A beard transplant does what your genetics and other factors won’t allow you to do. Hair is taken from another part of your body (usually the scalp) and transplanted to your face, or wherever a beard or mustache may grow.

Beard transplants have come a long way, too. Professional beard and hair transplant facilities abound and technology keeps improving. Even better, you get to choose exactly the kind of beard you desire.

But is a beard transplant for you?

Let’s take a closer look, including at why your beard isn’t as full as you like and possible solutions.

My Beard Lacks Thickness – Why?

If you have a patchy beard, you’re not alone. The problem is, too many men with patchy beards throw up their hands and decide that growing a beard isn’t worth the trouble. And that’s too bad.

So, why do you have a beard that’s not as thick as a man who revels in full-bearded glory? Let’s look at some causes – while making it clear up front that there’s no reason to beat yourself up for it. Besides, there are solutions, which will get into a bit later.

1. Genetics

If your parents are tall, the chances are good that you’re tall, too. The same principles apply to beard growth: if your father (and his father) grew nice thick beards, the better your chances of growing one, as well.

Genetics, simply put, determine a lot about us, from hair color to even mental functioning.

The bottom line is that there’s not a lot we can do about our genetics.

We can’t take a pill that alters our genes and makes us take on what we feel are desirable traits. Still, if your beard is patchy, just like your dad’s and grandfather’s, hope is not yet lost. Read on.

2. Hormones

Hormones are often a prime suspect when it comes to the “why” of patchy beards.

Among scientific reasons for patchy growth is the fact that, for some men, the cheek area has weaker blood flow than other areas of the face. That’s important because it means that fewer nutrients and beard growing hormones make it to your cheeks.

Which leads us to hormones, specifically, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Testosterone, the same hormone that got us through puberty and into manhood affects beard growth.

Men with lower testosterone sometimes have a harder time growing a full beard, although that’s not always the case.

While your beard follicles utilize testosterone, they also create DHT, which is kind of like testosterone’s bigger, more muscular brother. DHT has a big influence on male characteristics, mind you.

Now for some more science (bear with us): Your hair follicles need something called 5-alpha-reductase to utilize testosterone and DHT. If you don’t have enough 5-alpha-reductase, your beard growth is limited.

Here’s the kicker, however. Excess levels of DHT is one of the causes of male pattern baldness. So, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t regarding hair growth overall. The good news is that there are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors available today.

3. Alopecia Areata

Most men don’t suffer from alopecia areata. Those that do, however, experience spot baldness that leaves small bald spots on hair-covered areas of your body, including your beard. It’s a fully treatable condition, however, and may even go away on its own.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease where your body attacks the hair follicles, resulting in bald patches on your head. It can also affect your beard, and it’s the main reason why guys choose to have beard transplants.

Alopecia Areata causes baldness in a single spot on your head — usually on the crown — and can also cause a patchy beard.

It’s not known what causes Alopecia Areata, but it tends to run in families. The good news is that it’s not contagious or life-threatening.

4. Lifestyle factors

We’re all told to get enough sleep, eat the right foods, get plenty of exercise, and to not stress out about things so much. All are good for your overall health, including your beard health.

As far as your diet goes, nutrients such as biotin and niacin help beard growth – at least many studies say that they do – so foods such as eggs, avocados, milk, fish, sunflower seeds, etc., should be a part of your regular diet.

No, you can’t change your genetics, but you can give your beard a fighting chance by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Why a Beard Transplant May Be Right For You (and it’s Pros and Cons)

While beard transplants are still relatively new, at least regarding the number of men who get them, the overall results have been good.

It’s not like you’d be rolling the dice between a natural-looking beard and one that looks like, well, the guy down at the corner garage did it.

Instead, chances are good you’ll like the results and soon will strut into your everyday life with the beard of your dreams.

So, back to the original question – why should you consider a beard transplant? Let’s take a look:

1. You get the beard that you want

We’re not just talking about a full, thick beard that looks like the one worn by a typical lumberjack of old. But one of the beauties of a beard transplant is that you get to choose the style of beard you want.

Indeed, all you have to do is tell your beard transplant specialist exactly where you want the hair to be transplanted and how much.

You choose the style, just as you’d choose the style of your haircut by looking at a picture in a magazine at your favorite hair salon or barbershop.

2. A bearded man is more attractive to women (and many other good things)

If you grow a beard and suddenly feel like you’re getting more attention from the opposite sex, embrace it.

It happens to a lot of bearded men, and it’s just not hearsay. Several studies show that many women find men with facial hair more attractive than clean-shaven gents.

In a 2013 study, women said men with light stubble were the most attractive and, as the facial hair grew thicker, they found men increasingly more masculine (and a good parenting prospect).

Moreover, men who participated in the study felt that men with full facial hair looked more masculine than other men.

The study also suggests that women find men with an intermediate level of facial stubble to be more attractive as a sex partner. And, again, men with fuller beards earned high marks regarding potential parenting ability.

But wait – there’s more:

• Beards imply strength

Studies also show that men with beards seem stronger than other men and provide a sense of security.

• Beards imply intelligence

Just look at some of the famous bearded men: Freud, Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, as well as countless others like them. No one would say that these men weren’t smart.

• Beards balance sensitivity and edginess

Not that all bearded men are tough guys. Many also have a sensitive side and successfully combine both.

Women love guys who have an edge to them, like a beard helps provide, but also know how to be sensitive and romantic.

• Beards exude confidence

Beards not only make you seem more confident, but you’ll also feel more confident.

Whether it’s the feeling of masculinity, to the additional attention you get from others (not the least of which is from the opposite sex), to the fact that beards imply you’re more secure in your grooming skills, your confidence gets a nice boost.

• Beard transplants cause little pain

It might seem that taking hair from another part of your body and transplanting it into your facial region is painful.

The truth, however, is that it’s virtually pain-free. For one, the incisions made on your face are very minimal and won’t hurt much more than a small pinch, if at all.

• Beard transplants aren’t just for your beard

You can also have hair transplanted to your eyebrows and sideburns in much the same manner. Or, for that matter, transplanted to just about any part of your body.

• There’s very little recovery time

Today’s beard transplant procedures don’t entail nearly the amount of recovery time as in the past. You may experience some redness and slight swelling in the facial area for a few days after the procedure, but nothing too serious at all.

True, you may have to set aside a day for the transplant, but you can always use it as a sick day. While the procedure may take up to five hours (and potentially longer), a second round isn’t usually needed in most cases.

• You can shave and style your beard as normal

The dissected grafts of a beard transplant are permanent. That means you’re able to shave and style your beard like you normally would following the transplant procedure.

3. And now, for some disadvantages (of getting a beard transplant)

Beard transplants help men achieve exactly the bearded look they desire. They boost a man’s confidence and – as studies show – may make him more attractive to women.

But there are some disadvantages to getting a beard transplant, as well:

• It’s expensive

There’s no getting around it: beard transplants will challenge your budget, and some men are intimidated by the beard transplant cost.

The procedure may cost as much as $7,000 – and more. True, you get the satisfaction and benefits of having a full beard, but it’s not cheap by any means. The question of how much does a beard transplant cost is an important one.

• You’ll sacrifice hair from other parts of your body

In many cases, the hair used for beard transplants comes from the back of your scalp because it closely resembles the hair that grows around your chin and cheeks.

But, hey, the hair has to come from somewhere, and it’s not like you’ll have visible bald patches on your scalp.

• Your transplanted hairs fall out in three weeks

Wait, what?

Yes, it’s true – a natural side-effect of a beard transplant is hair-shedding.

Don’t panic, however, because it’s a temporary side-effect and your hair will grow back fully during the time frame set by your doctor.

In other words, temporary shedding is simply part of the process of getting the beard you’ve always desired.

The Cost of a Beard Transplant

As previously mentioned, beard transplants aren’t cheap. Then again, when compared to other procedures that people use to enhance their looks, perhaps they’re not overly expensive by comparison.

And, if getting a full, great-looking beard is truly important to you, then the cost of a transplant – while certainly not secondary – is worth the investment to you, as well.

In any case, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a beard transplant; that is, for one that’s done correctly by a reputable clinic.

You can find cheaper transplants, for sure, but make sure to evaluate the clinic thoroughly and check out the reviews of those who’ve had transplants done there.

Costs may vary from clinic to clinic and some centers may charge per graft.

So, the total cost is the number of grafts times the price per graft. Again, it depends on the clinic.

Other clinics, meanwhile, charge per session – but the price-per-graft model is helpful because some patients require more grafts than others.

Something else to consider is that some clinics charge a consultation fee which may cost up to $300 (but probably less).

If you need to consult with a dermatologist to determine why you’re unable to grow facial hair, then it’s likely that you’ll have to pay a fee of some kind.

Sure, you may be able to find some relatively inexpensive beard transplants but, again, make sure you know what you’re getting for the price.

The bottom line is that it’s always better to pay for a quality beard transplant than skimping on the cost and getting one that you’ll live to regret.

How it Works: Beard Transplant Basics & What You Need to Know

We’ve talked about a lot of things related to beard transplants but we also want to get down to the nuts and bolts of it all.

1. What is a beard transplant?

It’s more of a question of how it’s done than what it is, since the term beard transplant gives a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about overall. Here are the basics:

• The hair used for a beard transplant comes from another part of the patient’s head. Most commonly, the hair comes from the back of the head or from under the chin. The hair on your head has a slightly different structure and diameter than pre-existing beard hair, which may make it harder to match.
• Once the hair follicles are removed, the surgeon transplants them to bald patches in the beard area.
• An average of 4,000 to 7,000 hair follicle grafts are available in a typical beard transplant procedure, although for a full beard you may need only 2,500. Some surgeons may use two hairs per graft to give a more natural appearance to the beard.
• The surgeon must maneuver the hair at the proper angle to make it look like it’s growing in the right direction.

