Growing a long beard and moustache is an exercise in patience. If you’re looking to celebrate your facial hair in all its glory, then our top tips below should provide you with plenty of insights.
Beards and moustaches are well and truly back in style. From the hot Movember hair and moustache combos in this All Things Hair article to the latest red carpet looks, facial hair is in the spotlight like never before.
If you’ve decided to grow a long beard and moustache, read through these tips to ensure you do so successfully.
To trim or not to trim?
When it comes to the best way to grow a long beard and moustache, there are two schools of thought. Some men argue that the best approach is to ditch your barber and let your face erupt with hair in its own natural way.
The alternative approach is to make your barber your partner in your beard and moustache-growing journey, with regular trims to avoid split ends that can make your beard appear scraggly. Although it may seem counterintuitive to trim the beard that you are trying to grow, hair that’s in tiptop condition stands a better chance of growing faster. Split ends in your beard can slow growth, just as they can with the hair on your head.
The approach that you take is entirely your call. Whether you opt to grow your facial hair au naturel or go for a barber-managed growth plan, the end result will still be a longer, lusher beard and moustache than you started out with!
Select your products carefully
Deciding to grow a long beard and moustache opens up a whole world of facial hair care products to you. This is not simply a case of letting your facial hair run wild – you’ll still need to trim, wash, condition, brush and generally nurture your beard and moustache.
When it comes to shampoos and conditioners, always opt for beard-specific products rather than using those designed for the hair on your scalp, as the latter will likely strip away some of the much-needed natural oils in your beard and moustache hair. Beard washes and conditioners have been designed to soften and nourish your facial hair in just the right way.
Try to opt for natural ingredients in your products wherever possible, as these will help you to keep your beard and moustache healthy and soft while you grow them long.
Keep your facial hair hydrated
In addition to cleansing your beard, you’ll also need to nourish and hydrate it. Longbeards and moustaches require plenty of attention, so stock up on beard cream, beard butter, beard balm, pomades and beard oil! As with shampoos and conditioners, opt for natural ingredients.
Remember that the skin beneath your beard requires attention as well. Growing beard hairs draw moisture out of the skin, so make keeping your beard and the underlying skin hydrated a regular part of your grooming routine. Applying a beard cream last thing before you sleep is a good routine to get into, as your moustache, beard and face have all night to absorb the hydrating moisture.
Take supplements
If a long beard and moustache are what you’re aiming for, it’s time to pay attention to your diet. You’ll want to consume plenty of B vitamins – specifically B-12, biotin and niacin – along with vitamin A and vitamin C to help your facial hairs grow strong and long. If you’re not getting sufficient quantities of these in your diet, then taking supplements might help to give your facial hair the growth spurt you’re seeking.
And when you’re taking those supplements, why not down an extra glass of water when you swallow them? Staying hydrated helps your body in so many ways. Remember, a hydrated moustache is a happy moustache!
Comb daily
You wouldn’t go for days without brushing your hair (one hopes!) so don’t let your beard go uncombed either. Daily combing will not only ensure that your moustache and beard look neat and tidy, it can also encourage the hairs to grow in the direction you want. So, if you’re serious about growing a long beard and moustache, daily combing is essential. The longer your beard gets, the more important regular combing becomes.
Learn your new dimensions
If you’ve not had a long beard before, you might be surprised by how often it can end up where you don’t want it – like in your coat zipper or your bowl of cereal. That’s why it’s essential to learn your new facial hair dimensions and adjust your movements accordingly. A beard full of food or that’s been singed in the toaster as you leaned across it to switch on the kettle is definitely not a good look.
Maintain your moustache
Your moustache requires careful attention and maintenance, just as your beard does. In fact, you’ll likely find that your moustache needs a little more looking after than your beard. It will certainly need to be trimmed more often while combing it a couple of times a day can help encourage the hairs to stay where you’ve put them.
So, those are our seven tips for growing a long beard and moustache. We should add, of course, that you’ll need to be patient, above all else. The average rate of facial hair growth is 0.27 mm per 24 hours. That equates to just under 10 cm of growth in a year, meaning that achieving a long beard is a seriously lengthy commitment. This is not for the faint of heart!
However, it’s an investment of time that can feel really worthwhile. Take regular selfies as part of your beard-growing journey to track your progress. You can also use them to give you a boost during those times when it feels as if your facial hair will never get to the length you desire.
Longbeards and moustaches are increasingly gaining in popularity. Why not start growing yours today?
