When we start growing hair for the first time we get really excited.
Once that peach fuzz gets going, we know that we are now closer to becoming a man.
Vellus hair is the first hair we get as we develop.
Later on, it turns into terminal hair, gets thicker, and is easier to style.
But, what should we do until then?
How to style a peach fuzz and look cool?
And what, oh what to do if we end up with the peach fuzz later on in life?
It is practically impossible to wrap your head around this.
Peach fuzz is very light and consists of hairs that are softer and more brittle.
You can’t really do the same things you would do with permanent hair.
You do have options.
Most of them are in this article as we went through a lot of different methods and found ways of taking care of a peach fuzz beard.
It is an easy read and will only require you minutes to complete, but you will be rewarded with a lifetime of knowledge that will not only help you set your peach fuzz in order but also pass on to others.
Table Of Contents
- What Is Peach Fuzz Beard Or Vellus Hair
- Peach Fuzz vs Terminal Beard
- How to Turn Vellus Hair Into a Real Beard
- How to Darken Light Hairs
- Methods for Removal of Peach Fuzz Beard
- Methods to Avoid
- Do’s and Don’ts
- FAQ
- Why do I have a peach fuzz beard?
- Will the peach fuzz beard turn into a normal beard?
- Why does it take longer for some people to start growing beards?
- Should I shave my peach fuzz beard?
- Does waxing peach fuzz make it grow back thicker?
- Will my peach fuzz beard grow back thicker if I shave it?
- Can men be unable to grow beards?
What Is Peach Fuzz Beard Or Vellus Hair
Speaking scientifically correct terms, a peach fuzz beard is called the vellus. Both men, women, and even babies possess this type of hair. It is soft and can cover our entire body. Most of us will keep vellus during our whole lives and may keep it in certain parts after losing one hair.
But as we get older, we will notice the vellus replaced by longer, stronger, darker, and thicker hair. We soon see that some terminal hair starts to appear in certain places of our bodies and it all happens during puberty. Young men will find it particularly interesting when vellus on their faces starts to transition into terminal hair.
But, it may take some people longer to develop facial hair than others. It all depends on genetics. Vellus also plays an essential part in our growth and development. It helps in evaporating sweat and enables the normal function of our body.
Most of us remember when we looked at our chins in the mirrors with hopes of some strands of hair popping out. But even then, it takes a lot of time before you can develop a full beard style that suits you. Until that happens, you will have to endure the peach fuzz beard phase and carry it with pride.
Peach Fuzz vs Terminal Beard
You can view the peach fuzz beard as a form of evolution that our facial hair goes through before transitioning into a terminal beard. The main difference is that while we can get vellus in all places on our body, a terminal beard usually becomes permanent for some specific places. This includes legs, chest, stomach, face, armpits, genital area, head, etc.
Peach fuzz beards are soft, light, and not strong as opposed to terminal hair, which is stronger, darker, and coarser. Our peach fuzz will make the transition to terminal hair at some point in life. You can’t know when that will happen as it depends on many factors, but primarily genetics.
Some guys tend to have lighter and patchy beards even after transitioning to terminal hair. To get thicker facial hair, they can use beard oil that stimulates facial hair growth, a good choice for patchy beards. Once your peach fuzz transitions into terminal hair, you can style it in various ways that you like.
How to Turn Vellus Hair Into a Real Beard
Turning your peach fuzz beard into a full-grown beard happens naturally. The transition may take time and last longer for some or quicker for others. The main factor is genetics, as it can significantly affect how your peach fuzz turns into a beard.
However, other ways promote beard growth. There are some neat tricks and fixes that will allow you to make a quicker transition.
Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
Taking care of your body and eating right is a simple step towards getting a stronger beard. The crucial vitamins that you consume through food and how your body behaves will determine the thickness, the growth rate, and the strength of your beard.
Believe it or not, regular exercises, physical activity, and weightlifting can have a massive effect on the shape of your beard. All of these activities will elevate the testosterone levels in your body, affecting the growth of hair in all places of your body.
However, never allow yourself to get testosterone therapy by yourself without first consulting a doctor. Something like this can be harmful if not done correctly, so be sure to get a professional opinion before doing it.
