Beard Myths That Actually Aren't True

Plenty of people find themselves and others more attractive with facial hair (and beards happen to be one of the most attractive types of facial hair). Other folks just love the ease of never having to shave and letting your hair grow freely. Whatever your personal reason for rocking a beard may be, there are ways to make your facial hair look and feel better and healthier. There are plenty of beard tips out there that can help you get the facial hair of your dreams. But there are also a few things we've all heard about beards that are total myths — especially those claiming that products like beard oil can make your facial hair grow, or that beard balms cause acne. And, the truth behind these facial hair rumors just may change your feelings about your own beard.

The look of your beard can actually send different signals to other people. Caring for your beard is the key to making it look its best, and that means steering clear of the misinformation and learning how to really get the most out of your facial hair. We've gathered five of the biggest myths about beards, and knowing what they are just might change your beard and how you take care of it.

For folks with facial hair, beard oils are becoming an increasingly popular product to enhance the look and feel of your beard. This is a product that's gaining attention for good reason. Yet, despite the many advantages a beard oil can give you, it won't actually help your beard grow. The main advantage of using a beard oil is what it does for your skin, rather than the hair itself (though it can make the hair look sleek and feel soft).

A beard oil is a great way to nourish the skin where your beard grows. It can help with dry, itchy skin that a beard can sometimes bring. Depending on the oil you choose, it can also help you to have healthier follicles. While this won't give your beard hairs a growth spurt, creating healthy skin and follicles can help your hair growth over time. 

Having a beard is basically like wearing a hat on the bottom of your face, right? Well, not necessarily. While many people may believe that they look hotter with a bit of facial hair, growing out your beard won't actually raise your temperature. In fact, it's often to the contrary. Beards will actually help you control your temperature in both directions. In cold weather, beards will give you a bit of extra protection from the elements. On hot summer days, however, your facial hair won't cause you to overheat.

Firstly, your beard can actually shade your face from UV rays. Not only will this keep you a bit cooler in the hot sun, but it will prevent sunburn and sun damage. If that's not enough of a reason not to shave your beard when June rolls around, it can also help to keep your whole face cooler when you sweat. So, whether the weather is too hot or too cold, your beard is actually helping you maintain your ideal temp. 

Whether a beard balm is an important part of your beard care routine or you're looking to spruce up your facial hair, you may have heard that beard balms cause acne. A beard balm is basically a conditioner for your beard, so it's easy to see why some folks believe that leaving that on your face as you go about your day could cause breakouts. In reality, though, this is an acne myth that you shouldn't buy into. Your beard balm isn't likely to cause acne, and it may even do the exact opposite.  

Like with any new product, it's important to read the ingredients and reviews for any beard balm you're looking to try, since different brands are sure to have different traits and components. Yet, the goal of beard balms is to moisturize, and in many cases, keeping the skin beneath your beard moisturized can keep inflammation at bay and may even clear up breakouts rather than causing them. Speaking to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi, M.D., FAAD, actually recommends beard conditioner for acne-prone skin.

There are plenty of folks out there whose beards aren't quite as thick and full as they'd like. Some claim that the solution to this problem is simple: Shave your beard and start fresh. In reality, though, this won't make your beard any fuller, and it will just leave you growing your facial hair from scratch, which is likely the opposite of your goal.

Just like when you give long locks a trim, shaving your beard will make the ends of your hairs blunt and thicker. Because of this, your stubble may seem a bit more dense while it's still short, but that isn't actually affecting the density of your beard, and it will grow back to its typical thickness once it grows out. "After shaving, you may notice that your hair seems to grow back thicker and darker but this is actually due to the variation of the hair shaft along its length, not because shaving has actually altered the hair follicles," dermatology resident Taylor Bullock, M.D., explained to Cleveland Clinic.

If your patchy beard has you feeling discouraged because you believe that you're destined for a life of shaving or sporting uneven facial hair, you may want to think again. The length of time that a beard takes to fill in is different for everyone, so the facial hair you have today isn't necessarily what you'll always have. Unfortunately, genes do play the biggest role in how your beard grows, but there are things you can do to grow a healthier, more even beard that appears thicker. 

What you eat and your overall health are factors in the evenness of your facial hair. A diet high in protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, zinc, and iron can help your facial hair reach its full potential. Biotin supplements can also help your hair to grow faster, as can warding off stress, which can lead to reduced growth as a result of hormonal imbalance. Do keep in mind that while these habits can help your beard be the best and fullest it can be, they won't create new hair follicles where they don't exist. But making the right changes and sticking to them can give you the best beard possible.