Why Is My Beard Growing So Slowly?

Many consider having long and bushy facial hair as a sign of virility. A great beard has also become a premier styling option today that guys take pride in.

Many men like myself want to know why my beard growth is very slow. Some men may even be incapable of growing a beard. This can be inconvenient and embarrassing. The good news is that there are ways to speed up its growth, but you must be patient and vigilant. Read on to learn how.

 Why Does Beard Growth Slow Down?

All men do not grow beards at the same pace, but on average, a beard grows at a rate of ½ inch each month. Some men grow beards slower, and some at a faster pace. So, that may have you wondering why my beard is growing slower than usual.

Has your beard growth slowed down? You may even be taking beard vitamin supplements regularly.  Several factors may be the culprit and could be making an impact on your beard growth. These include your age, lifestyle, habits, testosterone, and DHT levels. 

Sometimes, shifting to healthier habits and making smart lifestyle changes can fix the problem. However, this may not work in all cases. 

The sensitivity of your body to beard growth-stimulating hormones may cause your facial hair to grow slower. 

Why Isn’t My Beard Growing?

Don’t you wish you could just turn the growth dial to high? I know I do. I hate waiting and wondering why isnt my beard growing.

Like myself some men may only be experiencing slow facial hair growth. However, some men may find growing a beard impossible.

You cannot find a miracle pill on the market that you can use to make your facial hair thicker. To make things worse, there are myriads of myths you’ll find online about how you can stimulate the hair follicles in the beard area.

Why does it seem like my beard stopped growing? What can I do to remedy the problem? This will be discussed in a later section, but for now, let’s focus on the reasons for your slow beard growth and some myths that you might encounter so you will not be misled.

The first myth is that many believe, albeit mistakenly, that shaving often results in thicker facial hair. Truth is, shaving does not affect your beard or the way it grows and on the hair underneath the skin.

Another common fallacy is that people with thicker beards tend to have more testosterone than those with thinner beards. While testosterone indeed plays a role in facial hair growth, low testosterone levels are seldom the cause of slow growing beard.

Let’s discuss in more detail the most common reasons you may grow your beard at an excruciatingly slow pace.

Genetics can be a factor in beard growth.

How thickly your beard grows is mainly determined by your inherited genes. If your father and grandpa have thick facial hair, you’ll have the same beard thickness.

Androgens comprise the hormone group responsible for masculine features such as a deep voice, as well as the ability to grow a beard. The body enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone (an androgen hormone) into another type of hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

When the DHT hormone binds to hair follicle receptors, it mimics facial hair growth. The effect’s strength, however, is also dictated by the sensitivity of your hair follicles to DHT, which is, in large part, determined by genetics.

On the other hand, while DHT mimics the growth of facial hair, it prevents hair growth on the head.

Age can be a factor in beard growth.

Most men experience an increase in coverage of facial hair until the age of around 30. If you are currently in your teens or early 20s, you can expect your beard to continue getting thicker in the following years.

Ethnicity can be a factor in beard growth.

Another factor that can affect your beard growth is your race. Compared to people coming from other regions, natives of Mediterranean countries tend to grow thicker beards.

Also, Chinese men, in general, tend to have fewer and thinner beards compared to Caucasian men. In Chinese men, the facial hair tends to be concentrated around the mouth area, while Caucasians tend to grow more hair on the neck, chin, and cheeks.

Human hair diameter can vary between 17 μm and 181 μm (micrometer). This can also influence beard thickness. The thicker the hair, the higher the chance of having fuller-looking facial hair.

Alopecia Areata can be a factor in beard growth.

An autoimmune condition, alopecia areata, causes your body to attack your hair follicles. This can cause patches of hair, both on your beard and head, to fall out. There is no cure for this condition. However, your physician can recommend several treatment options. These include the following:

• Dithranol (Dritho-Scalp)
• Minoxidil (Rogaine)
• Corticosteroid creams
• Steroid injections
• Topical immunotherapy
• Phototherapy
• Cortisone tablets
• Oral immunosuppressant

Low testosterone levels can be a factor in beard growth

Low levels of testosterone may trigger poor beard growth in some cases. Thus, men with exceptionally low testosterone levels may have little or no facial hair.

