What is an Urban Beardsman?

The backstory on developing the term “urban beardsman”

Back in January of 2012 I headed to the West Coast Beard & Mustache Championships in Portland, OR. This was my first time attending a beard competition and it was shortly after I left Merrill Lynch as a Financial Adviser. There was a lot of buzz going around about competitive bearding and I had to check it out for myself. Well, the event lived up to the hype and I had one of the best weekends of my life.

Back then, beards-men were usually lumped into certain categories. They’d call you “Grizzly Adams” if they thought you looked like a woodsman, “ZZ Top” if they thought you looked like a biker, or bluntly call you homeless and lazy. From the majority of individuals, beards were not perceived positively. Granted, within certain specific communities; beards have always been held in high regard and iconic, but hasn’t had mass appeal in decades.

What I noticed at the event is that most of the beards-men (including me) did not fit into the traditional categories of beards-men. The attendees were more urban in nature. We talked about philosophy, building businesses, creating art, philanthropy, and of course the finer things in life – coffee, booze, and other libations. It was at this point I realized that I wasn’t the only urban beards-man on the planet and started building a community of other like minded individuals.

So what is an Urban Beardsman?

It’s hard to stereotype all the different urban beardsmen into one painted picture. It’s really more about what unites us than our specific attributes. When you think of a beards-man; you think of their drive for independence, freedom, and ability to forge past societal pressures. When you think urban; you think of pertaining to the city life (which is a damn shitload). We are talking about building a career; developing a personal style; socializing and networking; appreciating arts, foods, and cultural; and checking out other cities.

I may be a bit biased as I fall into the urban beards-man camp; but I don’t think there is a better stereotype out there. To be sophisticated yet not cave into all the pressures that eat people up on the inside. To stand out in a crowd, lead, and inspire.

The beauty of being a beards-man is that you are not part of a fad; you are doing what is intended by nature. Those who choose to shave are fighting the nature of being a man, and they are part of a trend. Humans are one of the few species in nature that grow facial hair and we should celebrate it. Hundreds of generations have gotten laid because of their beautiful facial locks and you will too.

So, I think I’m an Urban Beardsman, what do I do?

So you feel like you fall into this camp, all you gotta do is just continue being awesome. We sell some beard care items over at Beardbrand to help you look good; but it’s not a requirement. It’s nice when all you gotta do in life is be yourself; and that’s what we are trying to help men do.