How Long Does It Take To Grow a Beard Stage by Stage

Why does a man grow a beard? Perhaps they’re looking for a style change and want to mix things up. Maybe it’s their, or their significant other’s, lifelong dream. It could be that they’re big Chuck Norris fans or are playing Santa in a Christmas play.

Whatever your reason, here you are, and here we are to walk you through the next few months of beard growth. Growing a beard can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, but it's not always a straightforward process. As your beard starts to grow in, you'll go through three key stages: the stubble stage, the patchy stage, and the full beard stage. 

The stubble stage gives you a general idea of where your beard will grow quickly while also showing you where you might be bald. The patchy stage highlights those bald spots, and you start to deal with beard dandruff.

Finally, the full beard stage is when you’ve finally reached the point of a respectable beard length. The whole process typically takes a few months.

Understanding what to expect during these stages can help your patience, an essential piece of equipment ingredient for this facial hair journey. It’s vital to take good care of your beard as it grows through a consistent routine and with the right tools. The wrong routine or tools can spell disaster for your scruff.

In addition to regular upkeep, there are a few things you can do to help your beard grow faster, such as taking care of your overall health, adding supplements and beard care products, and, once again: HAVING PATIENCE.

We can’t stress the latter point enough. Too many of our pre-bearded brothers have fallen by the wayside because they couldn’t see it through to the end.

Stubble Trouble

Stubble is the best kind of trouble. It objectively looks good on most men, and you’ll enjoy this bliss for a few weeks. Many men sit in this stage permanently and use a trimmer to keep it to this desired length. Some just shave whenever it starts to get too long and start the process over.

That’s not why you’re here. You’re here to grow a beard. And grow a beard, you shall. 

While some men love the stub, for others, it can be a challenge. A week or two in, they’re already beginning to notice patchiness that will only look worse at first. The reason so many quit at this stage is that it’s the easiest place to quit. They’re not too far into the commitment, so it’s not like anyone will know. 

The uneven, patchy appearance can lead them to shave it all off and start over. However, it's important to be patient and to let your beard grow in fully before making any decisions. 

Here’s the truth: your beard may only be a few millimeters long for the first couple of weeks. At this point, your beard may look patchy and uneven, but in actuality, you don’t quite know. It may be difficult to see where it's going to grow fully since some hairs are lighter than others.

Instead of considering a clean slate, focus on taking care of what you do have. One of the best things you can do during the stubbly stage is to use a 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner regularly, along with Cedar Beard Oil, to keep it moisturized and looking its best.

Add in a Boar Bristle Beard Brush to help train your beard to grow in the direction you want it to.

Patchy and Scratchy

This is the difficult, awkward stage where most men fall because everything just looks wrong at first. It can make you feel like your beard will never look how you want it to. But as is our theme, one of the most important things to remember during the patchy stage of beard growth is to be patient. (You can stay comfortable by caring for any dry skin at this time too.)

Your beard is going to continue to grow and change over time. The first few weeks on this stage may be brutal, but they will fade, and eventually, your beard will fill in full, and it’s worth the wait. Don't be tempted to shave it off and start over because you’ll regret starting from scratch. Then, it may never happen at all.

Another element of this stage is that you’ll begin noticing that your growing beard is getting scratchy. As your hair grows longer, it’s harder for moisture to soak into your skin, and the beard hair tickles when it pokes your face. Try your best not to scratch, though, as this will only make things worse.

This is why it is vital to continue taking care of your beard. All the previous steps mentioned still apply. While these practices influence hair growth, our reasoning in this section is for aesthetics and scratch relief. This way, you can get glimpses of what your future beard will look like. 

If you're still struggling with a patchy or uneven beard, there are a few things you can try to help make it look better, such as dying the light/blonde hairs in your beard a darker color. Also, guiding them with a bush can help cover the bald areas. Use a trimmer to make everything even and symmetrical. 

Full Beard, Fuller Heart

The second half of the patchy phase actually isn’t all that bad as long as you don’t stand by Gandalf or a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. There is, however, a significant shift that hits around the three-month point of this process.

One day you will look in the mirror, and it will strike you: You’re rocking a full beard. The feeling of utter manliness is unmatched. You’ll notice yourself receiving more compliments on your beard than you’re used to.

The beard stage of growing a beard is an exciting time for many men since you’re finally getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor. However, growing a beard is not just about letting it grow in and forgetting about it — several upkeep and maintenance items that are necessary for keeping your beard in peak condition.

If you think beard dandruff was difficult during the second stage, then you’re in for a reckoning. While a thick coat of fur is on your face, those cheeks aren’t getting the tender, love, and care they need. After trimming up your beard, wash it consistently and add oil and balm, as we mentioned earlier. 

How To Grow Your Beard Faster

Every man should have a face washing and cleansing routine, like the one we mentioned in each stage, especially those who grow out beards. It’s not just a practice for women; it’s a practice for everyone.

You would be wise to incorporate it into your daily routine. A face cleansing routine does help your beard grow faster, but it’s not the only thing that does.

1. Overall Health

Exercise is an integral part of any healthy lifestyle, but it can also help your beard grow faster. A good workout gets your heart pumping, and a lot of that blood gets pumped to your head/face. Half an hour of physical activity, especially anything cardiovascular-related, helps stimulate the growth of facial hair.

On top of that, eating a healthy, balanced diet can also help your beard grow faster. Focus on getting plenty of protein, Vitamins A, C, and E, biotin, zinc, and iron. Foods like salmon, nuts, and eggs are especially beneficial for beard growth and help boost testosterone.

Hydrate or die-drate! Humans not only survive but thrive on water, so get yourself some high-quality H20 pronto. Also, stress can have a negative effect on your body and slow down the growth of facial hair or even make it fall out prematurely. Try to find ways to relax and reduce stress in your life.

2. Beard Care Products

Beard care products are our bread and butter, so trust us when we say that the right tools can make a world of difference. Things like beard growth oil, beard growth vitamins, and a derma roller are tried and true methods of quickening your growth rate.

The sunflower, castor, rice, and olive oil (as well as various other ingredients) that make up the Beard Growth Oil are extremely nourishing for your beard and face. Not only do they give that beard a healthy glow, but that pack in the necessary nutrients needed to promote hair growth.

The Beard Growth Vitamins hit all the major nutrients your beard needs, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Biotin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iodine, Zinc, and Copper. A daily dose keeps the barber way.

If you don’t know what a derma beard roller is, it’s high time you found out. The roller stimulates beard growth by pricking your skin with microneedles. This triggers the blood flow and collagen in your cheeks to jumpstart your hair follicles.

3. Be Patient

We realize you might be getting annoyed by the constant reminder because you think you get the point, but you don’t. Not really. There will be lows and hard days, but if you fight through, then you’ll come out the other end as a bearded champ. 

Beards That Take Center Stage

By following these tips, you can improve the rate at which your beard grows. Remember to be patient and to take care of your facial hair for the best results. With care and attention, you’ll one day have the beard of your dreams.

Sources:

Face washing 101 | AAD

Dry skin - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Does Exercise Affect Hair Growth? | Live Science