Post date: April 18, 2024 | Adventure
Does Beard Growth Stop? How To Maximize Your Beard’s Life
Beards are an obvious symbol of masculinity and style that many men long for. And if you’re one of those men, you may be wondering when your beard will start to grow, stop growing, or how you can maximize your beard growth potential.
While some men seem to be born with thick, luscious facial hair, others may find their beard growth stalling at a certain point. Understanding the factors that influence beard growth and knowing what to expect can help you manage your expectations and embrace your own unique look. This is exactly what we’re going to do in this article!
Let’s dive in and explore how beards grow, when beards stop growing, what factors influence your beard growth, and some practical tips for maintaining healthy facial hair.
The Beard Growth Cycle
Before diving into the big questions (I know you’re eager), it’s essential to understand the beard growth cycle first and foremost. Just like the hair on your scalp, facial hair goes through three very distinct phases: Anagen, catagen, and telogen:
- Anagen Phase: The first hair growth phase can be summarized as the “active growth” phase where hair follicles are producing new hair. Hooray! During this phase, your beard tends to grow at its fastest rate, commonly close to .5 inches a month.
- Catagen Phase: In this phase, hair growth tends to slow down, and the hair follicles can shrink as they prep for the next phase.
- Telogen Phase: Also known as the “resting” phase, hair growth stops, and old hairs are shed to make way for new growth. This doesn’t mean your beard stops growing, only that that specific hair follicle is preparing for new hair growth.
Now, it’s no surprise that these phases vary from person to person, and are influenced by tons of factors, let’s explore some of those factors below.
When Does Beard Growth Typically Peak?
Beard growth is primarily influenced by genetics, no surprise there. Your genetics largely determine the thickness, length, and overall pattern of your beard hair.
Most men will experience their first significant beard growth during their late teens to early twenties, typically between the ages of 18 to 25. However, on average, beard growth reaches its mature peak in terms of thickness between a man’s late twenties and early thirties.
During your early twenties, the level of testosterone in the body is at its peak, triggering strong facial hair growth. However, it’s essential to note that individual growth patterns vary widely, and keep in mind that hair density can still be influenced and increase until your mid thirties like mentioned earlier.
So, while some lucky men may be able to achieve a full thick beard in their early twenties, others may continue to see improvements in beard density and thickness well beyond that.
Factors Influencing Beard Growth
Now let’s talk about what factors influence your beard growth and if there’s something you can actively do to improve it:
- Genetics: Your genetic makeup plays a significant role in determining your beard growth pattern. If you come from a family of men with robust facial hair, then you’re in luck! Chances are you’ll experience similar growth. Unfortunately, genetics aren’t changeable as far as we know…yet.
- Hormonal Levels: Your hormones affect anything from your mood to your hair growth. Testosterone, the primary “male” hormone, plays a huge role in stimulating the growth of your facial hair. Higher testosterone levels result in more robust and faster beard growth. There are supplements and things you can do to increase testosterone so keep that in mind.
- Age: Beard growth tends to peak during early adulthood and will likely start to slow down as you age. While some men may continue to see improvements in their beard in their thirties, others may experience a plateau much sooner. It is what it is.
- Health and Lifestyle: Your overall health and lifestyle habits can also make an impact on your beard growth. A well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can promote better/faster growth. On the flip side of this coin, poor nutrition, stress, and certain medical conditions can do the opposite. So choose wisely.
- Ethnicity: Beard growth patterns (and even colors) also vary among different ethnic groups. Look into your heritage to determine if beards were (or are) a prominent part of your ethnic history for clues on your beards potential.
When Do Beards Stop Growing?
Now here is where we get into the meat and potatoes of the article and answer the question everyone wants to know. ”
Unfortunately, there’s no definitive age at which beard growth stops for all men. Keep in mind that a beard almost never just stops growing without first going through a “slow down” phase. Put simply, things slow down before they just stop.
Although there’s no specific answer, here are some general trends to consider based on age!
- Mid-to-Late Twenties: Beard growth may start to slow down in your mid-to-late twenties as testosterone levels begin to naturally decline. However, some men may continue to experience gradual improvements in beard thickness and density even during this period, so don’t lose hope!
- Early Thirties and Beyond: By the early thirties, most men have reached their peak beard-growth potential. While some may still see minor changes in their beard over the following years, the overall growth rate and pattern will stabilize, but this doesn’t mean it will stop.
Here’s the good news: If you can grow a beard to your satisfaction at any point before the age 35, then chances are good that you’ll be able to keep that beard for a long time.
This is because, although beard growth stabilizes, this just means that your hair follicles will continue generating and acting normally for the foreseeable future. Although, beard color may vary. if you’re unhappy with that, check out some Volt Instant Beard Color and take THIS QUIZ to find your shade.
How To Increase Your Beard Growth
While, as of writing this article, you can’t change your genetics…yet, there are some steps you can take to promote healthy facial hair growth:
- Healthy Lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals essential for hair growth. There are even pre-made packs of vitamins specifically for helping beard growth stimulation such as vitamin A, C, E, and biotin. Stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to support overall health and well-being. You’ll see more than your beard start to improve with these basics out of the way!
- Practice Beard Care Best Practices: Keep your beard clean by washing it regularly with a beard wash like Volt’s Beard and Face Wash and don’t forget to condition it with beard oil or balm to keep the hair soft and moisturized. Use a comb or brush to detangle and style your beard, and trim it regularly to maintain its shape.
- Patience and Consistency: Like many things in life, consistency is key. Beard growth takes time, so be patient and keep up the grooming routine! Embrace your beards own unique growth pattern and characteristics! After all, it’s the only one like it…like a fingerprint.
- Supplements: Minoxidil is the only clinically-proven way to stimulate hair growth where there was none before. So, if you feel this is what you need in order to get your beard thick and strong the way you want it, then consult a professional or try some over the counter medications alongside a derma-roller, which help stimulate blood and nutrients to the area of hair growth.
Conclusion
Ultimately, growing a beard is a unique and individual experience influenced by a variety of factors such as genetics, hormones, and your individual lifestyle.
While most men reach their peak beard potential during their mid-to-late twenties, individual growth patterns can vary widely.
By understanding the factors that influence beard growth and adopting healthy grooming habits, you can embrace your beard with confidence at any stage of life.
You May Also Enjoy
