Lovely lady seeks lumbersexual: Bristlr review

I asked Beerdfest team member Raegan to review the newest beard app on the block for us... I have invited Bristlr creator John Kershaw to join us at our next meet September 5th and hopefully he has pencilled us in his v. busy diary to make the short journey down the M62 to join in our beards, beer and music fest for 2015 ^_^ JS

Cougar’s not a dirty word: lovely lady seeks lumber sexual.

By Raegan Krista.

14 February 2015.

I’ve been led to the pleasant revelation that I’m a cougar. 

It’s fair to say the resurgence of facial hair is largely a product of the hipster movement. Therefore you’ll find quite a lot of hipsters on Bristlr: the dating app (and site) for men with beards, and the people who want to meet them.

I like hipster guys. I like creative men who dress with panache. It also turns out that I utterly adore their coiffed, combed, conditioned, trimmed, twirled, preened, stroked and styled facial hair. As one Bristlr lady’s profile states, “I don’t want a beard that exists because you’re too lazy to shave. You need to want that beard, work that beard, EARN that beard”. Well in, you lovely hipster lads!

Since most hipsters are under 35, my lovely discovery was prompted by there being no age filter. You can filter by distance though, and gender: men (‘Beards only!’), women (‘No beards thanks’) and either (‘I don’t mind’). 

There are beards for everybody on Bristlr: younger, older; mostly straight, some gay and bi; from 5 o’clock stubble to ZZ Top commitment, sparse hair manicured to unsettling perfection and bushy bombs that hide almost entire faces; English, European, Middle Eastern, Australian. It’s beards without borders and plenty of women have signed up for the ride. 

There are still some pretty big bugs. My first few attempts to join apparently didn’t work yet I ended up with 3 profiles. I also haven’t been able to log in via the app for four days. Once you enter your age it can’t be un-entered, but you can change it (shhh, I’m not really 88). But the developer John Kershaw makes no promises. Bristlr is a bit of fun and it’s worth checking out for the error message alone.

If you’re a facial hair fan, you can’t go wrong. Bristlr’s free to download, search, show interest and message others. Plus for a teeny £2.40 you get to see which hot, young, hipster studs have viewed your profile. And, guys... You might like being with a lady who’s made mix tapes for real. Just saying.

Well hello there, what a fine moustache!

Back to business then here at Beard Blogging Towers: This is Mike from Chester and just look at what a wonderful moustache he has! Only been nurturing this fine specimen for a year and a half, hopefully he'll bring it along to BeerdFest later this year (World Beard Day) to contend for Best Moustache, certainly it is the finest I've seen in a while! Keep up the good work Mike ^_^

Guest post from Michael Wallage on beard balms

Michael Wallage BeerdFest WINNER 2014 Photograph Kayley Cope 

I`ve been making my own beard balm now for quite some time. It`s a Lanolin based balm that both myself and the few people who have tried it think is excellent. I toyed with the idea of producing it in larger quantities and selling. However... I think that there are so so many people producing excellent beard care products that the venture would take a great deal of hard work and time to see very little in return.

So for what it`s worth I`m going to share it with you good folks and you can make up your own minds. I use 4 parts of pharmaceutical grade Lanolin (I`ve been using Lanisnoh but this is expensive, (i`ll deal with that issue later) 3 parts organic virgin coconut oil and 1 part of a light carrier oil. Simply weigh out the ingredients into a bowl, stand this bowl in another larger bowl of hot (not boiling water) When the Lanolin and Coconut oil has melted i just give the solution a good stir and leave to set.
I then fill some little containers i bought on the internet (pennies each) and bob`s ya uncle. Put a small amount on the palms, rub your hands together and ....well you know the score, you`ve had a beard for long enough. If you want some scent you can always drip a few drops of your favourite beard oil into the palms with the balm and combine the two before application.

Now to the cost of that Lanolin... Lanisnoh around about £10.00 for a small tube. I did a little bit of research and found this company, based in Reading who sell pharmaceutical grade Lanolin very reasonably...amongst other products you may find useful http://www.hfoster.co.uk/ prices start at £9.00 for 500g falling pro-rata to as little as £75.00 for 5kg. 

This balm works really well for me and the few who have tried it, it`s not been tested on lots of people and may not suit everyone. I just thought i`d share it with everyone, you can make up your own minds.


Thanks Michael for sharing your winning expertise on the blog! ^_^ 

Moustaches, Whiskers & Beards, a review

I have the pleasure of reviewing this fab art history book featuring my fav topic outside of Elvis and Beatles: facial fuzz! And lucky you dear reader could be in with a chance to win your own copy ^_^

Movember is done and Decembeard is underway but what if you're just an old fashioned pogonophile like me? Seasonal hurrahs for all things beardy is all well and good, but what about the rest of the year? Well now I can recommend you a lovely coffee table edition to browse in any season...

