How to Grow out a (Great!) Patchy Beard

One of the most common things I am asked about is patchiness when trying to grow a beard. This is a very common issue, and frequently stops guys from attempting to grow a beard. But I'm here to tell you patchiness shouldn't stop you growing out a great beard!

Genetics is the main reason for patchiness - this can improve slightly with age - but generally if your patchy that's not going to significantly change. However, that doesn't mean you can't grow out a perfectly respectable and stylish beard. Here are 5 tips from the Beardsmith on how to maximise what you've got:

1. Give it time - It typically takes 12 weeks to grow out a decent base beard. For the more sparse and patchy guys that is possibly going to take even longer. However, time and length is your friend here as length will help cover and darken patchy areas and time will allow slower growing hairs to catch up a bit.
2. Change your expectations - Stop looking at internet beards! There aren't that many guys who can grow that perfect deep, thick and perfectly sculpted beard. You need to stop trying to grow somebodies else's beard and just grow your own!
3. Accept what you have - There's not much you can do to change your genetics, so stop wishing you had a different growth pattern and embrace what you do have and can grow...which leads nicely to point 4...
4. Enjoy having your own unique beard style - Everybody's beard is different and you just need to enjoy your own unique look and figure what works for you. Some guys find a circle beard works best, some find a patchy but short beard works, and still more just go crazy and grow a massive beard. The important thing is accepting the weak points and maximising your strong points.
5. Keep it neat and purposeful - The best way to make a patchy beard work is by keeping it tidy and looking after it. this doesn't mean massive trimming, it means looking after the edges and keeping them neat. It also means keeping it clean, moisturised and tidy. Use a wax to keep the more scraggly hairs tamed and also use a brush to keep it tidy.

The good thing here is that I am totally speaking from experience. I'm Mr Patchtastic when it comes to my beard. Here's a link to a thread I started 8 years ago when I grew my first beard! My Patchy Beard Journey. It's a long one filled with silliness and blabbering but it gives a good idea of what growing a patchy beard is like!! And when compared to the picture at the top of this blog really shows what is possible with a bit of patience and persistence.

Let me know how you're getting on with your own patchy beard grow. If you have any questions or are just looking for advice or support then feel free to post here or email me too.