THE GROWTH PROCESS
1. IT TAKES TIME
2-6 MONTHS
“I’m going to stop shaving”… Two weeks later, three weeks later.. You’re still not going to see a full beard. What’s going on?
The truth is, a complete beard for most men takes time. More along the lines oftwo to three months. Now don’t get me wrong, there are men who can grow their beard as fast as Rapunzel can grow her hair down the castle tower windows, but the reality is it’s not true for most.
If you’re starting to grow a beard plan to dedicate at least six months to it. Sure, that seems long a long time to wait, but good things come to those who wait don’t shave.
By then you’ll have a solid sense of where you stand in terms of your own growth rate. Plus you should be seeing everything start to fill out.
2. AGE MATTERS
TEENS TO TWENTIES
In your teens to 20’s it’s completely normal to picture yourself as an adult with a beard. We start to compare ourselves to our peers, question if our beard growth is normal, and more than often, jump the gun.
Perhaps you desire the same beardliness your father had and see it as true masculinity. But what we fail to understand is that picturing ourselves to others, much like the guys in the locker room who magically grow hair effortlessly, will only leave us disappointed in the present moment.
Believe it or not, you are different. After all, you are a human being, no one person is the same. As time goes on we all continue to mature. For some this is a fast process, for others a slower one.
You may start with wild sideburns and thin hair stocks that blow in the wind. Your mustache will be glorified peach fuzz, and your stubble will be far from coarse. As our own worst critic it’s an unpleasant sight to see when we fail to live up to our expectation.
The reality is, this is a small step forward towards what you wish to accomplish. It may not be the impression you would like right now, but truth be told, there is nothing to compare yourself to in the present moment.
Around 22 to 23 is when you may notice things starting to change for the better. That has been my general finding, but remember the points I made earlier. If it doesn’t happen, don’t get discouraged. While most gentlemen are seeing their beards fill in during their 20’s, the reality is beards continue to improve well into your 30’s, even 40’s.
You may be struggling to see your beard fill in during your teens or early 20’s, butby no means does that mean it’s forever going to be like that. Don’t limit your beliefs to thinking if it doesn’t grow in by a certain time, it never will, because that is far from the truth.
30’S, 40’S AND UP
Even in your late 30’s you’ll notice your beard growing in places you have never seen before. Wait till you start seeing hair grow from your nose, eyebrow and ears, then you’re in for a real treat!
3. BEARD GROWTH PRODUCTS
Every wonder why diet pills never work, yet it’s a multi-billion dollar industry? It’s not because something magical is happening, it’s because people are making boat loads of cash selling hopes and dreams.. And people desperately want to make them a reality.
The reality when it comes to beard growth products is there are none. None of which have been proven to be successful while you are using them nor long after you stop.
Sure, it would be nice achieve a permanent beard that’s thick, full in coverage, and grows to your heart’s content.. Overnight, or perhaps in a month or two, but it just doesn’t happen.
Every teenager under the sun, or most should I say, would love to grow a beard right this very moment. But until there’s a time machine, it’s going to take just that – time.
Now, I will mention there’s a mixed bag of promising reviews on Minoxidil. Some have stellar results, while others just have unwanted side effects. The most prominent take away from stories I’ve read, is that it stops working a few months to a year down the road. Your mileage may vary…
4. RATE OF GROWTH
It’s not uncommon for certain areas to start growing in before others do. In my own case, it was the sideburns first, but your experience may be entirely different.
What you’ll typically notice is that the chin area will surpass your cheek growth. The cheek area tends to grow in slower, over more time. What you’ll want to do is allow your cheeks some time to catch up, then you can trim and shape for the perfect fill.
Should you notice a bald spot in your cheek area simply give it more time. In 3-4 months the weak, bald and light spots will eventually fill-in or fill-over. Remember, not all of parts of your beard will grow at the very same rate. It brings me to the next point: Connectors.
5. MISSING CONNECTORS & COLOR
Missing connectors are nothing to worry about, in fact, most people don’t even notice them. The only real critique you’ll ever encounter is yourself wanting to be perfect. Should one be missing or the other looking thin, simply match them together to achieve symmetry.
The biggest rule when it comes to looking your best with a beard is to focus on it as a whole. It’s exactly how others will see it.
As far as color goes: If you have brown hair chances are you might start seeing your beard grow in blonde, light brown, dark brown and even a few shades of red. There is no rule that requires your beard to be one solid color.
Having a mix of colors gives your beard character and it also makes for a distinguished appearance.
7. BEARD ITCH
A WEEK OR TWO
Your beard may feel itchy, scratchy and often at times downright uncomfortable during the first month of growth.
Most men however, won’t experience beard itch at all. If you on the other hand do, you can take comfort in knowing that prickly cactus feeling will only last a matter of a week or two. After the stubble phase has ran its course the beard becomes softer and more gentle upon the face.
A little trick you can use is applying hydrocortisone cream to stop the itch if it’s absolutely unbearable. It’s a miracle-cure at times but you like anything else that works wonders, it should not be using for a long period of time. There are some dangers that come along with it, like thinning the skin; so please do your research and be careful when and where you apply it.
If the itch happens to comes back take some consideration into your skin itself, not the beard. Perhaps you have dry skin or another condition causing the annoying sensation to occur.
A few remedies you may want to consider are cleansing with beard wash, moisturizing with beard oil, and using a beard comb. If nothing else, consider taking a trip to the dermatologist.
9. HOW WILL YOU LOOK?
Heavy stubble wins, or at least science says so. But here’s something to also consider, during the same study involving 351 women, bearded men were perceived withthe highest parenting skills.
In another, the Britain’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society found the majority of male professors were bearded compared to lower staff employees such as lectures and research fellows.
Now, that might be a given, but here’s something interesting involving Dixson and Vasey.. On a scale of 0 to 5, men and women ranked bearded men as having the highest social status in their study.
Even more intriguing, is the The Handicap Principle written by Israeli physiologist Avishag Zahavi and her evolutionary biologist husband in 1997. The two claimed that a beard could easily be grabbed during combat; making for a handicap during matches.
The theory stated that men with full beards were essentially showcasing this weakness and proudly displaying their confidence in ability and fitness. As if they had won the fight before it even began..
Science aside, you might be wondering if a beard will make you look homeless? Perhaps you’re reading right now dealing with a disgruntled wife or girlfriend who claims it does. But here’s the deal guys.. It’s common for women to object to this change and make exaggerations about your beard.
The truth is, you can’t allow affection to be withheld or negative behavior to be tolerated during this change. The better solution is to talk things over and ask for patience and understanding during your bearded journey. Explain why you feel growing your beard is important to you; every man has his own reasoning.
Remember, a beard for some men is not even remotely related to attracting women. Perhaps you’ve simply always wanted one, hate shaving, are following a family tradition, desire to express your freedom or believe a beard feels natural or manly.. There are countless reasons to wear your beard with pride.
Girlfriends and wives aside, how will other people view you?
Will they accept your beard or refuse to even tolerate it? The answer to these questions is that it does not matter. What you do with your life is a decision left entirely up to you. Let people worry about their own business while you carry on minding your own. Respect everyone around you if you wish to receive the same in return.
The concept is simple, every man knows how it works.
If you want to be the best version of yourself and it entails growing a beard, thenby all means do so. Never allow yourself to wander away from a path you personally believe in. Just because someone thinks they know who you are, does not mean they know what you as a human being stand for.
True manliness begins at your core.
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