
Patchy Beard 101 – How Patience Beats Facial Hair Patchiness
Instant gratification. It’s something all gentlemen desire; however, when it comes to beards, they are no exception. The truth is, much like growing a beard in the first place, beating patchiness requires a waiting period.
No man grows a thick, Viking style beard overnight. It takes time, dedication to men’s grooming, and, most importantly, good genetics.
The same is true for a patchy beard. It’s a lot like beard itch; it lasts a week, then it’s gone. Only patchiness can and often does last much longer; that’s just life.
Much like the young man growing a beard for the first time who experiences the dreaded itch, there’s absolutely no reason to overreact let alone, worry. Starting a supplement regimen or spending hours concocting a home remedy would be considered foolish.
While I’d love to tell you there is a miracle cure that instantly solves a patchy beard overnight, there’s isn’t!
Without good genetics, you are well, literally out of luck, my friend. However, before you get disappointed, there are a few simple steps you can take to make your beard woes less painful while looking in the mirror.
I’m going to go over them with you here in a second, but just keep in mind what I mentioned above. A patchy beard, much like an itchy beard, requires one thing: Patience. A virtue every gentleman should possess, especially one with the intent of sporting a beard.
LET IT GROW
Easier said than done. Right now, you’re probably ready to call it quits and shave off your partially grown beard. Sure, it might look better in the meantime, but again, don’t let instant gravitation get the best of you!
If you set out to grow a thick, full beard, do it. In all honesty, no one is going to remember how you looked six months from now. There are plenty of men who have patchy and spotty beards well into their later years, but chances are you, and everyone else has failed to catch it all this time.
It’s a lot like missing connectors. When was the last time you went, “Wow, that guy has a beard with missing connectors?” Never. Yet, so many young men freak out over that and for absolutely no reason. With that said, here’s where letting your beard grow will help.
The longer you grow, the better things will fill in. If you have a spot on your cheek that refuses to show facial hair, eventually longer beard hairs from other areas will grow over it. It’s a good reason why I always advise first-timer beard growers to never trim too early in the process!
You’ll be amazed at how even the patchiest beard can look full, with flawless facial hair coverage over time. It’s a total transformation. As all those facial hairs in other areas grow, it’s literally like a natural concealer for your beard. Give it time, and you too will see the results you want.
KEEP THINGS TRIMMED AND NEAT
While your patchy beard may not look the best, don’t let it become a reflection on your grooming habits! A little trimming here and there can make a world’s difference in how your beard looks as a whole. Regardless, if you’re beard is patchy, spotty, or simply not.
Understand that doesn’t mean you should go wild with the trimmer. Do that, and you’ll be in a world of regret. Instead, focus on learning how to trim your beard the proper way without taking away all the fill from other areas that you desperately need.
Always keep your neck neat and clean with the razor or electric trimmer if you prefer. The truth is a neckbeard never looks good on anyone; it’s extremely tough to pull off, which is exactly why you need to continuously clean that area up on a regular basis.
If you aren’t combing or brushing your beard, start doing so. When I see men growing out their beards without making sure facial hair lies in the same direction, I’ll be honest, I cringe. Using a brush is one of the easiest grooming habits you can pick up, and it only takes a few seconds to transform your look.
Check out the GROW A BEARD Beard Brush & Comb Set on Amazon if you don’t already have a brush.
All those beard strands shooting in a million different directions aren’t helping your patchy beard. The reality is, they are making your problem much worse. By combing your facial hair downwards, all those longer strands from other areas of your face are going to work together to fill in all the gaps.
Wet your beard, make sure it’s dry with the towel then comb it on downwards. Rub a dab of hair cream sparingly into the palm of your hands then run it down your beard.
Compare before and after, take a photograph of yourself if you want. You’ll be impressed by the difference. (This is great for training your facial hair direction too.)
Of course, there are a million other beard tips I could mention, like avoiding trimming while your beards wet or cutting it at the right angle and so forth. I’ll get into that later, however, for now, let’s focus on dealing with that patchy beard first.
FUEL YOUR FACE
As much as you want to reach for that Rogaine, don’t. It’s not what you need at this point in time. I won’t tell about its effectiveness; however, just know when you stop using it, so do your results.
Imagine how awful it would feel to finally get a full beard then start going backward. When all you had to do in the first place was literally be patient!
While your genes really do dictate the growth and density of your facial hair. All the male grooming products in the world aren’t going to change that. Any gunk you apply, whether it be ointments, oils, etc. aren’t going to magically make more hair follicles pop up on your face.
However, that doesn’t mean you are totally helpless here:
1. Cut back on the stress. It’s a well-known fact that it contributes to male hair loss. Literally, the more you stress out over a patchy or spotty beard to worse you make it for yourself!
2. Live healthily. Say no thanks to the fast food and junk food. Start eating foods rich in fats and proteins. Everything from yogurt to milk, steak, and eggs makes for fine choices. Dial-in your sleep schedule.
3. Take Biotin, which contains Vitamin B6, E, and C. Most gentlemen take around 2.5 mg per day. Think of it as an aid for your skin and hair. Not to mention, your fingernails too as oddly enough, tend to grow faster as a result.
