| How to Grow a Beard Faster Posted: 11 Sep 2020 05:00 PM PDT If you're eager to grow a glorious beard, it's hard to accept that it simply takes time. In reality, your genetic profile is the most important (and unchangeable) factor in how fast your beard will grow.[1] There are things you can do to potentially speed up the process a bit, though. Take care of your beard as it grows, follow a beard-healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor if your beard needs additional help. And, above all, be patient, and don't stress! [Edit]Caring for Your Face and Beard - Be patient and let your facial hair grow. Your genetic profile is the primary factor in how quickly (and how fully) your beard grows, and there's not much you can do about that. On average, though, most people will see their facial hair fully grow in after 4 weeks of not shaving.[2]While you can take measures to support the process and increase the growth, you should also accept that your beard will grow in its own way and at its own pace.[3]
- Some people say that regularly trimming your beard will stimulate faster growth, but there's no evidence to support this.
- It's possible that frequent shaving before you start growing a beard may stimulate the hair follicles to grow faster, but the evidence for this is also limited at best.[4]
- So, once you start growing a beard, just let it grow!
- Wash your face twice per day to unblock hair follicles. Wet your face with warm water. If you haven't started your beard yet, massage in a gentle face cleanser. If you do have a beard coming in, also use a mild shampoo on just the facial hair. Rinse the cleanser and/or shampoo away with cool, clean water, then pat your face dry with a soft towel. Do this every morning and evening.[5]
- Washing your face regularly will help to remove dirt and oil from your hair follicles. This makes it easier for them to grow.
- To test if a cleanser is gentle enough for your skin, apply a small amount to your chin and leave it for 10 minutes. If you don't have any signs of a reaction (like redness or irritation), you can try washing your face with the cleanser.
- Massage your face twice daily to stimulate the follicles. Apply firm but not painful pressure on your face with your fingertips, then massage in small circles over your beard-growing area. Do the massage for about 10 minutes, twice per day.[6]
- Exfoliate your face once per week.[7] Wash your face as normal with your gentle cleanser or shampoo, but rinse with warm water and leave your skin damp. Gently massage in the exfoliant over your entire face (including any facial hair), then rinse it away completely with clean water and pat your face dry.[8]
- Exfoliating will help to clear away dead skin cells that may be impeding your hair follicles from achieving their full growth potential.
- Before using an exfoliant on your entire face, test a small patch on your chin for 5-10 minutes. If you don't feel any burning or irritation, you should be good to go.
- Pamper your growing beard with beard oil or softener. While you should be wary of any product claims made for stimulating beard growth, beard oils and beard softeners may, in fact, provide some benefits. Keeping your beard hairs soft and hydrated may encourage slightly faster growth.
- Avoid beard oil if you have acne, though. It may worsen your breakouts.[9]
- At the very least, using beard products will make your beard look and feel better, no matter how fast it's growing.
- Try homemade beard-stimulating recipes. As with most home remedies, the supporting evidence for beard stimulators is limited at best. They aren't likely to cause any harm, though, so consider trying one or both of the following:[10]
- Create a thin paste out of of fresh-squeezed lime juice and 1 US tbsp (15 g) of ground cinnamon. Apply it to your beard in a thin layer, leave it for 20-30 minutes, then rinse it away and use your normal face cleanser. Use this paste 1-2 times per day, but stop if you notice any irritation.
- Blend 3 US tbsp (45 g) of dried mustard leaves with of amla oil until it forms a smooth paste. Apply it in a thin layer over your beard, leave it for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it away and wash your face with your normal cleanser. Refrigerate any remaining paste and use it daily for 2-3 days.
[Edit]Choosing a Beard-Friendly Diet and Lifestyle - Eat more foods with vitamins B3, B5, B7, and B9. Several of the B vitamins promote healthy hair, so upping your intake may help your beard grow a bit faster and fuller. Biotin (Vitamin B7) seems particularly beneficial, so you may want to consult your doctor about taking a biotin supplement as well.[11]
- Nuts are a great source of biotin (Vitamin B7).
- You'll find vitamins B3 and B5 in chicken, beef, fish, dairy, and avocados.
