In short – no.
Shaving your facial hair or any part of your body, for that matter, will not make it grow back faster.
The reason for this misconception is likely rooted in puberty. When young men begin to shave, new facial hair is continually sprouting up, giving the appearance that it’s growing quicker and thicker than before shaving.
There are other, albeit minor, parts of the grooming process that may impact the appearance of beard growth:
1. The Type of Razor Can Appear to Impact Beard Growth
There are four main types of razor categories:
- Cartridge razors
- Safety razors
- Straight razors / shavettes
- Electric shavers
Safety razors, straight razors, and electric shavers are only capable of cutting down to skin level. A noticeable grit or stubble will develop either later in the day or within 24 hours.
Cartridge razors like those from Gillette and Schick rely on multiple razor blades. When passed along the skin’s surface, they experience the hysteresis phenomenon, also known as lift-and-cut.
The hysteresis phenomenon cuts facial hair just a fraction below the surface of the skin. As a byproduct of this mechanical difference, cartridge razors may appear to impact beard growth rate (but not really).
Instead, it’s just that the tip of the facial hair is now beneath the surface of the skin. This adds a bit more time before a visible stubble begins to appear.
2. Does Diet and Exercise Impact Beard Growth?
Disclosure: I am not a doctor. If you have medical-related questions, speak with your family physician.
If you are a healthy adult, your lifestyle will likely not have a measurable impact on beard growth. Malnourishment or an inactive lifestyle will likely have some effect on beard growth – what exactly? I don’t know.
Again, I am not a doctor, so please take any questions to your family physician.
3. Beard Pills are a Thing
Many beard pills are just repackaged multivitamins. Companies of these pills often load up extra on Biotin (Vitamin B7).
Per the Consumer Fact Sheet published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Most people get enough biotin from the foods they eat.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-Consumer/
Additionally, per the FDA, excess intake of Biotin may interfere with lab tests.
Ultimately, if you regularly consume meat, fish, eggs, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables, you are likely getting enough Biotin in your diet to offset any benefits that a supplement would provide.
4. Minoxidil
The active ingredient in Rogaine, minoxidil, is one of the few proven topical solutions to help regrow hair in some men. Minoxidil is intended for scalp application only.
While we are not recommending this, some men do apply minoxidil to their facial hair. But not necessarily to accelerate beard growth. Instead, minoxidil is often used to help fill in areas of patchiness.
Side effects of minoxidil are serious. Consult your doctor before using.
5. Beard Growth Rate
On average, facial hair grows at a rate of anywhere between 0.33″ and 0.5″ per month. That’s approximately 4″ to 6″ per year. Below is a table, by month, that provides a granular breakdown for reference:
| Month | Slow Growth | Fast Growth | Average Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.33 | 0.50 | 0.42 |
| 2 | 0.66 | 1.00 | 0.83 |
| 3 | 0.99 | 1.50 | 1.25 |
| 4 | 1.32 | 2.00 | 1.66 |
| 5 | 1.65 | 2.50 | 2.08 |
| 6 | 1.98 | 3.00 | 2.49 |
| 7 | 2.31 | 3.50 | 2.91 |
| 8 | 2.64 | 4.00 | 3.32 |
| 9 | 2.97 | 4.50 | 3.74 |
| 10 | 3.30 | 5.00 | 4.15 |
| 11 | 3.63 | 5.50 | 4.57 |
| 12 | 3.96 | 6.00 | 4.98 |
Don’t Forget Proper Beard Care
Are you growing a beard? Then your beard should be conditioned and styled appropriately.
Beard conditioners such as beard oil and beard balm help prevent beard itch. Additionally, these natural conditioners will help to make your beard feel measurably softer as well.