As a teenager, a lot of things are confusing for us while our bodies develop.
One of the most fascinating parts is being able to grow facial hair.
However, most teens get downright confused and are not sure what to do when those first buds of hair start popping out.
A teen beard can be an attractive accessory if styled right.
Buuut, you have to allow it to grow properly.
A teenage beard is softer than your regular beard.
Fortunately, it can also be styled in a variety of shapes and ways.
You only need to treat it right and nourish it so it can grow to be nice and strong.
Being that there are many ways to grow and groom a teen beard, we have managed to fit them all into our article.
Here you will find ways to help the teen beard grow, how to groom it properly, and some neat tricks that you can use to style it.
Ah, yes, and some of the coolest teen beard styles out there.
Table Of Contents
What Is a Teenage Beard
Teenage beard, as the name suggests, is the facial teenage boys develop when they hit puberty. You could say that this is what separates young boys from fully grown men.
However, hair growth, like your physical growth, is a long process. Most young men only begin seeing the changes in puberty or when they turn 13 years old.
The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone in one’s body regulate male facial hair growth. Since these hormones are considered androgens, they are meant to bind with the hair growth-promoting androgen receptors in one’s body.
They peak when one reaches puberty. Compared to the other androgens, DHT is more potent, actively promoting beard growth. And since people get a DHT boost in their 20s, growing beards at this time is completely easy.
While growing your beard, you need to remember that you don’t have to force it to grow faster than it should be. The best way to grow them is naturally. However, if you feel like they’re not growing as much as they intend to be, that’s where natural beard-growing products come in.
38 Popular Beard Styles for Teenagers
Bold Patchy Beard
Remember Keanu Reeves in John Wick? That’s how this kind of beard looks likes, except that someone younger than Keanu is sporting it. It’s a rugged yet slightly kept kind of look that will indeed look great whether you’re attending a formal event or a laid-back one with friends.
Goatee
This is a beard style wherein the facial hair is concentrated on the chin but not on the cheeks. The name goatee was derived from the tufted beard you see on goats.
Goatee Without Mustache
It’s just like how it’s named — you see concentrated facial growth on the chin and some facial hair growth under the nose, forming a mustache.
Short Beard
Always a popular option. Having a short beard as a teen sometimes is the only option.
Light But Mannish
This style makes you grow a full beard but not that thick. The trimmed, well-kempt long make the person with this beard look extra manly.
Reedy Beard
If you’re fond of the looks of Bollywood stars, then try this beard. Named after Vijay Deverakonda’s iconic character as Arjun Reedy, this beard will cover all parts of your chin. It also comes with a well-trimmed mustache under the nose and curves down the chin.
Extended Goatee
This mustache is simply a variation of the mustache and the goatee. This means you can adjust your mustache and goatee’s scope, angle, and length until you achieve your desired look.
Chin Beard
This is a beard style where hair is only grown on the chin and along one’s jawline.
Anchor Beard
Robert Downey, Jr.’s beard in The Avengers is a perfect example of how this beard looks like. When you look at the face, you can see how the beard and mustache resemble an anchor.
Chinese or Korean Beard
This is a beard style where you see the facial hair almost totally shaved on both sides of the jaw, with only short and crisp hair scattered around the chin and jawline.
Benefits of Having One
Protection From UV Rays
We cover our bodies with clothes, which help keep us safe from the harmful UV rays. Because our face is not usually not covered like the rest of our body, it’s more susceptible to getting burned by the sun’s UV rays.
As a consequence, it would be easy to develop skin rashes and even cancer. If you have a beard, you protect your neck and lower face perfectly.
Reduces Infections and Allergies
Your mustache and beard serve as filters to keep allergens at bay, significantly reducing your chances of suffering from skin infections and allergies. If you take care of your beard by washing it regularly, you can benefit the most from it.
Makes Skin Younger and Smoother
You might have experienced cuts and blemishes that often lead to facial skin roughness if you shave daily. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin.
If you want to be blemish-free, grow a beard. You won’t have to worry about cuts either. Plus, you can still keep your skin as young-looking as it currently is.
Natural Moisturizer
If you regularly shave, you know that seasonal changes in temperature like cold and heat could cause skin dryness. If you use cosmetic products heavily, your skin might suffer from its adverse effects.
Your sebaceous glands secrete natural oil to help keep your skin moisturized. These glands easily get eroded if you use a razor regularly. If you grow a beard, you can help these glands function appropriately, keeping your skin young and smooth.
Prevents Sickness
Your beard acts as insulation against external temperature, effectively trapping heat from your body and keeping your neck and face warm. If you’re constantly on the move, this will be very beneficial.
How Does It Work
Growing a beard is a natural process for men. While some grow their mane faster, others have trouble getting it an inch higher. If you’re still a teenager, don’t be anxious if you haven’t grown your beard fully yet. It’s not a reason for serious concern.