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4. Testosterone is like rocket fuel for your beard. While consuming more saturated fats can help, going to the gym, chopping wood, etc. work far better wonders.
Remember, if there’s one thing you should know: All of these steps combined will not directly result in immediate growth. Understand they are simply creating the right conditions for your facial hair to grow in the first place. That is all!
SHARP EDGES
Contrast is always good when you can’t fully attain a truly lush beard. To help minimize patchiness and barren areas, chop back the edges and keep them sharp. When shaving and trimming, you need to maintain a more angular bone structure look so you will run the clippers through and then run a razor beneath the Adam’s apple as high as you can go.
MORE ON A WELL-BALANCED DIET
A healthy lifestyle anda healthy diet are important to many aspects of our life, and that includes the ability to grow your beard. You should be eating a healthy diet that is rich in B Vitamins, Vitamin C, zinc, iron, and Omega-3. All of these vitamins and minerals can easily be found in most multivitamins as well as in foods that contain biotin, including avocados, almonds, bananas, sweet potatoes, and milk.
Niacin has also been known to help with hair growth while also improving blood flow. This means that your hair follicles will have the nutrients and oxygen they need to grow in and start filling in those patchy areas. Mushrooms, liver, tuna, beef, and sunflower seeds are a few foods that can help with this.
COMMON QUESTIONS:
How long will my patchiness last?
In reality, every man’s genetics are going to differ.
Until time machines are invented, or fortune-tellers start reading minds accurately, there is literally no way to know. Patchiness could last for a week, month, or years. It’s not uncommon for a younger male to be dealing with this until he reaches his thirties. Remember, that’s not the case for everyone though.
Will people really notice how bad my beard looks?
The number one thing both men and women alike notice when it comes to beards is your grooming habits. If you put in the time to take care of your beard properly, things like patchiness, missing connectors, etc. go unseen. Truthfully, no one will comment, let alone notice them in the first place.
It’s really easy to fool ourselves into making a big deal out of a small problem. However, it happens; we’re our own worst critic at times. Just know not everyone views you in the same manner as you. Embrace your patchiness. It is a part of growing a beard, and so be it. You should be proud of your commitment, regardless.
Understand that people look at your beard as a whole! No one picks out the bits and pieces.
What if I’m growing a short beard?
If you’re not planning on growing a thick, full beard, you won’t get the benefit of longer facial hair filling things in. However, that’s nothing to worry about. In fact, you have things a bit easier.
You can still pull off the impression that you can grow a full beard while sporting a short one by using an electric trimmer or razor. On certain models, you’ll find selectable heights in mm, where you can adjust the height. There’s a guard that attaches on and glides over your face at the height setting you selected.
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From there, you’ll want to clean up all the spotty areas and blend in your facial hair. Then finish by using a straight razor on the upper cheek areas for a uniform, neat presentation on both sides. Remember, it’s not uncommon for long strands of facial hair to grow in random spots on the cheek.
Sure, it takes a little bit of practice to master the illusion; however, the end results can look amazing.
Do any beards actually grow in uniformly?
Even people with dense facial hair will hesitate to grow out their beards because they are worried about it growing in uneven and resulting in patchiness. There is no beard that grows completely uniformly and naturally from your cheek to the jawline. That is where beard clippers and trimmers come in.
Should I use beard oil on a short beard?
Whether your beard is short or long, you want to take the same care with both. Beard oil and utility balms can be used on all beards daily and can help keep your beard hair and skin happy and healthy.
Is beard oil necessary?
Beard oil is a definite must if you have stubble, patchy facial hair, or a fully grown out healthy beard. It is enriched with nourishing oils that can help condition the hair while also strengthening and improving growth. If your skin is itchy, the beard oil can help cut down on the itchiness, moisturize the skin, and tame any flyaway strands you may be dealing with.
Does beard oil help to fill in patches?
Have you ever heard of a combover for beards? Beard oil helps control any stubborn hairs you have and lets you style the longer hairs so they can cover over any patchy areas you may have. Applying beard oil every night can also help keep the beard soft. Use a balm during the day to also help with facial hair growth.
Can peppermint oil help fill in a patchy beard more naturally?
Peppermint oil for your beard has many benefits, such as moisturizing the skin and giving it a nice smell. Peppermint beard oil doesn’t block DHT and it effectively increases the blood flow to your hair follicles and this improved blood circulation helps stimulate beard hair growth. So, yes. Peppermint beard oil can help you fill in your patchy beard and bald spots more naturally. It allows more nutrients to get to your beard and this results in hair growing in healthy and full.
What do your testosterone levels have to do with a patchy beard?
If you are struggling with growing a healthy beard and you are becoming frustrated with the patchy growth and bald spots, this lack of growth can sometimes be connected to low testosterone levels. Testosterone contains a steroid called DHT. DHT can have an adverse effect on the hair on the head because it builds up inside of the hair follicles over time. This can then lead to baldness. However, it doesn’t have that same effect on beard hair which is why you can find a bald man who has a full, lush beard.