2. Types of Beard Transplants

The two major types of beard transplants are Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).

Both involve a technique in which surgeons remove hair from the donor area.

In an FUE beard transplant, individual hairs are grafted one by one from the donor region and harvest over a larger area.

Only small, white circular scars are left behind. The surgeon is usually able to harvest one of every five follicles, but results vary by physician and the quality of the procedure.

FUE is the most common beard transplant procedure.

A FUT transplant involves taking a small strip of tissue from the donor area with a microscopic dissection process. The surgeon then closes the wound edge, leaving only a single, fine scar behind.

For further comparison, let’s look at some of the advantages of disadvantages of the two procedures. And, in most cases, the FUE procedure comes out on top.

• Among the pros of the FUE procedure are that it doesn’t leave a linear scar (as with the FUT procedure) and that it has a faster healing time. This has many obvious advantages, including that patients can return to regular physical activity quickly.
• The FUE procedure, as mentioned, leaves behind tiny white scars that are difficult to see, including in regions of the scalp where hair is short. While the scars may cover a wider area than the scars left by FUT, they’re hard to detect.
• The comfort level of the FUE procedure is greater than with FUT as most patients report little or no discomfort.
• A FUT strip harvests a greater amount of hair, which may make it easier to achieve maximum fullness for the transplant.
• The FUT donor strip comes from the mid-portion of a harvest zone to obtain the sufficient number of grafts.

3. The Beard Transplant Procedure: Before, During, and After

We’ve already talked a bit about how a beard transplant works, but potential transplant patients have – understandably – plenty of questions.

For instance, we talked about where the hair used in the transplant comes from, i.e., most often from the back of the scalp because the nature of that closely resembles that of facial hair.

Again, the transplant procedure, particularly during an FUE transplant, is relatively quick. In most cases, a facial hair transplant won’t take longer than five hours.

In very rare cases, the first hair graft won’t “take” and a second transplant may be needed. But let’s take a closer look at beard transplant before and after.

• Pre-Surgery

Patients need to take a few precautions before surgery, such as not taking any medication that contains aspirin 10 days before the transplant. Nor should patients take anti-inflammatory medications or drink alcohol three days before the procedure.

Taking a vitamin C tablet once a day for a full week before the transplant will aid the healing process.

On the day of surgery, avoid drinking caffeinated beverages in the morning as they may increase bleeding and sensitivity to medications.

• Post-Surgery

Small crusts form around the newly-transplanted hairs for the first five days or so after the procedure. If the crusting lasts longer than a week, you may want to contact your surgeon. Many surgeons advise not washing your face until the crusts have fallen off.

Common post-operative medications include an antibiotic that prevents infection in the donor area. The doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic ointment that you’ll apply to the donor area for us to five days after the transplant.

Don’t be concerned if your hair begins to fall out after two to three weeks. It’s a natural part of the process, but by three months you should notice a marked improvement in the amount and thickness of your facial hair.

Are there beard transplant side effects? Some, but nothing serious. They may include:

• Mild bruising
• Swelling
• Sensitivity at the donor and recipient sites
• Ingrown hair
• Redness

Patients typically resume shaving a week to 10 days after the transplant, while visible signs of the procedure usually subside within a week.

You should also keep the transplanted area dry for five days following surgery. Beard transplant recovery is typically problem-free with little or no pain.

Most patients also have concerns whether their transplanted beard will look natural. In the hands of a skilled surgeon and clinic, the answer is a resounding yes. That makes it even more important to do your research before choosing which clinic to do your procedure.

The Difference Between a Beard Transplant and a Hair Transplant

A common question among those considering a beard transplant is how the procedure differs from a hair transplant on the scalp.

While the differences aren’t necessarily major, one important difference is that the characteristics of scalp and beard hair have slight differences.

For one, beard and mustache hairs consist primarily of single-hair units.

Beard growth begins during puberty (although not always evident) and powered by androgens – male sex hormones, that is – and increases in density for approximately the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, the increased action of androgens causes hair loss on the scalp and may lead to male pattern baldness.

Specifically, hair follicles on the scalp, in some men, are more sensitive to certain male hormones.

It’s also worth noting that beard growth and density is different for men of different ethnic groups; for instance, Indian and Middle Eastern men tend to have denser beards, while Caucasians and African men also have good density and more hair in the beards than Oriental men.

But the overall density of hair on your face and beard areas is less than that of the hair on your scalp.

However, the beard hair shares many similarities to scalp hair, although beard hair is typically in more of an elliptical shape when compared to the oval (or circular) shape of scalp hair.

Planning

While the basic principles of transplantation are the same for scalp and beard hair, the planning for each procedure has differences. For a beard transplant, the physician must examine the entire face when planning how many grafts are required.

Procedure

The removal of grafts from the donor area is much the same for beard and scalp transplant procedures (as in routine FUE procedures, that is) but the biggest difference is in the distribution of grafts, as well as the creation of the recipient site.

The area under the chin may be a donor site during a beard transplant but scalp-to-beard is the most common – and preferred – method. In a hair transplant, meanwhile, the surgeon may extract donor hair from body hair, such as from the hair on your chest.

A big difference between the two procedures is that surgeons use smaller incisions while transplanting hair in the facial region.

One of the positives of both beard and hair transplants is that they provide permanent results. In other words, you won’t have to worry about your beard becoming patchy again after you’ve had the procedure.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and lasts 4-8 hours, depending on the number of grafts needed.

After the extraction, which can be done in one session or split into two sessions if more than 2,000 grafts are extracted, the transplanted area is cleaned and ready for implantation. The transplanted area is irrigated with saline solution and made numb with local anesthesia. A special instrument called implanter pen is used to implant each graft at specific depths and angles that are required for proper beard growth. The procedure lasts 2-4 hours depending on the number of grafts implanted.

In beard transplantation it is essential to use an implanter pen for accurate depth and angle of placement for each individual hair graft so that it will grow naturally in the direction required for best beard appearance (see image below).

Manual vs. Motorized FUE Hair Transplant

Technological advances in the field of hair and beard transplants over the past several years include the use of automated devices that can perform the FUE procedure.

These devices, in most cases, quickly puncture the scalp hair to extract follicular units.

Automated devices may significantly reduce the amount of time the transplant procedure takes but there are a variety of drawbacks.

For one, the devices can’t replicate the tactile feel a surgeon has – and needs – that allows for a better feel and knowledge of tissue resistance.

Tactile “feedback” gives the surgeon a greater degree of comfort during FUE to produce the best results.

That type of feel and feedback is sacrificed in favor of speed during a motorized procedure.

Automated devices also cause more damage to hair follicles during extraction as well as leave larger wounds while puncturing the scalp during extraction.

Some Alternatives to Beard Transplants

Perhaps you’ve done the research and mulled your options regarding beard transplants.

But, whether it’s the price or other reasons, you’d like to explore other beard growth alternatives. The good news is that you have options.

Perhaps the most common, at least among actual products, is Minoxidil. Also known as Rogaine, Minoxidil has FDA approval and there are thousands of men who say they’ve experienced excellent results by using it.

Just note, however, that Minoxidil isn’t a permanent solution like a beard transplant.

How it works:

Scientists still aren’t 100% sure how Minoxidil causes hair growth. In fact, it’s original use was to lower blood pressure; a side effect, however, was hair growth.

Scientists say that it stimulates blood circulation in hair follicles. And better blood flow means more hormones and nutrients reach your hairs roots and stimulate growth.

In its most fundamental sense, Minoxidil prolongs the Anagen phase of hair cells.

There are three phases of hair growth – Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen, and the Anagen phase is when the hair grows. A shortened Anagen phase means less hair growth.

Minoxidil also stimulates an enzyme called prostaglandin synthase-1 via the immune system. Many scientists believe that hair loss has a connection with changes in the immune system.

Minoxidil comes in several forms, including:

1. Minoxidil foam

Minoxidil foam is the most popular type used for hair loss. It’s more expensive than Minoxidil liquid but dries twice as fast.

Great example — Rogaine Minoxidil Foam (for Men) 

2. Minoxidil liquid

Liquid is the original form of Minoxidil/Rogaine used for hair loss. It’s less expensive than foam but takes longer to dry. You can apply it twice a day.

So, Minoxidil has FDA approval and proven results.

What’s the catch? Well, again, it’s not a permanent solution and you need to keep applying it – in most cases, twice a day – as part of your daily routine. Some minor side effects include:

• Dry skin – Dry skin is more prevalent when using the liquid version.
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Lowered blood pressure – Not a big surprise here considering that Minoxidil started out as a drug to treat high blood pressure. Just be careful that your blood pressure doesn’t dip too low. Also, don’t use it instead of your regularly prescribed blood pressure medicine.
• Potential weight gain – Some users have listed weight gain as a possible Minoxidil side effect, but weight gain is often due to many factors, such as lifestyle and diet.

Great example — Kirkland Minoxidil (for Men) 

3. Beard growth and supplements

Supplements beard vitamins have a mix of vitamins that may boost beard growth and also improve its overall density and quality. A beard supplement isn’t meant to generate new hair growth, but to help with the process.

One of the key ingredients in these type of supplements is biotin, which helps support beard growth while preventing facial hair loss. Vitamin C and zinc are other important ingredients found in beard supplement.

Other products, such as beard oil, beard shampoos and washes, and beard sprays will help your beard become healthier and may help deal with patchiness.

Great example — Spectral.BRD Breakthrough Beard-Stimulating Serum

Great example — Jack Black Beard Oil 

Great example — Professor Fuzzworthy’s Beard Shampoo 

4. Lifestyle changes

Some other ways to get a healthier beard include diet, exercise, stress relief, and sufficient sleep.

Diet is important for a lot of reasons, including that a proper diet means you probably won’t have to take a beard supplement to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need.

