Long, short, tamed or wild - beards have taken a multitude of forms throughout the years. Despite their long and turbulent history, beards are more popular than at any other time in living memory. Xtopher Grey, pictured, is a prominent competitive beard grower.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Long, short, tamed or wild - beards have taken a multitude of forms throughout the years. Despite their long and turbulent history, beards are more popular than at any other time in living memory. Xtopher Grey, pictured, is a prominent competitive beard grower.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
More than 300 "bearders" attended the 2014 beard and mustache championships in Oregon, a testament to the rising popularity of competitive beard-cultivation. The competitor Nate Johnson, pictured, has developed a partitioned beard that cascades down to the middle of his chest, a style that requires high levels of maintenance and commitment.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
More than 300 "bearders" attended the 2014 beard and mustache championships in Oregon, a testament to the rising popularity of competitive beard-cultivation. The competitor Nate Johnson, pictured, has developed a partitioned beard that cascades down to the middle of his chest, a style that requires high levels of maintenance and commitment.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
A beard that defies gravity? Mike Johnson is a well-known competitor on the bearding circuit. His type of beard is slender and is arched upwards or is fixed straight up. Aids, in this category, are permitted.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
A beard that defies gravity? Mike Johnson is a well-known competitor on the bearding circuit. His type of beard is slender and is arched upwards or is fixed straight up. Aids, in this category, are permitted.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Al Underwood competes in the Musketeer category. The Musketeer mustache is long and slim while the beard is kept small and pointed. Eyepatch optional.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Al Underwood competes in the Musketeer category. The Musketeer mustache is long and slim while the beard is kept small and pointed. Eyepatch optional.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Gentlemen sporting mustaches, as opposed to the full beard, are allowed to compete as well, though many full-bearders view them with suspicion. For Brooke Mahnen, one of the contestants in this category, quantities of wax play a key role in his success.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Gentlemen sporting mustaches, as opposed to the full beard, are allowed to compete as well, though many full-bearders view them with suspicion. For Brooke Mahnen, one of the contestants in this category, quantities of wax play a key role in his success.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
The Los Angeles-based photographer Jeffrey Moustache is mustache by name, mustache by nature. Well, by nurture actually. He has been rumored to spend a great deal of time sculpting his man-hair, ensuring that both beard and mustache exist in a state of perfect balance and harmony.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
The Los Angeles-based photographer Jeffrey Moustache is mustache by name, mustache by nature. Well, by nurture actually. He has been rumored to spend a great deal of time sculpting his man-hair, ensuring that both beard and mustache exist in a state of perfect balance and harmony.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Some competitors, such as Ben Ratell, pursue the immaculate beard, which has been lovingly tamed and groomed over many years.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Some competitors, such as Ben Ratell, pursue the immaculate beard, which has been lovingly tamed and groomed over many years.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Others, like Big Joe Johnson, believe that their masculinity is better expressed by the no-holds-barred approach, in which the beard is allowed to grow freely as an expression of what it is to be a man.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Others, like Big Joe Johnson, believe that their masculinity is better expressed by the no-holds-barred approach, in which the beard is allowed to grow freely as an expression of what it is to be a man.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Care must be taken over the context in which the beard is presented -- in other words, the style of hair worn on the head. Devin Cara chooses to shave his pate in order to lend his impressive auburn beard maximum impact.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Care must be taken over the context in which the beard is presented -- in other words, the style of hair worn on the head. Devin Cara chooses to shave his pate in order to lend his impressive auburn beard maximum impact.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Whenever Dennis Dickerson comes to town, comparisons with Colonel Sanders -- of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame -- are never far behind. Yet he is another well-known competitor, as he is able to impress with his elegant and relatively understated goatee style, which is enhanced by a naturally occurring, horizontal wave.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Whenever Dennis Dickerson comes to town, comparisons with Colonel Sanders -- of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame -- are never far behind. Yet he is another well-known competitor, as he is able to impress with his elegant and relatively understated goatee style, which is enhanced by a naturally occurring, horizontal wave.