- You can get Vitamin B9 from cereals, nuts, and leafy greens.
- Increase your intake of vitamins A, C, and E. Like the B vitamins, each of these vitamins supports healthy hair in some fashion. They're also important for your overall health.[12]
- Eat carrots, broccoli, and leafy greens for Vitamin A.
- Choose green peppers, tomatoes, and citrus for Vitamin C.
- Pick beans, nuts, and leafy greens for Vitamin E.
- Eat a balanced diet overall to support beard health. While it may be helpful to target key vitamins, make sure you focus on eating a healthy diet that provides a wide variety of nutrients. Think of it this way—whatever is good for your body is good for your beard![13]
- Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (like avocados and olive oil).
- Cut back on processed foods, excess salt and sugar, and unhealthy fats (like saturated and trans fats in processed foods).
- Drink water to hydrate your body and your beard hair follicles.
- Follow health guidelines for exercise and sleep. Like eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise and enough sleep are good for your overall health and your beard health. Aim for the following:[14]
- Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. Moderate intensity means your heart rate is elevated and you're breathing hard enough that it's tough to make conversation.
- Do 2-3 strength training sessions per week, each for 30-60 minutes.
- Get roughly 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night.
- Reduce stress to encourage beard growth. You've probably heard that excessive stress can cause hair loss. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that it might also slow down hair growth. That means the less you worry about your beard, the better it might grow![15]
- Find the stress reduction techniques that work best for you. Try things like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, nature walks, listening to calming music, talking to friends, or reading a good book.
- Work with your doctor and a mental health professional if you're having significant difficulty handling stress.
- Stop smoking for your overall (and maybe beard) health. There's no direct evidence that smoking is specifically bad for beard health. However, smoking is clearly bad for so many aspects of your overall health that it's not unreasonable to think it may hinder beard growth. Whether you're trying to grow a beard or not, focus on quitting as soon as possible.[16]
- There are numerous smoking cessation aids available today. Work with your doctor to find the right method (or combination of methods) for you.
- There is some evidence that smoking may cause your beard hair to turn gray faster.
[Edit]Considering Medical Options - Seek medical advice regarding your testosterone and DHT levels. Testosterone can be broken up into 2 types, often referred to as T and DHT. DHT levels impact beard hair density, while T impacts beard hair thickness. Managing T and DHT levels under medical supervision may enhance your beard growth.[17]
- Do not use testosterone-boosting pills, creams, injections, or other products without the advice and guidance of your doctor. There can be a range of unwanted side effects, and you could end up impeding beard growth.
- Your doctor may recommend engaging in regular strength-training sessions as a way to naturally boost testosterone levels.
- Talk to your doctor about using minoxidil (Rogaine) on your face. Rogaine, the most common brand name for minoxidil, is widely used to slow the progress of male pattern baldness. If applied to the face properly, it should help stimulate beard growth. However, even though Rogaine is available over the counter in many areas, you should always consult your doctor before using it on your face.[18]
- This may be a better treatment option if you have patches where your beard doesn't grow in well, as opposed to wanting your entire beard to grow in faster.
- If and when you stop treatment, any new hair growth may fall out.
- Ask a medical expert about micro-needling to stimulate hair growth. Microneedling involves rolling a device on your face that's similar to a lint roller—except instead of sticky paper on the roller, it has hundreds of tiny needle points. Some advocates for micro-needling believe the tiny pinpricks stimulate the hair follicles and enhance beard growth.
- Some dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use in-office micro-needling to address issues like acne. Talk to a medical professional you trust before undergoing micro-needling treatments or buying a device yourself.[19]
- If used correctly, the process should be safe and relatively painless. However, it's essential that the device is sanitized properly before each use according to the product instructions (usually by soaking it in alcohol).
- Look into facial hair transplants as a final option. If there are areas of your beard that simply won't grow in, hair transplants may be your only choice. As with top-of-the-head hair transplants, individual hair follicles are relocated from one area (like the back of the neck) to another (like your cheek).[20]
- Hair transplants usually require multiple procedures that are both costly and time-consuming. It may take up to 2 years to see the full results, and the procedure doesn't always work.
- Transplants may help fill in gaps in your beard, but it won't make your beard grow faster.
