# Guys, how long does it take to grow a beard

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 25, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839 "2006-10-25T14:28:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839/21 "2006-10-26T02:47:01Z")

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Part of the equation of “how long to grow a beard” involves the color of your facial hair. If it is dark it will take less time to look presentable than if it is lighter in color. Also, both the thickness of the individual hairs and the thickness of hairs per sq area of skin will each have an effect. I’m not convinced that facial hair grows at enormously different rates between different men…there are too many variables, and no hard data that I’ve seen.

Having said all of that, it takes me about two weeks to look OK. The suggestion to shape the beard area by shaving rather early does help to define the fact that you are growing a beard…it will look much better.

Sunstone…bearded guy for the last 35 years.

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**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839/22 "2006-10-26T05:57:54Z")

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[QUOTE=Klaatu]  
Couple weeks? a month? I fear I am genetically out of luck. I guess I will go to the Halloween store. Damn, I always wanted to see myself with a real beard. Or even a goatee. Maybe a goatee isn’t out of the question?

I will post back next year. 😃  
[/QUOTE]  
I have virtually no beard at all, though I can grow a good mustache in three weeks. Beards and sideburns are just not possible for me.

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**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839/23 "2006-10-26T12:13:30Z")

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I have to shave my neck to keep the beard from extending down into my chest hair. Full growth takes about three weeks, and it is THICK.

Naturally, I am also bald. If only there were some way to trade…

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**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-how-long-does-it-take-to-grow-a-beard/377839/24 "2006-10-26T12:22:50Z")

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I wouldn’t know. I can’t ever get past the ‘itchy’ phase.

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