beard

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Gentlemen, start your beards!

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By now, either from reading this or hearing about that, you have heard of the World Beard and Moustache Championships, Team Beard USA and competitive bearding overall.

Well gents, it’s that time again, and you better get ready for the big leagues lest you be late to the festivities… you have 150 days to be exact. The event is Beard Team USA National Finals in Bend, Oregon. Wondering why we are giving you so much of a lead time? Well you have you ask yourself: are those 5 months of your chin's and upper lip's bestest effort enough to beat THIS guy?!

Didn’t think so… but, if you still want to try your hand at the national finals (which are apparently classified as a sporting event by the way), the hairy throwdown will take place at the Les Schwab Amphitheater on June 5th. Per website: $5000 in cash prizes will go to best beards and mustaches in the USA. The competition is open to everyone. Even Canadians!

Beware that the competition is stiff and Beard Team USA is fresh from placing atop the world at the Anchorage, Alaska games last year. Oh yeah, and also don't forget B-a-B favorite Jack Passion, the 2007 and 2009 World Beard Champion in the full beard natural category (the most competitive category of all)... yeah, he'll be there, and he's only 25... our money is on him for the Trondheim, Norway games anyway (mark your calendars: May 14, 2011).

Nationals seem to be out of your league huh? It's ok, it's out of ours too... nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, Bend Oregon is far away... But, if you do make it out to the west coast next year and are into facial hair contests in remote towns... come right down to Taft, California, where the annual Whiskerino competition that started yesterday will crown their town's best beard during the Oildorado festivities in October. Read about it here, make sure to watch the segment, classic.

Well, what say you? You going to try your hand? Huh? Hmmm?! Right, that's what we thought... us too... the good thing we'll always have each other.

ack Passion can rightfully claim to be the current world beard champion, having taken first place in the full beard natural category, the most competitive category of all, at the World Beard and Mustache Championships both in Brighton, England, in 2007 and in Anchorage, Alaska in 2009.
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RIP 'Beardtard'... or ShayCarl's Massacre

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Outside from a fuzzy-avatar and a few polite one sided exchanges on Twitter we've never seen or heard of/from ShayCarl before... we never watched his show or looked up his vlogs (no use clicking on his personal site as it's still under construction), but we knew he was of the bearded persuasion and, what we thought to be, a friend to the beards... Last night, he proved us wrong and right all at the same time... with a few swift buzzes it was gone, a beard unadulterated between 7/23/2009 and 1/1/2010 (but been around since 2007 apprently); too beautiful to live, too young to die...

See above for a touching eulogy from STL Pixurs for the poor beard (which was 'lovingly' dubbed the 'beardtard'... smh), it takes some of the sting out of the bite; but conversely, it also grabs our bearded soul and strokes our mental beard with thought of 'what could have been'...

While we are not in the business of publicizing shaving and beardacide of any kind... we did want to show you the event from last night (see the segment below from blogtv.com, also #RIPBeardtard was trending on Twitter yesterday, toward the 2nd half of the broadcast ) for two big reasons...

1) Shay did a good job in showcasing different beard/stache styles throughout his shaving escapade:

  • 7:30 -- First buzz into it
  • 9:00 -- Full Goat with burns
  • 10:30 -- Fu Manchu of sorts (+burns)
  • 14:15 -- Horseshoe (or U) Stache
  • 15:00 -- Creepy (pedo-looking) Stache
  • 18:00-21:00 -- The final shave

2) What we really wanted you all to see (and hear) are the insecurities of a man without facial hair... this dude went from a confident head of the family, to a mewling baby asking his children, chat room fans, wife, god, whomever would listen for approval of his newly bald face. The mic overloading scream ShayCarl is known for mutated into a fearful purr at best and a girly cry at worst... this, fellow beardos, is the fate that awaits us all the day we choose to shave... and for the value of this PSA alone, he deserves a big thank you and deep appreciation from the bottom of our fully bearded heart... Now, GROW IT BACK!