- Remember to be patient and persistent. You can encourage your beard to grow faster, but your genetics will play a large role in how quickly the facial hair grows. Look at the beards your male relatives have; that will help you figure out what you can expect.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Polish Scratches Out of Aluminum Posted: 11 Sep 2020 09:00 AM PDT Aluminum is used to make all kinds of everyday items from cars and wheels to refrigerators and kitchenware. It can be polished to make it very shiny, even mirror-like, and is a cheaper alternative to stainless steel and chrome. If you want to get scratches out of something like an aluminum refrigerator, oven, cup, car wheel, bike part, chair, or any other piece of aluminum, try polishing them out. As long as the aluminum doesn't have any super deep gouges and dents, you can polish out the scuffs and scratches with a few basic supplies and some elbow grease! [Edit]Removing Light Scuffs with a Scouring Pad - Mask off any non-metal areas around the scratched aluminum using tape. Use strips of blue painter's tape or masking tape. Cover up any sensitive or delicate parts of the aluminum object that you don't want to accidentally scratch or get polishing compound on during the polishing process.[1]
- For example, if you want to polish scuffs out of something like an aluminum stove or fridge, you might want to mask off things like control panels if they are near the scratched area.
- This method works for very minor scuffs and scratches. Keep in mind that you won't be able to get the aluminum looking like it is straight out of the factory, but you will be able to hide the scuffs and shine up the metal.
- You'll get the best results using this method if you polish the entire aluminum surface, not just the scuffed area, so that the finish looks uniformly shiny when you're done. However, if the scuffed area isn't too conspicuous, such as in a corner of an aluminum stove door, you can just polish the scuff marks out and blend it in to the surrounding metal as much as possible.
- Rub a scouring pad back and forth over the scuffed area, going with the grain. Hold a scouring pad in your hand and press it gently against the scratched area of the aluminum. Rub it back and forth over the area using slow controlled motions until the scuff marks disappear and the metal starts to look shiny.[2]
- Most aluminum has a unidirectional grain, which are actually brush marks caused by the original polishing process that the aluminum went through. Never rub the scouring pad across this grain or you might end up making the scuffs worse.
- If the aluminum item you want to polish doesn't have a visible grain, just pick a direction to rub the scouring pad in and only move it back and forth in this direction. Don't change directions or move it in circular motions or you might just create more scuff marks.
- Scouring pads are also known as buffing pads. The finer the git, the better for this job. You can get a fine-grit scouring pad at an auto detail supply shop.
- Apply metal polish to the aluminum using a microfiber cloth. Squeeze a small drop of metal polish onto a microfiber cloth. Scrub the metal polish into the affected area and the surrounding aluminum surfaces using back and forth motions and going with the grain of the aluminum.[3] Keep rubbing until the polish disappears into the metal and the surface looks nice and shiny.
- You can use a special aluminum polish or any type of metal polish you have available. Both will work to shine up the surface.
- Use a microfiber cloth to apply metal wax or sealant to the aluminum. Wrap a microfiber cloth around your index finger and dip it into a container of metal wax or sealant. Rub it over the aluminum surface using even strokes in alternating directions until the wax or sealant gets absorbed and there are no streaks on the metal.[4]
- This will seal the aluminum and protect it from oxidation.
- You can get metal waxes and sealants at an auto detail supply shop.
- Remove any tape that you applied to mask off certain areas. Peel up the masking tape or blue painter's tape. Dispose of it in your recycling bin.[5]
[Edit]Sanding out Deep Scratches - Spray WD-40 all over the aluminum you want to polish to lubricate it. Cover the scratched aluminum surface evenly in WD-40. This lubrication will help carry away the metal particles that you remove during sanding.[6]
- This method is known as wet sanding. You can do it with water too, but WD-40 is the best lubricant when you are sanding bare metal.
- You can use this method to sand and polish out curb damage on an aluminum car wheel or bicycle crank shaft, for example.
- Since you'll be actually removing a layer of metal using this method, the final results will look best if you sand and polish the entire aluminum object, not just the scratched part. For instance, if you want to polish scratches out of the face of an aluminum wheel, sand the entire wheel down.
