Got a patchy beard? Patchy beard growth can be frustrating. Uneven facial hair can stop your beard from looking as full as you’d like.
If you’re looking at how to fix a patchy beard, we’ll cover some clever styling tips and give you the right tools to fix bald patches in your beard so your facial hair is looking its best.
What is considered a patchy beard?
Wondering if your beard is patchy? A patchy beard is characterised by areas on your face where hair doesn’t grow as thick or evenly. Patchy facial hair can result in a beard that looks a bit uneven or sparse.
If you’re bothered by the patchiness in your beard, don’t worry. It’s completely normal, and there are lots of men out there with patchy beard styles. Patchiness is especially common if you’re growing a beard for the first time.
Why is my beard patchy?
There are a few common causes of a patchy beard. Your hormones and your genetics can each play a role in how likely you are to experience patchy facial hair.
The male hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone play a key role in hair growth. Low levels of either of these hormones may impact the speed and thickness at which you can grow facial hair and may even cause facial hair to stop growing in some instances, resulting in bald patches in your beard or on your head.
Genetics can also influence your likelihood of a patchy beard. However, it’s important to remember that just because your dad or uncles have thick, full beards, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to grow a rival one – genetics are complex, and these abilities can sometimes skip a generation or two.
How can I make my patchy beard look thicker?
If you’re a first-time beard grower, it’s perfectly normal for it to look a bit sparse. Beard growth stages mean patchiness can appear as a patchy moustache, patchy goatee, or a patchy cheek beard, but as time passes, it can fill out.
If you’re past the beard-growing stage but still experience beard patchiness, there are ways you can fix patchy beards naturally.
Grow your facial hair out
Growing your facial hair out can be the key to fixing a patchy beard. If you can get away with it, try not to shave for a month to give your beard plenty of time to grow out. If you let your beard grow, it will eventually start to intertwine in the space where you experience patchy facial hair, looking thicker as a result. If some areas are growing faster than others, stop them from becoming too wild by using our King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer to keep on top of them.
Use grooming products on your patchy beard
Groom with beard products like beard oil and beard balm to condition your beard. Beards can be dry and brittle, which causes hair to break. Keep your beard moisturised and healthy with facial hair grooming products.
To apply beard balm:
- Wet your beard with warm water.
- Take a small amount of beard balm and rub it into the palm of your hand, then work it through your beard with your fingers.
- Repeat every day for a nourished, healthy beard.
Styling can disguise any bald patches in your beard.
Use a beard thickener
Not sure how to fix a patchy beard? Try a beard thickener, like the King C. Gillette Beard Thickener. Beard thickeners work by targeting each beard hair and coating it for a noticeably fuller look.
To apply beard thickener:
- Cleanse your face with face wash and warm water.
- Dispense three to five pumps of product into your palm, then apply it to your patchy beard area.
- Work it into your beard with your fingers to ensure you cover every hair.
- Leave the beard thickener to dry. Do not rinse off. To complete the look, you can apply a beard balm or oil for styling.
Beard Styles for a Patchy Beard
Another great way to fix a patchy beard naturally is to find a style to camouflage the bald or thinning spots.
There might be fewer facial hair styles available to you when you have a patchy beard, but there are still a few options to choose from.
Think about what will suit your face shape best and where any beard gaps are positioned before you start shaving. Here are a few of our top recommended styles for a patchy beard:
Chin Strap Beard
Suffer from a patchy cheek beard?
Get a chin strap beard by shaving all of your facial hair off, apart from a thin strap that runs along your jawline up to your sideburns. The King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer can help you to shape your beard into a clean line easily.
Goatee Beard
Do you have a patch of beard missing on your neck? If you’ve been growing out a patchy beard, shape it into a goatee by separating your beard from your moustache with two clean lines. Make either your beard or moustache fuller depending where you experience balder patches to balance out your look.
5 o’clock Shadow
Are you growing a patchy grey beard? Fix your patchy beard naturally by opting for the 5 o’clock shadow look which, together with the lighter grey hairs can help camouflage bald spots.
The 5 o’clock shadow was traditionally something that just happened to men whether they wanted this look or not, but many now choose to style their beard in this way. Find out how to maintain a smart but effortless-looking 5 o’clock shadow below.
Van Dyke Beard
A Van Dyke beard consists of a goatee and moustache that are not connected. To style it for patchy beards, trim the goatee and moustache to a similar length, and keep the sides of the beard clean-shaven. This will help draw attention away from any patchy areas and create a sharp and well-groomed look.
How to style a patchy beard
When you’ve chosen your patchy beard style, it’s time to pick up your beard trimmer or razor.
If you prefer a manual shave, Gillette’s 5-bladed razors provide a close, comfortable shave.
For a smooth, neat shave:
- Rinse your beard trimmer and blades after every use – you’ll need to wash your blades in between every few strokes to prevent a build-up of shaving gel or foam.
- Keep checking for symmetry as you shave – remember that it’s better to take your time as you can always take more off, but you can’t put hair back.
- Apply our Gillette Labs Shaving Gel to your face and neck to hydrate your facial hair, keep your razor glide smooth and help protect skin from shave irritation.
- Shave both with and against the grain for the ultimate smooth, neat finish.
- Always follow up by applying a beard oil or beard balm to keep your remaining facial hair as well-groomed as possible.
Building self-confidence with a patchy beard
Everyone’s beard growth is different. But remember, patchy facial hair is completely normal and lots of men experience the same thing.
Embrace your beard and try different styles to find the one you like best. You might have to persevere with patience and experiment to find a style that suits your patchy beard growth.
Just remember to keep your beard hydrated, moisturised, and trimmed to encourage healthy growth so you can feel your best.
How to embrace your patchy beard
Even if you have a little less beard hair than you’d like, it’s time to embrace it. Your patchy beard is part of you, and you can experiment with different patchy beard styles to find the one that suits you best.
There are products out there to help you make the most of your facial hair, including beard thickener, oil, and balm.
Feeling confident is the key to looking good. It’s important to keep your beard and the skin underneath healthy – this isn’t just optimal for beard growth, but also for feeling good in your skin.
Don’t forget to get into a good grooming routine to give your patchy facial hair some TLC.
With our range of expertly formulated beard care start your journey to fuller-looking facial hair.
