Feed Your Face: The Beard Diet You Didn't Know You Needed.

You know that we love a good beard oil.  A styling balm?  Don’t leave home without it, mister. But if you think growing a glorious facial forest is all about what you put on it – and not what you put in you – then, my friend, we’ve got a truth bomb headed straight for your lunch plate.

Beards are made at the table just as much as the bathroom.

Yeah, you heard right. As cliché as it is to say, you are in fact what you eat.   And if you’re scarfing down drive thru mystery meat and sad little noodles, don’t be shocked when your beard growth looks like a gawky teenager trying to cosplay as a lumberjack.

So what should you be eating if you want to unleash your inner Beard Godz?

Glad you asked.

1.   Protein: The Building Blocks of Bodacious Beard Brilliance.

Hair = protein.  Your beard is literally made of the stuff.  So, if you’re not getting enough protein, your beard is basically running on fumes.

Load up on:

-       Eggs: (nature’s protein grenade)

-       Chicken – (lean and mean)

-       Greek yogurt

-       Lentils (for our plant-based brethren)

-       Steak (obviously, you’re welcome)

-       Organ Meats (if you can do it)

-       Fatty Fish (like salmon)

-       Shrimp (small in stature, big on protein)

2.   Biotin: The Beard Booster.

Biotin is to beards, as creatine is to muscles.  It helps strengthen hair, support growth, and reduce breakage so you don’t end up with a brittle ‘stache that flakes like a croissant.

Find it in:

-  Eggs (again – seriously, just eat eggs)

-  Almonds

-  Salmon

-  Avocados

-  Sweet Potatoes

Or, if your diet mainly consists of whatever is closest to your gaming chair, grab a high-quality biotin supplement and call it good.

3.   Zinc:  The Follicle Whisperer.

Zinc is awesome for beard growth because it plays a crucial role in follicle health.  Zinc is a critical mineral that facilitates keratin production, which as you may or may not know is THE King Kong of proteins for hair development.  And zinc helps keep your hormones in check which can be instrumental in making your beard grow like it’s got somewhere important to be.  Bonus: zinc can aid in boosting testosterone too!  What can’t zinc do?

Get zinc from:

-        Oysters (nature’s beard-enhancing aphrodisiac)

-       Beef

-       Pumpkin Seeds

-       Chickpeas

-       Spinach (do it for Popeye)

OR, you can find some high-quality zinc supplements on the market today. So that would help too.

4.   Vitamin D: The Sunshine Nutrient.

You want that thick, glorious, Greek-statue-of-a-beard? Vitamin D plays a big role in activating dormant hair follicles.  Without it, your beard might just snooze forever.  Vitamin D, or “the wonder vitamin” as we call it, helps regulate oil production in your skin, which can prevent dryness and beard-dandruff, and actually strengthens individual hair shafts for a thicker, healthier beard. A lack of vitamin D has also been linked to hair loss, making it essential for maintaining a full, healthy, God-like beard. 

Stock up via:

-       The Sun (duh): 10-20 minutes a day should do it (shirt optional).

-       Fatty fish like salmon or mackerel

-       Eggs, especially yolks (yes, AGAIN)

-       Fortified cereals

-       Beef Liver

-       Fortified Orange Juice (but watch out for excess sugar).

5.   Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Beard Lube from Within

But I thought fats were bad?  No. Dummy.  Only SOME fats are bad.  Others can be very beneficial for all facets of your health, and Omega 3’s are the big dog on the block.  Not only do Omega 3’s benefit your heart and brain function, they help keep your skin hydrated and your beard silky smooth.  They can do wonders for itchy, flaky skin and the dreaded beard-druff that always make you question your life choices.

Where do I get Omega -3’s?

-       Salmon (seriously, it’s a beard superfood).

-       Walnuts

-       Chia Seeds

-       Flaxseed Oil

-       Sardines or Kippers (from the brave among us)

-       Fish Oil supplements

6.   Iron: For Full-Throttle Follicle Flow

Iron isn’t just for the gym anymore.  It helps bring much needed oxygen to your hair follicles.  More oxygen = more growth.  Less iron = beard ghost town.  Iron even helps give individual hairs a stronger structure and softer texture.  The one-two punch of beard maintenance.

Find Iron in:

-       Red Meat

-       Dark Greens (like spinach and kale)

-       Liver (old school, but legit)

-       Quinoa

-       Legumes (like black beans, lentils, white beans etc)

Hydration: Beard Fuel 101.

If you’ve made it to the age in which you can actually grow a sustainable beard. You have absolutely heard of the importance and value of hydration.  Your beard is in a lot of ways a small microcosm of your body.  What’s good for your body, organs and cells is doubly good for your beard.  Though not a nutrient, we’d be remiss in our duty to you if we didn’t mention water.  Good old H2O.  Because if you are walking around dehydrated, your beard is too.  Dry, brittle, wiry and itchy face hair is a cry for help.  We’re not saying you need to become the next basic girl with your giant thermal cup by your side 24/7, but you should be aware of your water intake as a proper bearded gent.  Keep the water flowing and your beard will thank you for it, you majestic man-beast you.

Final Bite-Sized Wisdom from Urbane Commando

You don’t need to become a kale-worshipping health guru, but if you want that beard to go from meh to magnifico!, it’s time to upgrade your fuel. You can’t expect a Ferrari beard on a gas station burrito diet.

So eat like your beard depends on it – because it kinda does.

Toss in some beard oil and balm for good measure (we know a place...) and you will be unstoppable my friend.

Eat Smart. Grow strong. Stay Urbane.

Your pal,

Urbane Commando