Many young men start to notice facial hair during or after puberty. You might be rocking peach fuzz or seeing those first few hairs start to sprout. When this happens, you might wonder if you can grow a beard yet. Here’s how to tell!
Signs You’re Ready To Grow a Beard
First things first, check yourself in the mirror. Can you see consistent facial hair across your face? Even if it’s just slight stubble or noticeable sideburns, that’s a good starting point.
Another sign is how thick the hair feels when you touch it. If it’s coarse and spreading to areas like your cheeks, chin, or jawline, you might be ready to grow something epic.
Your age also plays a role—most guys start to see serious beard potential in their late teens, so if you’re already 16 or 17, you’re getting close.
On top of that, take note of your family genetics. If your dad or older brothers sport full beards, there’s a strong chance you’re headed in the same direction.
Signs You’re Not Ready To Grow a Beard
Don’t sweat it if your face still looks baby-smooth. A lack of visible facial hair in your early teens is totally normal. Teenage hormones work at their own pace, and your body might just need more time.
However, if your facial hair feels patchy and uneven when it does grow, you might need to wait a while before committing to a full beard.
It’s also worth considering your health. Conditions like poor diet, stress, or lack of sleep can impact your body’s ability to grow facial hair. If you’re noticing thin or slow growth to the point where your facial hair barely fills anything in, some lifestyle adjustments might be all you need to boost growth.
How To Improve Your Chances of Growing a Beard
If you’re still unsure whether you can grow a beard, you’ll be able to tell after optimizing your lifestyle to support full, healthy facial hair growth.
Eat Well
Start by eating a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and healthy fats—foods like eggs, nuts, and leafy greens are great for hair health.
Sleep Enough
Get plenty of sleep so your body can recharge and produce the hormones responsible for hair growth.
Exercise
Staying active and reducing stress can also make a difference. Regular exercise improves blood circulation, delivering essential nutrients to hair follicles.
Learn To Shave
You’ll still need to trim and even out your fledgling whiskers, and doing so incorrectly can hamper growth and infect your skin. Learn how to keep your skin safe and healthy after shaving to avoid stressing your growing beard.
Wait It Out!
Need another tip? Be patient. Your beard can take time to grow, and stressing won’t speed it up.
You Never Know Until You Try
At the end of the day, nobody can say for sure when your beard-growing abilities will kick in. The only way to know for sure is to let it grow! By keeping an eye out for the signs above and taking care of your body, you’ll give yourself the best shot.