How to Grow a Fuller Beard: What Actually Helps
Almost every beard looks patchy at first. Before you give up or reach for the razor, here's what actually helps a beard come in fuller, and one old myth to skip.
1. Give it time
This is the big one. Beard hair doesn't all grow at the same speed, so the first few weeks always look uneven. Many patches that look bare at week two are covered by week eight, simply because the hair around them got longer. Give it at least two to three months before you judge it.
2. Don't trim too early
Trimming a young beard to tidy the patches only makes them stand out more. Let it grow out first. Once it has some length, you can shape it so the fuller areas cover the thinner ones.
3. Skip the "shave it to make it thicker" trick
You'll hear that shaving everything off a few times makes a beard grow back thicker. It doesn't. Shaving cuts the hair at the surface and doesn't change the follicle underneath. Stubble can feel coarser because the cut tips are blunt, but it isn't more hair. Shaving just restarts the clock on step 1.
4. Brush it every day
A boar bristle beard brush trains the hairs to lie in the same direction, so longer hair covers thinner spots and the whole beard looks fuller. It also lifts out dead skin and spreads your skin's natural oil through the hair.
5. Get through the itchy stage
Most guys who shave in the first month do it because of the itch, not the patches. Wash with a proper beard wash and use a leave-in like Fresh Mint Beard Saver every day. It relieves beard itch and softens both the hair and the skin underneath, so you can last long enough to see what your beard can do. It's the reason we started making beard care in the first place.
6. Pick a style that fits your growth
Genetics decide where your beard grows thickest. If your cheeks fill in slowly but your chin and mustache are strong, a shorter boxed beard, a goatee or a chin-strap style can look fuller than a long full beard. Work with what you've got.
7. Look after yourself
Sleep, a decent diet and staying active are good for your skin and hair along with everything else. No product or supplement will change your genetics, so be wary of anything that promises to.