So, I'm trying to convince this mangy little patch of hair on my chin to transform into a full-fledged goatee.  I tried about a month ago, but it looked more like an old-lady beard than a goatee, so I shaved it off.

What I'm wondering is, how long does it typically take (and yes, I realize it varies from person to person) for a beard to look like a beard, instead of just stubble.  How long should I let it grow before giving up on it for a few more months?

But you have a good mustache going there.  Oh wait that isn't really you. 

It needs to grow for at least a couple of months to fill in.  One trick you can try is to use mascara to darken it.  Works for eyelashes doesn't it. 



Good luck with the chin growth,
Janet

I wasnt able to grow a respectable beard until I was in my 30's and I started puberty at 12. Just poor genetics for facial hair. Probably because I have native American blood in the mix. Ty goddes for that.
Anyways it takes at least a month to three before you can get a beard to look good. (unless you are Medeteranian...then its only like a week. LOL)
I never thought to use makeup to augment my beard.
Anyways now I am getting it removed so its a moot point.
Good luck with the beard dude. I might not like mine but I remember when it was important to me. A good beard or goatee can go along way to making you feel manly. 

I am 18 months on T and the avatar is what you get... an amish beard with a thin stache.  Would love to have my chin fill in a little bit and there is still a patch on the right side that is spotty.

Hang in there.


Jay

Hair on the face, like every part of the body, grows at different rates.

May I suggest that, instead of shaving it off, you get one of those beard trimmers, set to the lowest setting and keep triming the hair to a short length?

Eventually, the slower growing hair will catch up with the faster and you'll have that 'designer stubble' look.

As for growing a big beard, forget it. Most men can't grow those full husky beards. For many, it tends to grow in patches and splits in the middle of the chin to create two straggly tails.

I know a Muslim gentleman who is in his 60s. He is such a nice chap in most ways, but he is so self conscious about the way his beard splits. (He's also incredably tight with money. But a good friend for all that and someone I would trust).

I started estrogen when I was 19 for the first time and even then after all those years I couldn't grow anything on my face at all.  So I guess it's a ymmv type deal of course. . . just realize it probably does take some time and don't worry you'll eventually be able to grow one probably!

I think I was probably 22 before I could really grow one.  And they do grow in a little patchy. 

As any girl who's had laser or electro can tell you, all the hair doesn't grow at once, either.  It grows in cycles (hence the patchiness) so leaving it alone for longer periods of time should allow currently dormant follicles to start producing hair and fill in the bare spots. 

A beard trimmer is an excellent idea, and helps keep everything looking well kept.   

BTW Jay, looking pretty hawt. 

The average length of time that an individual hair cycles is 6 weeks.  Just ask the laser/electrolysis people.

So depending on the number of hairs in a given area, you could be looking at at least 4 to 6 months, just to get started. 

Like it has been said trim a little closer and just wait.


Janet

Williams "Lectric shave" pre shave and a decent electric shaver. Both of these will stimulate the beard to grow

well GM's generally start growing facial hair at about 16, but it can take 8-10 years or longer to really grow a dense beard.

Plus it can be patchy depending on how well you picked you parents.  So guys, just give it a bit of time.  Ok sort of like watching boobs grow.......are we there yet. 

Beni

Even at 28, my beard was patchy at best in places but I did have a lot of hair on my chin so I could do the goatee thing. It just varies for everybody really.

Now of course I'm paying to get rid of all that hair, *Zap* OW! *Zap* OW!

Well, garsh.  Here I was blithely thinking it would only take a week or two.  But the whole hair cycle thing makes sense.  I guess I'll just have to go about looking a little mangy for a month or two and see what happens.  It does seem to be coming in a little better than it did when I first tried a month or so ago, though.  And yeah, the chin is the only place I can even hope for something resembling a beard at this point.  Now if only I would start growing sideburns.  I WANT SIDEBURNS!!!     I'm afraid patience is not one of my virtues. 

P.S.  Jerica - Your name is so similar to my birth name, I keep taking a double-take every time I see it. 

I hear you. I never did have connecting sideburns. I blame the lack of testosterone in my system in general haha but who knows.

Haha birth names will do that to you, won't they? I still hear my birth name and turn my head and look =/

Quote from: Jerica on January 07, 2010, 07:15:57 AM
I hear you. I never did have connecting sideburns. I blame the lack of testosterone in my system in general haha but who knows.

Haha birth names will do that to you, won't they? I still hear my birth name and turn my head and look =/

Yes!  Haven't heard mine in forever, and forgot that a college student that worked here had my F name. Well she worked a few shifts over the holidays.  The first time I heard someone call her it was like WHAT?? What's making them start calling me that again after all this time??  Until she answered them and I was like Oh yeah.

Jay

FTR I couldn't grow one of those Grizzly Adams beards till I was 33 or so.  Now, to get it past 'scruff' and into 'beard' takes about two weeks.

As it has been said, the beard trimmer is probably going to become your best friend in this regard. If I remember it took me years before I was able to grow a relatively even carpet of hair to hide my face behind - and there is also that period when it gets to be about, so long, where it itches like heck. Even now (at 48) I have patches where the hair just won't grow. Of course I ended the 'face masking' days more than a year ago. Of course now as I get older, I have to mow more and more of my body and more often - thankfully I'm not any where near as furry as Robin Williams. 

Have patience and keep willing those little follicles to engage and produce. Good luck to you.

Deanna

Quote from: sneakersjay on January 05, 2010, 08:32:12 AM
I am 18 months on T and the avatar is what you get... an amish beard with a thin stache.  Would love to have my chin fill in a little bit and there is still a patch on the right side that is spotty.

Hang in there.


Jay

I couldn't grow facial hair like that, and I was on T for like 10 years.  Runs in my family though.  My dad can't grow more than a shaggly thin mess.

I think it depends on the person and there genetics....

My little brother had the patchiest looking thing through his teens but in his 20's its a right thick thing..... I was the similar, cept it started growing late *shrugs*  It got to the point Id have a beard in 3 days if I didn't shave. The thing with a trimmer is probably the best idea... don't shave it clean off, just trim it short, over time as it fills in you'll get that cute stubble/rugged look. It can take years to get a full looking facial hair, and I have some friends who never will *shrugs*

I always used to have somewhat blotchy facial hair, which took a bit to grow, and I could pretty much grow only mutton-chops (ewww! ). I have not tried growing out facial hair in a long time... actually, I never actually grew out my hair, but rather got lazy about shaving...

Nowadays, I try and keep all the hair off my face. I only recently had facial hair appear on my upper neck/chin. FYI, I'm 18.

It usually takes me a couple weeks to get a goatee going, but that's all I can seem to grow. If I want it to look good, I need to wait a month or so. Give it time. Be patient and water often.