Why Does My Beard Stick Out?

Short Answer

Beard flyaways (hairs that stick out) are usually caused by differences in how individual hairs grow, along with hair texture, dryness, beard length, and everyday friction. Some hairs simply grow in different directions or refuse to lay flat, especially as your beard gets longer.

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What Are Beard Flyaways?

If you've ever looked in the mirror and noticed a few (or maybe many) beard hairs sticking straight out from the rest of your beard, congratulations - you've experienced beard flyaways. A flyaway is simply a term for beard hairs that don't go with the flow - that is, they stick out, making the beard look less groomed and less put together. 

They're especially common as a beard gets longer, but even shorter beards can have hairs that refuse to cooperate. They can be frustrating to deal with, to say the least. 

So what actually causes them?

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Beard Hairs Don't All Grow the Same Way

One of the biggest reasons for beard flyaways is simply the way your facial hair grows.

Unlike the hair on your head, which is often easier to train into a consistent direction, beard hair can grow in a wide variety of directions. Some hairs may grow downward, while others grow outward, sideways, or even curl back toward your face.

As your beard gets longer, those differences become more noticeable.

You can groom your beard in the same direction every morning, but an individual hair may still decide it wants to go somewhere else.

That's normal.

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Different Hair Textures Can Create Flyaways

Not every hair in your beard has the same texture.

Some hairs may be straight while others are wavy or curly. Some may be finer, while others are thicker and more wiry.

These differences can cause individual hairs to sit differently from the rest of your beard.

This is particularly noticeable in longer or thicker beards, where a few unruly hairs can stick out from an otherwise well-groomed beard.

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Dry Hair Is More Difficult to Manage

Dry beard hair can also contribute to flyaways.

When beard hair becomes dry, it can feel rougher and become more difficult to keep together. This doesn't necessarily mean dryness is the original cause of every flyaway, but keeping the hair properly conditioned can make it softer and more manageable.

Beard oil can help condition the hair, while a leave-in conditioner can provide additional conditioning for beards that need it.

The goal isn't to make every hair perfectly flat. It's to make the hair easier to manage.

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Longer Beards Have More Opportunities for Flyaways

The longer your beard gets, the more noticeable flyaways tend to become.

A short beard doesn't have much length for individual hairs to stick out from. As those hairs grow longer, small differences in direction and texture become much more obvious.

This is one reason you may notice flyaways becoming more frustrating as your beard grows.

It's also why longer beards often benefit from a little more grooming and conditioning.

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Friction and Humidity Can Contribute

Your beard doesn't spend the entire day sitting perfectly still.

Pillows, shirts, jackets, hands, towels, and other surfaces can all create friction against the hair. This can disturb the direction you've groomed your beard into and contribute to hairs sticking out.

Sleeping can be particularly noticeable. You may go to bed with a perfectly groomed beard and wake up with several hairs pointing in completely different directions.

Humidity can also contribute - I know this from experience, as I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast region.

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What Can You Do About Beard Flyaways?

You can't eliminate 100% of flyaways, and even if you do, more will appear as soon as you get up and going. The goal isn't to completely eliminate them all of the time, but to get the vast majority to comply so your beard looks nice and well put together. 

A few simple habits can make them easier to manage.

Keep your beard conditioned. Beard oil can help keep the hair softer and more manageable, while a leave-in conditioner can provide additional conditioning for longer or more difficult-to-manage beards.

Brush or comb regularly. Grooming helps encourage the hairs to lay in a consistent direction and can make your beard look more uniform.

Use a beard balm when you need more control. If individual hairs continue to stick out, a balm can provide some additional hold while also conditioning the beard. (Bonus points if your balm also doubles as a leave-in conditioner.)

Don't overdo it. Adding more product isn't always the answer. If your beard is generally healthy and manageable, a few flyaways are simply part of having a beard. 

Go with the occasional shape-up. An occasional light trim can help keep your beard's shape defined. The goal isn't to take off length, but to keep the shape intact and uniform, much like you would trim a hedge. 

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For our full article on how to fix beard flyaways, click here.

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In Conclusion

Beard flyaways are usually caused by a combination of natural growth patterns, differences in hair texture, beard length, dryness, and everyday friction.

They're especially common in longer beards because there's simply more hair and more opportunity for individual hairs to go their own way.

The goal isn't to eliminate every flyaway; it's to get it to look better most of the time. Keep your beard conditioned, groom it consistently, and use a little styling product when you need additional control.