Incredible Facial Hair From the National Beard and Mustache Championships

By Talia Avakian
October 19, 2016
Credit: Greg Anderson
Every year, hundreds of fans and participants gather for one of the hairiest events of the year—the National Beard and Moustache Championships.

Competitors this year flocked to Nashville to vie for the championship title in 18 categories.

Categories ranged from Best Fu Manchu, a sleek number with long tips, to freestyle beards, where you’ll see incredible designs like a beard in the shape of a beak.

Taylor Welden was the competition’s overall winner, entering in the Verdi category (round beards that cannot extend past 10 cm).

Below, we’ve highlighted winners across categories ranging from the Musketeer to the English Moustache, and of course, several wild freestyle designs.
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Partial Beard Freestyle 

Credit: Greg Anderson

“We look for cities with a certain ‘wow’ factor that makes bearding champions want to visit but will also make them feel right at home with their outrageous facial hair,” said event producer, Aaron Switzer, to the Tennessean.

This year definitely had a slew of creative styles, including James McMahon's multi-layer beard, which won him first place for the Partial Beard Freestyle category.

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Full Beard Natural 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Shane Sherrif took the top spot for the Full Beard Natural category, which meant he couldn't use any aids to get this look.

Want to get your own lengthy number like Sherrif's? Competition representatives recommend investing in a top-notch beard brush to find a go-to shape.

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The Musketeer 

Credit: Greg Anderson

To get "the musketeer", you'll need a mustache that's long and slender, with a small and pointed beard to match.

Patrick Fette took home to the top spot for the category, with a mustache that's got some serious staying power.

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Imperial Moustache 

Credit: Greg Anderson

To get a top-notch Imperial Moustache, competitors need a small and bushy number with tips that arch up.

Pictured here is Jackie Lynn Ellison, who took first place with his twisting tips.

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Natural Moustache 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Snidely Mansfield donned his natural mustache and took first place with the shaggy number, getting a perfect twirl on his locks.

Competitors in this category can style their mustaches any way they like, as long as they aren't using any products or items to make it happen.

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Amish Beard 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Other beard categories include the Amish—a fully unshaven beard that connects from temple to temple around the jaw and over the chin, with a clean upper lip to match.

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Dali Moustache 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Mustache categories range from the Hungarian—a big and bush mustache that starts from the middle of the upper lip and pulls to the side, to the Dali moustache—a slender number with long tips that either go straight up or arch up.

Pictured here is Nathan Wilson, winner of the Dali Moustache with pointy ends that arch high up.

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English Moustache 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Creative costumes are also part of the event, from sparkly silver jump suits to Lederhosen, but what’s the best accessory you could have at the competition?

“A great hat,” according to competition representatives. Alfred Nash paired his English moustache—a slender mustache with extremely long hairs pulled to the side—with a sleek hat and spectacles.

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Full Beard Freestyle 

Credit: Greg Anderson

Gary Faulkner’s multi-looped design stood out, drawing in top place in the Full Beard Freestyle category.

Faulkner, who took third place in the category last year with a figure-eight style design, beat out creative competitors like Isaiah Incredibeard Webb, who had a beard in the shape of a beard, for the top title.

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By Talia Avakian