How to grow beard naturally at home FASTER!

Growing a beard naturally at home can be a tricky task you want your beard to look full and awesome and you want to do it naturally. According to some blogs and online resources, if you want to grow a thick beard faster you need to take vitamins and supplements. In my experience, however, that is certainly not the case at all! Here, I want to share how to grow a beard naturally at home – without the need for toxic or potentially harmful products! I’ll be covering everything you need to know to get the

Looking after your body is a very important part of growing a beard naturally – this is something that no pill or product can do for you. It starts by looking after your health and making sure that your body is in the best condition possible.

Choosing to make your own beard oil and wax is a great way to ensure that you can stay in control of your natural beard growing journey.

  1. Lose weight
  2. Exercise
  3. Eliminate alcohol
  4. DIY recipes for beard products

Let’s take a look at the ways you can make sure your body is performing in tip-top shape – naturally. You can also get a version of this article in the video from our YouTube channel:

Let’s now take a look at all of the common aspects of growing a beard naturally! We’ll cover everything from looking after your body, foods that increase beard growth, any natural supplements that you can take to boost beard growth as well as the best natural beard products for your beard!

Help your body grow a beard naturally by looking after yourself!

Testosterone is a very important component of the beard-growing process. Making sure that your body’s capacity to produce and use testosterone is at its best will make sure that you are not stopping yourself from reaching your full beard growing potential. This section is making sure that your body is in the best possible condition for growing a beard. It’s not fancy or complicated but will take dedication to pay close attention to your health and prioritize looking after your body.

Lose weight

Yes, we are all guilty of overindulging. But when it becomes a regular activity for you and you start down the slippery slope of obesity – your beard growing may be impacted!

There are several ways that being overweight can lower testosterone. Firstly, in overweight males testosterone is converted to the female hormone estrogen in fat tissue. This means that when there is a load of fat in the body there is a high rate of testosterone conversion to estrogen and counteracting your efforts. According to webMD:

Fat cells metabolize testosterone to estrogen, lowering testosterone levels. Also, obesity reduces levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that carries testosterone in the blood. Less SHBG means less free testosterone.

Losing weight through exercise can increase testosterone levels.

wedbMD

Another big issue is that testosterone is a fat-soluble hormone and can become trapped in the fat tissue. In an overweight man, there may be too little testosterone in the blood because a higher-than-normal amount is being stored in body fat.

The good news is that all of the issues can be reversed with weight loss and obese men who lose weight often see a big rise in their blood testosterone levels, along with an improvement in their sexual interest and function.  So, it is not easy or particularly pretty but getting out and exercising with definitely result in higher amounts of testosterone in the body. So once you have committed to losing some weight – exercise will be the nest best thing for you to do. Here are the exercises you can focus on to increase the amount of testosterone there is in your body.

Exercise

There’s a whole field of research that shows that exercise is a natural way to get your beard growing powers up – through increased testosterone. Not all exercise is created equally, however. Make sure your exercise contains these activities for maximum effects:

  1. Sprinting – Studies showed that testosterone levels increased significantly for people who performed a series of short and intense 6-second sprints. The testosterone levels remained high for a long time after the exercise had finished.
  2. Lift Heavy Stuff – Studies have shown that you should lift heavy weights to boost testosterone levels. Focus on full-body exercises like squats, deadlifts, benchpresses and free weights at 85 – 95 % of your one-rep max. Make sure you have a spotter for these types of exercises!
  3. Long Rest Periods – Longer rests of more than 120 seconds between reps are better than shorter rest periods. So don’t feel bad when taking a break. You can always work out your upper body and lower body alternatively to maximize your effectiveness in the gym!
  4. Remember to use your legs – Nothing feels better than doing upper body exercises, like bicep curls or bench press, but studies have shown that there are significant increases in testosterone when leg and lower body exercises are included in the routine.

These exercises combined with a good base level amount of fitness increasing activities like running and hiking will mean that your body will be naturally performing at its best for your beard growing journey. It is never too late to do some extra bits of exercise to your weekly schedule!

Eliminate alcohol

Everyone now knows that smoking and alcohol are bad for your health. But did you know that they can significantly impact your testosterone levels which also means your beard growing capacity.

