Growing your first beard: Tips for the perfect facial hair journey

Reading time: 5 mins

A young man shaves his first beard growth with the OneBlade shaver in front of a mirror.

In the mood for a change? Just starting your beard journey? Let's talk about growing your first beard. Growing a beard for the first time is an exciting experience, whether it’s your first facial hair growth at all or you’ve just chosen to stay clean-shaven until now. Here are our tips for getting the look you want.

First beard tips: Choosing your style

If you choose the right style, your beard can emphasise your best features. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our overview of six classic beard styles.

Here are some basic first beard tips when it comes to styling:

Think about the facial features you’d like to emphasise or downplay. For example, if you have a strong jawline and you want to show it off, keep your beard short on the sides. Something like a goatee will give your jaw plenty of space to shine.
If you have a round face and you’d like it to look narrower, you can control the visible contours with a beard that extends along the sides. We have a dedicated article on beard styles for round faces.
Some beard styles will look good on just about any face shape. The full beard is a classic for a reason.
If you’ve started growing and your planned beard isn’t working for you, try switching styles. Sometimes a beard comes in patchy, especially if it’s your first facial hair growth, but there are plenty of styles that can make a patchy beard look good. The patchier areas might just need a little more time to grow, though, so give them a chance to catch up if you have your heart set on a fuller style
Have the confidence to experiment. This isn’t a tattoo. If you try out one style and you aren’t a fan, you can just restyle it or shave it off. Have fun with your beard growth, first-time or otherwise.

How to grow a beard for the first time

Beard growth for the first time is an adventure, which means you’ll want a map. If you’re wondering how to grow a beard for the first time, here are a few first-time beard growth tips to guide you on your journey.

Be patient. Hair usually takes about a month to grow a centimetre, so you’re not going to have the Viking beard of your dreams after three days of growth. If you keep your beard maintained, though, you’ll still look good in the in-between stages.
Keep your beard clean. Different beards and skin types need different levels of care, but a good place to start is to give your beard a full wash about twice a week. Using regular shampoo can dry a beard out, so it’s worth getting a beard wash. If your beard hairs are on the rough side, you can also soften them with beard conditioner or oils.
If your beard starts sticking out wildly as it gets longer, you can keep it under control by combing through it with a little beard oil.
Remember to keep up with your trimming. Growing a beard doesn't just mean that you stop any kind of shaving and leave it to fate unless you want a blackberry bush on your face. Head down to the next section for some first-time beard-trimming tips.

If you’re struggling with beard thickness, we also have a guide on how to grow a thicker beard.

See more below ↓

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First-time beard-trimming tips

Establish a trimming routine. Exactly what that routine will be depends on the beard. A short, carefully sculpted style will probably need touching up every couple of days, whereas a longer beard might just need tidying once or twice a week. The goal is to make sure your beard looks intentional. Leave it untouched for too long, and it might just start looking like you’ve let your stubble get out of control.
Use the right tools. A combined shaver and trimmer with adjustable length settings will save you time and effort every time you touch up your facial hair. If it’s your first beard growth, you might have a more comfortable experience with a razor designed for first-time shavers to attain perfect edges.
It’s easiest to trim your beard when it’s clean and unoiled. If it’s on the longer side, give it a brush as well.
Learn to recognise where hairs aren’t wanted. For example, it’s a lot easier to eat and drink if you trim away any hairs that are creeping over your lips.

For more trimming tips, take a look at our guidance on shaping a beard or how to use your Philips OneBlade.

Shaving a beard for the first time

If you’re just experiencing your first beard growth and you’re trying to decide what to do with it, we hope this overview of growing a first beard has helped.

If you’ve decided it’s not time for your first beard yet, though, we’ve got you covered on shaving your beard for the first time, too. Grab a shaver that’s designed for first-time shavers, like the OneBlade First Shave, and take a look at our guide to how to shave properly.

Growing your first beard: Tips for the perfect facial hair journey

First beard tips: Choosing your style

How to grow a beard for the first time

Recommended products

Philips OneBlade Pro 360 Flexible shaver and trimmer for face and body

OneBlade First Shave 1st Shave

First-time beard-trimming tips

Shaving a beard for the first time

Face first