In many culture around the globe, an image of energy is a thick and rough beard. Growing a beard takes some steadiness and tolerance, particularly since the development rate will rely upon your individual testosterone level and hereditary qualities. While nature plays a huge role in just how fast and thick your beard will be, there are some simple steps you can incorporate into your day to help along the growing process. Don’t get discouraged if your beard is not growing as quickly as you like, just follow some of these five simple steps on how to grow a beard faster and stay committed to the process.

Step 1: Taking Care of Your Body

The reason why it is so important to take care of the body is because your facial hair condition is in direct relation to the health of the body. Start by eating more foods that are rich in proteins like beans, eggs, and fish. Stress is a killer when it comes to hair growth, leading to hair loss in many men. Reduce the stress in your life by exercising more and getting a full night’s sleep each night. Exercising will improve the circulation of the blood in the body, which will help to promote facial hair growth. Use an exfoliant or scrub once a week to remove the dead cells on the face. This will help stimulate the growth of new hair. Try to make it a point each day to keep the face as clean as possible, rinsing with warm water andmild soap (one of the best) at least each morning and evening. The clean facial skin encourages tiny hairs to grow.

Step 2: Committing to the Process

One of the reasons many men struggle to grow a beard quickly is they often give up just at the point where progress is being made. When you are trying to grow that beard quickly, there is going to come a period where the skin will become itchy to the point you are scratching your beard day and night. This discomfort is usually where those who are not serious about growing a beard simply shave it right off. In order for the beard to grow in, you have to be willing to allow at least four weeks for the hairs to grow. During the first 4-8 weeks, you are going to go through many periods of uncontrolable itching. If you avoid that temptation to shave it off when the itching becomes unbearable, you will reach a point where the hairs will soften and the itching will subside. Once the facial hair becomes soft the growth will be less irritating.

Step 3: Train Your Beard

Many men think that you have to wait for your beard to grow in before you start grooming it–wrong! You need to train your beard and train your hair follicles to get ready for your beard. That can be done simply by brushing your face (yes, even before hair begins to grow), in the direction you want your beard to grow. For most men, it’s upwards on the cheeks. A beard comb has narrower teeth and will allow you to comb your facial hair more evenly. This helps your beard appear fuller and healthier. Combing also helps prevent tangles and split ends in addition to removing flakes (dandruff or beard-ruff) and reduce obvious patches. Just about 10 minutes a day should do and more when stubble begins to show.

Step 4: Nourish & Moisturize

Your beard and the skin underneath it, require moisturizing and care. You should use beard oil or a balm that is made with quality natural ingredients such as Beard Pharaoh or Balm. When you are shopping for a balm, look for constituents such as mango butter and shea butter. Good products should include active oils such as argan, coconut, sunflower and avocado. Beard Pharaoh offers great products that beard absorbs the oil effortlessly, making it soft and smooth to the touch. It is neither oily nor sticky. In fact customers say that it is just right for their beards. The oil is available in several fragrances including Red Nile, Eshe Signature, and Asar Tea Tree.

Step 5: Trim for Health

Once you get to a stage where you’d like to give your burgeoning beard a little shape, it’s worth seeing a barber for a professional beard trim. As well as helping you select the best style for your face shape your barber will be able to give you a guide outline you can follow at home using your own beard trimmer. Avoid having it shaped too early though – you need to give your beard time to bed in before selecting a style. Regular trimming helps keep your beard looking neat and itch free.