If you’ve finally decided to change your style and let your beard grow, you may be disappointed in seeing it go not quite as expected. Many men dream of a full, luscious beard but end up with a patchy bush that struggles to cover the sides of their face.
Although much of it has got to do with genetics, there are also ways in which you can improve the situation or even make a patchy beard attractive. You’ll find our best tips down below to grow a fuller beard before you get frustrated and shave it all off.
What Causes a Patchy Beard?
If you want to fix a patchy beard, you first need to figure out why you have one in the first place. Most folks think it’s a hereditary thing but that is only partially true.
In fact, there may be several different reasons why your beard is patchy, and many factors may be working against you at the same time.
Hormones – Yes, men can be prone to hormonal imbalances. These are in most cases temporary and could be caused by a great variety of factors, including stress, weather, diet changes, medications, and more. Some go through hormonal cycles (yes, you read that right) and others simply grow into a different hormonal environment as they age. If you suspect that hormones could be the culprit, you can verify it with a simple blood test and discuss treatment options with a specialist.
Stress – Your mental health is paramount for your overall wellbeing. Stress doesn’t only affect hormones but also causes you to grow less and weaker hair and potentially fall into counterproductive behaviours such as pulling or rubbing your beard excessively.
Poor diet – Well, it should come as no surprise that your diet plays an important role in the health of your skin and hair. Smokers and those who consume excessive alcohol will notice their skin to be drier than that of healthy eaters. Dry skin may not be able to produce strong hair and moreover, it can easily result in beard dandruff. More on the correct diet for a thicker beard further down on this page.
Dental Issues – According to some studies, the skin and hair on your face and head are directly linked to your teeth. Poor dental hygiene and/ or recurrent issues may negatively affect your beard growth.
Genetics – Yes, unfortunately, many men inherit thin facial hair from their parents and grandparents before them. There’s not much one can do about it on his own. In this case, it may be best to reach out to a health professional to get advice.
Fungi – Not many people know this but a fungal skin infection may be behind your patchy pattern. You’re in luck: most fungi are absolutely harmless and will go away in a few weeks with an antifungal ointment or cream. Depending on the type of cream required, you may need to contact your doctor or buy it as OTC medication.
3 Ways To Get Rid of Patches and Grow a Thick Beard
So is there really something you can do about your patchy beard? Yes indeed, find a few tried and tested methods that will help your facial hair grow stronger.
1. Leave it alone
If you want to grow a great, healthy beard, you might want to stop shaving for a while. It seems elementary, doesn’t it? Yet many of us simply become annoyed by the lack of results and trim it or shave it all off.
Remember that patches are more visible on shorter beard styles. If you let your beard grow a little longer, chances are that you’ll stop noticing the issue so much. Finally, it’s only by observing it as it grows that you’ll be able to recognise the pattern and the specific location of your patches and will be able to find a style that suits it best.
You can boost the growth factor with:
Natural oils like argan, coconut, and castor oil – our beard oils contain apricot kernel oil, argan oil, and castor oil to help you grow and maintain an amazing beard.
Brushing and combing your beard has lots of benefits. You’ll notice it becomes smoother, easier to style, and less prone to breakage. More specifically, a brush will allow you to stimulate the follicles and blood circulation while you keep the separate hairs free from buildup and pollutant.
It truly is a beard massage. If you’re still not convinced, then you should know that brushing your beard will make it look fuller and lift your hair creating more volume. Is your hair too short for a brush? No problem. You can achieve the same massage effect by using a beard roller.
The gentler version uses a special levigated stone that will make your skin feel fantastic. For a more aggressive approach, try a derma roller, a special tool with a great number of minuscule needles that stimulate your blood circulation. Finally, a facial scrub will massage your skin and remove dead cells.
I’m not just talking about your 5 a day here. Diet plays a crucial role in growing a healthy, uniform beard. Here are the nutrients you should be getting to achieve your facial hair goals:
Fatty Acid Omega 3 – This will make your hair shiny and strong. It can be found in seafood like salmon and sardines and nuts.
Vitamins. Optimal vitamins for beard growth include vitamins A, B, C, E and beta A carotene. These will boost your production of natural protective sebum and repair skin tissue thus calming irritation.
Proteins. You should know by now that proteins are essential for hair. In particular, keratine (a type of amino acid) will help you build the bricks of which your beard is made of.
Bonus Tip: Rock the Patches
So maybe you’ve tried it all already and it just doesn’t work. Maybe you’ve been told that your growth pattern is genetic and there’s nothing you can do about it. Before you take the razor and resign yourself to life looking like Justin Bieber, there’s still something you may have not considered.
If a long and full beard is out of the question, it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to rock a thinner style. Plenty of celebrities (for example, Johnny Depp) are considered among the most attractive men on the planet and still have a patchy and not-so-polished beard.
Work with your growth pattern: if you tend to have patches on the sides and cheeks, shave those areas off and focus on the rest. Try out a few looks or maybe ask for professional advice at your trusted barbershop.