However, if you want to hasten the process and groom it subsequently, you can try using beard growth balms, oils, creams, or whatever beard-growing product your skin is comfortable with. You have to apply the said product as instructed and wait for your beard to grow fully.
If you’re a teenager, you need to be patient when you want to grow a beard. It could take two or more months before you have a full-grown beard.
As to the question of whether it’s better or not to have a teenage beard, it depends on the person growing it. Whether you’re a teenager or someone older, growing your facial hair is a personal decision.
If you feel confident donning one, then go for it! However, if you think you’re still too young for it, then wait for the right time to have it. There’s no wrong or right decision here. Instead, it’s more like an issue of comfort and preference.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It protects you from UV rays.
- You look more mature and rugged.
- It can keep you from skin infections.
- It helps you get rid of blemishes from razor cuts.
- Beards help you express your personality.
- It can make you feel and look confident.
Cons
- You may look older than your age.
- Unkempt facial hair can be off-putting to some people.
- You need to spend time trimming and grooming your beard.
- You might sweat more and feel hotter in summer.
- There might be some skin problems underneath all the hair.
Stages of Beard Growth in Teenagers
Upper Lip Corner Hair
As soon as you hit puberty, your facial hair will develop in a characteristic order. It would first appear on your upper lip, then by your sideburns, and finally on your chin and cheek. It would last appear on your neck.
Pencil Mustache
When your facial hair starts to grow, you can style it into a pencil mustache. This kind of beard is styled starting from at least two weeks of its growth. Then again, if you want the full pencil mustache style, it can be achieved in a month.
Stubble Beard
This grows from 0 to two weeks, and this is when your small beard starts to develop and peep out of your face. To improve facial hair growth, keep on exfoliating as this will help grow your beard. Use a good cream to keep moisture locked in your skin.
Thicker Beard Growth
You will begin to see a thicker beard within 16 to 30 weeks. This is after you experience having stubble beard from 0 to 16 weeks. By this time, you can see a fuller and thicker facial hair that you can groom with a beard balm, oil or cream.
Methods Of Growing It Faster
Growth Stimulants
These are effective hair growth products that may have adverse effects like redness and mild burning sensation. These stimulants function as a vasodilator that increases blood flow into your hair follicles, causing them to grow lusciously.
Massage
If you incorporate hair and face massage into your routine, you can significantly improve your facial hair growth. With the use of castor or coconut oil, gently rub it on your facial hair while also massaging the skin underneath it.
Sleep
If you sleep better, you give your body cells a chance to regenerate faster. It can also help produce melatonin, a hormone that helps improve hair growth.
Exercise and Reducing Stress
Exercise and stress reduction, like sleep, can help your body release melatonin. Aside from that, these can also hasten dead skin cells repair, effectively accelerating hair growth.
Cleaning
If you don’t clean your face regularly, you’ll have to deal with clogged pores. These clogged pores will keep your hair follicles from growing into a full-grown beard.
On the other hand, if you clean your face in the morning and before bedtime, you remove dead skin cells, effectively keeping your hair follicles healthy.
Applying Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a well-known growth stimulant. Apply it on your face and wait for it to increase blood flow into your hair follicles. With healthier hair follicles, you grow your teenage beard faster.
Using Derma Rollers
A derma roller treats skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, and large pores. This kind of treatment is called microneedling. This roller is covered in stainless steel or tiny titanium needles to pierce the outer layer of your skin.
Its primary purpose is to induce collagen production. Your hair follicles use collagen to produce keratin proteins that help you grow your facial hair.
Common Teenage Beard Problems
Slow Growth
As you already know, not all grow their beards at the same pace. While some grow their beard fast, others struggle to even put a dent in their beard’s height.
If you’re experiencing slow growth, check if you have been sleeping well, washing your face regularly or keeping yourself active. Your physical condition can affect your hair growth positively or negatively.
Itching
If you don’t wash your beard regularly, there is a very high chance that your skin beneath will suffer. Itchiness could be a sign that your skin is too dry, facial hair is unclean, or you’re allergic to whatever you put in it.
Identify the root cause of the itch to help address the same accordingly.
Dandruff
Seborrheic dermatitis, more commonly known as dandruff, is characterized by greasy patches, scaly skin, and itchy rash.
It can be remedied by gently brushing it before you wash your face, using 1% hydrocortisone solution to treat greasy patches and rash, and shampooing your beard with anti-dandruff shampoo at least once a week. Take note never to use other shampoos.
Beard Acne
These are pimples that grow underneath or inside your beard or facial hair. Often known as folliculitis, these could be due to ingrown hairs or bacterial growth. They tend to be red, inflamed pimples found at your hair follicles.
