Beard rolling. Not to be confused with bread rolling…
Beard rolling is a practice that has been around since the 1990s. That being said, the practice of doing anything and everything to make your beard grow has been around for centuries longer.
Some men just naturally seem to sprout the perfect lumberjack-esque beard overnight, whereas others seem to take ten years to grow a measly few hairs. Beard rolling is something that was not first intended for beards.
In fact, it was intended to help with facial scarring and wrinkles. Okay, let’s back-track a little. It would be helpful to know what beard rolling is first, wouldn’t it?
What is beard rolling?
Beard rolling is a form of skincare known also as micro needling or derma needling. Needling... yes, you read that correctly! This is done using a device that's covered with lots of tiny needle heads that momentarily pierce your skin (aka, beard roller, derma-roller or micro-needling device).
OUCH! Although, the process is not as painful as it sounds. The minor trauma caused to your skin by the needles kickstarts the body’s natural healing process.
The skin starts to send masses of collagen to the area to help rebuild and replenish it, in turn, boosting the blood flow. What it does is help to boost the circulation in your skin, helping your skin to repair itself much faster.
This is what makes it so good for scarring and wrinkles, and while it has long been used in acne treatments and anti-aging skin care treatments.
What has this got to do with facial hair, we hear you ask? We explore the answer to this in the next section, so keep on reading!
What has micro needling got to do with beards?
We’re glad you asked! The stimulation of all of these tiny 0.5 or 0.25 millimeters needles can actually stimulate hair follicle rejuvenation.
This is because of the increased blood flow and the release of nutrients such as collagen into your skin. It is recommended especially for people with beards that refuse to grow in certain patches.
You know the look, a lovely full beard but with bald or thin patches where hair just doesn’t seem to want to grow.
With a beard derma roller, all you have to do is roll it over these patches and just wait for your hair to work its magic.
You can find a premium quality tool kit for men here: Tame's Titanium Beard Roller Kit
How to use a beard roller
Using a beard roller couldn’t be simpler. First, let’s explore a little bit about how it looks. Imagine a manual razor handle.
On top of the handle, instead of the razor, is a small device that looks similar to a rolling pin. The ‘rolling pin’ is covered with masses of those tiny needle heads that we told you about earlier.
All you have to do is get your face all clean, washed up, and ready, and on dry skin, place the roller on the area of your beard that you want to stimulate growth and gently roll the top back and forth.
The ‘rolling pin’ is moveable, and so will move with ease across your skin. When you have finished, you should ensure your beard roller is thoroughly cleaned in alcohol or sanitizing solution.
It is worth bearing in mind that you may bleed or get some inflamed skin after you have used it, especially the first time you do it. In fact, it is common to get bleeding and redness every single time you use it because the needles are piercing your skin.
For this reason, you should not use your beard roller each day, especially if the needles are 0.5mm.
If you use smaller 0.25 mm needles, you may be able to use your roller more often, but when you are first starting out you should try it once or twice a week. With twice weekly use you should expect to replace your beard roller every few months.
You should never use a beard roller on damaged skin, acne, sunburn, or any sensitive areas.
This is because the damage caused to your skin already could be worsened by the beard roller, becoming even more red and inflamed. Always seek medical advice if you are unsure about using a beard roller.
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Can I use a beard roller with other products?
It is possible to use your beard roller alongside other hair growth treatments such as Rogaine or Biotin. Bear in mind that each of these products come with their own risks, instructions, and precautions.
However, many users of beard rollers also use these hair growth treatments successfully. It is your choice, and you should always consult a health professional before using them.
Another option that would not require purchasing extra products would be to load your diet with biotin-rich food.
After all, it is thought to help strengthen thinning hair and boost healthy hair growth. Foods that contain biotin include eggs, sweet potatoes, nuts, spinach, and cauliflower.
Bottom Line
Whilst the scientific research is a little lacking, it does seem that beard rollers may indeed help promote beard growth, especially on areas of your facial scruff that are patchy and thin.
Research shows that micro needling (which is what beard rolling is) is helpful for the skin in many ways, such as promoting collagen production and helping to repair your skin. It has also been shown to help hair growth on the scalp.
With all this in mind, we think that the odds are in your favor and that a beard roller is definitely worth a try!
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