Fixing a Patchy Beard
There are a few things to consider when you have a patchy beard. It may be down to hormones, your diet or lifestyle. Regardless of that, there are some steps you can take to improve the look of your beard. Improve your lifestyle, use good beard oil, comb and brush your beard regularly, hold off shaving for a few weeks and let it grow, man!
For most people, beard oil is a lifesaver. It helps to moisturise and hydrate facial hair, while also keeping your beard hair soft. Men sometimes don’t realise that beard oil also helps to moisturise the skin underneath your beard, helping your facial hair growth. Here’s a quick image tutorial to show you how to use …
Heard any beard oil myths lately? There are so many of them around. One we hear often is about how often to use beard oil. As someone who has been growing a beard for my whole life, I tend to consider myself somewhat of an expert. In this article, I will provide some guidance on …
Beard balm or beard oil? What is the difference between the two? Should I use both oil and balm together? This is one of the most frequent questions we get asked at BeardMajor. It is a question asked by everyone from new beardsmen all the way to experienced beardsmen. Most men with beards use both …
Beard care and grooming products can be quite confusing at times. There are so many products out there and so much information. How do you tell the difference between the products? Which beard products should you use? and how often? In our series, we will answer frequently asked questions about beard products and give you …
How To Fix a Patchy Beard
If you’ve finally decided to change your style and let your beard grow, you may be disappointed in seeing it go not quite as expected. Many men dream of a full, luscious beard but end up with a patchy bush that struggles to cover the sides of their face.
Although much of it has got to do with genetics, there are also ways in which you can improve the situation or even make a patchy beard attractive. You’ll find our best tips down below to grow a fuller beard before you get frustrated and shave it all off.
What Causes a Patchy Beard?
If you want to fix a patchy beard, you first need to figure out why you have one in the first place. Most folks think it’s a hereditary thing but that is only partially true.
In fact, there may be several different reasons why your beard is patchy, and many factors may be working against you at the same time.
3 Ways To Get Rid of Patches and Grow a Thick Beard
So is there really something you can do about your patchy beard? Yes indeed, find a few tried and tested methods that will help your facial hair grow stronger.
1. Leave it alone
If you want to grow a great, healthy beard, you might want to stop shaving for a while. It seems elementary, doesn’t it? Yet many of us simply become annoyed by the lack of results and trim it or shave it all off.
Remember that patches are more visible on shorter beard styles. If you let your beard grow a little longer, chances are that you’ll stop noticing the issue so much. Finally, it’s only by observing it as it grows that you’ll be able to recognise the pattern and the specific location of your patches and will be able to find a style that suits it best.
You can boost the growth factor with:
What You’ll Need:
Oak & Cedarwood Limited Edition Beard Oil
£18.00£15.00Citrus Spicy Blend Beard Oil – 50ml
£25.00£19.99Beard Moisturising Shampoo
£8.002. Brush and Comb it
Brushing and combing your beard has lots of benefits. You’ll notice it becomes smoother, easier to style, and less prone to breakage. More specifically, a brush will allow you to stimulate the follicles and blood circulation while you keep the separate hairs free from buildup and pollutant.
It truly is a beard massage. If you’re still not convinced, then you should know that brushing your beard will make it look fuller and lift your hair creating more volume. Is your hair too short for a brush? No problem. You can achieve the same massage effect by using a beard roller.
The gentler version uses a special levigated stone that will make your skin feel fantastic. For a more aggressive approach, try a derma roller, a special tool with a great number of minuscule needles that stimulate your blood circulation. Finally, a facial scrub will massage your skin and remove dead cells.
What You’ll Need:
Compact Beard Brush
£12.00Wooden Beard Comb
£8.003. Eat Your Greens
I’m not just talking about your 5 a day here. Diet plays a crucial role in growing a healthy, uniform beard. Here are the nutrients you should be getting to achieve your facial hair goals:
Bonus Tip: Rock the Patches
So maybe you’ve tried it all already and it just doesn’t work. Maybe you’ve been told that your growth pattern is genetic and there’s nothing you can do about it. Before you take the razor and resign yourself to life looking like Justin Bieber, there’s still something you may have not considered.
If a long and full beard is out of the question, it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to rock a thinner style. Plenty of celebrities (for example, Johnny Depp) are considered among the most attractive men on the planet and still have a patchy and not-so-polished beard.
Work with your growth pattern: if you tend to have patches on the sides and cheeks, shave those areas off and focus on the rest. Try out a few looks or maybe ask for professional advice at your trusted barbershop.
Fixing a Patchy Beard
There are a few things to consider when you have a patchy beard. It may be down to hormones, your diet or lifestyle. Regardless of that, there are some steps you can take to improve the look of your beard. Improve your lifestyle, use good beard oil, comb and brush your beard regularly, hold off shaving for a few weeks and let it grow, man!
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