So, you’re trying to grow a beard. You envision a healthy, thick beard that just screams rugged masculinity. However, patchy beard growth is making you look more unkempt than manly. Fear not! Follow these tips to fill in and even out a patchy beard. And you’ll have the full, thick beard of your dreams in no time.

Give It Some Time

Individual hair follicles grow at different rates, so some areas of your beard may take longer to grow than others. Unfortunately, most men who are growing a beard shave at the first sign of patchy beard growth.

If you’ve never grown a full beard before, let it grow for at least a month. Allowing the patchy areas to catch up may be all you need to grow a thick beard. If you still have a patchy beard after letting your beard grow for a month, then read on!

Boost Your Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is the male hormone responsible for beard growth. Believe it or not, there’s actually some pretty simple ways to boost your testosterone levels, and thus help in your beard-growing quest. Any exercise will produce more testosterone, but high-intensity interval training (or HIIT, think sprinting intervals) is more effective than steady state endurance exercise (like long-distance running).

If you’re not a fan of exercise, we have great news for you: sleeping more can also boost your testosterone levels. Sleeping for 5 hours or less per night can decrease testosterone levels as much as 15 percent.

So make sure you’re getting enough sleep and regular exercise to improve your beard game and your health in general.

Try a Beard Filler

Fake it ‘til you make it! Using Toppik Hair Building Fibers as a beard filler is a great way to even out a patchy beard.

For undetectable coverage, choose a shade that matches your beard (not your hair). Apply using the Spray Applicator, and fill in edges with the Hairline Optimizer. The whole process takes only a few minutes, and you’ll have a thick beard that lasts until the next time you wash your beard.

Keep It Moisturized

Just like the hair on your head, beards require hydration to keep them in tip-top condition. Without adequate moisture, beard hairs can dry out, become brittle, and break off. Plus, a dry beard is an itchy beard, and no one likes that! Use a beard oil regularly to keep your beard healthy and soft.

Invest in a Beard Trimmer

If you’ve followed all these tips and your beard still looks patchy, don’t worry. You still have some facial hair options.

A short beard is a great balance between a lumberjack look and a 5 o’clock shadow. To pull off the style, use a beard trimmer with an adjustable length setting to trim and shape your beard after a couple days of growth. Keeping your beard on the shorter side will disguise patchy beard growth and help you look more pulled-together.

Do you have any tips for growing a beard? Let us know in the comments!