Growing a full beard is an achievement and celebration of manhood. However, beards are not created equal. For many of us who aspire to such bearded wizards as Jeff Bridges and Jake Gyllenhaal, it can be startling to see missing patches of hair when we look in the mirror.
We’ll break these beard-enhancing lessons in half: The first tips focus on making your beard appear fuller and thicker, which might be all you’re looking for. The second batch of advice is how to actually thicken and strengthen the physical hairs, so that the beard looks fuller en masse. Apply it all at once, or pick and choose the tips that suit you best. No two beards will need the same help, but all beards can benefit.
How to Make Patchy Beards Look Thicker
Let it grow
The first thing we have to say is this: You need to be patient with your beard. If it’s patchy in those first couple weeks, it won’t be so patchy in a couple more. The beard is unruly and each hair twists and turns and takes on its own life. When they’re all grown out, they give the illusion of a fuller beard.
Take Good Care of Your Facial Hair
During your hair growth phase, it’s wise to promote new hair growth and keep follicles healthy (both of which make your beard look fuller). Brittle, wiry beard hair only exacerbates a patchy beard
To keep your beard in good shape, remember the following:
1.Apply beard oil – Beard oil will help tame the itchiness that often nips a new beard (and beardsman) in the bud. The struggle is real, but an alcohol-free beard oil will keep skin and beard moisturized.
2.Apply beard balm – Beard balm has just enough hold to help train your facial hairs to grow the direction you want them to grow. Smooth the balm onto hair with your fingers.
3.Brush your beard – Use a bristle brush to brush beard hair downwards, which will eventually cover patches and also give your beard a tidy, uniform appearance.
Brush it regularly
A beard brush’s main function is to distribute the natural oils that collect at the shaft of the hair. However, while you’re in the habit of using this brush nightly, you could also start your morning styling routine with a brushing over of the longer hairs—to help cover up the patches. Then, apply said beard balm and style into place. Be gentle enough that you don’t irritate the skin, but firm enough that you disrupt whatever equilibrium those pesky hairs are enjoying as they expose your bare spots. A couple quick swipes in the same direction should suffice.
Eat Well
Easy to say, hard to maintain (we know). But there’s no way around the fact that healthy hair growth – and thus a thicker beard – starts with a balanced diet. You’ve probably heard about biotin supplements for hair loss, but since the research on supplements inducing hair growth is inconclusive, we suggest getting plenty of biotin in your diet from natural sources like eggs, avocados, legumes, milk, and chocolate.
And fill up on foods containing niacin, which prevents hair from becoming brittle and falling out. Common sources include sunflower seeds, mushrooms, and fish.
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