- Sand out the scratches using 220-grit sandpaper. Attach 220-grit sandpaper to a sanding block, an electrical sander, or just use it in your hand if the scratched area is small. Press the sandpaper firmly against the scratched area and move it back and forth over the scratches in alternating directions until they disappear.[7]
- Keep in mind that if there are very deep dents and gouges in the aluminum, you won't be able to polish them out completely by sanding. However, you can at least make them less visible and restore shine to the surrounding surface.
- Make sure that the sandpaper you used is labelled as safe for wet sanding. Most fine-grit sandpaper is OK to use for wet sanding, but double-check the packaging or the back of the paper to be sure.
- Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when you sand metal, especially if you are using a powerful electric sander.
- Switch to 1500-grit sandpaper and sand the aluminum to smooth it out. Move the sandpaper back and forth in alternating directions, applying firm pressure, all over the same area you just sanded the deep scratches out of. This will get rid of the small scuffs and scratches made by the coarser sandpaper to smooth out the surface and start shining it up.[8]
- If you don't have exactly 1500-grit sandpaper, it's fine to use another very fine-grit sandpaper. Anywhere between 1000-grit and 2000-grit is fine for this step.
- Give the aluminum a final sanding with 3000-grit sandpaper. Switch to 3000-grit sandpaper and go back over the entire surface you have been sanding. This will make the aluminum very shiny.[9]
- If you don't want a super-shiny, mirror-like finish, you can use sandpaper that is slightly less than 3000-grit to finish sanding. For example, something between 2000-grit and 2500-grit.
- If there is no more WD-40 left on the aluminum by this stage, spray a little directly onto the sandpaper to lubricate it for this last round of sanding. This will help make the aluminum extra-shiny and carry away fine metal particles so they don't stick to the surface.
- Rub aluminum polish onto the surface using a polishing pad or cloth. Put some aluminum polish onto a clean area of a polishing pad or polishing cloth. Work the polish into the aluminum using circular motions, starting in the center and working your way out to the edges.[10]
- You'll know the polish is doing its job when the polishing cloth or pad starts to get black. If you don't see this black residue on your cloth or pad, rub harder and keep working the polish in all over the surface until you do.
- Buff the polish off with a clean, soft cloth. Rub a clean, soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, vigorously all over the polished surface using circular and alternating back and forth motions. Keep buffing the aluminum until it is uniformly shiny and there are no traces of polish left on the surface.[11]
- You can keep buffing the aluminum until you achieve the level of shine you want. However, once there are no streaks or other residue from the polish left on the surface, feel free to stop.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't polish aluminum that has any type of special coating, such as a Teflon coating, or you will just end up damaging the coating. You can only polish scratches out of bare aluminum.
- Don't use sandpaper that is any coarser than 220-grit on aluminum or you will just make more deep scratches in the surface.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Removing Light Scuffs with a Scouring Pad - Scouring pad
- Metal polish
- Microfiber cloth
- Metal wax or sealant
- Masking tape or painter's tape (optional)
[Edit]Sanding Out Deep Scratches - WD-40
- 220-grit sandpaper
- 1500-grit sandpaper
- 3000-grit sandpaper
- Electric sander or sanding block (optional)
- Aluminum polish
- Microfiber cloth
[Edit]References |
| How to Cut a Round Cake Posted: 11 Sep 2020 01:00 AM PDT Round cakes are tasty treats that, at times, can be difficult to cut into enough pieces to serve everyone. In addition to the typical method of cutting a round cake into triangle-like slices, round cakes can also be cut into small square pieces, smaller triangle slices, and even long, thin strips. One method was even designed by a scientist to ensure every piece of cake is fresh and moist. [Edit]Slicing Into Even Triangles - Select a knife that's big enough to cut across the entire round cake. For example, if the diameter of your round cake is , your knife should be at least that long. If you're unable to find a knife as long as the diameter of your cake, choose one that's as long as possible.[1]
- If your knife isn't as long as the diameter of your cake, you'll need to slide the knife along the top of the cake in order to make a complete line in the frosting.
