How do beards grow? Your questions answered
Why do people grow beards, and how do beards grow? Did you ever wonder about these questions… From what factors make our beards grow, to the stages of facial hair growth in puberty, we’re here to answer all your questions about facial hair.
Why do people grow beards?
Why do humans even grow beards? The hair on your head helps keep you warm, and your eyebrows help keep sweat out of your eyes. Is there a practical purpose to facial hair as well? We’re not the scientific experts here, so we can’t know the purposes of certain evolutionary phenomena with complete certainty, but there are conclusions we can draw. Half the population doesn’t grow facial hair. It’s unlikely, then, that facial hair carries out an essential function. It would be a little strange if only women had eyebrows, for instance. So why do beards grow? Well, they’re probably just trying to make us look good. Still, sometimes we need an extra helping hand when looking our best, though, which is why we’ve developed precise, flexible multi-purpose shavers like the OneBlade Pro. Want to learn more about caring for your beard? Watch our video on how to care for your beard, which walks you through the essential steps to maintaining a healthy and stylish beard, that is perfect for complementing your beard growth journey.
What makes beards grow?
We’ve covered the why, but how do beards grow? What makes beards grow is testosterone. Your body converts testosterone into a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT stimulates the hair follicles on your face, which makes facial hair grow.1 Of course, increasing your testosterone levels between childhood and adulthood isn’t just a matter of snapping your fingers; it happens gradually. If you’re young and you’re struggling to grow the luxurious beard of your dreams, you might just need more time to get up to full testosterone production. Speaking of which, let’s talk about facial hair development stages.
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What are the stages of beard development?
So, we’re bound by our biology and must obey the stages of facial hair growth in puberty. The stages in which your beard will appear can vary from person to person, but usually, your beard will appear in a predictable order. Here's our rundown of the stages of facial hair growth in puberty: If you’re in the early stages of beard development, and all you have are a few hairs on your upper lip and a hint of sideburns, just have patience. You’ll have more hair to play with once you’ve progressed through the rest of the facial hair development stages. If you’d like to know more about embarking on beard growth for the first time, take a look at our article all about growing your first beard.
What promotes beard growth?
Earlier, we explained that the answer to ‘why do beards grow?' is just for aesthetic reasons. You don't medically need to grow a beard. But how you look still matters to your mood, so it’s worth knowing what promotes beard growth if you don't have the beard you want. If you’re not satisfied with your beard development, what helps facial hair growth? What influences beard growth can vary from person to person, but we can make some suggestions. If a thick beard still seems out of reach, don’t worry. Whatever your facial hair situation, you can make it work for you. Take a look at our recommendations for what to do with a patchy beard. Still fancy spurring on some growth? Check out our article all about natural methods for growing a thicker beard. Sources:
1 Why do men grow beards but not women?, BBC Science Focus
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