Courtesy of Greg Anderson
Many modern-day bearders derive inspiration from the glories of the past. Ambrose Burnside (1824-1881), the American industrialist and politician, was the grandfather of the sideburn and is an iconic figure in the bearded community.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Many modern-day bearders derive inspiration from the glories of the past. Ambrose Burnside (1824-1881), the American industrialist and politician, was the grandfather of the sideburn and is an iconic figure in the bearded community.
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Another important figure in the folklore of facial hair was a pirate called Captain Edward Teach (1680-1718), also known as Blackbeard. He plundered the coasts of the West Indies, North Carolina and Virginia, and was said to weave flaming fuses into his beard to intimidate his enemies.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Another important figure in the folklore of facial hair was a pirate called Captain Edward Teach (1680-1718), also known as Blackbeard. He plundered the coasts of the West Indies, North Carolina and Virginia, and was said to weave flaming fuses into his beard to intimidate his enemies.
Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Karl Marx (1818 - 1883), the radical German social, political and economic theorist, has become synonymous with the chest-length gray beard, complemented by a mane of salt-and-pepper hair.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Karl Marx (1818 - 1883), the radical German social, political and economic theorist, has become synonymous with the chest-length gray beard, complemented by a mane of salt-and-pepper hair.
Courtesy of Henry Guttmann/Getty Images
There have been many examples over the years of famous men becoming indivisible from their facial hair in the public mind. Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali was famed for his slim mustache that twirled eccentrically upwards. It is said that at the height of his fame, a letter would be delivered to his home if it was posted simply with a picture of his mustache on the front.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
There have been many examples over the years of famous men becoming indivisible from their facial hair in the public mind. Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali was famed for his slim mustache that twirled eccentrically upwards. It is said that at the height of his fame, a letter would be delivered to his home if it was posted simply with a picture of his mustache on the front.
Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Russian mystic Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin used his unkempt beard and long hair to signify an otherworldly spirituality. In the context of Russian Orthodox Christianity, this was perceived as a mark of holiness. Russian Orthodox priests vow not to cut their hair or beards as a way of repelling the opposite sex. Their pledge states: "I promise to wear the clothing appropriate to my priestly rank, not to cut my hair nor my beard... for through such unseemly behavior I risk belittling my rank and tempting believers."
Something to tickle your fancy? —
The Russian mystic Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin used his unkempt beard and long hair to signify an otherworldly spirituality. In the context of Russian Orthodox Christianity, this was perceived as a mark of holiness. Russian Orthodox priests vow not to cut their hair or beards as a way of repelling the opposite sex. Their pledge states: "I promise to wear the clothing appropriate to my priestly rank, not to cut my hair nor my beard... for through such unseemly behavior I risk belittling my rank and tempting believers."
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement and a spiritual adviser to the Beatles, is pictured with his iconic long, gray, pointed beard. Indeed, in terms of his association with the style he is second only to Gandalf.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement and a spiritual adviser to the Beatles, is pictured with his iconic long, gray, pointed beard. Indeed, in terms of his association with the style he is second only to Gandalf.
Courtesy of /AFP/Getty Images
For the British musician John Lennon, the beard was a sign of an anti-establishment commitment to "peace and love". Here he is pictured with his Japanese wife, Yoko Ono. Lennon started growing his beard at the beginning of 1969, around the time that he got married, thus supporting the observation that men often grow beards to mark life changing events.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
For the British musician John Lennon, the beard was a sign of an anti-establishment commitment to "peace and love". Here he is pictured with his Japanese wife, Yoko Ono. Lennon started growing his beard at the beginning of 1969, around the time that he got married, thus supporting the observation that men often grow beards to mark life changing events.
