How to Grow Facial Hair, 1658

"Amongst those things that will make ones beard grow, and are easy to be had, I reckon Honey, fresh Butter without Salt, the juyce of a red Onion... Badgers grease, called Das, Bears, Lions, Grease, Bryony-roots, Beets, Radish, Pepperwort, white Lilies, Flour-de-luce: a liniment may be made of these, for the chin wet with these, first brings forth a tender down, after that a thick and long beard, which that it may not grow white too soon, must be watered rather with cold water that hath a little wine mingled with it, if we desire to adorn it." 

Levinus Lemnius, The Touchstone of Complexions

The path to bearded bliss is long, tortuous, and kind of smelly. Much like the beard itself.

How to Grow a Beard, 1539

"Dear Past, Your discussion of facial hair is intriguing, but I am not sure that I can grow such an excellent beard. Can you help? Sincerely, Wanting to Woo with Whiskers." 

Try this: 

"To make hair and beard grow. Take honeybees in quantity and dry them in a basket by the fire, then make a powder of them, which you thin out with olive oil, and with this ointment, dab several times the place where you would like to have hair, and you will see miracles." 

          Traicté nouveau, intitulé, bastiment de receptes (1539)

Know what's even better than a beard? A beard made of bees. Ladies will go wild.

How to Woo with Whiskers, 1839

“Although large Beards were not favoured by ladies, yet a well dressed one was less objectionable. A modern work (without giving any authority) mentions that a fine black whisker elegantly turned up was a mark of dignity with the fair sex.”  

John Adey Repton, Some Account of the Beard and the Moustachio (1839)

This interesting little history of the beard and the "moustachio" offers some tips for the well-dressed whisker. All I have to say is that #12 is a mighty fine muzzle mane.