Why Is My Beard Hair Falling Out? (And When Should You Worry?)

July 1, 2019

Why Is My Beard Hair Falling Out? (And When Should You Worry?)

By John, founder of Braw Beard Oils

You brush your beard in the morning and notice a handful of hairs left behind. The fear of your beard hair falling out sets in. Don't worry! It is perfectly normal to lose beard hair daily.

But let's give you the full picture, because understanding what's normal beard hair loss, what's not, and what to do about it makes all the difference.

First: some reassuring numbers- what’s normal beard hair loss

It's completely normal to lose between 50 and 100 beard hairs every single day. That sounds like a lot, but consider this: the average full beard has around 30,000 hairs.

Those hairs aren't falling out randomly, they're following a precise biological cycle that every single one of your beard hairs goes through. This is why you'll find the odd hair on your desk or in your brush rather than losing your whole beard at once.

The three phases of beard hair growth

Understanding the cycle takes the fear out of beard shedding entirely.

Anagen: the growth phase

This is where new hair grows from the follicle. On average it lasts between two and six years, though genetics play a big role. Some people's anagen phase runs longer, which is why certain men can grow impressively long beards while others plateau earlier. If you grow hair quickly, you're likely blessed with a longer anagen phase. If growth feels slow, patience really is the answer. Hair grows roughly 1cm per month on average.

Catagen: the transition phase

Growth stops, but the hair stays put. Behind the scenes, the follicle is winding down, cutting the hair off from its blood supply and the cells that produce new growth. This phase lasts around two to three weeks. The hair is essentially in standby mode.

Telogen: the shedding phase

A new hair begins forming beneath the old one and gradually pushes it out. That's the hair you find in your brush. The follicle then re-enters the anagen phase and the whole cycle begins again.

Because every hair on your face is at a different stage of this cycle at any given time, shedding is constant and completely natural.

Normal beard shedding vs. actual beard hair loss: how to tell the difference

Normal shedding looks like:

• A few hairs in your brush or comb every day

• No visible thinning or change in how your beard looks overall

• Even distribution across the beard

Worth paying attention to:

• Noticeably more hairs than usual over several weeks

• Visible thinning, your beard looking less full than it used to

• Patchy areas or round bald spots appearing

• Hairs coming out in clumps

If it's the first category, you're fine. If it's the second, keep reading.

What causes excess beard shedding?

Several lifestyle and health factors can push more hairs into the shedding phase prematurely, or slow down the regrowth that normally keeps pace with it.

Stress

Both physical and mental stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle. High stress raises cortisol levels, which interferes with hormonal balance and can push a larger-than-normal proportion of hairs into the telogen (shedding) phase at once. This condition is called telogen effluvium. The frustrating thing is there's usually a delay, a stressful period in your life may show up as increased shedding six to twelve weeks later.

Poor nutrition

Your beard hair is made of protein, and it needs a steady supply of nutrients to grow properly. Deficiencies in protein, biotin, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids can all weaken the hair at the root and slow regrowth. If your diet has been poor for a while and your beard is thinning, it's worth looking at what you're eating before anything else.

Harsh grooming habits

Over-brushing, tugging aggressively with a comb, rough towel drying, or using hair shampoo on your beard can all damage the hair shaft or irritate the follicles. Beard hair is finer and more delicate than it looks. Treat it accordingly, gentle detangling, a beard-specific wash, and a soft pat dry rather than a vigorous rub.

Skin conditions

The skin your beard grows from matters. Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis (beard dandruff in its more serious form), eczema, fungal infections, or chronically clogged pores can cause inflammation at the follicle level, weakening the hair at the root and increasing shedding. If your scalp tends towards dandruff or flaky skin, your beard skin is likely prone to similar issues.

Hormonal factors

Facial hair growth is regulated by testosterone and its derivative DHT. Hormonal imbalances - whether from underlying health conditions, significant weight changes, or other factors - can affect beard growth and shedding. If you suspect this might be a factor, it's worth a conversation with your GP.

When it might be something more serious: alopecia barbae

If you're noticing smooth, round, coin-shaped bald patches appearing in your beard, it may be alopecia barbae - a form of alopecia areata that specifically affects the beard area.

Alopecia barbae is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. It's not contagious and it's not caused by poor grooming. You may notice mild tingling or itching before a patch appears, or no warning signs at all.

The good news is that it's treatable in many cases. Treatment options a dermatologist might consider include topical corticosteroids, minoxidil, or other medications depending on severity. Hair does sometimes regrow on its own, though the condition can be unpredictable.

You can find out more about hair loss from the NHS here.

What you can do to support healthy beard growth

If your shedding is in the normal range but you want to give your beard the best possible conditions:

Eat well. Protein, healthy fats, zinc, iron, biotin- these are the building blocks of healthy hair. A balanced diet beats any supplement.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration shows up in your hair before almost anywhere else. Aim for at least 1.2 litres of water a day, more if you're active.

Use natural beard oil daily. A good beard oil - one built on natural carrier oils like hempseed, jojoba, and argan - nourishes both the hair and the skin underneath, keeping follicles healthy and hair more resilient. Avoid products with synthetic ingredients and alcohol, which strip the skin and do the opposite. See our carefully crafted beard oils here.

Wash with a beard-specific cleanser. Regular shampoo is too harsh for facial skin. A low-pH beard wash cleans without stripping the natural oils your follicles need to function well.

Be gentle. Comb to detangle, brush to distribute oil and exfoliate the skin, but do both gently. Aggressive grooming causes breakage and follicle irritation that makes shedding worse.

Manage stress where you can. Easier said than done, but sleep, exercise, and scaling back on caffeine all have a measurable effect on hair health over time.

See more beard growing tips here.

When to see a doctor

Go and see your GP if:

• You're losing significantly more than 50–100 hairs a day and it's not settling down

• You're noticing bald patches or clumping hair loss

• Shedding has increased significantly after starting a new medication

• Your beard is thinning alongside other symptoms: fatigue, weight changes, skin issues

There's no shame in getting it checked. Sometimes beard hair loss is the first visible sign of something going on internally, and it's always better to know.

Growing a great beard takes patience, but understanding what's happening at follicle level makes that patience a lot easier. Most of the time, those hairs in your brush are simply making way for what's next.

Any questions? Drop them in the comments, always happy to talk beards.

John, founder of Braw Beard Oils