I am 19 years old (male), and I’m having trouble growing any substanial facial hair. Specifically, I want to grow sideburns, but the hair there now isn’t the “stubble” kind, but rather the long hair similar to that on my head. Also, I don’t have much body hair, either. I have hairy legs, but not much hair on my arms or chest.
Now I know that this is probably related to genetics, but the thing is, my father is very hairy. Looking at pictures of him when he was my age, he already had a moustache that wasn’t peach fuzz. And my uncles on my mother’s side are all pretty hairy, too. So this should not be happening, if we go by genetics.
This is really bothering me, because I’m pushing 20, yet I’m just now getting to the point where other guys are when they are 16 or so. And I didn’t have a late puberty or anything; it hit around age 12. So I’m not sure just what is going on here.
Hey, I’m 38, and I’m only just starting to grow some chest hair. It started with some hair around my nipples several years back, and it’s slowly spreading. I guess some people take longer for some things. And don’t even ask about the back hair.
Seriously, it’s different for everyone. Hang in there.
I’m 30 and I have only grown a semi-respecatble beard in the last 3 or four years. At 20 I was only shaving twice a week. My brother was shaving twice a day at 17. I still have no body hair to speak of. My brother and father looked like poorly shaved apes.
Don’t sweat it, people are all different. I suspect that most 20 year old’s don’t have much of a beard. Do not be fooled by Hollywood productions where teenagers are played by 30-somethings.
I can in the space of three weeks go from clean shaven to Sasqatch with sideburns, beard what ever.
I would gladly trade. My five O’clock shadow shows up about 10:30AM
I’m just wondering why the hell you would want sideburns? This isn’t Beverly Hills 90210.
Seriously though, your sideburns will most likely resemble your head hair, it’s kind of the transition area. Personally, it’s a pain in the ass for me since I have to have regular haircuts to keep myself looking marginally respectable.
I’m not a geneticist, but sometimes your parent’s traits don’t apply. Both my grandfathers were bald when they died. My dad had a full head of hair when he died (even after chemo) and my brother and I enjoy the same.
If it makes you feel any better, you’re probably the only one who notices.
I was in exactly the same position at your age, now knocking 40 and chest hair (like QED) only now noticeble, and whilst I have to shave daily if I grew a beard it would be a pretty odd shape…also arm and leg hair minor and only really noticable close up.
Apart from leg hair, which all the girls love and you are Ok on, you seem to have pretty much the best of both worlds. As you get older you will look younger and stay so for longer - I can pass for early 30s. Girls seem to hate back hair in the main so I would say don’t worry and that not many very hairy guys would want to swap with you. In five years time you are going to be ahead of the game.
Shaving is a pain in the ass and 5 o’clock shadow at 10.30 sucks…
I have a theory that hair follows your maternal grandfather. Probably BS but seems to be the case more than not…
Be gald you’re not hairy - much more trouble if you are, from aesthetics to grooming.
I’m not aware of statistics, but most most men can’t grow that bushy Elvis sideburn. I have very hairy chest and legs, little on my arms and nothing on my back, and I’ve never been able to grow a substantial beard or sideburns. A friend of mine has very little on his chest but can grow a full beard and has patches on his back. Go figure. Hairiness is seldom uniform. Look at all the hairy balding men.
I know at your age your trying to look older, but in the long run you’ll be happy to be spared the hassle of really being hairy. Work with what you got.
Some people don’t. I never did and I’m 42. It is a sign of intelligence. Think about, our more hairy primate brethren are far less intelligent. Hair costs. I’m just playing!
Count me as another of the fairly hairless. I’ve got hair on the legs and a fuzzy stomach with minimal chest hair. Beard, mustache or goatee? Fuhgedabodit! It is just not thick enough, dense enough, etc. I still have complete non-growth areas between the side of my lips going down to the chin so that a goatee is more like a prickly lip and chin with baldness between.
Flash-forward 15-20 years and you may find yourself growing hair where you don’t want it. The hairs from the top of my head seem to be migrating to my ears.
Uh, sorry, that’s not a very good GQ answer. How about, “it’s all related to genetics and there’s lots of variation. Maybe your dad passed on a recessive gene for ‘not very hairy’ and your mom did, too?” Sorry, but that’s about the best I can do.
I am 27 and I can grow fairly thick sidebirns, a goatee, and a decent beard…but my mustache is very thin. If I were to go unshaven for three weeks I’d looked like an Amish farmer or an understudy for Young Lincoln.
My dad has always grown a Jerry Garcia style beard, and my mom’s brothers all had heavy duty mustaches and beards when they were my age in the 1970’s.
Not long ago my aunt sent me a picture of one of my great-great grandfathers from around 1890. Maybe it was just the style of that time, but he had a very bushy long beard - and no mustache. Maybe that bare-upper-lip gene has bounced finally my way.
My boyfriend (29) is the same way. He could grow a mustache or chin hair, but he can’t connect the two. His legs are a bit hairy, but his chest and arms aren’t.
Frankly, I love it (my dad is a very hairy man–complete with back hair. I think it would be a bit Oedipal if I dated a guy like that).
Genetics is a factor, as is testosterone production.
On the upside, you’re probably less likely to succumb to male-pattern baldness. Testosterone is great at producing lots of body hair, but male baldness is also a result. My high school biology teacher said this: "If you’re worried about going bald, there’s a sure-fire way to stop it. Castration).
Nice Gallagher reference, Khadaji.
My boyfriend is nearing 24 and is still working on filling out his beard. Whatever hair that grows on his face grows like a weed, but in some places it’s still a touch patchy. If you’re really bothered by the distinct lack of sideburns, go search on a facial hair growing website/message board and ask for suggestions there. Otherwise, don’t worry about a lack of facial hair. It’ll save you time in the long run if you don’t have much to start with.
Don’t sweat it, At 23 nearing 24 my beard is just starting to fill in, and it’s still a light beard at that. As to body and beard hair, I say just let it all grow and style what you’ve got. Bearded men are what nature intended.
Well done Mirrored! I’m not sure that I had conciously recognized the reference when I added to the thread, but you are absolultely right, that was where the notion came from.
I’m just playing!