Moustaches, Whiskers & Beards by Lucinda Hawksley was brought to my attention via a mutual friend of the author who quite rightly imagined I would be very interested in the National Portrait Gallery publication...

Who knew the Egyptians were big fans of the false beard? That the Victorians experienced a serious beard fad? And that the Crimean War turned beards from zero to hero? This is such an entertaining and informative read for beard lovers everywhere - get involved!

For the pogonophile in your life I can think of no better gift - it's delightful and inspiring, I'm off to my local gallery this weekend to spy historical beards ^_^

If you'd like to win* a copy of this lovely book, just complete the following sentence:
Beards are boss because...
and email it to beerdfestliverpool [at] gmail [dot] com by Dec 14th, 2014 and if you're my #favourite you'll have a treat coming your way!

Get your copy at Amazon or order it at your fav local bookshop









*conditions apply, UK entries only

Up close and personal

I know what you've been thinking... Oh it's such a long time before the next BeerdFest how can I cope? Well don't worry! I have cheeky plans to bring you a BeerdFest 2015 calendar to raise more money for CALM that you'll be able to purchase sooooon & I am preparing for the first beard Blind Date (if you wanna get on the list to be set up I'm taking applications at beerdfestliverpool at gmail dot com)

For now then... Let's meet the winners from BeerdFest 2014 - what was their best bit? will they be back for the 2015 #worldbeardday meet?

As a gentle reminder then, ladles and gentlespoons, your winners 2014 were: 

Best Beard// Michael Legge  

Best Partial// Michael Wallage

Best Moustache// Martin Doherty 

Best Fake// Delia Brady Jacobs

Best Beerdfester// Mycroft Milverton 

Beard Worth Talking About// Steve Walsh 

BeerdFest BILF// Dean Palmer

Why did you decide to take part in BeerdFest? 

ML Upon first hearing of 'beerdfest' through the British beard club news letter and social media sites, I thought I'd love to attend! Having been to similar events around the country (scarborough, Brighton, Yeovil etc) I love these events, as a passionate beard grower for nearly 4 years it's nice to get together with people with similar interests for a good old chin wag!

MW Beard competitions are a good excuse for a great day out and to get together with other Beardo`s, to meet new friends and old. Another major attraction of competitions is a chance to raise money and awareness for the nominated charities that most events support. I heard about Beerdfest 2013 via friends on Facebook but unfortunately I was unable to attend, so 2014 was my first Beerdfest. Am I a passionate beard grower? Just look at me ! My house is full to the rafters with potions, lotions, pills and products in order to keep the face fuzz in "purrfect" condition.

MD Knew about Beerdfest since the first one in 2012, didn't go then, but my housemate (Jamie Howie) won Best Moustache. I competed last year and came 2nd, so decided to keep it going in the hope of reclaiming the title back for the house!
 

DBJ After meeeting up with friends who suggested going to the event...
 

MM I found out about Beerdfest through meeting Jodie at the guitar shop on Aigburth Road. This was my third year at Beerdfest. I’m a member of British Beard Club, and visited their AGM because I was in Brighton at the time. I’ve had a beard all my adult life. I love them. Beerdfesters share this love, so although we may have little else in common we share this passion.

SW My girlfriend entered me in the previous years event. Epic night of merriment, so was a given I would reattend.  
 

DP I heard about the event last year and followed the groups page on twitter. I decided to take part because it looked like a fun day out, all for a good cause and a chance to meet fellow beards/beard lovers. I've never been to one of these events before but would certainly go again!

What is your favourite memory from BeerdFest? 

ML This was the second 'beerdfest' I've attended and is a great family fun day out, the kids enjoy coming along and like to cheer their dad on when on stage. I'd like to say I have a favourite part of the day but the whole experience is just amazing, you get to meet old/new faces all with a love of beards. 

MW Obviously for me the highlight of my day was taking the top spot in the partial beard category. That aside, the warm welcome and great atmosphere.

MD Fave memory is being on the catwalk, it's certainly very scary but quite exhilarating afterwards!

DBJ Strutting along the TashWag catwalk to the cheer of the crowd...

MM The only food on offer was saucy burritos. A most inappropriate food for the bearded! It was funny to see those some of those well groomed beards fill up with rice and chilli sauce!

SW Seeing Michael Legge win after he was robbed last year! 
 

