Ah, the infamous five o’clock shadow. The phenomenon leaves many people wondering, “Why does my facial hair grow so fast?” If you feel like you remove facial hair and it grows back way faster than normal, this article’s for you. We’ll explore types of facial hair, tips for hair removal, and reasons why hair seems to grow fast.
Factors that Affect How Fast Your Facial Hair Grows
When you look at what affects facial hair growth, there are a few options.
Genetics
Do your parents or grandparents have lots of facial hair? Did they struggle with the same issue of fast-growing facial hair as you do? If so, genetics could be your reason for excessive facial hair growth.
If your genes predispose you to luscious facial hair, there’s not much you can do except safely and efficiently remove it, if that’s your desire. We’ll get into that later. But note that genetics play a fairly significant role in facial hair growth.
Age and Health
Healthy diets and regular exercise will allow your body to keep on producing hair, including facial hair. If you’re young, you’re also more likely to have faster-growing hair on that youthful face. So, take your age and health into consideration if you’re curious about your facial hair.
Testosterone Levels
Testosterone, and other hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a key role in facial hair growth. Specifically, they increase the rate of beard growth. Higher levels of these hormones may result in a thicker and longer beard, so if that’s not what you want, speak with a doctor about your hormone levels. Puberty also boosts testosterone levels, leading to faster hair growth.
Health Conditions
If none of these reasons seem to explain your hair growth, consider speaking to a doctor. Certain health conditions may cause unusual hair growth. With proper medical guidance and testing, you can get to the bottom of why your hair is growing unusually fast.
Types of Facial Hair and How Fast They Grow
Did you think there was just one type of facial hair? Think again! It comes in all shapes and sizes. Your hair growth rate could naturally be different than the next person’s. So, let’s discuss a few different types of hair.
For instance, is your facial hair coarse and thick? If so, it may appear to grow faster because it’s more visible. Thin and fine facial hair may appear to grow slowly, and if you’re someone who wants to achieve a full beard aesthetic, that can be frustrating.
It’s also easier to grow out hair that’s thick. Thick, full eyebrows or beards must be properly managed to stay hygienic, but they can be very stylish. It may annoy you that your thick hair never seems to slow down growth-wise, but it’s something you can learn to embrace.
Let’s talk about facial hair color. If your facial hair is lighter in color, it’ll actually tend to grow slower than darker hair. It’s not a commonly known fact, but it’s true! So, darker hair grows faster, and depending on your skin tone, it may even be more noticeable.
If your hair diameter is larger, you’ll have faster rates of hair growth. Essentially, thick facial hair is likely to grow faster. Thick hair is one hair type that cannot be overlooked on this topic. If you have thicker facial hair than most, it could be the reason for your five o’clock (or earlier) shadow.
How to Groom and Style Your Beard or Mustache
No matter what your hair type is, you can learn how to style it in a way you love! Do you want your facial hair to run free and see how long it can grow? Or do you prefer to keep it trimmed, waxed, or shaved? We’ll go over some basic pointers for handling a beard or ‘stache with care below.
1. Clean Your Facial Hair
Start the grooming process with freshly washed, clean hair. It’ll help keep your tools functional, and it will keep your skin and facial hair healthy. Long beards can be washed with shampoo and conditioner to ensure the hair stays moisturized.
2. Use Quality Tools
Beard trimmers, scissors for facial hair, and razors should all be high quality. When you invest in the proper tools, you’ll make your facial haircare process more enjoyable (and safer). With a variety of tools, you can achieve almost any facial hair style.
3. Tend to Your Neckline
How’s that neckline looking? You didn’t forget about it, did you? No problem! Just take a look and trim along it to achieve a sharp look the next time you shave or trim your facial hair.
4. Hydration is Key
Hydration keeps hair of all types from drying out and breaking or looking frayed. Beards may lean toward the dry side. To keep your facial hair moist and healthy, consider beard oil.
5. Experiment With Different Styles
There’s no limit to facial hair styling. And the good news is, it will keep growing back if you style it in a way you don’t like. So, be creative with your facial hair style. Do whatever it takes to feel comfortable with your look. Work with a professional stylist if you want something fresh!
Tips to Grow a Thicker Beard
Perhaps you’ve been reading along, and you’ve already found the answers to a few facial hair questions, but now you’re wondering what to do if you want your facial hair to appear extra thick. Maybe your beard used to grow fast, but now it doesn’t. Either way, we’ve gathered a few tips for you to nourish and stimulate your beard to help it grow thicker and faster.
Use Beard Oil or Balm
Beard oils typically include carrier oils, essential oils, and vitamin E. All of these ingredients work to keep the skin under your beard and the hair itself nice and moisturized. When your skin and hair are healthy, it promotes more hair growth and deters breakage. Beard balms work in a similar way and usually include beeswax or butter to help you style the beard and lock in moisture.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Have you ever noticed that eating healthily is often the answer to many health endeavors? That’s because a healthy diet impacts so many of your body’s functions for the better, including hair growth. So, focus on your protein and nutrient intake. Eat leafy greens and beans to keep that facial hair growing.
Reduce Stress
If you’re stressed all the time, it could impact your hair growth. Spending most days in a state of near-panic due to tense work or family situations may cause your body to withdraw resources from places like your scalp or beard. Combat stress and promote hair growth by managing your stress through activities like breathwork, yoga, meditation, and sleep.
Tips to Keep Your Facial Hair Looking Its Best
By now, you’ve figured out why your facial hair grows so fast. But what can you do to keep it fresh and well-groomed? The world of facial hair maintenance is vast, and we know it’s a little overwhelming. So, we’ve compiled the top tips on keeping your mane on fleek.
1. Use a Quality Razor
It’s tempting to grab the cheapest razor on the market, but doing so could leave you with bumps and cuts. Invest in a proper razor for the best shave.
2. Shave Regularly
Pick a shaving schedule that works with the rate of your facial hair’s growth and stick to it to keep up that tidy appearance.
3. Use Shaving Cream
Along with your quality razor, go for a quality shaving cream. It’ll protect your skin and prepare it for a smooth shaving session.
4. Rinse With Cold Water
If you love hot water, flip that knob to the other side because you’ll want cold water after your shave! The cold water closes your pores after you shave, preventing irritation on your skin.
5. Don’t Skip the Aftershave
Have you been shy about aftershave? Give it a try because it can help soothe your skin. It also prevents razor burn, so it’s a win-win!
We hope you enjoyed these facial hair tips. Of course, feel free to adjust your facial hair grooming process to suit your needs and preferences. And if you still have questions about your facial hair or run into any skin or hair problems, work with a trusted medical professional. You’ll get back to the appearance you desire in no time!
Here’s another resource for facial hair removal tips for women.
