A wispy beard is just a thin, scraggly beard grown quite long. It means that you have a somewhat long beard, but it does not have enough volume.
If you have watched old-fashioned Kung-fu movies, the masters typically have a long, thin beard and mustache. This is the epitome of wispy beards.
Table Of Contents
Why Does It Happen
Genetics
Regardless of what you do or whatever product you slather on your face, if your genetics dictate that you cannot grow a thick beard, then you will not be able to. If your father cannot grow a full beard, then there is a good chance that you will not also be able to.
Ethnicity
If you have Asian heritage, it might be the reason why your beard is so wispy, especially if you have Chinese blood in you. Finding a Chinese man with a full beard is almost impossible.
On the other hand, a full beard should be easy to grow if you have a Middle Eastern or Eastern European heritage.
Age
If you are still in your late teens or early twenties, then maybe you have a wispy beard because you are not old enough yet. Some people can grow a full beard by the time they are 18. However, in other men, their beard does not seem to come in fully until their late 20s.
Low Testosterone
Testosterone, the male growth hormone, is responsible for telling your body how much hair it can grow and where it grows. Most of the time, if a person has a low testosterone count, he can only grow a patchy beard, if any at all.
To confirm if this is the case with yourself, consult a doctor and ask if you can get a lab test to check your testosterone levels. If it turns out you have a low T-count, your doctor can prescribe hormone therapy to get it back up.
How to Fix Whispy Beard
Step 1 – Use beard filler products
These are products designed to make your patchy or wispy beard look fuller. Among the products you can use are texturizing powder, beard pens, and beard pencils. Note that these products are only temporary solutions and mask your wispy beard.
Step 2 – Try a short beard style
This might not be what you want to hear, but you might look significantly better with patchy beard styles or one of those French beard styles. Even celebrities do it; Keanu Reeves has a patchy and wispy beard, so he cuts it short of making it more presentable.
If you have a weak beard but have good facial hair coverage, just cut your beard short, like maybe an anchor beard or something.
Step 3 – Use a thick beard oil
Look for beard growth oils that contain castor and peppermint essential oils. Castor oil has quite a thick consistency, which, when applied to your beard, will make it look fuller. This also promotes thicker curly beard growth.
Peppermint oil improves blood circulation, and if more blood is pumped into the hair follicles, the thicker the hair they can produce.
Step 4 – Use a beard roller
This is a derma roller, a cylinder covered in hundreds of microneedles. It has a handle that lets you roll the cylinder across your face. The needles puncture the skin, which forces the body to send more blood to the area to fix the tiny perforations.
The increased blood flow will cause the dormant hair follicles to start growing hair.
Step 5 – Apply Minoxidil
There are plenty of purported hair-growth serums containing minoxidil that you can apply to your face to promote hair growth. You can find these products in most drug stores. Just look for products containing minoxidil.
Best Products to Use
Minoxidil
Choose a product containing 5% Minoxidil, the optimum amount for hair growth. The best thing about this is that you can find it in several stores. It would also be best to use a minoxidil solution that you can use both on your head and facial hair.
You only need a few drops applied to the target area twice a day, and in a couple of weeks, you will find you have a significantly thicker beard. However, your results may vary.
Beard Roller
You may also want to use a beard roller. Pick one that is less painful to use compared to other products. In that case, ensure that it uses shorter 0.25mm needles. It should also have an ergonomic handle, making it easier to use.
Texturizing Powder
This is a form of synthetic keratin, which, when sprinkled onto your wispy beard, will stick to the hair strands, making them appear thicker. This product works best when used on medium beard styles.
Beard Pens
This is like a brush mascara, but the color mimics that of your facial hair. Just like mascara, you brush this onto your existing beard, making them look thicker and more voluminous.
Beard Pencils
You typically use this adjacent to beard pens. If you have a patchy beard, you can use this in the spaces to make it look like you have a thick and full beard.
FAQ
Why is my beard wispy?
It can be due to several different factors or a combination of them. The most viable explanation might be that your genes dictate that you are not supposed to have a thick beard. If you have Asian heritage, especially Chinese, that might be the reason.
How can I stop my beard from being wispy?
If you are genetically inclined to have a wispy beard, there is nothing that you can do to prevent it. However, you have several options to make your beard look not-so-wispy, like using beard fillers.
Michele Meesh Antunes is the lady of the Beardoholic writers team and a genius when it comes to hair and beard styles that suit any face shape. She’s been a barber for years now and, no matter your personal style, she knows exactly what beard, hairstyle and length suit you. She brings the women’s perspective on beards, beard care, haircuts and hairstyles and male grooming.