Digging through our closets: The world of competitive facial hair

Before heading out to the holiday sales, get some inspiration from some of our readers’ favorite features from 2009.

In May, Times staff writer Adam Tschorn braved the wilds of Alaska for the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships. The what? Here's Adam; "[It's] a testosterone-fueled mash-up that fell somewhere between bachelor party and beauty pageant. A handful at a time, contestants in 18 categories took to the T-shaped runway in the cavernous Dena'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage, flanked by photographers and friends, in front of a panel of judges and a streaming Web camera."

Got all that? While chances are that not all our readers had the the testosterone levels -- or time -- to grow their own mutton chops, they did enjoy checking out Adam's preview leading up to the event as well as his recap, complete with before and after photos.

Incidentally, the facial hair season doesn't stop in the summer. This month, Adam is growing a mustache to support Movember -- a month-long charity/mustache-growing experience to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues. Check out his stache here. Are you participating in Movember? Upload photos of your stache at our YourScene gallery.

-- Whitney Friedlander

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Get the latest facial hair-themed news in Adam's Bearded & Tschorn blog entries

Photo: Jack Passion, who competed in the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships. Dave Getzschman / For The Times