How to Grow Sideburns

Co-authored by Ashley Adams

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References

Sideburns are a common facial hairstyle, so named after the American civil war Ambrose Burnside, who wore them throughout his life.^{[1]
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Research source} Since then, they've become an enduring symbol of manliness. Growing your facial hair for sideburns may take a few weeks. However, there are some things that you can do to boost your facial hair growth. If your hair is growing in patches or if it does not seem to be growing at all, then you may want to talk to your doctor and see what treatment options are available to you.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Sideburns Naturally

1
Grow your facial hair for at least 4 weeks. Your facial hair will need to be about an inch long to sport full sideburns. If you want bushier sideburns, then you may need to grow your hair even longer. Everyone's facial hair grows at a different pace, so it may take longer for yours to grow to the right length for sideburns.
- Try growing your hair into a beard first to get the length and then you can shave the facial hair into sideburns later.
- If you just want short, stubble length sideburns, then you might be able to get these within a few days to a week. Grow your facial hair until it reaches the length that you desire.
- Keep in mind that if you are young, such as in your teens or twenties, then it might take even longer to grow your facial hair. Try to be patient while you wait.
2
Apply beard oil to moisturize your skin and facial hair. Keeping your facial hair and skin moisturized as you let it grow may result in better-looking sideburns. Try applying a few drops of beard oil on your facial hair while you are growing it out.
- If you don’t have beard oil, then just using a facial moisturizer or a few drops of olive oil may be enough to keep your beard and skin moisturized.
- Massage the oil into the area where your sideburns will grow to help promote hair growth there.
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3
Comb the hair growth. When your facial hair starts to get long, you will need to start combing it to keep it looking neat. Use a beard comb or a natural bristle brush to groom your facial hair as it grows. Try to comb or brush it once per day.
4
Shave the hair into sideburns when you have enough hair. Sideburns are distinct strips of facial hair at the sides of your facial hair that connect to the hair on your head. When your facial hair has reached the length that you desire, you can shave off the hair on your chin and off most of your cheeks to create the sideburns.
- To get sideburns, shave the hair off of your chin and off of the lower part of your cheek.
- Then, shave around the hair that extends from the area just about your ear to create a strip. You can make this strip as thin or as thick as you like. Some people even create designs with their sideburns, but this is more advanced, so you might need to see a barber if you're interested.
- When you are finished, you should just have strips on both sides of your face that extend from the hair above your ear to about the middle of your cheek.
5
Trim and style your sideburns. Trimming your sideburns leaves plenty of room for experimentation and individual expression. Are you looking for bushy sideburns, or something modern and trimmed? Are you looking for a straight, or tapered bottom? If you have a model in mind, take a precision trimmer and cut it around in the likeness of your example. You can even cater the look of your sideburns to the shape of your own face.
- For long and thinner faces, bushier, jawline sideburns will help soften the angles of your face shape.
- Rounder faces may benefit more from shorter sideburns.
6
Stick to a regular schedule for maintenance. Once you've found a sideburn style that you really like, you will just need to maintain your look. Try to trim the areas around your sideburns at least once every three days. You can use a razor blade or use an electric razor to trim around your sideburns.^{[2]
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Research source}
- You will also need to trim the length of your sideburns to prevent them from becoming too long. Many electric razors have an adjustable hair length setting for trimming facial hair without shaving it all off.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Boosting Testosterone for Better Facial Hair Growth

1
Exercise regularly. Regular exercise may help to boost your testosterone naturally and this may lead to better facial hair growth. Try to do some cardiovascular exercise for at least 30 minutes every day and incorporate some weight lifting into your routine a couple of days per week as well.^{[3]
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Research source}
- For cardio, you can run, walk, ride a bike, swim, dance, or use an exercise machine, such as an elliptical walker.
- Find something that you really enjoy doing to make it easier to stick with it.
2
Follow a healthy diet.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} While eating certain foods will not make your beard grow faster, eating a balanced, healthy diet may help to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy facial hair. Following a healthy diet may also help you to lose weight, which can help to boost testosterone and improve your ability to grow facial hair.
- Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet.
- Avoid fatty, greasy, fried, and sugary foods.
- Take a daily multivitamin to provide extra nutritional insurance.
- You should also drink plenty of water every day so you're hydrated, which is important for facial hair growth.
3
Get plenty of rest. Making sure that you are well-rested is important for your overall well-being, but it may also help to improve your testosterone levels.^{[5]
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Research source} Aim for at least seven hours of sleep every night.
- To sleep better, try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.
- You can also try using a relaxing bedtime routine, such as taking a bath, drinking a cup of herbal tea, or listening to some relaxing music.
- Avoid using your phone, watching TV, or using a computer at least one hour before bedtime. The light from these screens can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
4
Manage stress. Stress can also affect your testosterone levels, which can interfere with hair growth and even cause hair loss.^{[6]
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Research source} Make sure that you keep your stress levels under control to ensure optimal hair growth. You can do this by including a relaxation technique in your daily routine. Some things you can do to manage stress include:
- Practicing yoga.
- Meditating.
- Doing deep breathing exercises.
- Performing progressive muscle relaxation.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Trying Special Treatments if Facial Hair Won’t Grow

1
See your doctor. If you are concerned that your testosterone levels are too low, then you may want to see your doctor. Your doctor can perform a simple blood test to determine your testosterone levels.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- In some cases, slightly low testosterone levels may not cause any symptoms and its treatment may not be necessary. If your levels are low enough to cause symptoms, such as a lack of facial hair, then your doctor may recommend medication to bring up your levels.
- Your doctor may also recommend some lifestyle changes to boost your testosterone, such as losing weight or quitting smoking.
2
Ask your doctor about minoxidil. If waiting for your facial hair to grow and making lifestyle changes does not seem to make a difference, then you might want to talk to your doctor about using a hair growth product such as minoxidil.^{[8]
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Research source} This product is most often recommended for use on your head, but some people have had success growing facial hair after using minoxidil on their faces.
- Keep in mind that minoxidil has some side effects and you have to use it for a long time to make it work.^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source} It can take months before you see any results.
- Talk with your doctor before you decide to try minoxidil for growing facial hair.
- Do not try to use minoxidil to grow facial hair if you have not yet started to get facial hair, such as if you are a teenager or in your twenties. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about a lack of facial hair.
3
Look into testosterone therapy. For those with severely low testosterone, or for men who are making the transition from female to male, testosterone therapy may be the only way to grow facial hair.^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} If you suspect that you have low testosterone or you know that you cannot grow facial hair, then talk with your doctor and ask about testosterone therapy.
4
Consider a facial hair transplant.^{[11]
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Research source} Another option for those who cannot grow facial hair is to have some hair transplanted from your head to your face. Getting a facial hair transplant can transform your face and allow you to grow sideburns or even a full beard. However, keep in mind that this option is quite expensive. It is also a surgical procedure, so it should be a last resort option.
- Talk to your doctor if you are considering a facial hair transplant.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Should I keep trimming my sideburns if they grow in patches?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

This should be done at your discretion. Trimming doesn't necessarily mean that the hair will grow back thicker and fuller without any patches. Trimming will remove split ends if you have any, and it will give you a clean slate to start over with.
Question

How do I grow out my sideburns?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Consider using beard oil, as the article above stated, or even try Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil can keep your sideburns moisturized and hydrated.
Question

How can I make my sideburns grow in thicker?

Community Answer

Massage with olive oil and eucalyptus oil for about 15 minutes, a few times a week and then rinse. It may take some time, but it should work.