Also, men who maintain a healthy diet are more likely to lose weight, and losing weight boosts testosterone – which aids the formation and growth of facial hair.

Exercise, meanwhile, increases blood flow to your scalp and skin, which means more oxygen and nutrients get delivered to those areas.

Exercise also boosts testosterone while sweating during exercise helps flush out toxins and waste products while unclogging hair follicles.

Experts say that getting the proper amount of sleep may also affect beard growth.

A lack of sleep has a variety of negative effects on your body and overall health, including that it lowers testosterone.

If you’re not getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night, you’re not giving your beard a fighting chance.

Another alternative to a beard transplant is hormone therapy.

If your lack of beard growth is due to a hormone deficiency, a qualified medical person may prescribe hormone pills, creams, or even give you hormone injections.

Note: there are health risks related to hormone therapy, so make sure that you know what you’re getting into, and have been cleared by a physician to receive it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having a beard transplant is a proven way to give you the kind of beard you want.

While it’s not the only way to deal with patchiness and low growth rate, it’s a permanent solution that’s gaining in popularity throughout the world.

If you do decide to have beard implants, it’s vital that you choose a clinic with proven experience and results, as well as the most skilled physicians.

After all, having a beard transplant is a big step to take – and an expensive one in most cases – so gather all of the information you can before deciding whether it’s right for you.

Have any of you had a beard transplant or are considering having one? If you have, what was the result? We welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions.

But while beards may be trendy at the moment, they’re by no means a fad. Bros have been rocking facial hair for most of human history – and gnarly beards have nearly always been connected with masculinity, even across vastly different cultures.

So, it’s understandable that men who struggle to grow one are looking for answers. And that brings us to today’s topic: Asian beards.

Many Asian men seem to have trouble growing full beards. Not all, of course. But it’s still a relatively common complaint, especially among Asians living in America or Europe.

Fortunately, there are a variety of strategies that can make their beard-growing dreams a reality, from all-natural means to those that are a little more involved.

And we’re going to tell you exactly what they are. We’ll even give you tips on how to style your newly filled out facial hair.

But first, let’s look at some of the reasons why some men grow beards easier than others.

Why is it harder for Asian men to grow beards?

There’s a well-established correlation between testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and facial hair growth. So, often that’s the first explanation that comes up when talking about Asian men and beards: it must be a lack of testosterone.

But that’s not actually the case.

For starters, while some studies have shown slightly higher average testosterone levels in Caucasians than Asians, the difference isn’t large enough to account for the difference in body hair.

And in fact, there have been other comparisons that showed equal testosterone levels between groups of East Asians and Euroamericans – and yet the latter group still had noticeably more body hair.

“Okay, then it must be DHT, right?”

Not really. Many Asian men actually have higher DHT levels than their white, black, or Latino counterparts.

So, what’s the deal here? Why do so many men from China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. struggle to grow beards?

It seems to come down to androgen receptors. These receptors are what actually use the DHT to stimulate growth in the hair follicle.

However, if a follicle doesn’t have enough receptors – or the receptors aren’t sensitive enough, which can actually be caused by having too many receptors – then it doesn’t really matter how much DHT you have. Because you simply don’t have the receptor function to utilize it.

You can think of it kind of like a car. If you have two cars, one that’s very fuel-efficient and one that’s very inefficient, the first car may be able to drive two, three, or even five times further on the same amount of gasoline.

And while receptor distribution has an environmental aspect, it’s mostly tied to genetics. This is why you can have two men with similar testosterone and DHT levels but completely different levels of facial and body hair.

In general, people groups that are historically from colder areas, like Northern Europe, are predisposed to grow more body hair than those from warmer areas, like Southeast Asia, as seen in this map by the American Journal of Physical Anthropology:

But of course, even within these groups, you have variance. Just look at the difference between southern and northern Japan, for instance.

So, with all that in mind, does that mean Asian facial hair dreams are dashed forever? Not at all! Keep reading for our tips on both maximizing and surpassing your genetic potential for beard growth.

6 Powerful lifestyle changes to improve natural beard growth in Asian men

Now, even if your beard prospects seem hopeless, there are a few ways that you can surpass your genetic potential and pull off a full face of hair.

But first, we want to lay out the basics. Because not only will making these lifestyle adjustments help maximize what you’ve got, they’ll also improve the results you get from other methods. Plus, they’re good for your overall health.

They’ll increase testosterone, increase androgen receptor count and/or sensitivity, and make sure your body has all the tools (and nutrients) it needs to grow the longest, bushiest beard possible.

Eat a healthier diet

You may have rolled your eyes when mom told you to eat your veggies as a kid. But as it turns out, ma was just trying to help you maximize your beard gains.

Thanks, mom.

Because not only is a nutritious, balanced diet good for your overall health, many of the key vitamins found in vegetables promote healthier skin and longer, fuller hair. These include vitamins A, B (B6 and B12), C, E, biotin, and beta A carotene.

But make sure to get your protein, too. It’s full of keratin, which is extremely important for hair health.

Oh, and fats. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish and certain nuts, are great for your skin and overall health. Meanwhile, saturated (think red meat, milk, cheese, and butter) and monounsaturated (olive oil, avocados, nuts) fats have been shown to increase testosterone.

In short, a diet that includes a good balance of protein, vitamins, and dietary fat can do wonders for your beard growth.

Start an exercise routine

A good exercise routine will contribute to beard growth in a variety of ways, giving a boost to your overall hair and skin quality. But it’s also been scientifically proven to increase testosterone levels.

Which exercises have the best effect on test? That would be resistance (weight) training, especially the big compound lifts, like squats, dead lifts, and presses. That’s bench and military press, to be exact. And high-intensity, short-duration cardio can help too. Think sprint intervals.

Don’t have weights? Pushups and pullups should be your go to.

Take care of your skin and beard

Whether you’re stuck in the peach fuzz phase or you’ve already got a full lumberjack beard, it’s important to take care of both your facial hair and the skin underneath.

Because not only will it make the hair itself look better, it’ll give it the best possible environment to grow – and thus help it grow even faster and fuller.

So, what do we recommend? At a minimum, we’d suggest a good beard oil, for moisturizing and maintaining both your skin and facial hair.

For maximum results, you should use an exfoliating face scrub and a good beard shampoo as well.

Finally, not only will a beard brush keep your budding beard looking extra spiffy, it’ll aid growth by lifting dead skin skills from your face and beard, along with spreading that growth-giving sebum through your hair.

Now, guys who are currently baby faced may be thinking, “What? That’s a lot of stuff!” But as any beardsman knows, if you want a good looking mane, you’ve gotta mane-tain it.

Get it, mane-tain? Like maintain? No? Okay, moving on.

Get enough sleep

Your body does all kinds of crazy stuff while you’re sleeping, from regenerating your skin to, that’s right, growing your hair.

Plus, sleep has a big impact on your testosterone levels. In fact, studies have show a whopping 10 to 15% decrease in testosterone in young men after just a week of sleep restrictions.

That means, if you want to keep your beard game strong – and avoid getting eye bags that are darker than your facial hair – you should shoot for at least 7 to 8 hours of rest per night.

Your hormones are also affected by when you go to sleep and wake up, so try to maintain as “normal” a sleep schedule as possible. That means waking up at or not long after sunrise.

Stay hydrated

This probably isn’t the first time you’ve been told about the benefits of proper hydration.

But did you know drinking water could help you grow a beard? That’s right. Because it’s so critical to the health of your skin and hair.

Just like the rest of your body, your hair needs plenty of H2O, so keeping hydrated is a good way to keep your beard healthy and growing. The recommended daily intake of water varies based on the individual, but getting the proper amount is essential to making sure you’re growing the strongest and healthiest beard possible.

If you can’t remember whether or not you had enough to drink that day, look no further than your facial hair. Dehydration can cause dull, brittle, and dry skin and hair, which definitely won’t help if you’re trying to grow out your whiskers.

Drinking plenty of water will also help keep your skin moisturized and soft underneath that new beard, reducing itchiness and irritation. A simple tip is to carry around a reusable water bottle with you; I’ve found this easy trick makes me much more likely to drink more water throughout the day.

Hydrated hair is full, smooth, and luscious. Dehydrated hair is dry, brittle, and thin.

The difference is obvious. So, drink up, bros.

Avoid excess stress

No one likes to feel stressed out.

And not only does it feel bad, it’s bad for your health too. In excess, that is. A small amount of stress is natural, even beneficial.

But when you take it to more extreme levels, as so many of us do today, it becomes a problem. And the hormone that is responsible for many of those stressful emotions you experience, cortisol, can hurt your testosterone levels too.

Fortunately, many of the tips we highlighted above, like exercising and getting enough sleep, will help manage your stress levels.

Other things to consider include not drinking too much coffee/caffeine, setting aside time for relaxation, and not excessively worrying about the things in your life.

Keep calm and grow a beard.

How to grow a thicker beard as an Asian man

If you’ve tried everything above – or you’re simply dead set on growing a glorious man mane as quickly as possible – we’ve got some even more effective strategies for you to use.

1. Minoxidil / Nanoxidil

Most of us have heard of Rogaine, whether from seeing it on a TV commercial – or on your uncle’s bathroom counter.

And for good reason: the stuff works. It’s, simply put, one of the most effective hair loss treatments you can buy.

But most guys don’t realize that you can also use Rogaine – or its main ingredient, Minoxidil – to grow new hair where you didn’t have hair before, from your face to your back.

Though we’re not sure why anyone would want to grow more hair on their back. But you do you, wolfman.

Anyways, when you combine the high popularity of beards with the high number of men who can’t grow one, it’s no surprise that tons of bros have tried it on their face. And guess what? They actually got results.

Yes, there are even positive testimonials about minoxidil for beards on Asian men.

