follicle

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Hair Follicle

The hair follicle is what produces the individual strands of hair, and can be found all over the beard area. The follicle is responsible for the shape of the hair it produces, as well as the texture.

The follicle will have sebaceous glands nearby for the secretion of sebum and is located below the epidermis, within the dermis.

Depending on the individual follicle, it will be in one of three phases in the hair cycle.

Where follicles are will be based on genetics. There are around 90,000-150,000 hair follicles on the scalp, and 5 million total on the male body. If there is no follicle present, there will be no hair produced. This is why some men may have very dense, thick-looking beards compared to other men. The more follicles there are, along with how many of the follicles are active through androgens, the thicker the beard will appear to be. Of course, the hair shaft thickness itself plays a role in that as well.

For men wondering if they can change the shape of their unruly beard, in any natural way, the answer is no. The best options you'll have are working with the beard, using a beard balm or wax, and/or using a hair dryer.

Ultimately, beyond using a few natural techniques, there's nothing you'll be able to do if you have a tight curl and want a straighter beard. As well as vice versa.

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