In general, excessive alcohol consumption decreases testosterone. Excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse are associated with decreased testosterone levels. Some specific ways that alcohol affects testosterone levels include:

  • Alcohol damages the cells in the testicles which produce testosterone.
  • Drinking alcohol results in the release of certain pleasure chemicals. While these feel awesome and can produce pleasant and relaxing feelings, they can also interfere with testosterone synthesis.
  • Alcohol can increase a stress hormone, called cortisol, which is known to decrease testosterone synthesis.
  • Alcohol may increase the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the body.

Taking good care of yourself is a very important part of how to grow a beard naturally at home. Should you want to supplement an already healthy lifestyle with natural vitamins Here’s what you could consider using.

Foods that increase beard growth

Your body can only perform as well as the fuel that you are putting into it. In this instance, the fuel comes in the form of food that you consume. Nothing gets as natural as eating the necessary foods to promote beard growth!

Eggs

Eggs contain both protein and biotin – both of these things promote hair growth. When you look at your diet you need to make sure that you are eating a good amount of protein as the hair on your body is made up mostly of protein. This is particularly important if you are on a vegetarian or another restricted diet. Most people will not have to worry about getting adequate amounts of protein in the diet but if in doubt about your intake speak to a doctor or nutritionist.

Lastly, eggs contain a molecule called Biotin. Biotin is a molecule found in eggs, milk, and bananas. It is commonly recommended for brittle hair and other conditions but taking more than what is consumed naturally has not been shown to have any benefit. In other words, you don’t need biotin supplements unless you have been diagnosed with low levels. Biotin is an essential part of the production of keratin – a protein found in hair.

Berries, citrus and other fruits

Vitamin C is a really strong antioxidant and can be found in berries, oranges, blackcurrants, kiwi fruits, lemons, lychees, papayas and strawberries. Vitamin C can help protect the beard hair follicles against damage from things called free radicals in the body. These are molecules that naturally occur in our bodies so it’s not anything you should be worried of – but vitamin C is your friend when it comes to limiting the amount of free radicals in your body.

The body uses Vitamin C to produce collagen with is another protein that is in the body that strengthens hair – including the hair on your face. Make sure that you take in a good amount of vitamin C and your beard will thank you for it!

Spinach and kale

Besides Vitamin C, as mentioned above, spinach and kale contain vitamin A. Vitamin A helps the glands on the face produce sebum. Sebum is an oil that is produced by your face to keep the hair and the skin well-conditioned. As your beard gets longer the natural oils on the face struggle to produce as much sebum that your beard needs to stay hydrated. So, you can also supplement the oils with a good quality beard oil! Check out my really in-depth guide on all of the things you need to know about beard oil.

Fatty fish

Some types of fatty fish contain a huge amount of omega-3 fatty acids and have been shown to promote hair growth. Not only are the fatty fish great sources of these essential fatty acids – they contain a load of protein too! Fish that are considered good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are:

  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Herring
  • Anchovies
  • Sword fish
  • Sardines
  • Mackerel
  • Trout
  • Pollock

If you don’t like the taste of the fish you can also find these great fatty acids in the form of pills. Click here to find out the best prices for fish oil tablets on Amazon.

Avocados

Avocados are delicious and a wicked source of healthy fats. They contain a huge amount of vitamin E which, like vitamin A, helps combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals in the body. One study resulted in people with hair loss seeing 34.5% more hair growth after taking Vitamin E for eight months.

Also, just like the fish mentioned above, you can find a good amount of fatty acids in the avocado! This makes it one of the best foods or beards on this list!

Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are like little packets of beard growing power. They contain a huge density of powerful beard growing molecules such as:

  • Vitamin B
  • Vitamin A
  • Zinc
  • Selenium
  • Omega-3 fatty acids

The best sorts of nuts are Almonds and the best sorts of seeds for your beard growth are sunflower, chia and flax seeds. When I first started using seeds in my meals I was surprised how easy it was to mix them into things like porridge and smoothies. A delicious way to add a nutrient boost to a range of meals!

Red meat

Meat, in general, is found in most people’s diets and is not only a great source of protein – it contains iron and other vitamins that may help make your beard hair stronger and thicker. Protein can also be found in a large range of not animal products too so if you are a vegetarian you don’t have to eat meat to have a brilliant beard.

High protein vegetarian options

Protein is a really important part of growing a beard and so, here are the best plant based ways to get your protein:

  • Lentils
  • Edamame
  • Chickpeas
  • Peanuts
  • Almonds
  • Spiriulina
  • Quinoa
  • Potatoes

These options are brilliant additions to your diet – vegetarian or not!

