One of the most common questions received on social media and by email from aspiring beards is related to products to grow beards: which ones are the most suitable, if they work, how to use them, etc.

There are a few “products” (later you will understand why the quotes in the word “products”) are on the market, and when doing a search on the subject, the names Monoxide or Finasteride will always appear. Well, these two examples are actually medicines and were not meant to be used on the beard (not even to grow hair). However, they have been used a lot by young adults who want to have a nice volume of facial hair. But, in the end, do they work?

Are you intending to use or know a friend who is with the same intention? The following post by Burnt Whiskey experts will bring you everything you need to know about beard growth products. Check out!

Understand better why some men turn to medication to grow beards

The beard is something very emblematic of men. Bearded people know how cool it is to grow facial hair and take care of it, seeing it take shape and achieve the expected results.

However, not all guys are born that lucky. Some really don’t have facial hair or very little, not enough to achieve the cool full beard look that we so admire. Often, such an absence of a beard is determined by factors  such as genetic predisposition, eating habits, health (both body and mind), etc. In the next topics, you will check each of these items in more detail.

So, due to the absence of facial hair, not a few guys end up resorting to medications that are intended to make their beards grow. However, it is important to know that some of these “products” are not intended for the beard. In fact, the most used ones don’t even have the purpose of making hair grow, it’s a side effect of another action it has on your body.

Find out why some men don’t get the beard they want

o answer bluntly and simply, the reason is related to the hormone DHT. At puberty, it kicks in, causing the body of young men to mature and acquire many physical characteristics associated with adult men. The beard is part of that group, of course.

However, if the man doesn’t acquire that voluminous and full beard he’s always dreamed of, he shouldn’t conclude that testosterone is lacking in his body. In fact, this hormone can be at a very high level, even. What is crucial is the conversion of testosterone to its stronger and more active modified form, DHT.

In addition to hormonal issues, genetics also play a role in the growth of facial hair. If your genetic predisposition doesn’t give you a full, thick beard, that’s fine. After all, it’s not going to make you a better or worse person.

In other words, it is understood that testosterone, when converted into DHT, is the main factor that makes the beard grow in men, as it works as a trigger to activate the hair follicle on the face and start beard growth. But, if the genetic factor is not favorable, that is, you do not have the follicles along the face, the effect of the hormone will be inhibited.

Many guys, in a completely desperate action, ingest testosterone in the wrong way, without any specialist follow-up. That is very dangerous! Cardiovascular problems, liver damage, breast growth (gynecomastia), sterility, testicular atrophy, and prostate cancer are some of the consequences that irresponsible acts can bring.

Therefore, always consult a doctor and nutritionist before taking any medication. They will be able to evaluate your case and present alternatives, in the correct dosage and form, for your particular case.

Find out what has been used in the intention to grow a beard

Monoxide and Finasteride are very well-known drugs. If you are researching the subject, you must have heard of them at least once. These are remedies with other functions that, over time, began to be used for the purpose of growing a beard.

There are also those products aimed at growing existing beard strands. These can bring you promising results as they act in strengthening and enhancing the wires, improving health and accelerating the growth process while increasing the life cycle of the wire. However, a product cannot totally ignore its genetics, written in its DNA, and quickly grow a beard where there was no beard before.

So be very careful to believe that when you wear something like this without having a beard or even an appropriate age, you can achieve a lumberjack look in a few weeks: Growing a beard takes patience.

In the sequence, you will know some of the medicines that are used by aspiring bearded people, their results, and their side effects. But remember:  we do not recommend the use of these drugs and, above all, we do not recommend self-medication. Consult a dermatologist before consuming any type of beard growth medication. And at the end, we give you some product tips that you CAN use to reach the full potential of your beard.

Finasteride

Finasteride’s central proposal is to be a product to minimize the effects of hair loss (baldness) through a process that acts directly on testosterone the famous male hormone known to develop various aspects and functions in men, including hair.

In a common activity of the male body, as we have already mentioned, testosterone is converted into DHT. However, one of the effects that DHT provides to the body is hair loss. Finasteride works by reducing this conversion, thus slowing hair loss — not necessarily making it grow back. In addition, the results only exist while you use the medicine – if you stop the treatment, the wires may fall out again.

That is, if you have a failed beard due to hair loss, it may be that such a drug is true of great help, but the success rate varies from organism to organism and does not really work for everyone.

It should not be forgotten that, like any other medicine, Finasteride can have side effects, although this is not so common. The main ones identified are:

• Increased chance of developing prostate cancer;
• Testicle pain;
• Allergic reactions
• Erectile dysfunction;
• Reduction in the level of ejaculation;
• Itches.

It is not certain that those who use the drug will suffer from such effects, but it is always important to highlight the possibility. In case of incidence,  consult a doctor. And remember, it is recommended to also consult it before starting to use Finasteride.

Just a curiosity: the same active ingredient of Finasteride is used in the treatment of prostate problems, including cancer, due to its hormonal manipulation. So think twice before you go messing with your hormones on your own.

Monoxide

Monoxide is a vasodilator drug, whose use dilates blood vessels and thus increases oxygenation in various areas of the body. Originally, the drug was designed to treat high blood pressure. In a second moment, Monoxide began to be used to promote the recovery of hair in treatments to combat baldness.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that, of the men the drug was tested on, 38% of them had some type of hair regrowth on the top of their head. That is, the other 62% of men saw no effect on the growth of new hair.

So there’s no guarantee that you’ll go from baby-skinned face to first-rate bearded.

Like Finasteride, Monoxide can have side effects. The main ones observed so far are:

• Acne breakout;
• Weight gain
• Dry skin;
• Redness and itching of the skin;
• Accelerated heartbeat.
• Beard growth sprays and lotions

Unlike medicines, these cosmetics are only intended for beard growth, being sold only for that purpose. Results may vary from person to person and never overwrite genetic predisposition and hormonal factors , usually associated with the absence of a beard. That said, there are products that can stimulate the growth of existing wires and help you reach your beard’s full potential.

Find out what are the natural ways to grow a beard

A  balanced diet offers the nutrients that contribute to hair growth, as well as keeping the skin’s oiliness under control, making it fertile ground for the emergence of more resourceful hair.

We must also mention the practice of exercises. Just like food, any habit that is considered good for health has a positive influence on the growth of your beard. In addition, physical activity promotes an increase in testosterone, a fundamental hormone for the development of a large beard.