 

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A New Year's Resolution Success Story

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As some of you may recall, earlier in the holiday season Build-A-Beard staff stumbled upon an NYU student with an awesome beard (named Sven or something) and a tale of cursing off the razors since January 1 2009 as a new year's resolution. Since that chance meeting, and numerous twitter searches later, we are convinced that there are many like minded individuals out there looking for the push to make the one new year's resolution that works... with just a little more resolve than combing your hair, growing a beard is probably one of the easiest ways to accomplish that.

That said, let us tell you a story… as story about a man, in a town, with such resolve and dedication that should serve as a model for all those who want to walk in the shoes of giants, and grow awesome beards in 2010… that man is Matt Hensleem (aka @mhenslee), a rockin' pastor in Little Rock, Arkansas who lists Jesus, his wife as well as his beard alongside each other (love that btw). Matt made a promise to himself at the end of 2008, he vowed no longer shall his face be fuzzless and bald, no more will he deny his chin the right for privacy... he made a covenant with facial fuzz for 2009 and beyond.

We present this photographic study to you with mere hours left in 2009 to showcase what a year can bring... this could be you, in 365 days... Along with Matt, you too can join the 64 million like minded men who honor a timeless tradition of courage and test of not only character, but a test of will against a society who might not fully understand your DIY artistic expression.

Matt, if you turn even one man to the hairy cause we will deem this year a success, but while we have you... would it be too much to ask you for a blessing on the Build-A-Beard house, our friends and family, and the new decade that is upon us?

Either way, may you all have a Happy and a Healthy New Year!!! Tune in, turn on, grow out. 2010 IS the year of the beard.

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Beard Busting - There's An App For That

Panasonic is promoting the launch of new high-end razors with an iPhone application that lets consumers sketch a beard... and then.... bust it. (Not to be confused with Gary Vee's #crushit) The application allows users to upload a picture of themselves and use a sketch pen to draw anything from a goatee to mutton chops to a full-length beard. It's basically an Etch A Sketch for your face. Consumers then have the option to "bust a beard" with the “Shave it!” button, and send the result to friends on Facebook or Twitpic it.

It became available on December 19th.  B-A-B is hoping this will encourage those of you who are on the fence about growing facial hair to test out the app and see yourself.... in all your hairy glory.  

Side note: Panasonic is not the first company to link humor with shaving. Procter & Gamble earlier this year found viral success with its “How to Shave Your Groin” videos from Gillette (remember the no underbrush, your tree looks taller slogan? - Ew.). And in 2006, Panasonic competitor Philips Norelco ran a series of ads showing a man in a bathroom promoting the benefits of “shaving everywhere.”  B-A-B did not support that campaign.  

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BREAKING NEWS: Gary IS growing a beard

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"2010 will be a really big beard year..." -- Gary Vaynerchuk

The beard, or lack there of, on the face of VaynerMedia co-founder Gary Vaynerchuk (aka @garyvee, the host of Wine Library TV and author of “Crush It!”) has been a topic of discussion in the Build-A-Beard halls since we crossed paths with VaynerMedia staff, and documented our hairy meeting with the post: VaynerMedia - Now Is The Time To (Grow Beards).

Since that time, we've been checking in with their head honcho regularly to get him on the bearded ball, and follow the lead of his staff by listening to our hairy call... then, out of the blue, through all of the cussing we managed to gather that Gary is planning on growing a "Playoff Beard" in 2010 (so that to focus on growing his new biz assets @vaynermedia and @corkd). The bearded calling came out during Loic Le Meur’s Fireside Chat with Gary at Le Web 2009 in Paris earlier this month.

Given Gary's recognizable clean shaven face, we were understandably weary; that is we were, until today... when Gary went public with his hairy ambitions:

Then once our staff pinged Gary with the #proveit request, we received -- along with the rest of his Twitter and Dailybooth communities -- the below mildly hairy proof...

Granted, this isn't the flowing beard we all expected out of the hyper passionate and cause dedicated style that Gary is known for, we are certain that by the end of 2010 (aka the year of the beard), we will all be put to shame with Gary's facial mane.

We don't know about you, but we'll be on the look out... listening, engaging, crushing it, Build-A-Beard style.

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In My Beard -- A Welcome

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We'd like to welcome @inMyBeard (Josh Hamilton of Huntsville, AL) to our bearded family... the site he created is dedicated to a picture of stuff in (attached, smeared, etc.) his beard a day, what's even cooler is that he's dedicated to do this for a full year (ending March 10, 2010)!

