Should You Grow a Beard? Questions to Answer Before You Start

You should grow a beard if your growth can produce a shape you like, your work and life accommodate it, your skin tolerates it, and you are happy to spend a few minutes a day and a barber visit every month or so keeping it tidy. You probably should not if you want something that looks good with zero upkeep, if your skin reacts badly under hair, or if you are hoping a beard will fix a problem it cannot. The good news is that you do not need to decide in the abstract. A four to six week trial tells you almost everything, and it is completely reversible.

This guide is about the decision itself. Once you have made it, our guide to getting through the first three months takes over.

Question 1: What can your growth actually do?

Beards are mostly genetic. Density, the direction hair grows, how far up the cheeks it reaches and whether the moustache connects to the chin are largely set, and no oil or supplement changes that much. The honest way to find out is to let it grow for four weeks without trimming anything except the neckline.

At four weeks, look at:

• Coverage. Are there gaps on the cheeks, or between moustache and chin? Some gaps close as hair gets longer and lies over them.
• Density. Can you see skin through it in normal light?
• Colour. Is it the same as your hair, lighter, redder, greyer? A beard a different colour from your hair is common and often looks good.
• Texture. Straight, wavy, wiry or tightly curled. Each suits different shapes and lengths.

Patchy growth is not a dead end. Plenty of styles work with it, as our guide to patchy beards shows. But it does narrow your options.

Question 2: Does it suit your face?

A beard can change the outline of the lower face more than any haircut. It can add definition to a soft jaw, length to a round face or width to a long one. It can also hide a strong jaw you might prefer to show. Think about what you like about your face clean-shaven, and whether you are happy to cover it. If you are unsure, a barber can tell you during the assessment at the start of a visit what your growth is likely to do for your face shape.

Question 3: How does it fit your job and life?

Beards are widely accepted in most offices now, but a few practical points are worth considering:

• Safety equipment. Some roles require a tight-fitting respirator or mask, and facial hair can stop it sealing properly. Check your employer’s policy before you start.
• Client-facing work. A neat beard reads as professional. A half-grown one can look like you forgot to shave. Our piece on whether a beard is professional covers how to keep one office-ready.
• Timing. The awkward stage, roughly weeks two to four, is easier to get through during a holiday or a quieter month.
• Your partner. Not a deciding vote, but worth a conversation, particularly about stubble rash.

Question 4: Will your skin cope?

Some men find their skin calmer with a beard, because they stop shaving daily. Others find it itchy, flaky or prone to spots underneath. Itch in the first few weeks is normal as short hairs grow out and is usually temporary. Persistent flaking, redness or painful spots are a different matter. If you have a skin condition such as eczema or seborrhoeic dermatitis, talk to a pharmacist or GP if it flares. Our guide to beard itch explains what is normal.

Question 5: Are you happy with the upkeep?

This is the one people underestimate. A good beard is not less work than shaving, it is different work.

Task	How often	Time
Wash and condition	A few times a week	2 to 3 minutes
Oil or balm and brush	Daily	1 to 2 minutes
Neckline and cheek tidy	Weekly	5 minutes
Professional shaping	Every 3 to 5 weeks	One barber visit

Compare that with a daily shave and it often comes out similar in time. What changes is that a beard punishes neglect more visibly.

Question 6: Why do you want one?

Worth being honest about. Good reasons include liking how it looks, wanting a change, being tired of shaving rash, or wanting to look a little older or more established. Less reliable reasons include hiding a double chin (a beard can help, but only with the right neckline), covering acne scarring (possible, with enough density) or following a trend you are not sure about. A beard grown for the wrong reason often gets shaved off in week three.

How to run a proper trial

1. Pick a start date ahead of a quieter few weeks.
2. Do not trim anything for four weeks except the neckline below the jaw, which keeps it looking intentional.
3. Wash it and use a little oil from week two to manage itch.
4. Take a photo each week in the same light.
5. At week four to six, see a barber. A first shaping makes a bigger difference than any other step. It is the point where most men decide whether to keep it.
6. Give the shaped beard two weeks before judging.

What the first barber visit involves

At Highgate Cuts, every visit starts with an assessment. The barber looks at your growth, density and face shape and recommends a shape and length. They will set the neckline and cheek lines, even up the length, and tell you how to keep it between visits. You leave knowing whether the beard has a future. Prices are not published yet, so see the barber menu or email us.

Questions we get asked

How long should I grow a beard before deciding?

At least four weeks, ideally six, with one professional shaping before you judge it.

Will shaving make my beard grow back thicker?

No. Shaving does not change the number or thickness of hairs. Regrowth only feels coarser because of the blunt tip.

What if I hate it?

Shave it off. A hot towel shave at our Highgate barbers is a good way to go back to clean-shaven comfortably, and takes 20 to 30 minutes.

Can I try a beard without the awkward stage?

Not entirely, but keeping the neckline tidy and starting during a holiday makes it much easier.

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Book with The Highgate House

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The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.