- Soak your knife in warm water before using it to cut your cake. Fill a tall glass with warm tap water. Place your knife inside the water and lean it against the edge of the glass. Leave your knife in the water until you're ready to cut your cake. When you're ready to cut the cake, take the knife out of the glass and wipe the water off with a tea towel.[2]
- You'll need to make sure your glass is tall enough to hold the knife you're using.
- Use your knife to score a line through the middle of the cake. Hold your knife above the cake with both hands. Hold the handle with your dominant hand and the tip of the knife with your non-dominant hand's fingertips. Place your knife across the entire cake, going through the middle of the cake. Use a rocking motion with the knife, from the tip to the handle, to score a straight line across the cake.[3]
- Press into the frosting to score the line, only until you read the first layer of cake. Do not cut into the cake itself.
- Score a second line at a 70-degree angle to the first line. Start the second line from the middle of the first line. Move your knife so that the second line is at a 70-degree angle to the first line, which should create a piece that is about 1/3 of that half of the cake, or 1/6 of the entire cake.[4]
- The first 2 lines have now divided the cake into 3 pieces.
- Created a third line through the middle of the smaller triangle. One half of your cake will look like it's made of 2 triangles, one larger than the other. The third score line should divide that smaller triangle exactly in half, from the middle.[5]
- The first 3 lines have now divided the cake into 4 pieces.
- The 2 smallest pieces will be the size of all the final pieces.
- Score 2 more lines to divide the larger triangle into 3 pieces. The next 2 score lines will divide the larger triangle piece into 3 even sections. From a technical perspective, each of the 5 resulting triangle pieces should have an approximate 36-degree angle.[6]
- This entire process is based on estimating the size of the slices, but you're aiming to make all the pieces equal in size.
- Use your knife to extend the 4 half-lines across the cake. One half of the cake is now scored into 5 pieces. Only 1 of the lines scored so far goes across the entire diameter of the cake. Four of the lines scored so far only go halfway across the cake. Use your knife to extend those 4 half-lines so they go across the entire diameter of the cake.[7]
- The final result of this process will divide the round cake into 10 even pieces.
- If you have more than 10 people to serve, you can cut each of the 10 pieces in half to produce 20 even pieces.
- Cut your cake along each of the score lines to create 10 even pieces. Dip your knife in the warm water and wipe it off with a tea towel in-between each cut you make in the cake. Use your knife and cut through the entire cake following the score marks you've made. Cut from the middle point of the cake for each slice.[8]
- Pull the knife out of the bottom of the cake slowly.
- Scoop up each piece of cake with an offset spatula after it's cut, or wait to start handing out cake pieces once the entire cake is cut.
[Edit]Cutting into Small Squares - Warm your knife in water before you start to cut the cake. Put your knife into a glass or container filled with warm tap water. Leave it in the container until you need it to slice the cake. Whenever you take the knife out of the water, wipe it off on a tea towel.[9]
- Make sure the glass or container you use is tall enough for the knife you've chosen to use.
- Slice the round cake into long, thin strips. Each strip should be about wide. Once you've sliced off a strip of cake, lay it flat onto a cutting board or plate. Remember to warm your knife between each large slice.[10]
- If you don't need as many pieces of cake, you can make the strips larger/wider.
- Cut the long slice into strips. Once the longer slice is laying flat on a cutting board, use your knife to cut it into strips. The end result will be a piece of cake that's thick and wide, with a length that's equal to the height of the cake.[11]
- You don't need to warm the knife in water to cut these small strips.
- You can also cut the flat slice into strips longer than if you'd like.
[Edit]Cutting Inner and Outer Sections - Heat up your knife in warm water before you begin. Allow your knife to sit in a glass of warm tap water before you begin slicing the cake. Wipe the excess water off the knife with a tea towel when you take it out of the water. Re-warm the knife between each major cut in the cake.[12]
- The warmed metal will cut through the cake quicker and easier than a cold knife.
- Cut a circle in your cake, from the edge. Slide your knife into the cake vertically in a spot that's approximately from the edge. Keep the knife vertical and cut a circle in the middle of the cake that stays from the edge all the way around. Essentially, you're creating a new round cake in the middle of your existing round cake.[13]
- This method will only work for cakes that are in diameter or larger. Smaller cakes should be cut into the typical triangle pieces.
