Waiting for a beard to grow in can feel a lot like watching grass grow. This may be frustrating if you’re trying to grow a full beard. The younger you are, the longer it may take you to hit your beard goals. Men’s facial hair starts coming in during puberty. Many men will sport the beginnings of a mustache and a few sprigs of chin hair years before the rest of their beard starts to surface. Some men may never achieve the beard of their dreams. Genetics and hormones play a large role in determining how quickly and fully your beard will ultimately grow. Health and lifestyle habits can also play a part. Your overall health affects everything, including your beard. You can’t alter your genetics, but there are lifestyle habits that may make you healthier and help you achieve a fuller beard quicker.

Below are 4 Beard Growth Tips:

For Rapid Beard Growth, Exercise

Exercise improves blood flow, which helps to stimulate hair follicle growth. Exercises like weightlifting and strength training may also temporarily boost testosterone. Try varying the workouts you do, as well as the time as the time of day you do them. Testosterone levels naturally fluctuate in young man during the day, spiking in the morning and ebbing in the afternoon.

Try the Myth of Shaving for Beard Growth

Shaving your beard is helpful for making it appear uniform and neat. Shaving does not, however, make beard hair grow faster. It also not thicken it.

Washing and Moisturizing for Beard Growth

Keeping your skin and beard clean and moisturized can have a positive effect on beard appearance. Keep your pores open by exfoliating your face. This will help remove dead cells and debris from around each hair follicle. It will also help reduce ingrown hairs from occurring under your beard. Leave-in conditioners designed specifically for beards can help nourish the hair, keeping it soft and moisturized. This will eliminate beard dandruff and make your beard appear fuller. You can experiment with creams, oils, and lotions to see which kind is best for your skin type and beard.

Beard Growth Vitamins and supplements

Many supplements are specifically targeted toward beard growth. As with diet, there is no miracle cure that’s able to override heredity. If you’re unable to get all the nutrients you need through diet, taking a supplement or multivitamin complete with iron and zinc may be just as beneficial.