Growing facial hair for the first time can feel cool, exciting and strange all at once. But when some of it’s like fluff, while other parts are much rougher, it can be tricky to know what to do with it or who to ask for advice.
Gillette has been helping guys to shave for over a century, so we know all about how a beard grows, why it grows the way it does, and how you can disguise any patchy growth.
How Long Does It Take to Grow a Full Beard?
Facial hair tends to grow in the following order:
1. Upper lip
2. Sideburns
3. Chin
4. Cheeks
5. Neck
So, if you don’t notice any hair growing on your upper lip until your mid-teens, it could take a good few years for it to fill out on your neck. But the good news is that as you get older, your beard will carry on filling out, and your beard can get fuller and thicker even decades after your teens.
Can You Make a Beard Grow Faster?
Sadly, the answer is no. Kristina says that patience is key when it comes to growing a beard, and that you shouldn’t worry – you will grow full facial hair eventually.
Most men prefer not to have a beard than to have a bad quality beard, which means it’s definitely worth learning how to shave properly as soon as you can.
How to Shave Properly
If you remember to follow these five key steps every time, you’ll be fine:
- Wash your face before you start
- Work up a lather with shaving cream all over the area you want to shave
- Start shaving in the same direction that your hair grows in, then shave in the opposite direction (against the grain) for a seriously smooth finish
- Rinse your blade gently under the tap after every few strokes, taking care not to bang it against the sink
- Apply aftershave to hydrate and soothe your skin
Of course, the right razor is essential too, and we recommend using one of the below if you’re new to shaving: