Every man has experienced the awkward beard phase where you’re willing your man mane to flourish, but you're stuck with a few sparse baby hairs sprouting out of your upper lip. If you can relate, don’t panic, don’t Google ‘beard transplant’, just be patient. Once you reach the golden age for your beard, you’ll notice it becoming stronger, thicker, and you’ll wonder what you were ever worried about. Let’s delve into what age you can expect your full beard to come in, and why our facial hair changes as we age.

What Age Does a Beard Fully Grow?

There is no one-size-fits-all for what age your full beard will come in, but generally, your beard will have fully grown once you hit your mid-20s. 

While this may be the case for most people, it really depends on the age at which your testosterone levels are at their peak.

Stages of Beard Growth by Age:

1. Your facial hair starts to grow when you start puberty and produce testosterone. This usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 15 and you may notice soft, sparse hairs growing at the side of your upper lip.

2. Ah, the awkward beard phase! Up until about age 18, your facial hair will gradually grow more and more, covering the top lip and extending down from the side of your face. You may experience patchy and uneven growth at first, but this won’t last forever.

3. As you reach your early 20s, your facial hair will start to cover the whole of your chin and jaw.

4. In your mid-20s - early 30s, voila! You’ll probably have grown a full and enviable man mane.

Again, the rate of beard growth is different for each person, so don’t worry if your full beard hasn’t come through yet.

How Long Does The Awkward Beard Phase Last?

When your beard starts to come through in your teens, it’s normal for it to be patchy or uneven because it’s just getting started! Your body is adjusting after puberty and testosterone will build up over time. 

We’ve all heard that shaving your peach fuzz will make it grow back thicker and faster, but that actually isn’t the case. Your best bet is to let it be, and after around four months of letting it grow, your beard will start to look thicker and more defined.

Why Do Some People Grow Beards Younger Than Others?

There’s always one lucky guy in high school who’s grown a full-blown beard by the age of 13. Trust us, they don’t have a magic beard potion; it simply comes down to genetics.

The genetics inherited from your parents control the number of hair follicles you have and also how well they respond to testosterone, which determines how long and thick your beard will grow. 

Lifestyle factors can also play their part, including a healthy, balanced diet, good fitness levels, and minimal stress.

How Can I Boost Beard Growth?

While beard thickness and length is mostly determined by genetics and testosterone production, there are some ways that you can encourage facial hair growth.

1. Diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet full of protein and vitamins will help your hair follicles produce long and luscious hair. Foods containing collagen and biotin - like eggs, lean meats, fruit, and veg - are great for your beard health.

2. Exercise

Regular physical activity will boost testosterone and reduce stress - the biggest killer of testosterone. Exercise can also improve blood circulation to deliver more nutrients and oxygen to your hair follicles.

3. Look after your skin

For your beard to reach its full and enviable potential, you need to take proper care of the skin underneath it. You should make sure your face is properly cleaned, exfoliated, and hydrated every day to create the best environment for your hair follicles to get to work.

4. Establish a beard care routine

Establishing a beard care routine that incorporates beard oils or balms will moisturise your facial hair and promote healthy growth.

We recommend applying one of our beard oils or balms to your beard each morning, and a beard butter in the evening to deeply hydrate your beard overnight and stop it becoming dry and wiry.

You could also use our 2-in-1 Beard Shampoo and Conditioner up to three times a week to cleanse your beard and remove dead skin or product build-up which could impede hair growth. 

At Jericho, our locally famous beard products are formulated using natural oil blends which work to moisturise beard hair and promote healthy hair growth. With over 14,000 five-star reviews, we are the leading provider of beard care products in Australia - shop our collection of beard oils today.