Someone explain puberty to me in relation to body changes. For instance, I’m 22, but I still have scant facial hair outside of the sideburn, moustache, and lower chin area. Does this mean I’m still pubescent, or just that my hair is taking awhile? Any chance of me getting taller? Hairier ass? Bigger dick? Stinkier balls? Could my voice drop a few octaves until I sound like Barry White? Important US policy decisions hinge on these questions, so if you’re not sure you want to answer, just lie back and think of George Bush.
Although it starts in late puberty facial hair development continues throughout life. Amongst cultures that commonly lack facial hair such as East Asiana and American Indians it’s not uncommon for facial hair to only appear in the late forties or even later and to continue to get thicker with age. Thus the beard becomes a symbol of old age. For Caucasians and Negroes at 22 it’s not unusual to still only need to shave once or twice a week and have the ability to grow nothing more than a sparse goatee.
Also be aware that the pattern of facial hair development varies amongst individuals. Some people don’t develop sideburns until fairly late in life for example, while others have perpetually bald cheeks until old age.
If you are like most men you will contuinue to get hairier generally as you age. That means not just a hairier arse but hairier nostrils, ears and so forth.
Your voice will probably continue to deepen with age, and it’s not unusual for it to drop noticably in the late twenties. Your voice depends in large part on the muscle tone in the larynx and as you get older things start to sag and soften up.
As for the other changes, you’re probably out of luck. Unless you started puberty exceptionally late then you are already at maximum height and penis size although some men do see a tiny increase in height in the early 20s.
Not that people want to hear about my penis, but I noticed it getting more girth in my 20’s.
Hell, my voice has been in the bass range practically since it first cracked. In high school choir I had to mouth along silently when the rest of the guys were doing tenor parts - I was the only true bass, so we tended to avoid songs with a strong bass part. If you’re telling me my voice is only going to get deeper, pretty soon it’ll be subsonic. People will think I’m an earthquake or something.
My husband is close to 49, and still has very sparse facial and body hair. He’s also part Cherokee, so I guess that explains it.
I, however, am getting those damned “little old lady” hairs on my chin and they are driving me batshit!
Getting hairier as you age isn’t extended puberty.
This is anecdotal, but I’ve noticed with myself and among my friends that puberty lasts at least into the early to mid- twenties. In general, the seniors (and superseniors) in my sorority had wider hips and bigger boobs than the freshmen. And it wasn’t the Freshman 15 either. 
[hijack-question]
Your title triggered a memory - either a sitcom character or a stand-up comedian does a parody of a stand-up comedian whose whose whole routine was a series of statements in the form of “Observation… What’s up with that?” ending the routine on a ‘serious note’: “Drunk driving…(sombre face) What’s up with that?”
Where’s this from again?
[/hijack-question]
I don’t know who does the parodying, but the subject of said parody is Jerry Seinfeld.
As for the OP, I’m an ordinary caucasian pushing mid-30s and I’ve never had a deep voice. I’d be more accurately described as a tenor. I have enough facial hair (or would if I didn’t shave) but only a modest tuft on my chest and none on my back. I also never experienced a growth spurt of any significance – I’m still 5’5". I am, however, genetically predisposed this way – my father is very similar (if shorter than me) and I seem to have much more of his DNA than my mother’s.
you may have low testosterone and need a few booster shots? This poor guy never had a puberty at all until he got his shots http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4492814.stm
You should talk to your doctor about it if it is worrying you enough to ask perfect strangers for advice.
However, keep in mind that some people mature much earlier (and some much later) than others, so there may be nothing really unusual about your situation in the greater scheme of things.
If you are concerned about not being sexually mature for your age then I would certainly consult a doctor, who may in turn send you to an endocrinologist for further study.
I’m 1/32 Cherokee, and my leg hair is sparse and fine (and I don’t have to shave above the knees). I didn’t find out I was part Cherokee until I was 28- the OP might be part Native American or Asian and not know it (you really couldn’t tell that we were part Native American by looking at my family, even from my grandfather who was 1/8 Cherokee), and that could be why he doesn’t have much facial hair.
Breasts can get bigger for reasons other than puberty as well. Certain birth control pills can do it- I’ve gone up two cup sizes while on the Pill.
That was Cliff Clavin from Cheers, during his brief stint as a stand up comedian.
The funny part is that Cliff was shown to have, shall we say, difficulty with facial hair. In one episode the guys (because this is what guys do in a bar) decide to have a beard contest, and everybody but him ends up with a nice beard, and he’s got this scraggly mess.
And why do I remember this? 'cuz I got Clavin Beard. Not enough to EVER get a beard, mustache, or even a decent goatee out of, but too much to let me give up shaving entirely. Damn you mostly-random combination of genes!
My dad didn’t develop chest hair until he was in his 40s.
Bloody hell, don’t I know it! Since about 15, I’ve been able to shave in the morning, yet have a definite shadow develop by evening.
I had a friend in college who had to shave twice a day. Three times if he had an evening event to go to.
He was one of those guys where you can always see the shadow of a beard even if he just shaved.
I’ve never gone three times. But I’ll often think “I need to look good this evening…sod doing it this morning, I’ll have to do it later anyway”
THANK you! Now I can sleep tonight!
I had a moustache and a goutee, (altho rather sparse) in my 20’s. Only a couple of very black hairs on the side of my face, but that was about it. By my late 30’s I had developed a pretty good beard on the side of my face-------but by that time it had turned white.
Would have made a great Santa Claus.
Hair growth on any part of the body tends to be an individual thing and changes constantly.
I remember a guy from high school who was all the girls’ high school stud. Had a full head of hair on his head, full sideburns, full chest hair--------and who all the girls longed to date because of his super masculinity.
30th class reunion------He had almost no hair on the top of his head, had lost his teeth, had a humongous pot belly, and had strange very black hair growing in very wierd places on his body.
All of us “late bloomers” looked relatively normal.
Hmm. I wasn’t aware that I’ll continue to get hairier, though I suppose I should have realized it. I’m in my 20s, and I wouldn’t mind developing a fuller beard – I can grow an “Amish beard” right now (heavy around the jaw, but thin on the neck) which is rather annoying.
Yeah, I knew a guy like that. 16 years old, and hairier than my dad.
My facial hair consists of sparse yet coarse and nearly black hairs, clumped in random patches. I only have to shave every couple of days, but I often forget and then in a week my beard looks like crap. Actually, it looks like crappy stubble.