How long does it take to grow a beard? What are the factors affecting beard growth? And how can you grow it faster? In this post, you will get to know the answers to these questions. 

First off, let me congratulate you for dreaming to get the aura of getting a beard. If you are short on time, read my quick answer first.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Beard?

Facial hair grows in stages (More about this later).

You cannot precisely determine how long it takes to grow a beard on the cheeks or chin only, but the average duration is 4 to 12 months. Depending on age, genetics, and hormones, you can grow a beard faster or slower than others.

Let’s understand these factors in detail now.

Video: How Fast Does a Beard Grow

Why not start with a few fun facts and exciting stats on growing a beard?

A Few Stats & Fun Facts on Growing a Beard

  • The longest beard was 17 feet and 6 inches long.
  • Beards protect you from around 90% of harmful UV rays.
  • The number one beard-growing factor is your testosterone.
  • You may grow a half or 1-inch length of beard every month.
  • A beard never grows longer than it is at 6 years of its full growth.
  • It varies from man to man, but it takes 2 to 6 months to grow a long beard.
  • The speed of growing a beard depends on a lot of factors including your race, genetics, age, sleep quality, food intake, and others.
How Long Does It Take to Grow a Beard

Which one did you like the most? Let us know in the comments below. I love your comments more than bearding, Haha. 

Stages of Growing a Beard – In Short

I’ve outlined the stages of ‘how fast does a beard grow’ so you know your progress along the way.

Stage 1 – It’s the shortest stage of growing a beard. It takes about 7 days. And this stage, you will know how quickly your beard will grow.

Stage 2 – This stage takes 2-3 weeks and you will see a pattern of hair growth. It means you will start noticing the shape of your beard in the second stage.

Stage 3 – Stage 3 also takes almost 2-3 weeks. At the end of this stage, you will see considerable beard growth.

Stage 4 – The stage lasts for 2-3 months. It’s time to shape your beard like a pro. A bit of trimming will do miracles. 

Stage 5 – The stage lasts for 3-6 months. At this point, you will notice your beard growth has slowed down. The fullness of your beard will be more noticeable. 

Stage 6 – This stage lasts for 6-12 months. And you’ll have a full beard. Determine the desired length by trimming your beard properly.

Have a look at this beautiful infographic about the stages of beard growth.


But sometimes it really gets long to grow a full beard. Let’s get to know why. 

Why Does It Take Long to Grow a Beard? Factors Affecting the Beard Growth

Why is it that every man has different beard-growing speeds? There are many reasons for that.

  • Age
  • Genetrics
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Healthy lifestyle (sleep, exercise, and more)

Let’s understand these factors in detail now.

Your Age Matters

Getting old may be bad, but not with bearding. Your age unquestionably affects beard growth. Facial hair coverage increases in your 20s until your 30s. It’s likely that your beard will grow as you age.

And the prime time for growing your beard is between the age of 25 to 35. But many men may grow a beard even after 35, depending on their testosterone, genetics, and health. 

The Genetics Come Into Play

Genetics make you. They define your features. So, if your grandfather had a generously thick beard, you may enjoy it as well. 

But genetics cannot guarantee everything for sure. So just because your dad has baldness doesn’t mean you will also have it.

Masculine traits like a beard depend on the Androgens you have in your body. I’ll not get into whether you can control androgens or not, but let’s just say that you have enough of them.

Your Race (or Ethnicity) Also Matters

Your race matters for beardedness. It has more to do with the thickness of your beard, though.

For example, Caucasians have the thickest beards. But African-Americans may find it challenging to grow a full beard like them.

But there are exceptions. There are no hard and fast rules. 

Your Lifestyle Affects on How Long Does It Take to Grow a Beard

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Beard 2

I, at BeardRage, often say that your beard is like your kid. If you don’t provide it with sufficient sleep and diet, it will not grow. It’s also like the part of your body. Do exercise, be stress-free, and stop smoking if you do. 

Let’s get a bit deeper. 

Enjoy Ample & Quality Sleep

If you are serious about growing a beard, you must enjoy quality sleep. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, sleep deprivation decreases beard growth.

Do the Exercise

Getting regular exercise is a must for a healthy life. I don’t need to emphasize it more, you must already know it.

Workout for Beard Growth

Exercise increases the level of testosterone. It’s the hormone responsible for beard growth. Do the weight lifting, deadlifts, squats, and rows for a boost in testosterone. 

Make Your Diet Healthy

A healthy diet may significantly boost the speed of growing a beard. It helps hair to remain in the anagen phase longer. Enjoy diets that are rich in vitamins, such as eggs, yogurt, apples, and more.

Take A Chill Pill

And be stress-free. Anxiety and stress are closely related to your health and immune system.


The stronger your immunity is, the faster your beard grows and vice versa.

And it’s not just about the beard getting affected by stress, it’s about your entire body. The solution? Go for stress management tools like meditation, yoga, and sleep.

Take Care of the Skin beneath your beard

Growing a beard depends on your skin’s wellness as well. After all, it’s where your beard hair is grown. Keep your facial skin clean and moisturized.

Stop Smoking & Other Such Habits

Revise your lifestyle, and cut the habits like smoking. It’s challenging to quit it. But if you are serious about growing a beard, do it right now. 

Stop Smoking to Grow a Beard

Life gives you so many chances to stop something bad like smoking. Stop it for your beard’s sake!

Beard Growth Tips: Practical Tricks to Grow a Beard

These dos and don’ts will help grow your beard fast.

  • Don’t shave your beard, let it grow.
  • Reach your optimal age (25-35 years)
  • Enjoy ample & quality sleep.
  • Do the exercise regularly. 
  • Fix your diet, because you are what you eat.
  • Take a chill pill: Be stress-free.
  • Stop smoking: And other bad habits.

If you have done it all and still got some problems, you may need some medical help.

So, Talk to Your Doctor If…!

Talk to your doctor if there are some medical conditions such as alopecia barbae or alopecia areata. Googling about the issue and reading posts at BeardRage will not help if you have some medical problems.

Have Questions? ask in the comments

how long does it take to grow a beard by using onion juice?

Rubbing onion juice stimulates beard hair growth without a doubt. But don’t use it for a patchy beard, rather use it where there’s no hair but the follicles. And you need a lot of patience for your beard to grow with onion juice.

how long does a beard grow in a year?

On average, a beard grows half an inch per month (1.25cm), that’s about 6 inches in a year. It takes 4 months to grow a full beard after you are 25. But it varies from man to man.

Does shaving increase beard growth?

Shaving does not increase beard growth at all. It neither changes the color nor the thickness of your facial fuzz. Shaving facial gives the hair a blunt tip that might feel coarse for a time.

Similar Posts