Instead of using testosterone supplements, it is better to exercise regularly and eat healthy food, particularly those that promote natural testosterone creation within our bodies. This could also be the way if you are looking to find a solution to the patchy beard, as it will naturally promote hair growth.
Some healthy practices that you can start doing include:
- Stop smoking
- Eat the right food (rich in vitamins and biotin v7)
- Reduce stress
- Exercise and take care of your body
Beard and Skin Care
Taking care of your beard and skin is the next important step to follow. Once your beard starts growing, you should do your best to take care of it and you will be rewarded with a nice bushy mane.
The most critical practices include:
- Wash your face, both in the morning and at night.
- Letting your facial hair grow.
- Exfoliate your face from time to time.
- Use moisturizers or beard oil.
Washing your face will help to keep it clean. It will also enable your hair follicles to open. Exfoliating your face helps remove dead cells that can prevent facial hair from growing. Using some beard products like oils or moisturizers will add that push it needs to grow longer, stronger, and more confident.
Finally, allow your beard to grow. Give it a few weeks without shaving it and your beard will appreciate it. It might not look good at first, you are not going to like it, but it will pay off in the long run as you transition to terminal hair.
Medical Help
The final solution that you can utilize is a medical one. If you are not getting the results you wish, it does not hurt to ask for professional help. Believe it or not, facial hair transplants are becoming more and more popular and used by many men worldwide.
This is not only popular for the hair on your head, as it can be equally effective for facial hair and improving your beard style. It can even help in preventing scraggly beard. But, this should be your absolute last option and only if you have a good expert or doctor to consult with. Never use unchecked methods or something that you haven’t thoroughly analyzed first.
How to Darken Light Hairs
There are a few solutions for those who are impatient and can’t wait for their vellus to turn into terminal beards. The first solution that one can try to turn vellus into terminal hair is using Minoxidil.
Minoxidil is an oral medicine first introduced in the 70s to treat hypertension. The treatment also led to hair regrowth in balding patients, so it was developed as a topical formula and a treatment for male pattern baldness. A study suggested that the same medicine can be used for beard growth. The practice involves applying 0.5 ml of 3% minoxidil on the chin and jaw of the patient twice a day will result in terminal hair growth.
Several temporary solutions help people to darken their beard hairs. Therefore, turning your peach fuzz into terminal hair can be done by using:
- Beard pen. This is a suitable temporary solution to make your hair darker as you color your hair. It will not bulk up your beard hairs but will make them darker. However, it may leave some coloring on the skin as well.
- Hair fibers. Attaching hair fibers to existing hair can help thicken up your facial hair and thicken the growth of existing hairs.
- Henna powder. Henna powder can be used as a paste to darken the vellus of the hairs on your skin.
Methods for Removal of Peach Fuzz Beard
You are probably not going to be shaving with a vintage straight razor to remove a peach fuzz beard. There are other more suitable methods for doing it correctly.
Dermarolling
Dermarolling is considered an invasive method used to remove peach fuzz beard. It is a rejuvenation skin treatment that includes micro-needling benefits. It works by stimulating stem cells that add more life and color to your face.
This method does away with potential problems with traditional shaving, namely cuts and ingrown hair. Dermarolling is a painless and very effective method that should be considered.
Hair Removal Cream
Hair removal creams are a very cheap method for getting rid of unwanted hair. However, they do come with a lot of drawbacks. Due to harsh chemicals found in these creams, they are known to cause severe skin reactions in sensitive skin people. Not only that, but they don’t smell so nice as well.
Even though some can be effective, some will not do you any good. It is better to test it out on a different part of your body, like the leg, before trying it out on your face.
Electrolysis and Laser
Electrolysis and laser removal are two very effective hair removal methods. They are so effective that they remove hair permanently by destroying the hair follicles within your skin. Unless you want to remove your peach fuzz permanently, consider electrolysis and laser removal.
Threading
Threading is an ancient hair removal method that draws its origins in Iraq and India. The threading technique involves using two strings to thread and remove the hair from your face. The biggest downside here is that it is extremely painful.
