The answer to whether beard hair can be transplanted to the head is yes; this procedure is a specialized form of Body Hair Transplantation (BHT). Beard hair is a valuable secondary donor source for hair restoration surgeons, especially when the traditional donor supply on the scalp is limited. This technique involves extracting follicular units from the beard area and implanting them into balding regions of the scalp. The process requires specific techniques and an understanding of the biological differences between beard and scalp hair to ensure a successful result.
The Necessary Harvesting Technique
Harvesting hair from the beard requires a specific surgical approach known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUE allows for the removal of individual follicular units, which is the only viable way to safely harvest hair from the face and neck. The surgeon administers a local anesthetic to the donor area, typically the region under the chin and along the neck, where the hair is less visible.
This process uses specialized circular punches, often 0.8 mm to 0.9 mm in diameter, which are precisely aligned with the hair shaft’s angle beneath the skin. Harvesting beard hair is more challenging than scalp hair because the skin in the beard area is more mobile. Additionally, the hair follicles often exit the skin at sharper angles, requiring high precision to avoid transecting the follicle during extraction.
Once the follicular unit is extracted, it leaves a tiny puncture wound that heals rapidly, usually within a few days. The total number of grafts safely harvestable from the beard area typically ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 single follicular units. This supply can significantly supplement a depleted scalp donor supply while ensuring minimal scarring on the face.
How Beard Hair Differs From Scalp Hair
The aesthetic outcome of a transplant is influenced by the distinct biological characteristics of beard hair compared to scalp hair. Beard hair is generally much thicker, or higher in caliber, than hair found on the scalp. The average diameter of a beard hair shaft can be up to 70% to 100% greater than that of a scalp hair, which provides a greater appearance of density after transplantation.
This increased thickness is why beard grafts are often used to add bulk or coverage to the mid-scalp and crown, where density is the primary goal. Conversely, this coarser texture makes beard hair less suitable for the frontal hairline. A finer, softer hair is needed there to create a natural transition, as using thick beard hair in the hairline can result in an unnatural appearance.
Another difference lies in the follicular unit composition; beard hair primarily grows as single-hair follicular units. Scalp hair, however, typically grows in follicular units containing two, three, or four hairs. This means a beard graft provides less coverage area per unit compared to a scalp graft, limiting its effectiveness for creating a large, dense area of coverage alone.
The growth cycle also differs significantly, impacting the maximum length the transplanted hair can achieve. Scalp hair has a long anagen (growth) phase that can last for several years, allowing the hair to grow quite long. Beard hair, in contrast, has a much shorter anagen phase, lasting only a few months. This shorter active growth period means transplanted beard hair will not grow to the same long lengths as natural scalp hair.
Why Beard Hair is Used for Head Transplants
The primary rationale for utilizing beard hair is severe donor site depletion on the scalp. Traditional hair transplants rely on the permanent hair on the back and sides of the head as the donor source. When a patient has advanced hair loss or has undergone multiple previous transplants, this scalp donor supply may be insufficient to meet the restoration goals.
In these situations, beard hair becomes a valuable secondary source to provide the necessary grafts. Surgeons use these grafts to reinforce areas like the mid-scalp and the vertex, or crown, of the head. The greater caliber of beard hair is advantageous in these regions, as it creates the illusion of greater density and coverage with fewer grafts.
Beard hair is rarely used to create a new frontal hairline due to its thickness and tendency to grow as single units. These units do not blend naturally in the foremost areas of the scalp. Instead, beard hair serves a supplementary role, mixing with existing or transplanted scalp hairs to increase overall hair volume. The procedure is limited because only a certain amount can be safely harvested without noticeably thinning the patient’s beard.