long as you live, you can have faith that your beard should continue to grow and grow.
That doesn’t mean your beard hair will start dragging behind you like a poofy wedding gown. Your beard hair will reach a maximum length, at which point it will fall out, and that hair follicle will start all over again.
A growing beard is constantly growing, but reaching your toes is pretty unlikely. Still, your hair can usually get pretty long (or pretty curly) before it reaches a point where it needs to fall out.
The Stages of Beard Growth
If you want to grow a thick beard or a full beard, then it can be helpful to know the secret workings and stages of each one of those follicles as far as how it gets to a point when your beard is at maximum capacity.
1. Anagen
The anagen phase is also known as the growth phase. This is when the new hair forms inside of the follicle and physically begins to grow. Your beard hair is usually in this stage for around two to four months but can vary depending on your ethnicity and other genetic factors.
2. Catagen
During the catagen phase, the compartments of each hair follicle that are responsible for growth begin to shrink, shortening the follicle by up to 70%. This phase lets the follicle get ready to grow and evolve once the proper amount of stimulus is applied. This phase can last for several weeks.
3. Telogen
This is also known as the resting phase. Here, the hair follicles take a break from growing in the first place. This can last for several months. About 10 to 15% of all body hairs are in this phase. During this time, existing hair at the follicle will not grow any longer than it already is.
At this point, you’ll have reached your “peak beard.” You’ve reached max beard length: Congrats. For some people, this might be hair that reaches down to the ground. For others, this might be nothing more than a little bit of fuzz they can shape into a respectable goatee.
There’s nothing wrong with that, and if you want to try to go out with a fuller beard with a bit of length, there are ways you can try. We’ll talk more about that in a bit.
4. Exogen
The final stage is also known as the shedding phase. This is the point when a hair follicle can no longer support the hair in its current state, so it sheds it to start anew. After the exogen phase, the follicle will restart from the anagen phase.
How To Make Hair Stop Growing
Your beard hair is a lot like a growing flower. As long as the conditions are right, it will keep growing for as long as the sun keeps shining. The only way to make a flower stop growing is to essentially kill it … and if you want a shorter beard, you need to give it a buzz.
Grooming your beard is really the only way that you can get it to stop getting longer. But in most cases, people aren’t too offended by a beard that keeps on growing. If your beard is taking a walk on the wild side, a powerful beard balm can help tame even the thickest beards.
How To Make a Beard Grow Even Longer
If you’re having the opposite problem of a super long beard and just can’t seem to get yours to get to the length you want, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, there are plenty of ways to fix the problem to get that long, luxurious beard you’ve been wanting.
Use the Right Products
One of the first steps is to get yourself a high-quality beard oil that nourishes and hydrates your follicles. Our Beard Growth Oil is a healthy blend of Castor and Sweet Almond Oil to help stimulate healthy facial hair and growth. Beard oil strengthens roots, softens split ends, and can stimulate facial hair growth to help you reach your peak beard.
If you don’t have much of a beard, a Beard Derma Roller can help. These beard care tools help stimulate new beard and hair growth while activating dormant follicles. It can even improve skin quality by producing collagen and keratin.
Don’t forget about your skincare routine. Healthy hair starts beneath the surface, including on the chin. So if your sideburns are more like whispers and your patchy beard needs a boost, take care when washing your face. If needed, ask your dermatologist for more advice on the best skincare for that thicker beard of your dreams.
Don’t know where to even start? You can get all of these products and more in just a single package with our Advanced Beard Growth Kit.
Soon, you’ll hopefully be wondering how to get your beard to stop growing so quickly. Discover your best beard and unlock 15% off plus a free item when you take the quiz to get your personalized beard plan.
Go All Natural
Growth enhancement products are some of the best ways to help grow your beard, but you can also stimulate beard growth with some lifestyle changes. Two of the most important factors that determine beard growth and beard health are a balanced diet and exercise.
Nutrition for hair growth is one of the top ways to improve the health of your follicles while preventing hair from falling out on your face and the top of your head. Foods high in folic acid, like broccoli and whole grains, and foods loaded with vitamins C, iron, zinc, and vitamin A could be the secret ingredient.
As far as exercise, cardiovascular exercise can work to increase blood flow and circulation while allowing more oxygen and nutrients to flow through your cells. Additionally, strength training can improve levels of testosterone, which has an effect on your hair’s ability to grow.
We can’t talk about physical prowess without talking about mental health. High stress levels can affect beard growth, causing thinner hair or hair loss. If you have any questions on a healthy diet, a solid exercise plan, or managing your mental health, speak to a healthcare provider.
Reach Your Beard’s Full Potential
Your beard growth rate is determined by a number of factors, like genetics and hormone levels. But the fact is that your beard should keep growing forever until it hits its terminal length, at which point it will fall out and start all over.
Some people’s peak beards are different, meaning that the length of your hair before it falls out differs. If you want to grow a longer beard, try increasing your beard health through proper diet and exercise, as well as by using high-quality growth products.
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Sources:
Physiology, Hair | National Library of Medicine
Nutrition for Hair Growth | Sutter Health
Improvement in scalp hair growth in androgen-deficient women treated with testosterone | NIH