Close-up of a bearded man with clear skincare gel applied beneath his eye and across his cheek

How to
GROW A BEARD

Our guide gives you everything you need to know about how to grow a thicker beard, plus our practical beard‑growing tips to help you out day to day.

Read Time

8 min

In short:

How To Grow a Beard
How Beards Grow
Our Guide on Growing a Beard - Frequently Asked Questions
Beard Growing Tips for Thicker Facial Hair
Summary

How to
GROW A BEARD

A magnificent beard takes time, but if a thick, bushy beard is your goal, with the right approach and a little patience you can really get the best out of your beard growth.

Here you can find out what you should keep an eye on if you want to let your beard grow well, how to grow a thicker beard – and whether you can actually speed up beard growth or just make it look fuller with the right routine.

How Beards Grow

For most men, beard growth begins during puberty, usually between the ages of 14 and 18.

The hormone testosterone is responsible for beard growth; when testosterone levels in your body increase, the beard also starts to grow. Genetics and hormones largely determine what kind of beard you have. Testosterone levels can vary, and low testosterone can affect how quickly your beard grows and how thick it gets.

Sometimes, even if your testosterone level is high, other factors can mean you find it harder to grow a big, bushy beard. While some guys already have a full beard at a young age, genetic, ethnicity and heredity factors may mean others find it harder to grow a thick beard. But a healthy lifestyle and a good skincare routine will go a long way to helping your beard look thick and bountiful.

Close-up portrait of a man with short hair, facial stubble and a hoop earring looking over his shoulder

Our Guide on Growing a Beard
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When you’re trying to figure out how to grow a beard, it’s totally normal to have loads of questions. Don’t stress, we’ve got you. Have a look at our guide and answers to the most frequently asked questions when you’re learning how to grow a beard:

How long does it take to grow a beard?

As we’ve said, how long it takes to grow a beard is influenced by many factors, and how fast you grow facial hair will vary from guy to guy. Read further to help you get a feel for how long your beard may take to grow.

How fast does beard hair grow on average?

Your beard grows about 0.3 to 0.4 millimetres a day – just like the hair on your head. But how many hairs grow will vary, as will the length, growth rate and thickness of each individual hair.

The length and density of your beard will largely depend on your age and genetics.

How long does a three‑day beard get?

With that in mind, how long will a beard you’ve been growing for three days get? Again, three days only serves as a rough time guide – it all depends on the hair length: on a typical three‑day beard, the hairs measure more than 0.5 and less than five millimetres.

The effect will also change depending on your hair colour. A blonde beard usually needs a little longer than a dark one to create that effortless three‑day look.

How long will it take to have a full beard?

A full beard is usually measured from about one centimetre in length, so roughly after a month. To grow your beard to five centimetres and enjoy a thicker beard, you’ll need around three to four months of patience, depending on your personal rate of beard growth.

How to grow a thicker beard?

It doesn’t matter whether you want to grow a full beard, a goatee or a three‑day beard – first and foremost you need plenty of patience and, most importantly, the right care.

You can’t actually make your beard hair thicker, but you can make it look bushier with a bit of looking after. A healthy, well‑maintained beard will help create this thicker look and give you that confident, groomed feel.

How to speed up beard growth?

While you can’t actually make your beard grow faster, you can make it look thicker and seem longer with a good beard and skincare routine.

Beard‑growing tips for
THICKER FACIAL HAIR

Close-up of a bearded man with blue eyes looking upward against a light blue background

Wash your beard: You should clean your beard regularly with a beard shampoo. Dirt, old skin cells and bacteria can quickly collect in and under your beard. Make sure you get to the skin under the hair when you wash it. Washing your beard regularly can help stop your beard from itching and can prevent skin irritation.
Exfoliate your beard: Facial scrubs remove dead skin cells and make it easier for your beard hairs to break through the skin to the outside. Exfoliation also stimulates blood circulation and cell renewal. Used once or twice a week, it can support the growth of a healthy‑looking beard.

Discover our range of NIVEA face washes to deeply cleanse and exfoliate your beard, allowing for revitalised and thicker‑looking growth.

Discover NIVEA Face Wash

Apply moisturiser to your beard: Just like the hair on your head, beard hair also needs moisture. With a beard oil or a beard cream, you can give your skin and hair an intensive moisture boost.
Explore our NIVEA Sensitive Pro Range, which contains vitamin E to help protect your skin’s barrier, reducing stress and irritation. In turn, the Sensitive Pro Range helps you create the perfect base for a healthy, thicker‑looking beard.
Trim your beard: For your beard to grow evenly, you should trim longer hairs regularly with a trimmer. Every hair has its own growth rhythm, so it can take a while before all the hairs are the same length. You can define contours on your cheeks and neck using a razor to keep a neat, well‑groomed look.

Close-up of a smiling man touching his short beard and looking upward against a light blue background

Close-up portrait of a smiling man with brown hair and a short beard against a light blue background

Comb your beard: You comb your hair, so why not your beard? Regular combing helps moisturise beard hair by spreading natural and added oils evenly through the hair. You can detangle longer beard hair with a comb, while natural‑bristle brushes are ideal for short beards. Regular brushing will give your beard a clean shape and smoother texture.
Remove ingrown beard hairs: Ingrown beard hairs often cause skin irritation, pimples or inflammation. To give your skin a break and keep a well‑groomed look, remove these stray hairs carefully with a pair of tweezers. Good skincare, including regular exfoliation, will go a long way towards preventing ingrown hairs.

Summary

Don’t get discouraged if your beard doesn’t grow evenly at first or feels uncomfortable on your skin.
Like so many things in life, getting used to a beard takes a bit of time, patience and attention. If you let your beard grow, the right care is absolutely essential. Once it’s long and dense enough, you can also (re)shape and style your beard exactly the way you like it.