From hand-gels to red bull shots, zippos and christmas penguins... Josh brings the #proveit culture to a new high. Check him out and suggest stuff to put in his beard on twitter. Brilliant.

Our favorite: Conjunction... in his beard

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Dan Patterson's Beard Reports

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Love. Decksauce. SoDak Biker Beards.  

Dan Patterson of ABC News (not to be confused with the British television producer and writer, responsible for the production of both the British and American incarnations of the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?) sat down with the staff of Build-A-Beard and granted us full access to his sometimes-beard-sometimes-mustache.  Dan's facial hair provided the following answers to our 3-day, brutal interrogation (Note: Waterboarding was not used, but we did threaten his unruly beard with this). 

1. When did you 1st appear on Dan's face?

Well, one would presume that like most men, my first appearance occurred in Dan's early adolescence.  This is a fair assumption, and is indeed correct.  However, there is an ongoing debate on Twitter (#dansawesomebeard) within the collector community about the actual first appearance.  You see, in an alternate-reality crossover with Dan's ChestHair Comics (issues 11 - 13) Dan's Beard was actually bonded with Dan's Sideburns at an early age.  So, to answer your question, my first appearance is ambiguous and still being determined.

2. What is your favorite style?

That's a really good question... I'm a big fan of punk.  The Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Dead Kennedy's were a huge influence.  However I have always admired the Coltrane/Miles 'Blue' style and as I age I mellow and appreciate the more complicated musicianship of jazz.  If you're referring to favorite Beard Style, my favorite is Awesome.  The Awesome style is canonical and classic.

3. Did Dan ever cut you? 

Yes, many times.  But really, I don't take it personally. Sometimes he cuts me in awesome ways, like the Mustache of Freedom (see below or here)!  Also, I'm a tenacious bastard and always reemerge within a matter of days.  And let's be realistic: Love is a wonderful thing.  We're bonded for life.  But sometimes you just need time apart.  It's nothing personal.  I use my 'away' time to read the newspaper, drink coffee, and slow down a bit.  I recently got a Kindle and have been totally digging reading about current beard trends.  You know, everyone likes to chill out sometimes and just because I'm a beard doesn't mean I'm any different.

4. Ever catch colleagues at ABC staring at you?

Everyone stares.  Really.  It's kinda embarrassing.  I mean, can you blame them?  Dan may have a funny looking mug, but I do a great job of hiding it.  And I don't want to brag (humility is a virtue, after all), but I'm a  burley beard of bristly bad-assness!

5. As a new media beard, do you tend to find yourself justifying your existence to old media beards?

Coexistance is necessary.  There's a lot old media beards can learn from new media beards, sure.  But there's a lot that new media beards could learn from more experienced beards.  Myself included!  I mean, I think I'm a facially-located shag carpet of decksauce, but that doesn't mean I can't learn from beards who have been there, done that.  There's a lot of wisdom in the beard world!  And, at the end of the day, we ALL could learn a thing or two from the beards of Sturgis, South Dakota.  I mean, those biker dudes have the most bad ass beard ever.  Word to the wise: don't mess with a SoDak Biker Beard!


I'm really flattered to share my humble beardness and wish your Build-A-Beard site and charities you support all the best!

Check out Dan's awesome facial hair creativity throughout the years:   

Mustache of Freedom!
B-A-B comment: This picture does not get any better!  FTW on multiple levels!


Mustache of Creepy!
B-A-B comment: Some on our staff would totally do you (50/50 shot here since we only have 2 on staff).  


Mustache of Freedom (Reads Warren Ellis)!
B-A-B comment: Respect points for teaching beards to read.


Beard of Awesome!
B-A-B comment: Did Dan's beard Photoshop itself into this picture?  


Beard of Awesome (On The Convention Floor)!
B-A-B comment: What a lucky beardo!

