As a barber with a large beard I get questions about beard health everyday. Usually from people looking for some kind of magic elixir to rub on their faces that will make their beard grow healthy, full, and over night. Well as G.K. Chesterton aptly said.
"No one ever grew a beard in a moment of passion."
Growing a beard is a commitment and growing a healthy beard requires a commitment to health. The two time winning beard champion of the world Jack Passion has a mantra that rings true.
"Healthy man, healthy beard"
So what are the building blocks to healthy facial follicles?
Growing up we have all seen the "food pyramid" well if anybody ever followed that guideline strictly they would be dead in a week (no water in the pyramid). Well with beard growing we will build a nutrient tower. The more of these nutrient blocks you use the stronger the tower The healthier the beard.
The foundation of our tower is made of two key ingredients, water and protein. Hair is 97% protein and if you are dehydrated your entire body will not function properly. If you do nothing else for the health of your beard this foundation will give a pretty good start. Everything after that is fine tuning.
The next level of the tower is your omega fatty acids. Your hair is 97% protein, well the other 3% is fatty acids. Salmon is an excellent source of both nutrients, but personally I feel sardines are a much better fish for overall hair growth. Pound for pound sardines have more omegas and protein, plus they contain vitamin D and other trace minerals like calcium. They can look a little off putting but taste great. Find a quality brand, I prefer King Oscar, you can always trust a company with a bearded royal as their logo right?
Another excellent beard growing food is walnuts. Not only are they a good source out protein and the only nut with a significant amount of fatty acids. They contain vitamin E and biotin. Biotin being the next block of our tower side by side with zinc.
A deficiency in zinc can lead to dry itchy skin and hair loss. 3 ounces of oysters provides nearly 500% of your daily value of zinc.
The next level of our tower of Beard is beta-carotene which your body metabolizes as vitamin A. Your body's cells cannot function without this and it helps to produce the oils that will sustain your hair, preventing beard itch and dandruff. When looking for success of beta-carotene look for your orange fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, and cantaloupe.
In the last level of our tower we will put iron. Iron is essential because it carries oxygen to your hair follicles and a lack of iron can cause hair loss. Good sources of iron would include eggs and red meat.
With just these nutrients you will be looking at a top notch beard, but what good is a tower without a few soldiers guarding from the top. Vitamin C, vitamin B-5, and vitamin D will make up our special forces trifecta to round out the tower of Beardiness. Vitamin C increases blood flow to the capillaries that feed your hair follicles. Vitamin B-5 or pantothenic acid is a hair friendly protein found in most hair products. Vitamin D has also been linked to hair health, though we are not entirely sure why.
Commit yourselves to eating a variety of these foods abs you will be getting a luxurious man mane of a beard in no time. Keep bearding my friends.
Much Love
Dustin
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