And this led some companies to release similar products specifically for facial hair, like DS Laboratories’ Spectral.BRD serum. It uses Nanoxidil, which is a more effective version of Minoxidil with less side effects.

But either Minoxidil or Nanoxidil should be able to fill out even the thinnest, patchiest beard when applied regularly. Especially if you combine them with the next method.

2. Derma roller / Microneedling

What if we told you that you could turn your smooth jawline into a full beard… and all you have to do is poke your skin with dozens of long, tiny needles?

Yes, we’re serious. But don’t worry: it doesn’t actually hurt.

It’s called microneedling, and it’s an effective method for both general skin health AND beard growth.

After the needles puncture your skin, your body responds by springing into action to heal the area, stimulating blood flow and even stem-cell growth factors. Your skin will regenerate better than ever, and it can even heal scars and other skin damage.

More importantly for our purposes, microneedling has been shown to drastically increase the number of visible hairs in just weeks.

And the whole process couldn’t be easier. By using a derma roller, sometimes called a “beard roller”, like the StimuROLLER from DS Laboratories, you can microneedle your face in just minutes – and you only have to do it a few times a week to see results.

Can Asians grow beards? With the combination n of a derma roller and Minoxidil/Nanoxidil, they definitely can. Though you can still see good beard gains using just one or the other.

3. Biotin & supplementation

Hopefully, your diet is already rich with vitamins and minerals, like zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, and vitamin E, all of which have been linked to hair health.

But for maximum beard gains, you can also consider supplementation. For instance, biotin, also known as vitamin H (though it’s technically part of the B vitamins… go figure).

Too little biotin can lead to thinning hair. But getting plenty of biotin can actually strengthen hair and help it grow.

Now, biotin is already found in foods like eggs, bananas, and nuts, but it can be worth supplementing, especially if you’re not already getting enough from your diet. The recommended dosage for improving hair health is 2.5 mg.

Another supplement to consider is vitamin D. Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight – and unfortunately, many of us don’t get enough of it because of our modern lifestyles.

Finally, there’s herbal supplements, like Mucuna Pruriens. Also known as the velvet bean, this ancient remedy contains high concentrations of L-Dopa.

So, what’s the big deal about L-Dopa? We’re glad you asked.

Not only has it been shown to increase fertility and sperm quality, as well as boost testosterone, L-Dopa seems to have a positive effect on androgen receptor activity and density.

And as we pointed out before, lack of androgen receptor activity is one of the main causes of lack of facial hair growth in Asian men.

If you want to make your beard supplementing routine easy, you can use something like Revita hair growth tablets, which contain both biotin and vitamin D, as well as other key vitamins and minerals, like zinc and magnesium.

4. Beard transplant

So, you’ve tried everything possible to grow a fuller beard, from healthier habits to minoxidil and microneedling. But your jawline is still just as smooth – or patchy – as ever.

Or maybe you’re simply impatient and want the quickest shortcut to Asian beard growth.

Well, then, there is a secret weapon: beard transplants.

It works by literally taking hair from another part of your body, usually the back of your head, and grafting it onto your face. Why the back of the head? Because the hair there tends to be most similar to facial hair.

Needless to say, this is a pretty drastic step. But beard transplants actually aren’t very painful at all, and recovery time is pretty quick.

In fact, the biggest drawback to this method is the cost. A decent beard transplant will cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Dang.

But if you simply must have a beard – or money just ain’t a thang – it’s definitely worth checking out.

6 Coolest Asian beard styles for you to try

Now that you’ve got some hair to play with, how are you gonna style it?

We’ll highlight some of the most fashionable looks using one of our favorite Asian beardsman, Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada (Westworld, 47 Ronin, The Wolverine, The Last Samurai).

1. Stubble

Want to show off your ability to grow a beard… without actually growing a beard? Then the stubble look may be right for you. It says, “I could grow a beard if I wanted to”. And it’s a versatile style, which you can pull off in both a wrinkled t-shirt and a tailored suit.

2. Mustache

Ah, the mustache. It’s classic, cool, and easy to grow and maintain… but very hard to pull off. Too thin and whispy, and it makes you look like a dorky teenager with a dead caterpillar on their face.

Too full, and you look like a police officer or an ‘80s porn star. Though Ron Swanson would beg to differ.

But if you can hit that sweet spot, it’s a look that means business.

3. Van Dyke

The Van Dyke is the middle ground between a mustache and a goatee – and somehow ends up more stylish than them both. In fact, one of the best parts of this look is its timelessness.

Keep it clean and well-shaped for a modern professional look. Let it get a little longer and more grizzled, for the samurai warrior vibe. Or curl the mustache, to impress the hipster chicks at the local dive bar.

4. Chin strap

The chin strap is a beard that runs along your jawline but is shaved clean on the cheeks, which can be worn with or without a mustache and goatee. Not only is it a solid look, but it’s also easier to grow if you’re a guy whose beard comes in short or patchy on the sides.

5. Short beard

Even guys who can grow monster beards sometimes opt for keeping them on the shorter side. And we can understand why. They’re easier to wash and brush, they don’t get in the way as much, and they look a little more professional.

Plus, they’re more attainable for men with thinner or shorter facial hair.

6. Full beard

When many men (and women) think “beard”, this is the look they’re thinking of. Not only is it grown out full and thick on the jaw and cheeks, but it’s also got extra length for that extra masculine oomph.

This is the ultimate bearded look, in our humble opinion – but it’s also the hardest to grow and maintain.

FAQ: Asian beard frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers. Here are some quick and easy responses to some of the most frequently asked questions on Asian beards.

Why can’t Asians grow a beard?

Many Asian men struggle to grow a beard because of a lack of androgen receptor sensitivity, which is tied to genetics. Because their receptors are less sensitive, they don’t fully utilize the testosterone and DHT needed to fuel beard growth, even when test levels are normal or high.

How long does it take to grow a beard for Asians?

This really depends on the person and their approach. For some, it could take weeks. For others, it may never happen without help.

Men who struggle to grow a beard quickly or at all can speed up the process with minoxidil, a derma roller, or a beard transplant.

How to grow a beard faster for Asians?

You can speed up your natural beard growth with exercise, a balanced diet (with protein, vitamins/minerals, and healthy fats), and an overall healthy lifestyle.

But if you struggle to grow a beard naturally, you can use minoxodil, derma rollers, supplementation, and/or a beard transplant to make it happen.

Conclusion

As you can see, your beard prospects aren’t nearly as hopeless as you might have thought. Because even the most baby-faced Asian guy can grow full facial hair using the methods above, whether it’s simply a lifestyle adjustment, minoxidil, and a derma roller, or a beard transplant.

Have you used any of the beard growth hacks we covered? We’d love to hear about your results in the comments.

And make sure to share this article with your other Asian bros.

In 1860, as Lincoln was hot on the campaign trail, an 11-year-old girl named Grace Bedell wrote him a letter, urging him to grow a beard because “he would look a great deal better,” and because his face “was so thin.” Miss Bedell went further, saying that women prefer men with whiskers, and would, therefore, urge their husbands to vote for Lincoln (this was before women could vote).

Sure enough, Lincoln began growing his famous beard not long after receiving the letter, and as history shows, he went on to do some amazing things. Did the beard win him the election? There’s no way of knowing, but perhaps it prompted the kind of reaction that psychologists and others today find to be real phenomena when it comes to beards. Grace Bedell touched on one aspect of it – that beards are an attraction to many women.

But beards are also said to communicate confidence. Honest Abe was a great politician, for sure, but who knows? Maybe that beard helped him appear more confident, which inspired the confidence of the voting public and those around him. Maybe he simply tapped into a psychology that was known instinctively, and then corroborated nearly 150 years later.

Why Does A Beard Exude Confidence?

We’ve already touched on how your beard affects people around you, from boosting your trustworthiness and respect, to giving a nice boost to your sex appeal. Making you feel, and seem, more confident is a nice side effect, as well.

1. A Beard Makes You Seem More Masculine

There’s just something about a beard that makes you look like a full-grown man. This “something” can be especially exhilarating if you have the kind of boyish face that older women – like your aunts at the family reunion – just “had to pinch” because it was so cute. Forget that. Now your mirror reflects ruggedness and toughness. Confidence. You’re a man, not someone who still gets asked for his i.d. in a bar.

To study how beards affect perception of masculinity and dominance, researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia asked participants to look at pictures of men and rate their masculinity and how much they thought each man could defend himself in a fight. They found that the bearded faces were seen as more masculine, dominant, and aggressive than the clean-shaven ones—but only when they were looking at pictures of white men.

When looking at images of black men, the beard had no impact on perception of masculinity or fighting ability. The researchers speculate this may have something to do with cultural norms—that is, people’s beliefs about what “should” be the case for certain groups (in this case, what we expect from white versus black men).

2. A Beard All But Demands An Alpha Male Mindset

The act of growing a beard already establishes you as an individual who is independent and confident in their choices. You’ll learn to see yourself as a strong man, and others will, too. You own your beard and give off the appearance that you own the world around you. You appear confident because you make decisions and stick by them. Nature intended you to be a powerful, confident and self-assured man. A beard simply affirms what nature wants for you.

3. A Beard Adds To Your Sex Appeal

There is no shortage of research and study which shows that beards add to your sex appeal/attractiveness. Even 11-year-old Grace Bedell knew that when she urged Lincoln to ditch the clean-shaven look. Many women dig men with beards. And, let’s face it, a man who is always with attractive women just seems more confident than the rest.

4. Beards Make You Feel More Mature

That kid in high school who could grow a full-fledged beard may not have known about beards and sex appeal (yet). But he knew that growing a beard would make him seem older, and didn’t most of us spend a lot of time racing toward adulthood, whether we were ready or not? A beard certainly signals that you are no longer a boy and, again, makes you feel more masculine.