So, there are all of the best foods for growing your beard. If you need an extra little boost here are the vitamins and supplements that you may consider taking!

Best natural beard growing vitamins

Although the benefits of general multivitamins are a contentious issue, specific vitamins and minerals may be beneficial to boost testosterone and help your beard growing adventure!

To find out the science of vitamins in more detail check out this blog post – Do beard-growing vitamins work?

Zinc and vitamin B

Zinc is an element that you may remember from chemistry class! You can purchase zinc supplements but it really comes into its own when combined with vitamin B. Zinc can increase testosterone up to a point but if you are not deficient in it you sill not see any increase from ingesting more.

In one study, zinc and vitamin B supplements increased sperm quality by 74%. Zinc also boosts testosterone in athletes and those who are deficient in zinc. That means if you are exercising a lot you may want to consider taking zinc to help make sure you are not deficient.

In the case where your zinc levels are already at a good level, you’ll probably just see increases in DHT, which isn’t a bad thing at all for your beard growing potential.

Mucuna Pruriens

This is a tropical legume that originates from Africa and Asia and, recently, there has been a load of research into its health benefits. These include reduced cortisol levels and oxidative damage, an increat in testosterone levels and activation of androgen receptors (the things that activate hair growth).

There have been two studies that show the testosterone boosting power of this supplement. It has been shown that it increases testosterone levels by about 38 percent. It can also increase the androgen receptor activity so that it could make better use of the DHT and testosterone already in the body.

If you decide to try this supplement, you should consider keeping the dosage between 250 to 500 mg a day.

Boron

Boron is another naturally occurring element. A small amount of boron is found in plants which is how we get the majority of our intake. So you could consider eating more leafy greens too!

There are a couple of studies that show that boron increases the testosterone and DHT levels found in the body. In one study people were asked to take 10 mg of boron every day and after 7 days the results were very encouraging. Testosterone levels in the body had risen by 28% and DHT levels had also increased by 10%. The use of boron also decreased the amount of estrogen in the body by 39%.

Ashwagandha aka Ayurveda

This is a relatively new supplement for the American market but Indians have been using this for years to promote beard growth. There are studies that show that this supplement increases testosterone in the blood which could help your beard growth.

The most beneficial form of this supplement is called ASM-66 and is thought to have the highest amount of beneficial compounds in it.

There are two studies (here and here) that used human participants with both using 5g per day of ashwagandha root powder for 90 days. Both of the studies found significant increases in testosterone – about 40% and 16% on infertile subjects and about 15% in people with no fertility issues.

This backs up another study where 57 male subjects took a 600mg per day of KSM-66. The study showed a ~15% increase in testosterone levels (average rise from 630 ng/dL to 726 ng/d).

However, if you have a healthy testosterone level you may not benefit much from taking these vitamins. Always check with a health professional before embarking on any supplement regime.

So what other ways can you beard naturally at home?

DIY recipes for beard products

The “growing” aspect of a beard is very important but there’s also another thing to consider if you want to grow your beard as naturally as possible – that is the products you use!

For me, DIY is the way to go as it has a number of benefits:

  • Low waste – I bought 5 dropper bottles for oil and 5 aluminum tubs for my DIY beard wax. I refill them with my own recipes and never have to dispose of anything!
  • Cheaper – It cost a total of $25 for about five bottles of beard oil – thats 1/5th of the price if I was to buy it at a store.
  • Ingredient control – I choose exactly what is in my oil. I can choose products that match my beard type and length.
  • Personalized products – The best thing about this is I can choose a smell that I like. I’ve often found commercial beard oils to be too smelly.

Here’s the way I make both my beard wax and oil:

DIY beard balm

Here’s a quick video from my YouTube channel on how you can make your own beard balm with coconut oil and wax. It’s surprisingly simple too!

A beard wax contains a number of ingredients but we can break it down to carrier oils, hold agents and essential oils. Let’s take a look at each one of these one at a time.

Carrier oils:

Carrier oils are used to dilute the essential oils (which can burn your skin) and also thin out the wax a little so it will melt and spread throughout your beard. popular carrier oils are jojoba, avocado, castor, grapeseed, sweet almond, and coconut oil. Each oil has it’s benefits and I used jojoba oil as the therapeutic properties matched what I needed for my beard.

