Beards — we love them. In fact, there’s a competition every year to find the best one! Here’s the history of the World Beard and Moustache Championship.
But, have you ever seen those magnificent, elite beards with an artistic flair?
Those who are donned by the unshaven competitors in a male pageant of sorts are impressive and glorious in their own right.
These world-class competitors showcase their creative stylized beards at the World Beard and Moustache Championship, held every other year in different locations around the world. The first known competition was held in 1990 in Höfen an der Enz, Germany, by the Höfener Beard Club. Four years later, they hosted the second competition in a nearby city.
Word spread to the other beard and mustache clubs in Northern Europe, who started organizing international competitions. Many clubs have hosted these championships in their countries like Norway, Sweden, Austria, and the United States.
The largest championship was held in Austin, TX, by the Austin Facial Hair Club; it had 738 registered competitors from 33 different countries. The Austin Facial Hair Club contributes to 17 charities by donating their time and effort to raise donations to fight cancer, rehabilitate pit bulls, and helping Veterans find purpose through agricultural training.
The competition has gotten so popular that you can find all kinds of products to stylize your beloved facial hair into some pretty impressive designs. If you need to grow your beard, try the Premium Beard Growth Kit by The Beard Club.
If you need to reign in that unruly facial hair, check out Fisticuffs Strong Hold Mustache Wax by West Coast Shaving. It has a delicate scent of Bourbon for that gentlemanly appeal.
There are three overall categories, called brackets. If you can't grow out a full-blown beard you can enter into the other two brackets:
Moustache
Partial beard
Full beard
Within these, there are 16 traditional categories, and a 17th was added when the championship was held in Anchorage, Alaska. Each category has specific descriptions your beard must follow. Some of the categories will allow you to use styling aids, while others will not.
Natural Moustache
Dali Moustache
English Moustache
Imperial Moustache
Hungarian Moustache
Freestyle Moustache
The categories for Partial Beard are:
Goatee Natural
Musketeer
Fu Manchu
Goatee Freestyle
Imperial Partial / Kaiser Beard
Partial Beard Freestyle and Sideburns
The categories for Full Beard are:
Full Beard Natural
Full Beard Styled Moustache
Verdi
Garibaldi
Full Beard Freestyle
Some championships have expanded the categories up to 27! Some of these gentlemen spend anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, stylizing their beards for the competition. This sport is for anyone that can grow a glorious beard.
If you're looking to have a good time, share some laughs, appreciate the artistic talent it takes to create some fantastic beard designs, you're in luck, the next World Beard and Moustache Championship will be held in Auckland, New Zealand in March 2021 and hosted by the New Zealand Beard Club.
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