5. Beards Make You Seem More Aggressive

Studies have shown that people perceive men with beards as being more aggressive than those without. It gets back to the alpha-male thing, which can help put some extra swagger in your stride. And aggression doesn’t have to be a bad thing because women perceive that aggressiveness as being a sign of strength and protection.

6. Beards Can Elevate Your Social Status

To be clear, your beard might not gain you entrance to a higher social stratum, but others may mentally place you there. A 2012 study showed that people perceived men with beards as having a high-ranking social position, as well as commanding respect over other men in the community.

7. The Beard And Confidence As It Relates To Fighting

This is an interesting one and certainly worth repeating. In the 1997 book “The Handicap Principle,” it was suggested that beards exude confidence in a roundabout way because they are considered a shortcoming in a fight (because the opponent can gain an advantage by grabbing the beard). It stands to reason, therefore, that a man entering a fight with this “handicap” has plenty of confidence in his own physical fitness. Maybe that’s why a Pentagon study showed that men with beards were more combat-effective than those without.

8. Beards Make You Seem Confident In Your Grooming Skills

There’s a lot that goes into taking care of your beard. You have to shape it, you need to shampoo it (and apply beard oil and balm), and you need to carefully consider the type of grooming equipment you’re going to use – especially beard trimmers. A man with a well-groomed beard shows a level of commitment and devotion to looking his best, which is certainly admirable. It shows you know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it with confidence.

9. A Beard Makes You Seem Like Your Own Man

Research has shown that others may perceive men with beards as being non-conformist. Like their own man. Like someone who knows what he wants and doesn’t back down from that. Plus, the list of revolutionary types who sported beards is long; not that we’re suggesting you become a revolutionist, but it does signal that you’re confident enough to pave your own way in this wonderful world of ours.

10. Beards Make You Seem More Intelligent

And with intelligence comes confidence. We’ve already mentioned a certain beard-wearing U.S. president. Einstein wore a beard. So did Freud. So did a lot of your professors in college. A beard conveys wisdom – grow a beard, be a sage.

Conclusion

So, what are you waiting for, ye of little confidence? Growing a beard can give your self-esteem a much-needed boost in so many ways. Put down the razor and get ready for your ascent into alpha-maleness.

Spending too much time in the sun without proper protection can bring with it one kind of consequence. So does crossing an urban freeway during rush hour. It’s simple cause and effect.

The same sort of thing happens when you grow a beard. It affects your appearance, no doubt. It changes your daily grooming habits.

These are obvious. But there also more subtle ways having a beard affects other people in your day-to-day life.

Perhaps you even sense it, consciously or subconsciously, or perhaps it doesn’t register. Science, however, can back this up: in various studies and research, beards have been shown to have magical powers that can have a definite affect on people.

OK, so ‘magical powers’ may be stretching it a bit, but there’s something about a beard. You know it, even if it’s not as obvious as the hand in front of your face.

So, let’s take a closer look at the ways that great-looking, manly beard you’ve grown is impacting those around you.

1. Beards and Social Perception

Our friends in science have put in the time when it comes to all things beards from the perception/psychological side of things.

They tell us that when a man has distinctive facial hair – even just stubble – people associate certain traits with you.

Traits like aggression and dominance, and maturity.

The aggression part of the equation comes from the notion that beards are a sign of active testosterone in the body, and the brain thus recognizes it as having the potential for more aggression.

The maturity aspect makes obvious sense in one way: the ability to grow a beard is a sign of physical maturity in men. One study showed that the longer the beard hair, the more masculine the man is rated.

2. Beards and Sexual Appeal

Ah, yes. Beards and sexual appeal.

You’ve probably heard about it, read about it, or even listened to a bearded friend discussed his sudden upward trend in meeting women. And that leads to the million-dollar question – will a beard help you have better success with women?

While there may be no definitive answer – different women have different perspectives on beards, and many other factors can come into play – studies indicated certain general trends when it comes to beards and sex appeal.

*Women like stubble. But they favor heavy stubble over lighter stubble when it comes to overall attractiveness.

*Women find men with facial hair to be more masculine than those who don’t. Again, it circles back to the point of beards and signs of maturity. And men who are perceived as being more masculine are also perceived as being better providers.

*Besides being perceived as being better providers, women also perceive us bearded gents as having better parenting skills, as well.

3. Beards and Trustworthiness

Previous studies seemed to indicate that men with beards were deemed to be less trustworthy than men who were clean-shaven. That’s apparently shifted, however, as at least one study shows.

Participants in the study preferred bearded men when it comes to issues of trust, particularly when it comes to first impressions. And we all know how important first impressions can be.

When you have a beard, people are going to trust you more. In a 2011 study in the United States, participants were shown images of men with varying degrees of facial hair and asked to rate them on several personality traits.

Compared to clean-shaven men, men with a full beard were consistently ranked as more trustworthy and dependable. The men with heavy stubble or a light beard were considered more dominant.

4. Beards and Respect

A man with a beard often commands respect.

A beard makes you look wiser, older, more learned (and certainly more experienced) than your clean-shaven brethren. Along the same line of thinking, people often perceive men with beards as being more aggressive, rightly or wrongly.

It is, after all, what they think and not a matter of whether you walk into a party and drag your potential love interest out the door by her hair, caveman-style (which we strongly, strongly advise against). But beards certainly signal that testosterone is active in your body.

Beards often command respect. It’s no coincidence that the most powerful men in history had beards: Lincoln, Einstein, Darwin and Jesus. Having a beard has the power to give you a commanding presence and help you come across as a leader in your personal life and at work.

People are more likely to listen to you when you’re sporting facial hair, because your beard gives off an air of authority and importance. This doesn’t mean that clean-shaven guys don’t or can’t command respect—but having a beard is an easy way to get people to take you seriously from day one.

5. Beards and Jobs/Job Interviews

There are mixed results when it comes to beards and how they’re perceived in jobs and interviews.

Clean-shaven men seem to have an advantage when it comes to entry-level positions while a well-groomed beard may help you when it comes to land more executive-type positions.

That’s because beards can help you be perceived as mature, knowledgeable and dominant – and, hey, people respect people like that. Stubble?

Makes you look unkempt like you couldn’t bother yourself with grooming before you showed up for the job interview.

Don’t do it.

How people perceive and act around you is obviously affected by a lot of things.

Being intelligent, kind and strong will typically produce one kind of result, being a jerk will produce another.

But there’s no arguing that beards do have an affect when it comes to how people perceive us, and even how we’re perceived by the opposite sex. Wear that beard with pride, friends, and be conscious of the messages it may be sending others.

The beard has always been the staple of masculinity, but not everyone knows the greatness that is the beard. Growing a beard can be an interesting time for a man. Not sure if you want to grow yours out? Here are some pros and cons of beards:

Pro: It can help keep you warm

It can provide you warmth in the winter months. With winter well on its way, the temperatures are going to start dropping. What’s better than a little extra facial hair to protect your face from the harsh winter weather?

A beard can keep you warm against the cold by trapping your body heat. A 2009 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports found that men’s faces lose less heat in cold weather when they’re clean-shaven—but it also discovered that facial hair helps protect against sunburn and chapping from windy days.

So if you’re looking for extra protection against the elements, a beard can help shield your face from both hot and cold temperatures.

Pro: It can up your attractive points

Women find men with facial hair extremely attractive.

A man with a beard is the epitome of manliness, and that’s sexy to women.

It can also help make a man’s face more handsome and interesting. Use your beard as a fashion statement and find what styles work best to bring out your attractiveness.

Pro: Beards make you look older

Walk into a bar with a clean-shaven face at 25, and you might find the bartender asking for an ID. Walk into the same bar with a full grown beard, you might find they don’t even bother and call you sir as they hand you your drink.

This happens because, while your clean shaven face makes you look like a prepubescent boy, the beard gives the image of a distinguished man. Unfortunately, it can only make you look older and distinguished, getting there is up to you, but the beard helps.

Beards have a way of adding character and depth to the face, and they can instantly change how old you look—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. If your beard is well-groomed and symmetrical, it can help your appearance by giving you a distinguished and mature look.

Pro: You won’t have to shave every day

Shaving on a regular basis can be time-consuming. The time you save will add up over time, by just forgoing the shaving.

Imagine the things you can do with this extra time. You can finally get those biceps you always want, or you can just spend it in bed. The choice is yours; we won’t judge.

Pro: Grow it long enough; it can double as a toupee

Have you noticed your hair thinning on top?

No problem, grow a long enough beard, and you can sweep it up and over. Or you can just grow an awesome beard and shave the top of your head. Who needs hair when you have a magical beard for everyone to be in awe over?

Pro: It gives your face character

Don’t like how you look? Don’t think your face has a good shape? Don’t like your chin? Well growing a beard can help with this.

There are a number of different beard styles that can help enunciate your shape for the better, and make you look more attractive. A beard is like makeup for women; it’s helpful in hiding characteristics you personally don’t like and bring out the ones you do like.

Pro: It has health benefits

There have been scientific studies done on the health benefit of having a beard.

As this study says, it has been found that a beard can block up to 95% of UV rays. This can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. It can also help men who suffer from asthma. A beard will help trap dust and pollen, preventing it from entering your respiratory system.

Con: Starting a beard can lead to skin irritation

At the start of growing your beard, you might find it can be annoyingly itchy. This is from the irritation of the hair starting to poke out of the skin. It might also be irritating for others that may come into contact with your beard.

The solution is to let it grow out longer. As the hairs grow longer, both feelings will change. The skin irritation easies up as most of the hairs have found their way out of the skin and the longer hairs won’t be as coarse and prickly.

If you still find the beard itchy after it has grown out, there are a number of things you can do. Keeping it hydrated is important, and there are some products on the market that can help with this. These include beard oils, special shampoos, and conditioners.