Dry/Flaky Skin
While having flaky and dry skin is expected when aging, it’s not quite common when you’re a teenager. However, if you experience this, it might suggest that your skin needs moisturizing and hydrating.
Less Beard Volume
If you have thin, straight hair, there is a very high chance that your beard may lack volume. In that case, it’s best to use beard creams or balms to give it more volume.
Split Beard
When your facial hair is damaged or dry, you might end up with split ends. It can be caused by overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays, improper grooming, and the use of too much heat.
Instead of curing split ends after it happens, prevent it by using hair products meant to address this condition.
How to Grow It
Step 1 – Start with a clean shave
If you want a thick, full-grown beard, you need to start with a clean shave. Do this on the day you decide to grow your beard. After you shave, ensure that you regularly exfoliate to stimulate the hair follicles to grow.
Step 2 – Keep the moisture locked in
From zero to two weeks, you’ll notice a small beard develop on your face. When you see this, keep on exfoliating to allow the beard to grow even stronger. You also need to ensure that you only use the best cream to seal the moisture in your skin.
Step 3 – Use hair growth oil
From the 2nd to the 8th week, you will experience having a flaky, itchy beard. This is normal, and during this time, you can try using hair growth oil that’s best for your skin type.
Never give in to the urge to trim or shave your beard. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to start from scratch.
Step 4 – Continue grooming your beard
From the 8th to the 16th week, you will notice a patchy beard slowly filling your face. From the 16th to the 30th week, you can notice your beard forming well. Once you see the fruits of your labor, you might not feel like shaving it. Just keep on grooming it regularly.
After the 30thy week, you’ll see a fully-former beard. At this time, continue your beard grooming routine, which also includes hydration and cleansing. Also, use a high-quality beard brush when combing through your beard after washing.
How to Maintain It
Step 1 – Clean and moisturize your skin and beard
You want to avoid bacterial growth, beard acne, and other unwanted skin conditions, right? The best way to do this is to ensure that your face and facial hair stay clean.
This two-step action can save you from a plethora of issues like acne, beard splitting, and so on. Always use a professional beard moisturizer.
Step 2 – Sleep at least 8 hours a day
As mentioned above, sleeping gives your body cells a chance to regenerate faster. It can also help produce melatonin, a hormone that helps improve hair growth.
Step 3 – Exercise and lessen stress
As you already know, exercise and stress reduction, like sleep, can help your body release melatonin. Aside from that, these can also hasten dead skin cells repair, effectively accelerating hair growth.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Moisturize your facial hair and skin.
- Use the world’s best beard shampoo.
- Take premium beard vitamins.
- Choose a razor for sensitive skin.
Don’ts
- Fail to face moisturizer according to your skin type.
- Scratch your face when it’s itchy.
- Leave your facial hair unclean for days.
- Never look at skin type when choosing which product to use for your beard.
FAQ
Is it normal for a 16-year-old to have a beard?
Your facial hair will start to grow at the last stage of puberty — when you’re around 11 or 15 years old. This will then begin to spread around your upper lip at age 16 to 17.
It will become a full beard when you reach 17 to 21 years old. With that, you can say that it’s perfectly normal to have a beard when you’re 16-years old.
Can every teenager grow a beard?
Yes, there’s no prohibition as to who can grow a beard. And since it’s a natural process, those who are meant to have beards will eventually grow one over time.
How long does it take a teenager to grow a beard?
As mentioned above, your beard will grow fully after 30 weeks. However, the speed of your hair growth will largely depend on the factors mentioned above.
Should teenagers shave beards?
There is no right age to start shaving. Instead, it depends on how thick your beard gets. Most of the time, shaving is done when you already have a full beard.
Can a 17-year-old have a full beard?
The answer to this question depends on the person growing it. Whether you’re a teenager or someone older, growing your facial hair is a personal decision.
If you feel confident donning one, then go for it! However, if you feel you’re still too young for it, then wait for the right time to have it.
How can I encourage my beard growth as a teenager?
Kindly refer to the how-to grow guide provided above to answer this question.
Does beard grow fuller with age?
Yes, since there are stages to beard growth, you can expect to grow them to grow heavier and fuller as days or weeks pass by.
Conclusion
While growing your beard is a natural process, you can slow down or hasten the process with your daily routine. If you don’t groom, clean, and take care of your facial hair, it won’t grow as much as a well-kept one. You will also most likely experience adverse skin conditions.
On the other hand, if you take care of your facial hair, you can expect it to grow healthy and quickly. Consider the tips shared in this article and enjoy growing along with your teenage beard.
Jay is one of the members of the Beardoholic writers team and NFL, celebrity barber. As a master barber with years of experience, Jay can make your beard look any way you envision. Jay’s specialty is black men’s hair and beard styles, but he also has deep knowledge on how to create a perfect neck and cheek line, short or long beard and virtually any beard and hair shape and style.