Jeffery Benabio MD. FAAD. claims that all adult men needs to grow their facial hair is patience, persistence and "just enough testosterone" Hudson's Guide reports that the amount of facial hair growth you can achieve is dependent upon genetic factors and your hormone levels. If you have an abnormally low rate of facial hair growth, this may sign of an underlying medical problem and you should contact your doctor. Otherwise, there are several lifestyle and dietary alterations you can make that will increase your facial hair growth so you can have a goatee.
Step 1
Ask your doctor to suggest a multivitamin for you. Dietary and nutritional deficiencies will hinder your facial hair growth. Even if you include several servings of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, because food quality can vary, you can't always be exactly sure of how many nutrients you getting. A multivitamin complex will compensate for any vitamins or minerals you are deficient in.
Step 2
Ask your doctor to suggest a biotin supplement for you. Dr. Benabio suggests that you take 2.5mg of biotin a day. While most "hair growth" vitamins and formulas are not backed by clinic studies, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that biotin or vitamin B7 is critical in supporting hair growth.
Step 3
Eat protein. Protein is the building block for hair. Hair is made of keratin protein. According to Vanderbilt University, protein deficiencies can directly cause hair loss. It is unlikely that you are extremely deficient in protein, but as the MayoClinic.com recommends, make sure that 10 to 35 percent of your calories come from protein. Ideally, within these guidelines, you will want to eat more protein than less.
Step 4
Shampoo your facial and growing goatee at least two times a week. Dr. Benabio recommends that you use a dandruff shampoo. Massage the shampoo into your facial hair; this will stimulate your hair follicles, increase circulation to your face, and relieve any itching associated with growing out your hair.
Step 5
Don't shave your facial hair or trim your goatee for at least four weeks. Dr. Benabio, Hudson's Guide and Beards.org all state that you must let your facial hair grow in for at least four weeks. Shaving your facial hair will not make it grow faster. After four weeks you can begin shaping your facial hair into a goatee, but don't touch it before that.
Tips and Warnings
- Lean protein sources include egg whites, soy, chicken, turkey, skim milk and fish. Please consult your doctor before purchasing any dietary supplements.
- Do not attempt to use minoxidil (Rogaine) to grow facial hair. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of male and female pattern baldness and is unsafe to apply to your face.
Things You'll Need
- Multivitamin
- Biotin
References
- The Dermatology Blog; How to Grow a Beard in 10 Easy Steps
- Hudson's FTM Resource Guide: Facial Hair, Growth and Grooming
- Beards.org: All About Beards: Growing a Beard
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin H (Biotin)
- Vanderbilt University: Vegetarianism; the Pros and Cons of a Meatless Diet
- MayoClinic.com: Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork with These Nutrition Guidelines
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