How to Grow a Gandalf Beard

Co-authored by Mark LoBiondo and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: April 28, 2022 References

If you’ve seen The Lord of the Rings, you’ll immediately recognize the great wizard Gandalf from his long, white beard. Even though Gandalf’s beard was fake in the movies, you can still try growing a real one yourself! Facial hair usually only grows about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) a month, so it may take a few years for your beard to reach its final length of 1 foot (30 cm) long.^{[1]
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Research source} As long as you’re patient and take proper care of your beard, it will stay healthy and long so you can look like a real wizard!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Promoting Healthy Growth

1
Incorporate protein and some fats into your diet for better growth. Start having meals that include more chicken, fish, eggs, and nuts so you can get protein during the day. Aim to have at least 56 g of protein every day.^{[2]
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While eating too many fats can lead to weight gain or heart problems, a small amount every day may also help your beard come in thicker.^{[3]
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It’s okay if you have up to 16–22 g of saturated fats daily from fried foods, baked goods, red meat, or whole-fat dairy.^{[4]
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- For example, 1 tablespoon (15 g) of butter has 7 grams of saturated fat and a 12 oz (340 g) steak has 20 grams.
- If you don’t have enough protein, your hair may get dry or brittle.^{[5]
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Warning: If you have heart disease or high cholesterol, ask your doctor if it’s okay to incorporate more saturated fats in your diet.
2
Exercise 4–5 days a week to help reduce stress. Stress can actually cause hair loss, and exercising is a great way to relieve stress. Schedule 30-minute workouts throughout the week so you can stay active and healthy.

Try out a variety of activities, such as jogging, playing a sport, lifting weights, or going on hikes, so you can work out your entire body. Not only will it help your beard grow, but it will make your body feel great too.^{[6]
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As your beard gets longer, you may need to clip or tie it so it doesn’t get in the way of your workout.

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3
Wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser daily to open your pores. Throughout the day, your pores fill up with dirt or oil and can block your hair from coming in. Pick a gentle facial cleanser that doesn’t have any abrasives so you don’t damage or irritate your skin.

Get your face wet with warm water and work the cleanser into your face. Rinse the cleanser off and pat your face dry with a soft towel when you’re finished.^{[7]
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Even just massaging your face daily can help increase blood flow to your hair follicles so your hair gets nutrients better.^{[8]
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4
Try taking biotin to help strengthen your hair. Biotin is a B-vitamin that gives your body energy and may promote hair growth. Find a daily supplement that contains 30 mcg of biotin at your local pharmacy and take one daily. You may also get biotin from eating foods like meat, eggs, seeds, spinach, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.^{[9]
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- Talk to your doctor before starting supplements to make sure they don’t interact with any other medications you’re taking.
- There have not been many studies done on biotin and hair growth, so it may not be the most effective treatment.
Tip: Everyone’s facial hair grows differently so your beard may not fill in as much as your friend. Be patient and let your beard come in at its own pace.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Grooming Your Beard

1
Wash your beard once or twice a week with shampoo and conditioner. When you shower or bathe, lather shampoo into your beard and rinse it out with warm water. Then apply conditioner to help keep your facial hair soft and smooth. Rinse the conditioner out when you’re finished rubbing it into your beard.^{[10]
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- You can buy shampoo and conditioner specifically meant for beards, but you can also use your regular hair products as well.
- Rinse your beard with water on days you don’t wash it to get rid of tangles and help it look neat.
- While washing your beard every day seems like a good idea to keep it clean, you can actually dry out and damage your facial hair.
2
Rub beard oil into your facial hair each day while it’s still damp. After you wash or rinse your beard, rub 3–5 drops of beard oil in your hands. Run your fingers through your beard to spread the oil. Gently massage it into your facial hair and skin so it absorbs completely and keeps your beard clean and shiny.^{[11]
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- Beard oil helps moisturize your beard so it stays soft and doesn’t get damaged. You can buy it online, at barbershops, or in the haircare section at the nearest big-box store.
- Beard oil comes in many scents, so choose the one that you like the most.
Variation: You can also get beard balm that moisturizes your hair throughout the day, but it may cause longer beards to clump together. Massage the balm into your beard while it’s still short instead of using beard oil.
3
Comb your beard daily to get rid of tangles. Use a fine-toothed beard comb that’s made from wood so it’s less likely to get caught in your beard. Start from your cheeks and run the comb down through your beard.

