A thick full luscious beard is something that is desired by many men. However, unfortunately, your facial hair does not always play the game. A patchy beard is nothing to be ashamed of and should not cause you any stress.

If you find that your hair does grow unevenly, there are a few ways that you can improve this, or even hide it completely. From styling tips and tricks, products, and ways to promote hair growth we have you covered with your ultimate guide to fixing a patchy beard.

Grow it Long

Instead of a short beard, you may want to try fuller longer facial hair. Resisting the urge to trim or shave might be hard, but back away from the trimmer. Even if you plan to keep your beard shorter, letting your beard grow freely for a month can be a great way to identify which way the hair grows and where the patches are forming. In turn, fuller more grown facial hair will help to cover any patches. Yes, there will be a few awkward weeks where your facial hair is patchy while it grows out. But the hair should eventually grow evenly, covering the patches.

Keep it Trimmed

The appearance of a patchy beard can also be minimized by trimming your facial hair. Depending on where the patches sit, you can trim your beard creatively. Incorporate these patches into your look using flattering angles. Or you can choose to keep the rest of your beard trimmed so short that the patches are hardly noticeable. Start off using a number three, and then go shorter if you like from there. Take your time to ensure that you give yourself a neat and even trim, and check as you go. Otherwise, you may end up with a more patchy beard than before.

Clean Up the Lines

A patchy beard can often cause you to look a little more fisherman than dapper. So, tidy, even lines will help to make your patchy beard look more clean cut and professional. Keep your sideburns neat and trimmed back so that they blend smoothly into your facial hair. This should create a sharp border around the rest of your face. Similarly, keep the border of your beard neat and clean, especially around your cheekbones, jawline, nose and lips. Maintain clean lines by regularly trimming your beard and styling it daily with beard oil and a comb.

Manage Uneven Growth

All of our tips should help your facial hair to grow more evenly. But if you’re still finding that it is patchy, there are some ways you can manage this. Keeping your beard trimmed to an even and short length is one way to minimize the appearance of patches. Or keeping it full enough to cover the patches. As long as you manage the length of your facial hair so that it is as even as possible, the patches should be less noticeable. You should also condition your facial hair and take good care of it. A well-loved beard is a well-managed beard.

Condition Your Beard

Wiry, dry, and poorly looked after facial hair can cause a patchy beard. So, looking after it using the right products and tools can make a big difference to not just the health of the hair, but its overall appearance. A good beard oil or beard balm will keep your mane healthy and clean all the way down to the follicles. Use an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and prevent dry skin. This will also help if you suffer from itchy beard syndrome while stimulating the skin underneath. This promotes blood flow, and in turn, hair growth, resulting in a fuller, thicker, and healthier beard.

Eat Well

A healthy lifestyle and diet is the most useful thing you can do when it comes to improving, well just about anything. But, what you eat is especially important when it comes to hair growth. Drink plenty of water as well as upping your vitamin B and C intake. Zinc, iron, and omega-three also all help to nourish hair and promote growth. Try taking a multivitamin or adding more avocado, eggs, almonds, cauliflower, bananas, and milk to your diet. While you’re at it, food such as white meat, peanuts, mushrooms, tuna, beef, and sunflower seeds contain Niacin. This is another handy vitamin that has been linked to hair growth.

Disguise Blank Patches

Don’t be afraid to break out the eyebrow pencil to shade in smaller patches. Women have been doing this for years to get their brows #onfleek so why shouldn’t the lads borrow a trick or two. This a simple and effective way to hide patches that are otherwise unfixable. But keep in mind, it will only work for smaller areas. To keep things looking natural, make sure you choose a brow pencil that matches your beard color. If you’re unsure enlist the help of your partner, sister, or female best friend or head to the makeup counter and ask the shop assistant.

Choose a Beard Style

From a classic to a Viking beard, there are so many choices when it comes to your whiskers. Choosing the right beard style to suit your face shape is important, but selecting the right beard for your hair type is paramount. If you have the wrong style, it could accentuate your patches, whereas the right kind of beard will hide them altogether, or incorporate them into the style. If you’re not sure what type of beard is best for you, you can always seek out the help of your barber.

Avoid Certain Hair Growth Products

There are many products that claim to promote hair growth on the top of your head. However, you should steer clear of these when it comes to your patchy beard. Some chemicals found in hair products are far too harsh to come in contact with your skin. Particularly, a compound called Minoxidil. So by using these products on your beard, you are exposing the underlying skin to damage. This can cause dryness and other irritations which can cause your hair to fall out, making the patches worse.

FAQs :

What causes a patchy beard?

A patchy beard can be caused by many things, including age (young and old), genetics, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, stress, or even a fungal infection. If you’re experiencing new patchiness or hair loss, it can be a good idea to chat with your general care practitioner to make sure it’s not a serious health issue.

Should I let my beard grow if it's patchy?

Growing your beard out long can be one way of hiding any patchy growth, as the length will cover it. Letting it grow freely for even a few weeks can also help you identify any patchiness, as well as your growth pattern. You just need to persist through the awkward growing our stage.

Do beard patches fill-in?

Beard patches can fill in, depending on the cause of the patchiness. It's difficult to fight genetics, so you may not have much luck if that's the cause. However, if it’s a result of poor diet, stress, or illness, then lifestyle changes, medication, and beard care can help fix some issues. Also, if you’re young with a patchy beard, time can help, as you may be able to grow a fuller beard as you age.

Are patchy beards attractive?

Patchy beards may not be as luscious as a full beard, but this doesn’t make them unattractive. You just have to have the confidence to work with what you’ve got. Plus, as proof, there are plenty of attractive celebrities who have patchy beards, such as Keanu Reeves, James Franco, and Johnny Depp.