Does Cutting a Beard Make it Grow Faster?

As barbers in Denver, we get a lot of inquiries pertaining to taking care of your beard. Whether someone is searching for a quality beard trim in Denver or advice on maintenance, we’re always happy to help at Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon. 

Among those that have stood out as being one of the most popular questions is trimming or shaving your beard in order to make it grow back faster, fuller, or stronger. This particular myth is one that we get asked often: does cutting your beard make it grow faster? We wish it were true so that we could take credit for it, but we're going to take a few minutes to explain why it's a myth, as well as a few ways that you actually can build a healthier, fuller beard.

Biology of Hair Follicle Development

In order to understand why shaving does not lead to hair growth, it is important to learn about how your hair grows. You have follicles around your face and body that hold strands of hair that you currently possess. You are cutting off only non-living protein cells in your body when you shave. In fact, your living hair is just within that follicle. 

The rate at which your hair grows is determined by your hormones and your genes, and it is in no way affected by your behavior after your skin has produced your new hair. When you shave your face or body, you are only cutting off your hair at its surface. The idea that cutting a beard makes it grow faster is, unfortunately, not backed by science.

Why Is This Myth So Popular?

So, why is it that so many people feel as though shaving their face will somehow change their beard growth? This is a commonly held myth that is based upon a sensation of growing back after a shave. When you shave your face, your hair will have a blunt tip because it was cut straight across by a razor when it grew back out of your face. This will make it feel as though it’s coarser and will also make it seem as though it’s darker against your face, as if it’s a thicker patch than it was before you shaved it. This is because a patch of hair that hasn’t been growing in as long will have a tapered tip, making it feel as though it’s softer against your skin. 

Does cutting a beard make it grow faster? This myth is rooted in these visual and tactile changes, but not actual growth enhancement.

What Helps a Beard Grow?

While you cannot do much to affect your genes in this aspect, you have the ability to make healthy decisions that will work in your body’s natural ability to grow your facial hair. This is because healthy eating of nutritious food that is rich in vitamin and mineral elements such as biotin, zinc, and iron is a key factor that will lead to healthy hair follicles growing in your body. 

Hydration, getting adequate sleep, and controlling your stress are also key factors that will go a long way in your body’s ability to produce healthy facial hair. Furthermore, exercising regularly will lead to an improvement in your body’s blood circulation, which is an important aspect when it comes to vitamin delivery to your hair follicles.

Health Over Speed

All in all, growing a great beard is a marathon and not a sprint. Therefore, trimming your beard will not give you an extra edge in terms of growing your hair faster, although it is important that you maintain a healthy and fresh look by getting rid of split ends. 

Does cutting your beard make it grow faster? Instead of focusing on the myth, it’s important that you work towards creating healthy lifestyles that will make your beard grow in a healthy manner. Rather than looking for ways of growing a great beard easily, emphasize consistent self-care and maintenance to achieve the best results! 

Lisa Franz

Lisa Franz is the founder and owner of Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon, a veteran-owned men’s salon and barbershop in Denver. With a background in theatre and a deep passion for community-building, she created Frank’s to merge high-end grooming services with a warm, inclusive space.