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Where Are the Cosmetologists?
Alaskan men with way too much time on their hands gathered for the seventh biennial World Beard and Moustache Championships. The contest took place in Anchorage, Alaska this year and its only the second time it has taken place in North America. The past championships have been held in Nevada, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and England.
Alaskan men managed to win almost a fourth of the titles at the world facial-hair contest. Americans were able to trump the German competitors. Americans earned 11 first-place wins. The championship has 3 main categories consisting of mustaches, full beards, and partial beards. Then the competition is divided further into 18 categories. This year there were 80 people that came from many different countries in order to participate in the competition.
Robert Crawford, a participant stated that "We the local guys, are in it for fun." The men report that they have had to make some sacrifices in order to be here at the competition. One of which was drinking beer through a straw so that foam doesn’t get all over them. They also report that they are required to put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the competition. They shampoo, condition, and blow dry their hair. Some even spend hours styling their facial hair.
One of the legendary competetors Elmar Weiser never fails to surprise and impress. This German is well known for his freestyle full beard creations. In 2005 he sported his beard in the shape of Brandenburg Gate and in England he formed London’s Tower Bridge. This year he sported a windmill.
Judging from the pictures that I have seen of these men, they spend to much time and energy on this competition. Can you imagine trying to make these "masterpieces" without using wire or pins? That definitely takes some planning and thought. These men should put this energy into something more meaningful and productive like furthering their education.
Not only could they improve their future but they could also become friends with other students, some of which might be cosmetologists. They could cut it off and save the rest of humanity from looking at it. I’m sure that the cosmetologist would give them a proper shampoo and conditioner before cutting their facial-hair to a more manageable size and style. A style that won’t injure a person standing next to them.
One contestent has a mustache that goes out 1 foot on each side. His reasoning for this is that he works at a grocery store and employees are not allowed to have it droop past the corner of their mouth. So he has grown his mustache out 1 foot on each side. Can you imagine just trying to walk past him in an aisle especially if there are other carts or displays poking out. You could lose an eye, or get plowed in the face.
If he had no beard or a short one, then he wouldn’t have to sit and measure and worry about whether his beard fits the standards. Just have a cosmetologist cut it and be done with it. However, he might miss out on the friendship he has with his furry friends, and that is reportedly what the competition is all about. However, I think its just for bragging rights.
