Tips to Fix a Patchy Beard

Full beards are a prized possession for millions of men around the world—but growing one is easier said than done.

While some guys are gifted with a face full of luscious hair, others are stuck with patchy beards. Maybe your mustache doesn’t connect with your beard, or your sideburns aren’t growing on pace with the rest of your face.

Main reasons guys have patchy beards:

• Age: Young men (under 25) tend to have a more difficult time growing full beards. This is because the hair follicles in your face haven't matured yet. The most abundant facial growth typically happens between ages 25-35. Oddly enough the same hormone that causes baldness (dihydrotestosterone, or DHT) stimulates beard growth. 

• Genetics: It’s very possible for your DNA to get in the way of a full, bountiful beard. Genetics have a strong influence on facial hair growth patterns as well as hair thickness. 

Even if Mother Nature has the odds stacked against you, it’s still possible to fix a patchy beard. 

In this article, we’ll cover some tips to get a fuller beard with insights from Jorge Buccio, a celebrity hairstylist and Cleverman’s Senior Colorist.

Five tips to fix your patchy beard

1. Let It Grow for 3+ Months 

Don’t panic if your beard doesn’t grow evenly right away. “Some areas of the beard grow slower than others, which can cause patchy spots early on,” says Buccio. “Instead of giving up, give your beard at least 12 weeks to fill in.”

Of course, you can trim excess hair as needed. But longer beard hair can cover those patchy areas until they have time to fill in.

Patience is the solution for many patchy areas, but what if father time doesn’t do your facial hair any justice?

2. Dye Your Beard

Dyeing your beard is an effective way to add depth and color to your facial hair, making your beard look thicker. This option is especially useful if you have a two-toned beard—for example, blonde or red hairs alongside dark brown ones, so you could consider the use of a beard and mustache dye kits

“A custom dye can bring out one uniform color that gives the beard more volume,” says Buccio. “The key is using a beard dye that complements the rest of your facial hair to achieve a natural look.”

That’s where Cleverman comes in. Each beard dye kit is customized to match your exact hair color, texture, and style preferences for a natural look. Just take the quiz to find the perfect match, and we’ll ship your kit straight to your door.

You might be interested in Beard Dyeing Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

3. Use a Beard Brush

Beard brushes aren’t just for grooming unruly facial hair—they can also create a thicker look and add more volume. That’s because the dense bristles pull the hair away from your face and “train” the hair to grow the right way.

“Using a beard brush also stimulates blood flow to the follicles, which is essential for hair growth,” says Buccio. “Most beards respond best to boar’s hair bristles, as opposed to nylon or synthetic bristles.”

4. Use Beard Balm

Beard balm is a staple grooming product for any guy looking to grow (or maintain) a full, healthy beard. Balms are typically made of essential oils and other ingredients that hydrate and nourish your beard hair.

“Balms coat the hair shafts, adding weight and volume as the ingredients are absorbed,” says Buccio. “Think of it like a leave-in hair conditioner, but for your beard.”

Beard balms are also great for styling purposes since they can help you layer the strands over patchy areas. 

Keep in mind, beard balms are not the same as beard oils. While some brands market beard oils as a beard growth solution, there’s no scientific evidence that oils can stimulate beard growth.

5. Prioritize Exercise and Nutrition

You already know working out is essential for growing muscles, but it plays a big role in growing hair too. “Exercise (especially weight training) improves blood circulation, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles,” says Buccio.

Just make sure you get plenty of rest after those workouts—a good night’s sleep helps restore and synthesize proteins needed for hair growth.

In terms of nutrition, there isn’t a magic supplement or food that will fix a patchy beard overnight. That said, a lack of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and biotin can inhibit hair growth. Eating a balanced, healthy diet will ensure you fill any nutritional gaps that pose a threat to a full beard.

Can Minoxidil Fix a Patchy Beard?

Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, has helped lots of men regrow the hair on their heads. This leads to a common question: can minoxidil fix the bald spots on your face too? 

The answer is a resounding “maybe.” Minoxidil is approved by the FDA to treat hair loss at the crown of the head, but not the face. One 2016 study from the Journal of Dermatology showed that a 3% minoxidil lotion slightly outperformed a placebo for beard growth. However, more research is necessary before we jump to any conclusions.

It’s also important to talk to your doctor about potential side effects before using minoxidil since it’s technically not intended for your face.

Best Patchy Beard Styles

If all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with embracing patchiness. In fact, some of the top male celebrities have proudly sported patchy beards: Keanu Reeves, Adam Driver, Matthew McConaughey, the list goes on.

If you can’t get Paul Bunyan-level facial hair, here are a few of the best beard styles to try instead.

You might be interested in The Bearded Path to Wellness

5 O’Clock Shadow

Keeping your beard stubble-y will give you a scruffy, rugged look. Not to mention it makes patchiness less noticeable since there’s less contrast between hair and skin.

Weighted Mustache

This is a 5 o'clock shadow with the addition of a bushy mustache. The dense hair on your upper lip makes the patchy areas of hair around your face less noticeable. 

The Natural

Don’t want to groom or style your facial hair? You don’t have to. Just ask celebs like Justin Bieber and J Balvin, who don’t seem to care about their patchy beards, even on the red carpet. It gives a casual, nonchalant look that says “I’m working with what I’ve got and I don’t care who judges me.”

Patchy or Full, We’ve Got The Color For You

No matter what style of beard you have, going gray can be a vibe killer. Luckily, changing your beard color is a lot faster (and simpler) than changing your beard growth pattern—thanks to Cleverman.

With 10,000+ possible combinations, our PerfectMatch technology delivers the most customized beard and hair dye you can get. From salt-and-pepper to full coverage, it’s never been easier to get the look you want.