The biggest advantage here is that this method is precise when removing peach fuzz beard. However, if you can’t handle the pain, consider some premium beard shaping tools instead. Or, if you do decide to give threading a go, be sure to go to a clean and reputable place.
Shaving
Shaving is a standard method for removing peach fuzz hair and any facial hair. However, shaving without needing to do so may come with some problems, like ingrown hair or cuts. We wouldn’t even recommend the world’s best electric shaver for teenagers to remove peach fuzz hair if you don’t have to. Nevertheless, it remains a very effective method that will undoubtedly remove unwanted hair.
Sugaring, Waxing and Tweezing
All three methods are effective ways of removing hair. They all have in common that you will be removing the hair follicles from their root. Some people suggest that this weakens hair thickness, while others say it supports hair growth, but this is a discussion for another day.
Sugaring and waxing are more effective methods as they work faster and cover more ground. However, they can be much more expensive unless you get a kit and do it yourself. Tweezing is effective but takes a lot longer. All three methods can be painful and are not for the fainthearted.
Bleaching
Bleaching is an effective and straightforward hair removal method. It is not as expensive as other methods and can be performed at home. However, it comes with various downsides that may include itching, redness, burning, blisters, swelling, and dry skin. People with sensitive skin are going to be particularly susceptible to bleaching.
Methods to Avoid
Keeping your beard short and removing peach fuzz beard are two entirely different things. There are proper ways to do away with your peach fuzz, and those need to be avoided. Here are ways that one should stir away from.
- Body depilatories: Depilatories use strong chemicals that are more suited for other body parts and are not intended for use on your face.
- Wet shaving: Wet shaving is more suitable for parts of your body with tougher skin. Instead of wet shaving, it is better to start with an electric razor to deal with sensitive areas on your face.
- Plucking: Not a practical way of removing peach fuzz facial hair. It is more suitable for dealing with eyebrows or stray hairs.
- Bleaching: Bleaching could damage your skin and is not a safe or suitable method for removing light hair like peach fuzz beards.
Do’s and Don’ts
Once you start growing a peach fuzz beard, you can’t simply get an excellent foil shaver to do away with it. There are some clear do’s and don’ts that have to be met.
Do’s
- Lead a healthy lifestyle and incorporate a suitable diet.
- Let your hair grow long at first.
- Use appropriate skin care and beard care products.
Don’ts
- Use bleaching to remove peach fuzz.
- Start wet shaving early on.
- Use products that are intended for other parts of your body.
FAQ
Why do I have a peach fuzz beard?
A peach fuzz beard is the first type of beard that a man is capable of growing. It consists of vellus hair, which all men, women, and even babies have.
Will the peach fuzz beard turn into a normal beard?
Eventually, yes, it will. But it takes time for vellus hair to turn into terminal hair and it usually depends on the genetics of a person.
Why does it take longer for some people to start growing beards?
It mostly depends on genetics. People with darker hair genetics will start growing a beard faster than those with light hair.
Should I shave my peach fuzz beard?
Yes, you can shave it. But, no, you shouldn’t do it early on. It is best to let your peach fuzz grow until it becomes suitable to shave it.
Does waxing peach fuzz make it grow back thicker?
Actually, no. No evidence suggests that waxing your peach fuzz hair will allow it to become thicker in time.
Will my peach fuzz beard grow back thicker if I shave it?
Also, no. Shaving your peach fuzz beard will not help it to grow thicker. It only helps the hair tip become blunt, making it coarser and appear darker or thicker.
Can men be unable to grow beards?
Yes, there are some kinds of situations where men cannot grow a beard. This comes down to genetics or various hormonal discrepancies.
Conclusion
Our peach fuzz beard is the first beard that we get. When you look back at it, you might regret shaving it off. But at one point, everyone has to do it. There are many ways to go wrong here, especially if you choose an unsuitable method. To prevent problems from happening, be sure to get some advice and consult with somebody older about doing it correctly.
Anthony Giannotti is a senior writer and editor for Beardoholic and a licensed barber for more than 13 years. He owns 3 barbershops and has his own hair care product line that is sold in barbershops worldwide. Known for his impeccable technique and skills, Anthony is an expert in hair and beard care and he knows the best products and tools to get rid of all beard problems and have an amazing beard.