DP Definitely watching everyone's catwalk! Hilarious and all in good spirit.

As a WINNER you received beer and respect - have you noticed any other differences in the way people regard you since your win?

ML I was chuffed to have won first place and was showered in gifts, love and bearded respect, it's great when out and about getting noticed and stopped for pictures, kind of like a mini celebrity! But the real reason for events like this are to raise a little money for charity and the thought of contributing to help others is priceless.

MW With all due respect I`ve not noticed a great difference but that is one of the main attractions of competitive bearding. It makes no difference whether you`re a seasoned competitor or a bearding rookie, all facial hair is valid. In my experience everybody is treated equally.

MD My winning moustache is now about 14 inches wide so for better or worse any close friends or family have long since made their feelings known! But there have been more than a few work colleagues, customers (cinema off Bold St.) and people on the street that have since said congrats, I guess it's such an excellent night each year and word has spread!

DBJ Not really, but all who heard about my win thought the Fake category was a great idea...

MM  I enjoyed some great smelling beard moisturiser from Lush... Respect? What respect? Where’e my respect?!?! I haven’t noticed anybody treating me any differently. The favourable comments on my bristles have continued though.

SW No difference in the way people regard me but it nice to be a part of the larger beard community both nationally and internationally thanks to the British Beard Club membership. 
 

DP A lot of people on Facebook have been asking me about the event from the photos I have put up. People have since been asking advice on growing a beard.

Will you be coming to defend your title next year on Saturday September 5th? 

ML I will definately be back next year - not only to defend my title, but to meet and greet my bearded family!

MW Yes all being well I will be there to defend the title.  We'll spreading the word about Beerdfest... we`ve already persuaded a couple of new bearded faces to join us on the journey north next year. 

MD Might be back next year, may even try for the nationals! Ok the British Beard Club membership is VERY welcome but kinda scuppers my plans to start a new beard/moustache from scratch... I'm off to the Himalayas this Christmas and was planning to cut the 'tache off on 1st Jan at high camp on Island Peak, then bury it at the top of the glacier... seemed a fitting way for it to go. Now I might just fore-go the difficulty of shaving at 20,000ft in favour of extra upper-lip warmth (and hopefully the amusement of the locals)!

MM I will definitely be coming. In fact I already have an outfit in mind. But I may change my mind on that detail. I’m not sure what category yet. I would love to see the “Freestyle” category come back. Hint!

SW Nothing apart from being struck down with alopecia will stop me!
 

DP I will have to see! My plan is to go over to New Zealand for a year or two working. I'll be there in spirit!

Michael Legge on the TashWag catwalk// pic Hannah Cassidy

How would you describe BeerdFest in 3 words? 

ML If I had to describe 'beerdfest' in 3 words it would be..........fantastic follicle fun!

MW 3 words, tough one... fantastic follicular festival!

MD Tweaking, staring, Blessed!

DBJ  Too right!!! Already got ideas for my fakey! 

MM Perfectly Pogonophilic Pogonomania!

SW Bewhiskered flocculent frivolity! 

DP Hilarious, Hairy,  Hangover!
 

^_^

 

#savethemale

Campaigner Simon Howes met me at the last Liverbeards get together at Baltic Fleet to officially accept my £306 raised for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) at BeerdFest. CALM are a  men's mental health charity raising awareness to try and reduce suicide and #savethemale.

The great thing about beards is they have such potential to bring people together. I love chatting to chaps about the whys and whens of their awesome beards, and because over the years I've papped a lot of stranger's beards in the street I get to hear little stories from all over - and you know what they say - the truth is often stranger than fiction!

One of my fav all time beard shots was a guy John from Birmingham Coach Station... a massive Gandalf-beard he had, then there was a biker dude in Palm Springs, California who I beard-stalked down the strip into a hat shop then popped up with my weird British accent asking for a pic haha beard blogging is fun I tells ya!

Next year BeerdFest returns on World Beard Day September 5th 2015 so save the date and get growing for the show ;)

BeerdFest 2015

Save the date! World Beard Day 2015 is Saturday September 5th so let's do another BeerdFest 

Plenty of time to grow something epic for the show, make your own 

or just keep it free for spectacular hirsute pursuits! 

Liverpool has embraced the bearded brothers who bring it on the TASHWAG catwalk 

with hundreds of people attending the 2014 meet, 

let's make 2015 bigger and better!!!

WIN BEER & RESPECT 

Registrations are open at beerdfestliverpool[at]gmail[dot]com 

Simply send us your name and category (beard/ moustache/ partial/ fake) and stay tuned for more news of what/ where/ why and how!