Courtesy of AFP/Getty Image
The shaving habits of movie stars and musicians are always in the public eye. Before his wedding to Amal Alamuddin, George Clooney broke hearts and enraged fans with his changeable facial hair. (Now they have bigger things to worry about.)
Something to tickle your fancy? —
The shaving habits of movie stars and musicians are always in the public eye. Before his wedding to Amal Alamuddin, George Clooney broke hearts and enraged fans with his changeable facial hair. (Now they have bigger things to worry about.)
Courtesy of TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Even the renowned American actor and sex symbol Gregory Peck was not immune from the allures of facial hair. Here he is pictured in 1954 wearing a startling beard especially grown for the film 'Moby Dick'.
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Even the renowned American actor and sex symbol Gregory Peck was not immune from the allures of facial hair. Here he is pictured in 1954 wearing a startling beard especially grown for the film 'Moby Dick'.
Courtesy of AFP/AFP/Getty Images
ZZ Top are the indisputable kings of the rock 'n' roll beard. Ironically, the drummer, who has rarely ventured beyond the mustache, has the pogonophiliac name Frank Beard.
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ZZ Top are the indisputable kings of the rock 'n' roll beard. Ironically, the drummer, who has rarely ventured beyond the mustache, has the pogonophiliac name Frank Beard.
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Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), the German philosopher, was famous for his walrus mustache, which became increasingly unruly in his later life as his mental health unraveled.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), the German philosopher, was famous for his walrus mustache, which became increasingly unruly in his later life as his mental health unraveled.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Another famous proponent of the walrus mustache was the American writer Mark Twain.
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Another famous proponent of the walrus mustache was the American writer Mark Twain.
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George V (1865-1936), king of the United Kingdom between 1910 and 1936, was synonymous with the lavish mustache supported by a pointed beard. To this day, beard enthusiasts believe that his achievement will never be equaled, let alone surpassed.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
George V (1865-1936), king of the United Kingdom between 1910 and 1936, was synonymous with the lavish mustache supported by a pointed beard. To this day, beard enthusiasts believe that his achievement will never be equaled, let alone surpassed.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In Victorian England, large beards were often associated with the intelligentsia. And they don't come much more intellectual than Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the grandfather of evolution.
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In Victorian England, large beards were often associated with the intelligentsia. And they don't come much more intellectual than Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the grandfather of evolution.
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the First World War, was known for his statesmanlike, curled mustache.
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Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the First World War, was known for his statesmanlike, curled mustache.
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The American gunslinger Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) favored a drooping mustache that made him a style icon long after his death.
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The American gunslinger Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) favored a drooping mustache that made him a style icon long after his death.
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Hubert Carter (1869-1934), the great English star of stage and screen, did much to build the link between unruly facial hair and the wild-eyed Thespian. He is pictured in 1910 with a long, curly, cascading beard.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
Hubert Carter (1869-1934), the great English star of stage and screen, did much to build the link between unruly facial hair and the wild-eyed Thespian. He is pictured in 1910 with a long, curly, cascading beard.
Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images
A beard is often seen as expressive of a man's unique character. A promotional still for 'The Adventurer', written and directed by Charlie Chaplin in 1917, reveals two very different beard styles adorning two very different men. Chaplin (far right) is almost completely clean shaven, with his trademark patch of hair on his upper lip. Meanwhile, Eric Campbell (far left), an actor and close associate of Chaplain who invariably played the villain, showcases a sinister, Gothic-inspired beard with twirled eyebrows.
Something to tickle your fancy? —
A beard is often seen as expressive of a man's unique character. A promotional still for 'The Adventurer', written and directed by Charlie Chaplin in 1917, reveals two very different beard styles adorning two very different men. Chaplin (far right) is almost completely clean shaven, with his trademark patch of hair on his upper lip. Meanwhile, Eric Campbell (far left), an actor and close associate of Chaplain who invariably played the villain, showcases a sinister, Gothic-inspired beard with twirled eyebrows.
Courtesy Archive Photos/Getty Images