Kyle Ireland comes from a family of bearded men — his father has a beard as do all his uncles.
But only his skill at pogonotrophy has won awards.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, Ireland will try to add to his trophy collection when he competes at Movembeard, the Vancouver Facial Hair Club’s annual competition at Hero’s Welcome pub on Main Street in Vancouver to benefit the Movember Foundation that raises money and awareness for men’s health issues, as well as the PLEA Community Services Society of BC.
Ireland, a Port Moody construction worker, won the very first beard competition he entered, back when he was living in Saskatchewan. That sparked a now decade-long commitment to cultivating his chin hairs.
Measuring 14 inches, Ireland admits his beard and flowing moustache are head-turners.
“It often gets compliments,” he said. “It’s a real ego booster.”
Beard competitions are categorized by length, from those up to four inches, to growths stretching 12 inches and beyond. There’s also categories for partial and natural beards as well as freestyle where entrants can “go absolutely wild” with shaping and styling, said Ireland.
“It’s the show-stopper category,” he said.
Women can get involved too, in the “Whiskerina” competition in which they’re able to build a realistic or fantastical beard with anything they can attach to their face, like cascading fans of playing cards or a curtain of paint brushes.
Ireland, 38, said other than the added cleaning that comes with eating things like soup and ice cream, or attending RibFest, the maintenance of his beard amounts to only about five or 10 minutes a day of brushing and applying oils and balms to keep the hairs shiny and the skin beneath supple.
Ireland said the payoff is the camaraderie shared by fellow bearded men, who will often acknowledge each other with a knowing glance when passing in the street.
“You walk with a swagger,” he said. “It makes you pretty proud.”
To learn more about the Vancouver Facial Hair Club and its Movembeard charity competition, you can visit its website. Saturday’s event begins at 6 p.m.
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