How to Fix Beard Patches

Co-authored by Woody Lovell

Last Updated: December 10, 2022 References

When you start growing a beard, it’s not uncommon to find that some parts are coming in thinner than the rest. You might end up with patches that are nearly bald, especially on your cheeks. Although some of the factors are genetic, you can work on your beard patches by trying some new grooming techniques, choosing a style that suits a patchy beard, and making some lifestyle changes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Grooming Your Patchy Beard

1
Give your beard at least a month to grow.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Growing a full, thick beard requires patience. If you see patches after a week, it can be tempting just to shave and forget your beard-growing plans. However, you can’t really tell what your beard is going to look like unless you wait at least a month—maybe 2 or 3—to see whether the spaces fill themselves in.^{[2]
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- Your facial hair will probably get thicker and fuller as you get older. That means young men need to be especially patient with their beard growth.^{[3]
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2
Shampoo and condition your beard once or twice a week. Facial hair is like all other hair on your body, so wash it regularly with shampoo. You can also use conditioner to make your facial hair look fuller.^{[4]
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Research source} Don't wash it every day, though, or your facial hair will dry out. In general, 1 or 2 washes per week is plenty. ^{[5]
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- Some shampoos are designed specifically to clean beards and keep them moisturized. If you find that regular shampoo dries out your facial hair, try a beard shampoo.^{[6]
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3
Train your beard by brushing it. If you brush your beard regularly, you’ll train your facial hair to keep growing in the same direction.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Not only will that make your beard look neater, it also helps to cover up thinner patches.^{[8]
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- You can also try brushing your beard with or against the grain to get different results. For instance, brushing against the grain might make your beard look thicker.^{[9]
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4
Trim your beard with scissors instead of clippers. If you need to trim your beard, you can do so. But, until your full beard has come in, use scissors rather than an electric trimmer. Scissors are gentler and less likely to damage your hair.^{[10]
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5
Style your beard with oil, balm, or wax. Beard products can help to control and train your facial hair.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Expert Interview. 17 January 2020.} Oil is popular and works for most beard, but you want more hold, try a beard balm or wax.^{[12]
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Research source} You can buy these products online or at a barber shop.
- Make sure to wash out your beard oil on a regular basis! You don't want it sitting in your beard for an extended amount of time.^{[13]
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  Expert Source
  
  Woody Lovell
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
6
Avoid pulling on your beard to prevent damage. If you want to grow a nice, full beard, you need to keep your facial hair healthy. If you pull on or play with your facial hair, you can damage it and produce more bald patches.^{[14]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling a Patchy Beard

1
Keep your beard short to make patches less noticeable. If you're struggling to grow a full beard, consider keeping it short. This makes it much harder to see the thinner patches. Use a trimmer to keep your beard short, and make sure to keep it tidy around the jawline and cheeks.^{[15]
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- If you want your patches to be totally unnoticeable, you can shave your whole beard down to the length of the shortest patch. This helps to make your beard grow in more evenly.^{[16]
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  Research source} On the other hand, it slows down the overall beard-growing process, so you'll need to be even more patient.
2
Choose a goatee if you have a weak chin or round face. The goatee look certainly makes patches less noticeable, but it looks better on some men than other. Try a goatee if you want to make your chin look stronger, or if you have a round face and want to add some definition.^{[17]
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3
Opt for a Van Dyke if you want a sophisticated look. The Van Dyke, which is a combination of a goatee and moustache, has been around since the 17th century, when it was popular among the European aristocracy. It's a great option if you want an up-scale look.^{[18]
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4
Pick a chinstrap beard if your beard grows well around your mouth and jaw. If it's just your cheeks that are the problem, a chinstrap beard might be your best option. A full chinstrap looks strong, especially when connected to a moustache, and no one will know that your beard comes in patchy on your cheeks.
5
Embrace your patchy beard if you want a rugged look. This is a good option if you don't mind looking a little unkempt. You might find that it looks better than you thought! The patchy beard might not be the best fit for an office job, but if you can get away with a more outdoorsy look, give your patchy beard a chance.^{[19]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Changing Your Lifestyle to Promote Hair Growth

1
Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. Working out increases a man’s testosterone level and improves blood circulation, both of which contribute to facial hair growth.^{[20]
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Expert Source

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Exercising for 30 minutes at least 5 times a week will help your beard growth and keep you fit.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Lifting weights is particularly good for boosting your testosterone level, while aerobic workouts promote better blood flow.^{[22]
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2
Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. It might seem like a small thing, but a good night's sleep is important. It ensures that nutrients are reaching every part of your body, including your face.^{[23]
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- In addition, according to recent research, your body will also struggle to produce enough testosterone if you don't get enough sleep.^{[24]
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  Research source} Try to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night.^{[25]
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  Trustworthy Source
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  Research and education center within the National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
3
Reduce your stress and anxiety. That might be easier said than done, but reducing stress can really boost your hair growth. When you’re stressed out, your blood vessels constrict, which inhibits hair growth. Some studies also suggest that cortisol, the "stress hormone," can interfere with the effects of testosterone on the body. ^{[26]
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- Meditation is one the most effective stress reducers, and it doesn't have to take a long time.^{[27]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source} Try to fit in 10 minutes of meditation each day, or do it as needed.
- Spending time outside has been shown to reduce stress. If you usually spend all day inside, try to get outside for at least 5 minutes outside every day, and more if you can manage it.
- Deep breathing exercise are a powerful stress-reducing technique, and they're relatively easy to fit into your day. They require some practice, but they can be immediately effective for stress relief.^{[28]
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4
Ensure you get enough protein in your diet. Protein contains keratin, which contributes to hair growth.^{[29]
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Research source} To calculate how much protein you need, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36. The resulting number tells you how many grams of protein you should consume every day.
5
Take 25 mg of biotin per day. Several vitamins contribute to hair growth, but biotin is one of the most important. Ingesting a supplement containing 25 mg (0.0009 oz) of biotin each day will stimulate hair growth.^{[30]
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- If you start taking a biotin supplement, make sure to stay well hydrated. Otherwise, your skin might start to break out.^{[31]
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6
Increase your intake of vitamins and Omega-3s. Apart from biotin, the most important vitamins for hair growth are B and C.^{[32]
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Expert Source

Woody Lovell
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Omega-3 fatty acids also contribute to hair growth. You can get these through diet or supplements.^{[33]
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- Eating foods like eggs, fish, leafy greens, broccoli, oranges, and almonds will ensure you get these vitamins in your diet.
- There are also supplements marketed specifically for improving beard growth, but they're not always effective.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Do patchy beards fill in?

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas

Facial Hair Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try letting your beard grow out for about a month to see if the patches fill in.
Question

Can a patchy beard look good?

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas

Facial Hair Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, a patchy beard can look good. Try styling your patchy beard with oil, balm, or wax to train your facial hair and achieve the look you want.
Question

What are the best but cheap beard growing oils?

GeGeGeLL

Community Answer

Some of the best oils for growing a quick and healthy beard are jojoba oil, argan oil, castor oil, and vitamin E oil. You can buy any of these at your local supermarket or drug store in many different sizes.