Why Do Some Beards Grow Crooked or Uneven?

As we all know, growing out a full and luscious beard takes a good amount of time and effort. The growing process can be excruciatingly slow, as any guy who has gone through it will tell you. And, during that process, men must go to great lengths to nourish their beards with the right products and trim them regularly to avoid split ends.

So, after that beard is finally starting to reach the desired length, we should finally be able to rest and enjoy the fruits of our labor, right? Well, no, if our beard is uneven or crooked. If you’ve noticed that your beard is looking crooked or uneven, you’re not alone. Both of these issues are, in fact, very common. The good news is that there are things that you can do to fix either of these issues.

First Things First: Don't Panic

First, let’s make one thing clear: a perfect beard is very rare. You know how your eyebrows are slightly different in terms of shape and size? Well, so are the two sides of your beard. It’s very rare that a beard will grow in perfectly evenly, whether it be in terms of length or fullness. It’s actually very unusual for a beard to grow at the same rate on the left and right sides of your face, so if you feel like one side is growing faster than the other, you really don’t need to be alarmed. This is also true if you feel like some sections of your beard are a little shorter in length than others.

The reality is that we are way more critical of our physical appearances than others are of us. In other words, you may feel that your beard is crooked or uneven and that everyone can’t help but notice. But, in most cases, no one is noticing this but you. So, rather than panic and curse your beard, recognize that your facial hair probably looks fine to everyone else and that it’s not the end of the world.

Crooked Beards

Now, let’s discuss crooked beards. As we said, the left and right sides of our faces can grow our beards at different rates. Most guys find that one side of their beard is longer than the other. You that phrase “eyebrows aren’t twins, they’re sisters?” Well, this applies to your facial hair too. So, this isn’t necessarily a sign that something is wrong with your beard.

So, why does this happen? Well, the rate of growth can definitely be a factor. But, a more common culprit is actually the direction of growth. Some hairs grow more out to the side while others grow straight down. So, one side of your beard may appear shorter than the other simply because the hairs on one side of your face are growing in an outward direction, while the hairs on the other side are growing downward.

How to Fix It

Many men first think that the solution is to trim one side to make it match the other. Now, this may work if your beard is growing faster on one side than the other, but it won’t work if the hair on one side is just growing in a different direction. So, how can you tell? Well, look closely in the mirror to see. You’ll quickly be able to tell if your hair is growing in different directions or not.

If your beard is crooked because some hairs are growing off to the side rather than down, you can train your beard. Do this by combing or brushing your beard downward several times a day, holding the hairs down with the comb or brush for a few seconds after each stroke. Eventually, your hair will learn to grow down.

Uneven Beards

Uneven beards are also known as patchy beards, and they’re just as common. This has to do with the rate of growth, where the hairs on one part of your face are growing faster or thicker than others.

How to Fix It

For many men, uneven beards are just temporary. In other words, it takes a while for the other hairs to catch up. Once they’re all caught up, you can trim evenly to keep things at a consistent length. But, in rare cases, unevenness can be caused by a skin condition preventing some follicles from growing hair quickly enough. If this is the case, see a dermatologist to treat whatever is causing the skin problem.

A crooked or uneven beard can be quite embarrassing...

But they’re actually very common problems, and it’s likely that most people don’t even notice them quite as you do. However, if you want your beard to look absolutely perfect, follow the tips above. This guide will give you the even, perfectly aligned beard that you’ve always wanted.