Hold agents:

These are the ingredients that provide stability for your beard. I use a mixture of beeswax and shea butter. Beeswax provides a strong hold while shea butter reduces the stiffness of the wax and helps it stay soft enough to dig out of the tin.

For a stronghold, like that for mustaches, use resin instead of shea butter.

Essential oils:

These do two things: Firstly they provide a therapeutic action in the beard wax and, secondly, they give the wax a fragrance. I have used peppermint and eucalyptus in the past but want to experiment with vanilla and cedar oil in the future. To be honest, the peppermint and eucalyptus made me smell too much like cleaning products – live and learn!

Here’s the mix I use:

  • 2 tbs beeswax
  • 1 tbs of coconut oil
  • 1 tbs of jojoba oil
  • 1 tb spoon shea butter
  • 5 drops of peppermint oil

Mix all of these ingredients in a glass bowl and melt them over hot water – like the way you melt chocolate for cooking. Once you have melted them together pour into aluminum tins and allow to cool and set.

DIY beard oil

how to grow beard naturally at home - glass beard oil carrier

For beard oils, we can follow a similar process as the beard wax but without the holding element. Beard oil is simply a mixture of carrier oils and essential oils. I have used jojoba oil and eucalyptus oil but you can choose any other carrier oils: jojoba, avocado, castor, grapeseed, and sweet almond mixed in any ratio. Use about 5 drops of essential oils.

Place the oils in a dropper bottle (check out these on Amazon) add the essential oils (not too much) and enjoy!

Best all natural beard products

There are a number of awesome products on the market but here is a list of my favorite organic beard products.


Certified Organic Beard Oil (2oz)

The reason that this is in my list: This beard oil is one of the only certified organic beard oils on the market. This is a massive bottle too. Normally beard oil comes in 1 oz oittles – this one is twice that!

Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-in Conditioner

The reason that this is in my list: This beard balm is an absolute star and something that you should keep in your cupboard at all times! I love the fact that it doesn’t have an overwhelming smell like other beard balms can have. They have managed to balance the smell and function of this balm perfectly!

There is a slight hint of anise (or licorice) that some people may find off-putting. If you are worried about the smell the manufacturers also make a nonscented version of this balm too! If you want to try a number of different scents before you settle on one – take a look at the next option on our list!

Honest Amish Original Beard Wax

The reason that this is in my list: This beard wax is just as good as the balm and there are a lod of reasons that you should choose Honest Amish as a brand! This contains much more wax in it than the balm and so it is best suited for those that need a high level of hold! It can take a bit of effort to scoop out of the tin. If your beard is short or you have a tame beard go for the beard balm over the wax!

Wooden and eco-friendly accessories

The last thing you can do to make your beard growing process as natural as possible is to use bamboo and other eco-friendly materials when you are choosing your beard growing accessories.

Combs

A comb is a very important part of growing a beard. I have a wooden comb that I carry with me everywhere and it allows me to tidy up my beard during the day. Check out the price of the above comb on amazon by clicking here.

Brushes

how to grow beard naturally at home - brush

Look for a wooden handle with boars hair and you cannot go wrong. I have a couple and use them to lightly brush my beard after using the beard oil. Check out the price of my favorite brush by clicking here.

Single blade razor

Forget using cartridge razors. This is by far the best thing I bought on my beard growing journey. The replacement blades are really cheap and you are not chucking away plastic!

There is a little bit of a learning curve when using this type of razor but it is well worth it. Also, the shave is much closer than I ever managed with a cartridge-based razor! Check out the latest price on amazon by clicking here.

The final word

How to grow a beard naturally at home can be a simple process. It starts by looking after your health and making sure that your body is in the best condition possible. It may sound a little bit over the top but it is really important and growing a beard will be better with a healthier body.

Choosing to make your own beard oil and wax is a great way to ensure that you can stay in control of your natural beard growing journey.

So, How to grow a beard naturally at home? Easy once you know how!

The Author


Andy Stapleton

Andy is a writer and YouTuber with a PhD in science. He has written and/or produced videos for Science Alert, COSMOS magazine, and Australia's Science Channel among others. He is an avid beard grower and after many years of growing and trialling different beard styles, he started this blog to share the tips, tricks, and science that he has learned along the way!