Every man who wants to grow a beard wants it to be full and thick in a couple of months, but the reality is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Growing a large beard takes a considerable amount of time and effort, especially for first-timers. First, there’s the growth element: the average beard grows at about half an inch a month, but this could be more or less for some. Then there’s the coverage element, even if your beard grows at the average rate (or higher) it may not cover every area you want it to right away — that’s where the maintenance comes in.