Con: Beards can be gross

This isn’t necessarily true and depends on how well it is taken care of. Just like the hair on your head, it needs to be washed and conditioned a few times a week.

Take care of your beard, like it’s your child and you will be fine. Get rid of anyone in your life that thinks beards are gross. You don’t need that kind of judgment in your life.

Con: My girlfriend doesn’t find it attractive

Simple solution; get a new girlfriend. If you are asked to make a choice between your beard and your relationship, always choose the beard.

The beard isn’t asking you to get rid of your girlfriend.

Why should you have to choose one or the other? There are plenty of women out there that will take your majestic beard for what it is. Besides, do you really want to be dating someone who isn’t accepting of who you are deep inside, a bearded man?

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, the pros and cons of beards. You might notice that the pros far exceed the cons. This is because there really isn’t any real con to having a beard if you take care of it properly.

Seriously, beards are majestic and awesome. You can never go wrong with growing a beard. Not only can it keep you warm, but it has the power to make you more attractive. It’s the epitome of manliness.

Not only that, but there are scientifically proven, health benefits from having one. Men with beards are more interesting and attractive. Don’t be afraid to grow one, and ditch anyone who would judge you for it.

Some simply give up the ghost, focus on their personality, or try to avoid reflective surfaces. But for a growing number of men, a light has appeared at the end of the hair-thinning tunnel:

We call it bald with a beard.

Now, shaving your head for the first time can be a pretty terrifying thing – what shape is my head? Can I use my normal razor?? Won’t my head just look upside down?

But most men who suck it up and shave it off suddenly find they are free: no more anxiety, no more hiding behind hats, no more shame. And they’re also privy to a whole new world of style and grooming.

Why do you need a beard? There are a lot of reasons. Maybe your balding is severe and it’s better to cover up those shiny spots than to spend hours on styling products. Maybe the people in your industry expect you to have facial hair. Or, maybe you just had a bad experience with wax strips and are tired of spending money on razors. Whatever the reason, this post will give you some top beard styles for when you’re going bald.

Growing a beard with a bald head is one of the more exciting trends in men’s style and grooming, and it’s easy to see why:

No beard:

Beard:

No beard:

Beard:

It draws attention away from your bald head – in fact, it makes it a feature. Plus it gives you a whole new kind of masculinity and personality – not to mention providing a novel opportunity to shape your own styling destiny.

After so many months and years of increasingly little to work with on their heads, men who shave their heads and start focusing on their beard find they suddenly have incredible control over how they look and what they do with their hair.

It is easier, for example, to improve your beard growth. In fact, even men who really struggle can fix their beard growth with a little help.

With some expert guidance and the right tools, you will suddenly be able to take total control of your beard in a way few men can cut and style their own hair to perfection.

So what’s stopping you?

Well, as great as the bald with beard look can be, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing:

Every man has a different set of features, a different personality, and a different goal in mind when they’re grooming; there are a lot of beard styles for bald men to choose from – simple mustache to full-on grizzly beard.

In this article, we’re going to make sure you understand the full range of options available to the newly-shaven man and help you match your choice to your facial shape and personality.

But there’s more:

We’re also going to give you some key advice as to how you can maintain your bald head and beard effectively.

But first, let’s go into a little more detail as to why you should consider growing a beard and shaving your head, and what it will do for you.

Let’s get into it!

5 Reasons bald men need a beard

1. It makes you more attractive

Let’s be honest: this is what matters most.

What makes a bald man with a beard attractive?

The beard adds definition and balance to your face while making it appear wider, whereas hair on top would make it look narrow.

For most men, what women want to see is what men want to show. And at the moment, being bald with a beard is a big draw for the ladies.

From Tom Hardy to Vin Diesel, there are so many famously attractive men out there who are rocking the bald with beard look. It makes you look distinguished, macho and, above all, cultivated.

Women like the roughness and toughness of the look, but perhaps most importantly, they like the fact that it shows confidence.

2. It gives you more confidence

Of all the things women look for in a man, confidence is always right at the top of the list.

Whether you’re rocking a full beard or just some stubble, having facial hair is an easy way to add dimension and depth to your look—and it’s not just for guys with hair on top.

There’s no doubt that a confident man seems more in control, more competent, and is generally more attractive to be around. And the bald with beard look signals huge confidence.

Partly, this is because most men who take the plunge and get the look are more confident with it: suddenly the anxiety of thinning hair is gone and they can enjoy being themselves again.

It’s totally inevitable that this sense of freedom and confidence will be communicated to others.

The other reason the look signal confidence, however, is simply the fact that it makes a man stand out in the crowd.

3. It makes you stand out

Bald can be beautiful. But sometimes it’s hard to stand out when you’re bald

As we’ve said, the bald with beard look is in right now. But that doesn’t mean it’s saturated. In fact, there are still relatively few men who are sporting the look, and that only goes to show the bravery it takes to take the plunge.

The beauty of being bald with a beard is not just that it looks good – it also looks unusual. It will help you stand out and set yourself apart from the crowd, giving you a much more individual look.

And standing out is valuable in of itself:

It means you will be more memorable, seem more interesting, and more in control of your own destiny.

And that last part is really important: shaving your head and growing a beard really does give you more control over the overall appearance of your face.

4. It helps reshape your face

When a man’s hair starts to thin, it becomes increasingly challenging to achieve the kinds of looks he’s become accustomed to. For some men, their whole adult lives have been marked by a lack of control over how they look. But no more, good sirs.

By shaving your head and growing a beard, you are taking back control. You can totally reshape your face, redefining how you are perceived and accentuating features you might not even have realized you had.

The truth is, your grooming goal should always be to make the most of what you’ve got and grappled with hair that just won’t do what you want it to can make men forget their real assets.

5. It makes you look more masculine

There is nothing more masculine looking than a man with a shaved head and beard: it’s tough, refined and it lets your facial fuzz – the absolute most manly part of a man’s face – take center stage.

Even if you’re not naturally blessed with a full head of hair, you can still embrace your masculinity by growing a beard. However, if your face is as round as your head, then growing facial hair can help balance out your features.

Just looking at the pictures below, you’ll see not just how masculine men with this look are, but how much variety there is to choose from.

It is not a single approach, any more than having hair and no beard is a single ‘look’. Instead, just like masculinity, there are many ways to do it.

The best “bald with a beard” styles for your facial shape

There are two fundamental considerations when choosing what kind of beard style your newly shaved head requires: your facial shape and your personality.

Your facial shape is important because it determines which beard style will work best; your personality is more to do with matching how you look with who you are.

We’re going to delve into both, but first, we’re going to walk through the most common facial shapes and offer suggestions as to which beard style will suit them best.

If you want a truly exhaustive list of beard styles, hit up our guide here; it’s probably the most complete list you’ll find – in our humble opinion!

Oval face

Oval faces have a narrow, long bone structure. This means they don’t thrive with long beards as the face looks too long.

Instead, they need to be given a bit width with their facial fuzz; this will help create a more symmetrical appearance.

A great beard style for oval faces with a shaved head is an imperial beard:

This will make you look distinguished, charismatic,+ and just a little bit mysterious.

However, you might also go for a tougher look, and plumb for the boxed beard:

Both of these styles require a fair bit of maintenance and shaping; if you’re looking for something simpler, you could go with the slightly simpler circle beard, which is great for a slightly fuller oblong face:

Or you could just go with a little light stubble, minimizing the length at the bottom and maximizing the width to give you a cultivated look:

Round Face

Round faces have a wide jawline and are generally fairly evenly spaced; they also tend to be a little fuller.

For a round face, you want the beard to add length and make it appear slightly more angular and narrow.

The best beard style for this is probably a full, long beard:

This will give you quite a tough look, and combined with your shaved head you’ll look very traditionally masculine.

But you could also opt for a more nuanced, Hipster beard with a round face:

This tends to make the face look narrower and thinner.

And a round face can look great with any number of variations on the goatee, too:

Square Face

A square face generally needs to be made slightly smoother and less angular, and to emphasize the sharp, wide jawline it tends to feature.

The best way to do this is to cultivate a nice, full beard and then sculpt it round out your face a little.

A great beard style for square-faced men is the Chinstrap:

Equally, tactically place slight stubble can work a treat to subtly shade a square face and give a really manly, tough look with the shaved head;

An extended goatee might work for you, too:

Triangular Face

A triangular face generally needs to be given a little extra help along the jawline; sloping cheeks are a real strength of the triangular facial shape and can be emphasized with the right beard.

Ideally, you’ll go for a beard longer on the bottom and shorter on the sides, with the goal of filling in space on your chin for a more oval look.

A good choice is the Klingon beard:

Which will give your face a really striking character.

Equally, you could opt for the chin curtain:

Or even the Balbo:

Rectangular/Oblong Face

An oblong face is longer than it is wide, and therefore the goal with your beard is to broaden your face and support your chin and jaw a little.

The best way to do this is with styles that are fuller on the sides and relatively short on the bottom.

A great example is the Mutton Chops style:

A slightly more out there option might be the Winnfield:

How to match your beard to your personality

As important as your facial shape is, it should never dictate wholesale what you can and can’t do with your style.

Just as important as making the most of your facial shape is matching your beard choice with your personality and how you’d like to be perceived.

Some bald with beard looks are tough and intimidating; some are urbane and stylish.

Being clear about what sort of message you want to send with your look and whether or not it matches your personality, voice, and the rest.

Here are a few personality ‘archetypes’, and examples of the best bald with beard looks to match them:

The intellectual

You are the most interesting man in the world: you’ve read at least several libraries, and drinking nothing but Nespresso.

A shaved head with a beard is a great look for this kind of sophisticate – it can make you look more distinguished and a little mystique and gravitas to your face.

You might go for a Vandyke:

Or a pencil mustache:

Or maybe even a French fork:

Either way, you need something a little more out there, and a very neatly shaven head, to make it clear this was a choice!