- The end result will be an outer ring-shaped cake and an inner round cake.
- Cut the ring-shaped outer cake into wide pieces. Re-warm and dry the knife before proceeding. Use the knife to cut the outer, ring-shaped cake into individual pieces that are about wide. For an cake, this will result in 21 pieces of the same shape and size.[14]
- For cakes larger than , you can either keep the same slice width of , which will result in more than 21 pieces, or you can increase the width of each slice in order to still create about 21 pieces.
- Slice the smaller round inner cake into triangles pieces. Once the 21 outer slices of cake have been removed, you have a new, but smaller, round cake to cut. Start but cutting the inner round cake in half, through the middle. Then cut the cake in half again, at a 90-degree angle to the first cut. Depending on the size of the inner cake and the number of slices you need, you can either cut each quarter section in half (which will give you 8 slices, or you can cut each quarter section into thirds, which will give you 12 pieces.[15]
- For example, if the entire cake was in diameter, you'll have a mini-round cake left in the middle.
- Don't forget to rewarm and dry your knife before you start cutting the inner cake. However, you won't need to rewarm between cuts.
[Edit]Making Precise Cuts to Store Cake - Use this scientific method for cakes you plan to store. This method works best when you have a round cake that is not going to be eaten all at once, for example, at a party. If only a small portion of the cake is going to be eaten, and the rest is going to be stored in the fridge for later, this is the method that will provide you with the freshest cake day-after-day.[16]
- This method was created by a British mathematician named Sir Francis Galton and first published in the journal Nature in 1906.
- Make one cut across the entire cake, slightly off-centre. This first cut needs to go the entire diameter of the cake, but not down the exact middle of the cake. Instead, the cut needs to be off-centre because you're essentially cutting a strip out of the middle of the cake. Make this first cut about to the right of the middle of the cake.[17]
- The final piece of cake will be wide.
- If you want a larger slice of cake, cut the cake more than from the middle.
- Cut the cake again, to the left of the first cut. The second cut will create a long, thin slice or strip of cake directly through the middle of the cake. This slice of cake will be wide but will be the entire diameter of the round cake.[18]
- Again, you can cut a slice larger than wide, if you'd like.
- Use your knife to remove the thin slice from the cake. Slide your knife under the cake, just underneath the thin slice that you created with the first two cuts. Carefully lift the knife so you can remove the thin slice from the middle of the cake.[19]
- Serve and/or eat the thin slice of cake you cut out.
- You can cut this middle slice into small pieces if you'd like.
- Slide the 2 ends of the cake together and secure them. Once you've removed the middle slice of cake, use your hands (or a spatula or knife) to slide the two ends of the cake together in the middle of the cake tray. Make sure the inside sections of the cake are touching each other. Secure the two ends together.[20]
- The original method suggests securing the cake with a rubber band. However, this will only work if your cake has a harder exterior made of something like fondant (and isn't very big).
- Alternatively, you could use a ribbon, a thin piece of parchment paper, or a piece of plastic wrap to hold the two ends together.
- You could also avoid securing the cake, as simply sliding the two ends together have probably protected the inside of the cake well enough.
- Cut another slice from the middle, perpendicular to the first slice. When you're ready for another slice of cake, take it out of the fridge and cut another slice from the middle of the cake. However, this time, cut the slice at a 90-degree angle to your original slice. Then repeat the same process of sliding the ends of the cake together for overnight storage.[21]
- When storing the cake in the fridge, it's up to you if you'd like to cover the cake with a lid or plastic wrap.
- The key to this method is that the inside part of the cake, or the sponge, will stay fresh because none of it is exposed to the air.
- Repeat the process until the entire cake is eaten. Each time you want another piece of cake, repeat the same process. Each time you repeat the process, turn the cake another 90 degrees so you keep alternating the direction the slice is cut. (This will help ensure the two ends are always approximately the same size when they're slid together.)[22]
- Eventually, the pieces of cake left will be small enough to eat on their own and you won't need to continue cutting pieces from the middle.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - One or more round cakes
- Long knife
- Tall glass
- Warm water
- Tea towel
- Offset spatula
- Rectangular cutting board
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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