There are several issues that men encounter when growing out a beard. Patchy spots in their beards, lack of growth, and not growing fast enough are some of the most common issues with beards.
Because of this, a lot of guys turn to beard care products and devices to help. One of the most common is a beard roller. The reason is because they are inexpensive, easy to obtain, and there is a lot of chatter about anecdotal evidence with them.
We will review all the facts about using a beard roller, and we will help you determine if this is something that you should invest your time with.
What Is A Beard Derma Roller?
A beard derma roller is a handheld tool that uses microneedles to pierce the outer layer of skin to induce collagen production. Hair follicles use collagen to produce keratin proteins that help to promote hair growth. By inducing collagen, you can produce keratin which will help your hair grow.
Other names for this are beard rollers or beard micro needling. They are also thought to increase the absorption of serums and oils because of all the tiny holes.
If you look at the picture below, you can see that they are around XX inches long. On the end, it has a tiny roller that is about 1 inch long. There are hundreds of tiny needles on the roller.
How Do Dermal Rollers Work?
Dermal rollers (beard rollers) work by producing micro holes in the upper layer of the skin. This produces physical trauma by needle penetration. This gives little damage to the skin while at the same time it starts a wound healing cascade.
Here is a reference guide for microneedling applications.
Does A Derma Roller Increase Beard Growth?
There are no scientific studies that prove using a derma roller on your beard will directly result in beard growth. So, why do men use these on their beards all the time?
There are some studies that show microneedling can improve hair growth on the head. In addition to that, many professionals use it for skin treatments for wrinkles, scars, and discoloration.
However, there are several reasons why men choose to use them for their beard. Here are some potential benefits from rolling your beard:
- Activates Collagen and Keratin Production
- May Help Improve Blood Flow To Hair Follicles
- May Activate Stem Cell Growth
Men who have patchy beards will often turn to beard rollers due to these benefits.
Minoxidil And Beard Rollers
Many men use Minoxidil (Rogaine) to improve beard growth. There is a study that shows using both of these together can improve hair growth.
This microneedling study looked at 2 groups; One group was given Minoxidil lotion 5%, and the other group was given the same lotion plus weekly microneedling treatments. The results showed “The response in the form of new hair growth started after 8-10 sessions.” This was seen in all patients in the derma roller group.
Basically, 4 men were taking treatments of Minoxidil and finasteride. They were not seeing any results in hair growth on their scalp. They added weekly sessions of using a derma roller, and saw improvements.
Here are the limits to this study relating to beard growth:
- It was done on only 4 men
- It was done on the scalp and not the beard
- The men had Alopecia
- The derma rollers used 1.5 mm needles
These men were treated by professionals with professional microneedling tools. Most home rollers that you buy are only .25 to .50 needle sizes. So, this study is not the same as a guy using a home beard roller with small needles on it. While the study looks promising, you need to consider the questions raised here.
How To Use A Derma Roller
The first thing to do before using a derma roller is sanitation. This tool will produce very tiny holes in your skin. It needs to be properly sanitized before using. Cleaning it with alcohol will do the job. Put some isopropyl alcohol in a bowl, and add the roller with the needles to it. Make sure to cover the entire roller. After a minute or two, you can remove it and let it dry. Make sure not to touch the needles with your dirty hands after it is cleaned.
Once your beard roller is sanitized, you can use it on your face.
- If your beard roller is .25 use it 2 times per week. If your beard roller is .50, use it one time per week.
- Roll it back and forth over the areas where you want more hair growth. Roll it 5 to 10 times each direction. Do this vertically and horizontally.
- Apply very light pressure. Do not press so hard that your face bleeds.
- You should not feel pain while doing this. Also be careful around any open wounds or acne. You do not want to get those areas infected and bleeding.
- After you are finished, sanitize it before storing.
Here is a demonstration on how to use a derma roller on your beard:
Before And After Picture Results
You will see a lot of before and after pictures from men who have used beard rollers. There are some things to keep in mind. Your beard is going to naturally grow longer over time without a beard roller. So, showing your beard before you start using a derma roller and after is not going to help. Your facial hair is going to grow regardless. Also, there is no way to know if the person was using minoxidil to help.
Here is a testimonial of a guy who used Minoxidil and a derma roller on his beard. He used 5% Minoxidil foam and a roller 2-3 times per week. You can see his results.
How To Choose A Beard Derma Roller
Here is what you need to look for when purchasing:
- price
- needle length
- amount of needles
- durability
- packaging
Price
Price is relatively similar if you are shopping online. Most of them are around the $10 range just for the roller. A lot of them come in beard growth kits. It is up to you if you want the kit. We feel that most of the kits are not the best option even though they are inexpensive. This is because most of the products that are included are not very good.
Needle Length
If you want maximum benefit from a home dermal roller, you need to get one that has needles that are 0.50 mm. This will allow for penetration to the hair follicle in order to stimulate collagen production.
Needle Amount
One of the most common needle counts is 540. You should easily find a roller that has 540 needles on it.
Durability
Over time your beard roller may become dull. With consistent use, this may happen at around 6 months of use. You will need to replace it because it is not penetrating correctly. Thankfully, there are a lot of reviews on Amazon of all the available options.
Packaging
While it may not sound like a good feature, the packaging it comes in matters. You do not want to set your roller out on your dirty bathroom sink. Find a good one that comes in a nice plastic case.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should use a beard roller when you are not seeing the growth that you desire. Typically, you will have a patchy beard or patchy spots.
It should take 2 to 3 months before you will start seeing results.
