Last updated on August 22, 2020
Question:
I’m wondering how long each “Stage” lasts? According to the calculator, I’m at 4.5. I just turned 19, I have been shaving my mustache about three times a week for a couple of years, but I’ve only noticed some visible growth on my chin and sideburns in the past month or two. How long do you think it will take to reach Stage 5? Sometimes I feel a little inadequate, being in a university for two years. Most of my friends have beards or maintain some sort of facial hair look, but I can’t really grow anything in yet and it bothers me to some extent. When can I expect the hair on the chin and sideburns to start growing in all over? Right now if I let the hair on my chin grow for about a week I see about 35 noticeable hairs, but after 2-3 days I only see maybe a dozen small hairs. What about the rest of my face, when will the hair on the sides of my face begin to start growing? As of now, there are just light hairs everywhere.
Answer:
For boys each stage lasts roughly 18 months to two years.
Each person’s hair growth is unique to that person. I had a friend when we were in our twenties who only shaved once a week — his facial hair grew that slowly. I had to shave daily and it still felt rough by the evening. Some men have thick, bushy beards and others never get full coverage, still others only get a few wisps of hairs; it all depends on your genetics.
Since you are seeing fine hairs (peach fuzz), those are the precursors to the heavier hair, they will be turning darker and thicker as the hair follicles ramp up production. It will take a few months, but it will eventually get there.
In the meantime you can experiment with facial hair styles that match what you do have. Try long sideburns or a mustache or a goatee. Or you can continue to shave until enough hairs come into production to give you the look that you desire.
But there is no need to feel inadequate. The number of hairs on your face has nothing to with your manliness or your attractiveness to young women. Most women are more interested in how well you keep yourself groomed than whether you look like the direct descendant of Black Beard the Pirate.
Even though the rest of your body gets to stage 5, there are still areas where development continues for several years. Hair is one of these.