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The Ultimate Facial Hair Showdown: 7 Wild Facts About The World Beard And Moustache Championships (WBMC)

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The World Beard and Moustache Championships (WBMC) is not just a competition; it is the definitive, biennial global spectacle where the world's most dedicated facial hair artists gather to showcase their meticulously groomed masterpieces. As of today, December 25, 2025, the anticipation is building for the next international showdown, which promises to be the biggest and most creative event in the history of competitive bearding. This championship transcends mere grooming, transforming the simple act of growing a beard or moustache into a high art form that demands years of dedication, expert styling, and an unwavering commitment to follicular perfection.

The event is a vibrant, often eccentric gathering that brings together hundreds of competitors from dozens of countries, all vying for the coveted title of "Best in Show." From the gravity-defying curls of a Dali Moustache to the architectural marvels of a Full Freestyle Beard, the WBMC is the ultimate expression of personal style and creativity. We delve into the history, the bizarre categories, and the secrets behind the champions of this one-of-a-kind international event, including the details for the upcoming 2025 competition.

The World Beard and Moustache Championships: A Hirsute History and Profile

The World Beard and Moustache Championships (WBMC) is the authoritative international competition overseen by the World Beard and Moustache Association (WBMA).

  • Event Origin: The modern competitive bearding movement began with an event organized and hosted by the First Höfener Beard Club (1. Höfener Bartclub) in Höfen/Enz, Germany, in 1990.
  • Frequency: The WBMC is a biennial competition, meaning it takes place every two years.
  • Governing Body: World Beard and Moustache Association (WBMA).
  • Most Recent Champion (2023): The "Best in Show" winner for the 2023 WBMC, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, was Jacob Darlington of Albuquerque, New Mexico, who won with his impressive Full Garibaldi beard.
  • Upcoming Event (2025): The next WBMC will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from July 3–5, 2025.
  • Competitors: Hundreds of competitors travel from around the globe, including countries like the US, England, Germany, Israel, and more, to compete.

The 37 Wildest Categories and Classes That Define the Competition

Far from just a single contest, the WBMC is divided into a staggering number of classes, totaling 37 different categories, which are grouped into four main divisions: Moustache, Partial Beard, Full Beard, and the highly creative Craft categories.

The sheer variety ensures that every style of facial hair, from the most natural to the most elaborately styled, has a chance to win. The categories are meticulously defined, often with strict rules regarding length, styling aids, and hair growth area, which adds a layer of technical difficulty to the artistry.

Moustache Division: A Study in Symmetry and Style

The Moustache division is where precision and styling wax reign supreme. Competitors must often use styling aids to achieve gravity-defying shapes. Key classes include:

  • Natural Moustache: Must be grown naturally, without styling aids, and cannot extend beyond the upper lip.
  • Dali Moustache: Named after the famous artist, this style is narrow, with tips curled upwards, often into a dramatic point.
  • English Moustache: Narrow, with long whiskers pulled straight out from the middle of the lip, often requiring significant length and stiffness.
  • Hungarian Moustache: A natural, bushy, and heavy moustache that is pulled sideways from the middle of the lip.
  • Imperial Moustache: Hair on the cheeks and upper lip, curled upward.

Partial Beard Division: Sideburns and Soul Patches

This division focuses on smaller, more defined areas of facial hair, proving that size isn't everything when it comes to style and density.

  • Natural Sideburns: Hair grown from the temples or cheeks, often styled into dramatic mutton chops.
  • Fu Manchu: Long, thin whiskers grown from the upper lip, hanging straight down to below the chin, often requiring the chin area to be shaved.
  • Musketeer: A combination of a moustache and a goatee, often styled with a flourish.
  • Goatee Freestyle: Allows for creative styling of the chin and upper lip hair.

Full Beard Division: Volume, Length, and Grandeur

The Full Beard categories are where the true commitment to growth is visible, with categories often separated by length or styling rules. The most famous styles include:

  • Full Garibaldi: The style worn by 2023 champion Jacob Darlington. It is a broad, rounded beard with a full, natural moustache, not to exceed 20cm in length.
  • Natural Full Beard: A full, unstyled beard of any length, judged purely on density, color, and shape.
  • Verdi: A short, rounded beard with a neatly styled moustache.
  • Full Beard Freestyle: The most creative category, where competitors can style their full beards into any shape imaginable, using any product. This is where you see beards shaped like baskets, snowshoes, or other objects.

How to Win the WBMC: Judging Criteria and the Art of Grooming

Winning a WBMC title requires more than just growing a long beard; it demands artistry, engineering, and meticulous presentation. The judging process is rigorous, with panels of experts evaluating each entry based on several key criteria that vary by category.

The Critical Judging Criteria

While the specific rules change for each of the 37 classes, judges generally look for a few universal qualities.

  • Density and Fullness: The hair must be thick and cover the required area evenly, without patches.
  • Color and Luster: The hair should be healthy, clean, and well-conditioned, often showing a natural shine.
  • Shape and Symmetry: For styled and partial categories, the shape must be precise and perfectly symmetrical.
  • Overall Impression: This includes the competitor’s presentation, costume, and how well their facial hair fits their personality and style.

The Secret Weapons: Styling and Products

For the freestyle and styled moustache categories, the use of products is paramount. Champions often rely on industrial-strength moustache wax, hairspray, and specialized beard oils to achieve their gravity-defying looks. The "Craft" categories, in particular, allow for extreme creativity, where competitors incorporate props and decorations directly into their facial hair, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with human hair.

The dedication is immense. Competitors spend hours preparing their facial hair, often traveling with elaborate grooming kits and even hiring professional stylists to ensure every strand is perfectly in place. The commitment to growing a competitive beard or moustache can span years, making the WBMC a true testament to patience and follicular engineering.

The Future of Facial Hair: What to Expect at WBMC 2025

With the last World Championships in 2023 crowning Jacob Darlington's Garibaldi as the pinnacle of bearding, the next event in Pittsburgh, PA, in July 2025, is set to raise the bar even higher. The championships are a major tourist draw, attracting not just competitors but thousands of spectators eager to witness the most unique display of personal expression in the world.

The event is a celebration of the unique global community that cherishes the art of the beard and moustache. It is a place where a man can style his beard to resemble an "Alaska snowshoe" and be celebrated as a champion. Whether you are a dedicated competitor or simply curious about the artistry involved, the WBMC remains the most fascinating and visually stunning competition on the planet, guaranteeing a fresh crop of jaw-dropping styles and new world champions.

world beard and moustache championships
world beard and moustache championships

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