How to Get a Thicker Beard

Looking to grow a better beard? It takes the right grooming tips, products and even diet. Read our five-step guide on how to get a thicker beard.

1. The Four-Week Rule

Growing a thicker beard requires commitment. A month-long commitment, to be exact. Individual hair follicles may be at different stages of the hair growth cycle at any one time.  So it can take a while for a thin, patchy beard to start to look evenly thick and full.

To fix a patchy beard, let it grow for an entire month. Giving yourself a good four weeks of growth will give you a sense of how thick and full your beard can be.

Yes, this month may get itchy. If after a week or two, the scratchiness has you ready to quit and shave it all off, try applying beard oil. Beard oil can help relieve the beard itch, plus it will condition your facial hair for a softer beard.

2. Feed Your Beard

No matter how much we care about our hair, our body actually views all our hair as “non-essential.” If you’re not eating the right nutrients, it may reroute the few nutrients it does get away from your hair follicles to more vital body parts. So if you’re eating lots of junk food and skipping your veggies, your hair growth could suffer.

That’s why it’s so important to eat a diet that promotes facial hair growth. Fill up your grocery cart with plenty of these hair-healthy foods:

• Lean protein like chicken and salmon
• Fruits and vegetables, especially those that are rich in vitamin C and iron
• Healthy fats like nuts and avocados
• Whole grains and other healthy carbohydrates

Taking a multivitamin or a hair growth supplement may also help to grow thicker beard hair.

3. Break a Sweat

You probably already know that a regular exercise routine is a major part of leading a healthy lifestyle. But did you know that exercise can also help facial hair growth?

Exercise boosts testosterone, a male sex hormone that contributes to facial hair growth. So, getting plenty of exercise could actually help you to grow a better beard. Resistance training like weight lifting is the best way to boost testosterone levels, but any form of cardio or strength training exercise should help.

If the gym isn’t your scene, don’t be afraid to embrace your inner bro. Almost anyone can get good at exercise if you start slow. Set up a session with a trainer to learn how to lift properly and get simple routines you can do on your own.

4. Hit the Sack

Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect your testosterone levels, which could mean a more patchy beard. In fact, a 2011 study found that sleeping less than five hours per night is associated with 15% lower testosterone levels. Sleep replenishes testosterone levels, so it makes sense that getting plenty of sleep regularly would help to grow a thicker beard.

While everybody requires a slightly different amount of sleep, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that most adults get around seven or eight hours of sleep each night.

If you’re struggling to get enough rest, try these tactics:

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Wake up and go to bed at the same time each morning and night, even on the weekends.
• Avoid drinking caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
• Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual, like meditating or reading.
• Turn off any electronics with screens at least an hour before bed.
• Keep your bedroom dark and cool.

5. Fill It In

Of course, even with these strategies, you still might not have the thick beard hair of your dreams. After all, everyone’s ability to grow thick beard hair varies, and your genetics can play a role.

But if no matter what you do, you seem doomed to have a patchy beard for life, you don’t have to give up and shave it all off! You can actually use Toppik Hair Building Fibers to fix a patchy beard. Here’s how:

1. Choose the shade of Toppik Hair Fibers that most closely matches your beard color.
2. Use the Spray Applicator attachment to spritz the Toppik Fibers into place, exactly in the patchy spots where you need them.
3. To apply Fibers more neatly and with a more natural-looking line, use the Hairline Optimizer.

Toppik Fibers can make your beard look fuller and thicker instantly, and no one will know the difference!

Do you have tricks to get a thicker beard? Let us know in the comments!