Except when the levels of your testosterone are clinically low, there’s probably no impact on the growth of your facial hair. If you have low levels of testosterone, you will likely experience the following symptoms:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Low sex drive
• Trouble building muscle
• Irritability and mood changes
• Fatigue
• Increased body fat

Why Does My Mustache Grow Slower than My Beard?

I mustache you a question, why does my mustache grow slower than my beard? I’ll see myself out!

There is still a lot to learn about facial hair and beard growth. However, I will tell you more about it in this section, such as why your mustache may experience slower growth than your beard. 

Genetics is a major determining factor for your facial hair. Another factor is your age – you won’t experience full hair maturity until you reach roughly your 30s. 

You may notice that your mustache is growing at a slower pace compared to your beard. This may be due to lower hair follicle distribution in your upper lip compared to the distribution on other parts of your face.

It is not unusual to experience different facial hair growth rates in various places. It may take a few months to achieve the growth that you prefer. 

Often you may hear beard aficionados talk about perseverance and patience with their facial hair growth.  Most likely, they are referring to what is called terminal length. You’ll see rapid growth periods, as well as stalled growth periods. 

When you are experiencing a slower mustache growth rate, you may only be undergoing a stalled stage. You can fix the problem simply by eating well, getting enough rest, and hydrating to prepare for a new, well-nourished growth phase.

Can You Speed Up Beard Growth?

Yes, you can speed up the growth of your beard. Following is a three-step process on how to do it:

1. Take good care of your beard.

Washing your face twice daily can help in unblocking hair follicles. You can also try massaging your face daily to stimulate your hair follicles. It will also help to exfoliate your face weekly. If you have sensitive skin, you can apply some face moisturizers too.

2. Adopt a healthier lifestyle and diet.

If you feel your beard is growing at a slower pace than normal, it may be time to review and make some lifestyle and diet modifications. But, make sure you make healthier choices. Try to include more sources of B vitamins that are known to promote healthy and fast hair growth. Follow a balanced diet with essential nutrients such as A, C, and E vitamins.

3. Resort to medical alternatives.

If the natural beard growth solutions above don’t work, your next best option is to seek medical intervention. Consult with your doctor, particularly about your DHT and testosterone levels. You may also find commercial products like Minoxidil helpful.

Does Beard Growth Slow Down as It Gets Longer?

Yes, beard growth may slow down the longer it gets. If you leave your beard untrimmed for a long time, it can grow up to as long as 3 feet, which is usually the maximum length a beard can grow.

Once your beard reaches 3 feet, it will likely stop growing. For the same reason, some beards will grow slower upon reaching a particular length.

Does Your Beard Grow Slower as You Age?

Yes, you may experience a slow beard growth when you get older. This is particularly true between the ages of 40 to 60. 

By then, you can expect your beard to start growing at a much slower pace. Likewise, you can experience a significant drop in your testosterone levels.

Do Derma Rollers Help Beard Growth?

I wrote an entire article about using derma rollers for beard growth, and does it really work?

A derma roller is often used for skin exfoliation or stimulating blood circulation. It’s a handheld device that is used for micro-needling your skin.

Check out if you want the full breakdown and all the details about using a derma roller to speed up your beard growth.

Why Is My Beard Growing So Slowly?

I get super frustrated looking in the mirror and thinking, why is my facial hair growing so slow? I can grow a nice long beard on my chin, but my cheeks are still like peach fuzz. They are not, actually, but that’s how I see it anyway.

I learned a lot researching this article, and I feel slightly better that it’s not just me. I hope my peach fuzz and this article will help you feel better about your slow-growing facial hair as well.

If you are like me and experiencing a slower beard growth than you want, there’s no reason to worry or get disappointed. It is natural, and there are ways to address the problem. With a little effort and patience, you can achieve the facial hair length that you like. 

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Doug Wells

My name is Doug, and I've been growing a beard on and off for many years now.

I've not had a perfect journey on the road to growing a beard. I've spent more time than I want to admit learning about growing a beard. I'm not one of those blessed with perfect beard-growing genes. So, I've encountered many frustrating and challenging obstacles along the way.

I hope some of my mistakes and victories along the way will help you on your journey to your perfect beard. Of course, reach out if I can help and share this content with your friends that are beginning or struggling on their journey as well.

Enjoy my Beard Brothas!

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