If you hit a tangle, stop and separate the hairs by hand so you don’t rip them out or break them. Work your comb through your entire beard so it stays straight and damage-free.^{[12]
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Avoid using molded plastic combs since they usually have small edges that catch on your beard hair and damage it.
- You can brush your beard with a detangler brush or a boar bristle brush.
4
Blow-dry your beard while brushing it to help keep it straight. It’s normal to use a blow dryer on long hair, so you can use it for your beard too! Turn it onto the warmest setting and hold it out at arm’s length.

Point the blow dryer down and move it from your cheeks down to the end of your beard. Keep the blow dryer moving at all times so you don’t dry out and damage the hair in one spot. Run your comb or a beard brush through your facial hair while you dry it to help straighten it even more.^{[13]
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- You don’t have to blow-dry your hair, but it may look messier.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Shaping Your Facial Hair

1
Shape your beard weekly after letting it grow out for the first 1–2 months. While it may be tempting to shape or clean up your beard when it looks scraggly, leave your hair as it is for at least 1–2 months. Once your beard fills in a little more, plan on trimming and shaping once each week so it never gets too out of control.^{[14]
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2
Wash and dry your beard before cutting it. Use your regular shampoo and conditioner to clean your beard. Be sure to rinse the products out thoroughly before patting your beard dry with a towel. If it still feels wet or you’re in a rush, use a blow dryer to dry your beard faster.^{[15]
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- Avoid trimming your beard while it’s wet since you may accidentally cut off more than you planned on.
3
Cut the sides of your beard with grooming scissors if they fan out. While Gandalf had a bushy beard, it still looked neat and trim on the sides. Stand in front of a mirror and look on the sides of your face to see if any hairs stick out horizontally and are longer than the others.

Hold your grooming scissors so they point up and trim the longest hairs in your beard so they’re the same length as the others. Work your way up the entire length of your beard on each side.^{[16]
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Gandalf’s beard came to a slight point at the end, so you can try tapering the sides of your beard if it doesn’t naturally come to a point.
4
Blend your beard into your sideburns so they look uniform. Comb the beard hair right underneath your sideburns out so it sticks out horizontally. Look for hairs that stick out further than your sideburns and clip them with your scissors.

Keep trimming any hairs that are too long or look out of place. Check each side of your face in a mirror to make sure they look even.^{[17]
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It can be tricky to blend your beard into your hair, so don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake your first time.If you don’t feel confident blending your beard into your hair, look for a local barbershop that offers beard trimming.

Variation: You may also use electric trimmers to trim your sideburns. Pull your comb through your hair to the length you want to cut it and hold it in place. Run your electric trimmers over the comb to cut your beard so it blends.
5
Trim your mustache if it goes past your upper lip. While you can let your mustache grow longer, the hairs can get in your mouth when you eat and talk. Keep a straight face and hold your grooming scissors so they line up with the top of your upper lip. Cut your facial hair straight across the top of your mouth.^{[18]
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- Leave the corners of your mustache connected to your beard.

Expert Q&A

Question

Should you shape your beard as it grows?

Mark LoBiondo
Licensed Cosmetologist
Mark LoBiondo is a Licensed Cosmetologist and the Owner of Markdaniel Barbershop. With more than nine years of experience, Mark specializes in providing barber services reminiscent of classic neighborhood barbershop experiences. Markdaniel Barbershop has been featured in Jersey's Best. Mark and his team all hold Barber or Cosmetology Licenses in New Jersey.

Mark LoBiondo

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Nope! Don't get your beard trimmed or shaped until it grows longer than you want it. It's also not a great idea to cut your beard in a clean line if you plan on growing it out below your chin.

Warnings

Always talk to your doctor before starting supplements since they could have interactions with other medications you’re taking.

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