How to
GROW A BEARD

Our guide has everything you need to know about how to grow a thicker beard and practical beard‑growing tips.

Read Time

8 min

In short:

How to grow a beard
How beards grow
Our guide on growing a beard – frequently asked questions
Beard‑growing tips for thicker facial hair
Summary

How to
GROW A BEARD

A magnificent beard takes time, but if a thick, bushy beard is your goal, with the right approach and a little patience you can get the best out of your beard growth.

Here you can find out what you should pay attention to if you want your beard to grow well, how to grow a thicker beard – and whether you can really speed up beard growth.

How beards grow

For most men, beard growth begins during puberty, between the ages of 14 and 18.

The hormone testosterone is responsible for beard growth; when testosterone levels in the body increase, the beard also begins to grow. Genetics and hormones largely determine what kind of beard you have. Testosterone levels can vary, and low testosterone can affect how quickly your beard grows and how thick it gets.

Sometimes, even if your testosterone level is high, other factors may mean you find it harder to grow a big, bushy beard. While some men already have a full beard at a young age, genetic, ethnic and hereditary factors may mean others find it harder to grow a thick beard. But a healthy lifestyle and a good skincare regime will go a long way towards helping your beard appear thick and bountiful.

Our guide on growing a beard
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When you’re trying to understand how to grow a beard, it’s natural to have a lot of questions. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read our guide and advice on frequently asked questions when learning how to grow a beard:

How long does it take to grow a beard?

As we’ve said, how long it takes to grow a beard is determined by many factors, and how fast you grow facial hair will vary from man to man. Read further to help determine how long your beard may take to grow.

How fast does beard hair grow on average?

Your beard grows about 0.3 to 0.4 millimetres a day – just like the hair on your head. But how many hairs grow will vary, as will the length, growth rate and thickness of each individual hair.

The length and density of your beard will largely depend on your age and genetics.

How long does a three‑day beard get?

With that in mind, how long will a beard you’ve been growing for three days get? Again, three days only serves as a rough time guide – it all depends on the hair length. On a typical three‑day beard, the hairs measure more than 0.5 and less than five millimetres.

The effect will also change depending on the colour of your hair. A blonde beard usually needs a little longer than a dark one to achieve the casual three‑day effect.

How long will it take to have a full beard?

A full beard is usually measured from about one centimetre in length, so after around a month. To grow your beard to five centimetres and enjoy a thicker beard, you’ll need about three to four months of patience, depending on the rate of beard growth.

How to grow a thicker beard?

It doesn’t matter whether you want to grow a full beard, a goatee or a three‑day beard – first and foremost you need a lot of patience and, above all, the right care.

You can’t make your beard hair thicker, but you can give it the appearance of being bushier with a bit of looking after. A healthy, well‑maintained beard will help to create this thicker look.

How to speed up beard growth?

While you can’t actually make your beard grow faster, you can make it appear thicker and look longer with a good beard and skincare routine.

Beard‑growing tips for
THICKER FACIAL HAIR

Wash your beard: You should clean your beard regularly with beard shampoo. Dirt, old skin cells and bacteria can quickly collect in and under your beard. Make sure you reach the skin under the hair when you wash it. Washing your beard regularly can prevent the beard from itching and help prevent skin irritation.
Exfoliate your beard: Facial scrubs remove dead skin cells and make it easier for your beard hairs to penetrate the skin and grow out. Exfoliation also stimulates blood circulation and cell division. Used once or twice a week, it can support the growth of a beautiful beard.

Discover our range of NIVEA Face Wash's to deeply cleanse and exfoliate your beard, allowing for revitalised and thicker‑looking growth.

Apply moisturiser to your beard: Similar to the hair on your head, beard hair also needs moisture. With a beard oil or a beard cream, you can provide your skin and hair with an intensive moisture boost.
Explore our NIVEA Sensitive Pro Range, which contains vitamin e to help protect the skin's barrier, reducing stress and irritation. In turn, our Sensitive Pro Range will help lay the perfect foundations for a healthy, thicker‑looking beard.
Trimming your beard: For your beard to grow evenly, you should trim long hairs regularly with a trimmer. Every hair has its own growth rhythm, so it sometimes takes a while before the hairs are all the same length. You can define contours on the cheeks and the neck using a razor in order to maintain a well‑groomed appearance.

Comb your beard: You comb your hair, so why not your beard? Regular combing helps moisturise beard hair by evenly distributing oils through the hair. You can detangle longer beard hair with a comb, while natural hair brushes are ideal for short beards. Regular brushing will give your beard a clean shape and smoother texture.
Remove ingrown beard hairs: Ingrown beard hairs often cause skin irritation, pimples or inflammation. To relieve your skin and ensure a well‑groomed look, remove these stray hairs with a pair of tweezers. Good skincare, including regular exfoliation, will go a long way towards preventing ingrown hairs.

Summary

Don’t be discouraged if your beard doesn’t grow evenly or feels uncomfortable on the skin at first.
Like so many things in life, a beard is something you get used to and it requires a little patience and attention. If you let your beard grow, the right care is essential. Once it is long and dense enough, you can also (re)design your beard as you wish.