The tough guy

Nobody messes with you, and for good reason: you are strong, masculine, and unafraid to stand up to bullies.

Tough guys can pull off almost any beard style with a shaved head, but a few of our favorites would be the full beard:

The heavy stubble:

And the Yeard:

Whatever style you choose, you’re likely to look even tougher with a clean-shaven head and a bit of facial fuzz.

The normal bloke

You thrive on being one of the lads: no-nonsense, no problem. You don’t love standing out, but you do like looking good.

Normal guys like this probably want to avoid some of the more outlandish styles we’ve discussed above.

In fact, a corporate beard is a great choice for keeping a relatively low profile whilst looking good:

As is a little Five O’clock Shadow:

Or the Beardstache:

The goal is to cultivate a cool but understated look – people might not even initially notice that your face is basically upside down!

The nice guy

A real softy – but in the very best way. You’re kind, considerate, and love nothing more than knowing other people are comfortable and happy.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t rock an awesome bald with beard look:

As intimidating as the look can be, if you go for something like the Old Dutch beard you’ll still retain that friendly appearance:

Or a simple chin strap that shows of your smiley cheeks:

Ultimately, your personality will shine through – you’ll just look better, that’s all!

The leader

You are naturally authoritative, confident and in control; you also love to be the most responsible and tend to know what to do in any situation.

A shaved head and beard can be great for leader-types because it’s still such an unusual, striking look. It clearly demonstrates a level of confidence and vision.

So almost any beard style will match this personality.

But a couple of the best are the classic goatee:

Or a light stubble:

The artist

You are always a little alternative: whatever is normal is boring to you, and you thrive on doing things differently and standing out from the crowd.

A shaven head is a statement of intent for you, and adding a slightly unusual beard to mix will only augment that.

A great choice would be the Dali:

Or the Fu Manchu:

Although a simple full beard with emphasis on the mustache will also serve you well.

How to maintain a “bald with a beard” look

Deciding on the look that’s best for you is important – but it’s only half the battle.

Once you’ve actually got the look, the hard part becomes maintaining it. And that requires not just tools and tricks, but a clear plan as to how and when you’re going to groom.

We’ve compiled a little list of tips and tricks for keeping everything looking tip-top:

Regularly trim

Given that you’ve likely had diminishing hair growth for a while, you might just assume keeping your head trimmed won’t be a problem.

The reality is, stubble shows up much more prominently on a shaved head than you’d expect, and you need to be regularly maintaining both your shaved head and beard.

Reshape Continually

With your head shaven, your beard’s style garners far more attention. And that’s great – it just means you need to keep it in proper shape at all times!

Even if you’re going for a full beard or a more ‘unkempt’ look, it’s important to keep your sideburns under control and your beard in exactly the right shape, as even the smallest overgrowth can totally change the shaping you’ve achieved and throw off the look.

Make sure you moisturize and stay clean

Keeping a shaved head healthy and clean is obviously incredibly important: an unhealthy, blotchy, or otherwise just unkempt head is going to attract a lot of attention, and not in a good way!

The same is true for your beard: you need to find a really good quality beard oil to make sure you stay looking and feeling fresh, and maintain proper growth.

Eat right and exercise

As strange as it might sound, how you eat, and whether or not you’re active play a huge part in keeping your beard and shaven head looking good.

Getting the right nutrients is essential for proper hair growth and keeping your skin clear and healthy.

Exercise also promotes testosterone, which is obviously pretty important if you’re trying to keep up a masculine look like this!

Conclusion

So that concludes our guide through the wonderful world of the bald with beard revolution. We’d love to hear what you think about the style:

Are you considering trying it? Or have you already made the jump?

And most importantly, what do you make of the trend?

Let us know in the comments!

We’d also love to hear if you have any extra advice we’ve missed, or need any extra tips that we might not have included.

And if you have a friend who needs a little nudge towards the dark side, please share this article with them to let them know what they have to look forward to!

Research has increasingly shown that having a beard has a variety of health benefits. That’s right, besides the way it makes you look and how it influences the way people look at you, your beard can actually improve your health and provide an ounce of prevention.

Need proof? Well, a study in the Journal of Hospital Infection said clean-shaven men were more likely to have infection-causing bacteria than men who had beards.

That’s a definite departure from the old notion that bearded men harbored all sorts of bacteria in their beards.

In other words, if you’re thinking about shaving that incredible beard – for whatever reason – here are some health benefits you’ll be missing out on if you do.

1. Beards help prevent skin cancer

The sun’s UV rays can wreak havoc on exposed skin. That’s why we use sun lotion, wear hats, and heed (or, should heed) warnings about staying out in the hot sun for too long.

They can even damage your eyes – hence, sunglasses – include causing sunburn of the eye, which is no fun at all. But, beyond the sunburn and glowing pink skin that’s itchy and peeling, there’s the much bigger threat of skin cancer.

Moreover, chronic sun damage leads to spots and saggy and wrinkled skin. So, your beard serves as a natural sun hat for your face, and a 2012 study in Australia – where the sun can be brutal – showed that a heavy beard blocked out up to 95 percent of all sunlight.

It only makes sense, then, that if you live in a country or region where the sun is particularly harsh, you should grow a beard to keep all of those melanomas and other skin cancers away.

But whatever you do, don’t shave it off if you’re sporting a nice tan on other parts of your body. The big, pale expanse where your beard used to be can be downright embarrassing.

2. Beards keep your face moisturized

While your face me get dry from time to time, it actually has its own built-in moisturizing talents thanks to sebaceous glands that secrete oils.

But the sun and wind can dry up these oils, which is where your beard comes in. Indeed, your facial hair protects these oils, helping to keep your skin moist while preventing skin conditions that are related to dryness.

The trick is to not use harsh soaps on your beard that strip it of its natural oils, thus making the skin underneath apter to dry out. Instead, use milder shampoos, as well as beard conditioner and beard oil to keep your skin itch-free and moist.

3. No more shaving? No more shaving issues?

There’s no question that shaving can be a pain in the ass, not to mention your face.

There’s always the potential for cuts, and those abrasions you leave on your skin are no picnic because they can cause a nasty skin condition called folliculitis, as well as in-grown hair and infections.

But, hey, when you’re constantly running a razor blade over unprotected hair follicles, the end result can be anything but ideal.

The bottom line? Toss the razor away and protect your skin from all sorts of mayhem. Let it rest comfortably – and safely – under your beard, instead.

4. They prevent allergies

While this benefit is open to debate, there does seem to be a connection between having a beard and being less plagued by allergies.

Your beard acts as a filter from pollen and other allergens by collecting them before they torment your eyes, nose, and throat.

Also, it’s been said that the small amount of allergen material that collects in one’s beard helps develop a better immune response to hay fever and other allergies.

The key thing to remember is to wash your beard and hands regularly to keep those allergens from ending up in your eyes or elsewhere. Otherwise, your beard simply becomes a storehouse for allergens, rather than a filter.

5. Beards provide asthma relief

Asthma sufferers, we empathize. Your struggle is not easy, but a beard can act as a barrier between your body and toxic exposures. Put simply; it’s an extra filter before toxins enter your lungs and thus helps lessen asthma’s symptoms.

6. They prevent illness

Beards provide facial warmth that’s a welcome relief if you live in colder climates and spend a lot of time outdoors.

But there’s more. That extra warmth can help you ward off common winter illnesses, such as the cold and flu while providing an extra shield against influences that lower or weaken your immune system.

Besides, there’s no sense being miserable and shivering on a winter’s night if you don’t have to. Need medicine? It’s easy – just grow a beard!

7. Let’s not forget the confidence factor

So far we’ve talked only about the physical health benefits your rocking beard, but by no means can we ignore the mental benefits.

The German consumer-goods company Braun did a survey of 1,000 New York men, with 67 percent off those interviewed saying they sported facial hair.

And well over half of those men said they felt more attractive with a beard, as well as reporting that they’ve received compliments about their beard.

Nearly half noted that a beard made them feel more confident, which we’ve already discussed in other posts, but it’s worth revisiting here.

Because we believe in the mind-body connection – that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand – it only stands to reason that a beard’s positive mental effects can help you feel you feel better physically.

8. Let’s not forget your sex life

There’s just too much information out there to dispel the notion that a beard improves your sex life (and, yes, that’s a health benefit in many, many ways).

It’s long been thought that a man’s sex life at least has the potential of improving and becoming more active once he grows a beard.

And, a 2008 study by Britain’s Northumbria University said that women found men with facial hair to be the best romantic partners – whether it was for a long-term relationship or a fling.

Those same women said they found bearded men to be mature, tough, masculine, and aggressive, among other traits.

But a key takeaway from all this is that there have been many studies that show how sex can truly benefit your overall health – from improving your heart health, from reducing your risk for prostate cancer, to better sleep (the word “spent” comes to mind), and an overall better mood that keeps you positive and better able to deal with the stresses of everyday life.

9. Beards reduce the chance of bacterial infection

Bacteria naturally exists on the skin; there’s not a lot we can do to stop it.

Shaving, meanwhile, can create cuts and other openings in the skin that can bring in bacteria.

In turn, this increases your chances of getting infections, as well as in-grown hairs. Shaving can also present problems if you suffer from acne by not only worsening it but increasing your chances of getting acne-related skin infections.

10. No more blemishes

Your face looks a helluva lot better with a beard than it does while plagued by in-grown hairs, razor cuts, and a myriad of other skin problems.

We’ve already touched on this a bit while talking about the advantage of not having to shave, but it’s worth emphasizing. Grow a beard and keep the great skin underneath.

Clearly, there’s more to sporting a beard than just the obvious advantages of looking good and feeling more confident.