 

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"You Can't Grow A Beard Here!" - Bank of America

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Wall Street FAIL!  Bank of America has a strange beard policy written in the employee handbook - employees can have a beard before they start working there or be clean-shaven, BUT they are not allowed to grow a beard while employed at BOA.  Yes, BOA has a mandatory grooming policy.  That said, employees have been known to take off for a week to grow a beard and come back to work with their facial fuzz glory (such dedication!!).  Note: If you are one of those employees, B-A-B would love the opportunity to interview you.

Don't believe this beard policy?  Check it.  

 

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The Neck Beard That Woofs

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We've all heard of cat neck beards, a popular activity among feline owners with a wannabe beardo fetish:

Today, we finally got the K9 equvalent by way of fellow bearded tweeterer @chrisbawesome who even reccomends a specific breed... the Cairn Terrier, which we must say, creates a fantastic salt and pepper neck beard worthy of us picking it's poop.

That said, Chis, your beard doesn't look like it needs enhancements, but feel free to send us more pictures as you experiment with more wildlife. Keep being into growing epic beards and mustaches, but we'll be the judge of your unapologetic awesomeness...

 

Beard Head!

 

It's December in NYC and it is freezing, but whether you're sporting a clean face (ew) or rockin' out with some beard love... one needs protection from the elements... and what better force to protect your facial hair (or fake like you have it) then the Beard Head. Yes, you read correctly - the Beard Head.
For just $29.99 you can purchase a knitted beard face in numerous styles, colors & cuts - pirate, lumberjack, etc (or our personal favorite - the yellow viking).
Check out: BeardHead.com and place your holiday order now. PLUS there is also a pink beard for the ladies.

 

 

 

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Stroke It - Before You Text It

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Our friends at Beard Revue brought to our attention that our bearded brother, James Lipton is now starring in Give It A Ponder by LG. (Side: click that link - no, seriously - it's a beard that speaks to you - and there is nothing cooler than a beard talking w/o a face who strokes his own damn facial hair).

The best video of the bunch:


 

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VaynerMedia - Now Is The Time To (Grow Beards)

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It was brought to our attention by our staff writer and friend, Russ Marshalek, that the employees at VaynerMedia were rocking some p-r-e-t-t-y sweet facial hair persuasions at Gary & AJ Vaynerchuk's office. #crushit

And although the highly talented Gary has been saturating our airwaves and personal NYC island with ways to "cash in on your passion," he is not crushing it when it comes to his beard. In fact, he should prob stop concentrating so much on how to help others "build brand equity," and start concentrating on ways to grow a 'stache.... or even some scruff! #crushitFAIL

Example:

Lucky for him, B-A-B decided to interview the bearded fellas that make the day-to-day run smoothly for his brand consulting agency with a penchant for social media. Special thanks to Sam Taggart who submitted his fellow employees, but did not participate. Wonder why?
(Editor's note: a while after our post, Gary did grow a beard... and then... well... go see for yourself)
So without further ado...

Title: Web Developer (VaynerMedia)
Random Fact: I've had some kind of facial hair since my senior year of high school.
Worth Noting: When I do shave, I use a 1940s Gillette Aristocrat Razor.
B-A-B Thoughts: We like the way you shave, Caleb. No, seriously - we're highly impressed with the choice in your instrument. *raises martini glass to you or odd cup of yellow substance as in the picture below.

Name: Marcus Krzastek
Title: Project Manager (VaynerMedia)
Rockin' It For A Cause: Protest of Turkish non-recognition of the Armenian genocide.
B-A-B Thoughts: We're not sure what lil' project is happening on your face, specifically below your lip, but you're definitely not managing it. Also, the sweater... dude... come on it's 2009.

Name: Matt Sitomer
Title: Chief of Staff (VaynerMedia)
View Askewniverse Fetish: First grew the beard so I could be Silent Bob for Halloween in 2004, and everyone told me to keep it.
B-A-B Comment: Respect points on the Kevin Smith love, but you need to get that beard thicker and grow it over your upper lip. Also, stop posing like it's MySpace.

Title: CTO (Cork'd)
Why You Want To Sleep With Him: I dream in German
B-A-B Comment: Winner!!! We heart your pirate look - bonus points for the perfectly tweaked ends - although we had to look past your almost-too-much-asymmetrical-haircut, odd bathroom background, and shameless use of iPhone.