Sheri Manson: World Beard & Moustache Championship Portraits

To shave or not to shave, that is the question. From the Egyptians to the Romans, through the Renaissance to the present day, men’s facial hair has gone in and out of fashion so often that it is difficult to keep track of the changes. Today, one can walk around any city or town and see a wide variety of moustaches, beards, goatees, or even the clean-shaven. In society, facial hair on men has meant maturity, religious standing, a sense of community, counter-cultural identity, and most often these days, self-expression. However, the question of whether facial hair looks good is a matter of personal preference and opinion, and the degree by which views differ on the topic ranges from the extreme to the genial.

From a very young age I’ve identified with subcultures and found awe in the vast range of human expression. To me it was and still is magical. Fast-forward a bit to 2005 when I first came across the World Beard & Moustache Championships. I was not only enthralled with the various and sometimes extravagant facial hair, but more so with the fact that people from all over the world found a commonality through it. That was truly extraordinary in my mind and therefore I began making plans to attend the next championship.

The following championship was held in 2007. I ventured to Brighton, England to photograph the WBMC, whereby I had my first taste of the beard and moustache aficionados, and comradery that befit such an event. More recently in May of 2009, I traveled to Anchorage, Alaska to photograph the contestants, and experience the fun and excitement around this new upward trend.

The body of work that you see before you is an evidence of the uniqueness of not only the event, but mainly the individuals who attended.