Beards can improve your physical health and even serve as a survival mechanism, which may be a reason our cavemen forefathers wore them. Instead of shopping over-the-counter, grow your own medicine on your face instead.

If you have any thoughts about beards and their effects on your overall health, we’d love to hear from. Send us your comment, and we promise we’ll respond.

With a new month comes another reason to grow out your majestic beard and its calledDecembeard. That right, you have another reason to let your manliness show with a face full of hair. This time, to raise awareness for bowel cancer.

What is Decembeard?

Similar to the movement the month prior, Decembeard encourages men to grow their beard out, this time throughout the month of December.

Starting off with a fresh shave, you are to let your beard grow wild during the month to help raise awareness for bowel cancer. Besides, winter is coming; the beard can help keep you warm those cold winter nights.

If you already have a beard grown out and don’t feel like starting off fresh, don’t worry you can still be involved.

Keep your beard and check out some of the challenges for some possible chinsiration. This includes adding some very festive decorations or dying your manly beard, to show your holiday spirit.

Who’s leading the charge?

Beating Bowel Cancer is leading this movement, in hopes of raising awareness and funds for those who are affected by this cancer.

Their mission is to get 5,000 men to help raise money. So save some money on razors this month, check out their fundraiser, and maybe donate some money to the cause.

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is the second leading cancer to cause the most deaths, with patients being diagnosed every 15 minutes. If caught early, over 90% of cases have been found to be successfully treated.

By raising awareness and knowing the symptoms – and opening up about a once-taboo subject, many lives can be saved.

With over 40,000 people diagnosed every year, the disease isn’t talked about as much as it should be.

Look, no man needs a reason to grow out their beard. It is the staple of manliness, and every man should feel it’s in their right to let it grow to their content.

But growing a beard out for a cause isn’t bad either. This holiday season beat the cold and help raise awareness by letting your beards grow wild. For more information on the movement and donate, check out the Bowel Cancer UK website here.

The good news is that you don’t, thanks to the abundance of beard and mustache clubs around the world.

They’re clubs designed to promote bearded brotherhood, provide support, advice, and encouragement for growing a beard, and the majority of them raise money for charitable causes.

Chances are pretty good that there are beard and mustache clubs near you. In this post, we want to highlight some of the main ones in the U.S. and elsewhere, but we’re only touching the surface.

Also, keep in mind that we list the following beard clubs in no order or rank. We think they’re all good.

U.S. Beard & Mustache Clubs

1. B.O.M.B. (Brotherhood of Mustaches and Beards)

Based in South Florida and serving three prominent counties – Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, B.O.M.B. was founded in 2011. The group’s initial purpose was to change stereotypes of bearded and mustachioed men by getting involved in the community.

Since then, they’ve raised funds for a multitude of organizations, including the Miami Children’s Hospital, the Miami Rescue Mission, and Autism Speaks. They also host an annual beard & mustache competition that supports a designated local charity.

2. The Kansas City Beard & Moustache Club

Yes, the Kansas City Beard & Moustache Club was founded in 2011 to promote “positive facial hair awareness, ” but you don’t need to have facial hair to become a member. Instead, they just ask that you be a facial hair enthusiast.

They also don’t take dues, and they give back to the community through charitable efforts while having a damn good time in the process.

3. Windy City Beards

Ah, Chicago – the City of Broad Shoulders. And, also a city that opens its arms to its facial-haired citizens (and non-citizens, of course).

Founded in 2014, Windy City Beards exists to promote facial hair growth and care, and to serve the beard and mustache community of Chi-town in a positive light.

4. American Mustache Institute

Hat’s off to the folks at the American Mustache Institute. They were founded in 1965 to, ahem, address a culture they deemed “discriminatory” to people of Mustached American Heritage.

They now lay claim to being the world’s leading facial hair advocacy organization.

The tongue-in-cheek (yet also somehow serious) group is based in St. Louis. Yes, bearded gents are welcome.

5. Los Angeles Beard & Mustache Club

Style is no small matter in L.A. and Southern California, especially with Hollywood in its midst.

The Los Angeles Beard & Mustache Club wants to make sure that men with facial hair aren’t forgotten when it comes to style while not being outcast by Hollywoodians who may prefer a clean-cut look.

The LABMC is open to anyone, facial hair or not, including women. Come one, come all!

6. Austin Facial Hair Club

Texas – the state that gave us a whole bunch of tough cowboys and the bearded legends ZZ Top.

Of course, they would have an excellent beard and mustache club or two (or more). The Austin Facial Hair Club is representative of Texas’ long love with male facial hair and is also home to this year’s World Beard and Mustache competition.

Founded “sometime after 2007,” the AFHC is dedicated to promoting facial hair awareness and his open to everyone – facial hair or not.

7. Cincinnati Beard Barons

The Cincinnati Beard Barons club is summed up in two words – beards and charity. True, they welcome all kinds of facial hair types – and fans of facial hair – but they assist local charitable organizations through fundraising and donations.

Their goal: to leave Cincinnati “better than they found it.”

8. South Central Alaska Beard & Mustache Club

There are a lot of bearded men in Alaska. It also gets very cold there. Coincidence? Probably not. The SCABM holds the annual Mr. Fur competition, which is open to Alaskans and non-Alaskans, a beard and mustache contest that dates to 1950.

Beards and Alaska – well, they just go together.

9. Mad Viking NC Beard Club

Based in North Carolina and established in 2014, the Mad Viking NC Beard Club exists out of a love of facial hair and the desire to support worthy causes.

The club gets together for barbecues, competitions, and fundraisers. All of the money they collect at events goes to charity.

10. New Jersey Beard & Mustache Club

The NJBMC is for beard and mustache lovers in the state of New Jersey and is a member of the North American Competitive Beard and Mustache Alliance.

They host their meetings in local restaurants and bars, and a portion of their merchandise and event proceeds go to local and national charities.

UK Beard & Mustache Clubs

1. The British Beard Club

The British Beard Club is the first and original Beard Club based in the United Kingdom, formed in 2008 for beard growers, admirers, and the families from the island of Great Britain, Ireland, and around the world.

It is a social club whose members meet in person in groups all around the country for camaraderie, fun, and fund-raising at Pub Gatherings, hosting Beard and Mustache competitions and ticket raffles.

Member subscriptions and all proceeds from non-profit club merchandising contribute to the club’s annual donations to club charities by 2017 totaling $18,125.

2. The Handlebar Club

How does one become a member of The Handlebar Club? By having “a hirsute appendage of the upper lip, with graspable extremities,” that’s how.

The HC’s history is lively and legendary; it was formed in 1947 in the dressing room of comedian Jimmy Edwards at London’s Windmill Theatre.

Legend has it that the first meeting included founding members and chorus girls alike, with the latter in larger numbers. Mustache clubs don’t get any better than this.

3. The Wessex Beardsmen

The Wessex Beardsmen have a motto that says, “good friends, good beer, good times.” But they’re also serious about giving back to the community and have made large donations to the UK’s Make-A-Wish Foundation and other charities.

Founded in 2013 over pints of beer, the club has helped run the British Beard and Moustache competitions.

Other Beard & Mustache Clubs Around the World

1. Toronto Facial Hair Club

Members of the Toronto Facial Hair Club gather once each month to talk beard, drink beer, and talk about manly stuff. They’ve also hosted a facial hair event or two.

You’ve got to check out the backyard axe-throwing video on their FB page, too. They even have an axe-throwing league!

2. Paris Moustache Club

Le Paris Moustache Club loves whiskers, but also loves girls who love men that wear facial hair. And why not?

3. The Irish Beard & Moustache Association

It’s always fun when people with similar interests get together. That’s part of the lure of the Irish Beard & Moustache Association, which is for bearded and mustachioed men and their partners and families.

They’ll encourage your facial hair-growing efforts and offer styling and maintenance tips that only a dedicated wearer would know.

They also “enjoy good craic,” which isn’t – as it may sound – a traditional type of Irish food but rather another word for “gossip.”

4. Australian Beard & Moustache Club

Australia’s first club devoted to facial hair lovers, the Australian Beard & Moustache Club, which supports all other Aussie clubs and limits its membership to men with beards and mustaches. But they’re membership includes men from all around the globe.

5. Hofen Beard Club

Germany’s Hofen Beard Club nicely captures the feeling of many beardsmen with its motto: “A man with beard – always a hair length ahead!”

The purpose of the club is to promote natural beard growth and beard care. They not only want you to grow a beard, but they’ll be with you every step of the way.

6. Berlin Beard Club

The Berlin Beard Club was established in 1996.

The Berlin Beard Club is one of the largest beard clubs in Germany, with over 200 members. The club’s mission is to bring bearded men together and to support their club and charity events. They hold regular meetings and go on trips together. The Berlin Beard Club also holds two beard competitions every year, where they invite people from other beard clubs to participate.

And Don’t Forget Commercial Beard & Mustache Clubs

1. The Dollar Beard Club

You’ve no doubt heard of the Dollar Shave Club, which ships inexpensive razor blades to men on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

Well, the flip side is the Dollar Beard Club, which wants you to preserve that luscious mane on your face and will send you grooming products and tools on a monthly (subscription) basis. As the DBC puts it, you need to “get your hands on some sick beard swag.”

2. Lucky Scruff Beard Club

The Nashville, Tenn., based Lucky Scruff Beard Club offers excellent hand-crafted products as well as affordable prices and great customer service and support. They also sell products from around the globe, such as Kent Handmade Combs and Merkur Razors.

Rest assured, there are many other great beard and mustache clubs around North America and the world that aren’t listed here.

But we encourage you to check one out that’s nearest to you; it’s a great way to meet other like-minded gents (and ladies) while assisting worthy causes.

As always, we encourage your feedback. If there are any clubs that you’d like to give a shout-out to, or if you want to share your experiences with any of the clubs listed above, we’d love to hear from you.