39 Of The Best Beards From 2017 World Beard And Mustache Championship

Why 2017 was the year beards went big

The World Beard & Moustache Championships happen on a grand, international rotation, and 2017’s edition
turned Austin into a temporary capital of whiskers. Over a three-day stretch, competitors and fans packed in for
mustache showdowns, partial-beard precision, full-beard glory, and the kind of freestyle creativity that makes you
whisper, “Is that… architectural?”

What made 2017 especially memorable wasn’t only the sizeit was the range. You had “natural” categories that rewarded
disciplined growth and healthy shape, “styled” categories where grooming became engineering, and craft/fantasy divisions
that proved facial hair is also a valid art medium (and yes, sometimes the hair isn’t even hair).

In other words: if you thought your beard routine was serious because you own a comb and a trimmer, 2017 kindly
asks you to take a seat and watch the professionals warm up.

How judging works (and why “aids” matter)

Beard competitions don’t just ask, “Is it big?” They ask, “Is it right for the category?” Each class has its own
rulesespecially around natural vs. styled. The word “aids” shows up a lot in official category descriptions.
In plain English: aids are the styling helperswax, product, shaping techniques, and sometimes structural support
allowed in some categories but forbidden in others.

The three main competition groups

• Moustache: From subtle to Salvador Dalí-level punctuation marks.
• Partial beard: Goatees, Fu Manchus, sideburn statements, and other “strategic hair placement.”
• Full beard: The heavyweightslength classes, classic shapes, and freestyle masterpieces.

Think of it like sports: “Natural” is your raw athletic performance. “Styled” is that plus choreography.
“Freestyle” is when the sport becomes a halftime show and nobody’s mad about it.

The 39 best beard looks from the 2017 championship universe

Below are 39 standout looks mapped to the official 2017 category definitions and the signature styles that
made the event unforgettable. Some are classic. Some are chaotic. All are a reminder that facial hair can have a
personality stronger than your Wi-Fi password.

Classic competition staples (official category-inspired)

1. Natural Moustache The “I woke up like this” of upper-lip hair. Clean lines, confident density,
   and the quiet flex of not needing wax to look intentional.
2. English Moustache Long, slender tips pulled to the side like a polite but judgmental Victorian uncle.
   Works best with posture that says, “I have opinions about soup.”
3. Dalí Moustache Upward, artistic, and slightly mischievous. Like your face is signing a tiny autograph
   on the air.
4. Imperial Moustache Bushy and lifted. The mustache equivalent of a power stanceno yelling required.
5. Hungarian Moustache Big and bold, spreading outward like it’s trying to hug the room.
   Great for dramatic entrances and dramatic sandwiches.
6. Freestyle Moustache The category where mustaches stop being hair and start being a hobby,
   a lifestyle, and occasionally a structural engineering problem.
7. Natural Goatee Tight territory, high precision. When done well, it’s sharp and intentional;
   when done poorly, it’s a “starter beard” with trust issues.
8. Fu Manchu Chin shaved, mustache pulled down. It’s bold, theatrical, and basically a costume
   piece you can grow.
9. Musketeer Slender mustache plus pointed beard: the “swashbuckling résumé” of facial hair.
   Feels like it should come with a cape and a witty comeback.
10. Imperial (partial beard) Cheeks and upper lip take the spotlight. Strong lines, big personality,
    and a vibe that says you might own a pocket watch on purpose.
11. Sideburns Natural No chin beard, all side attitude. The best versions look like classic rock
    reincarnated as grooming.
12. Sideburns Freestyle Connected to the hairline and fully committed. The facial-hair equivalent of
    turning the volume knob until it snaps off.
13. Cheekbeard (Backenbart) Freestyle Not connected to the hairline. A cheek-forward look that can
    range from refined to “I lost a bet and won anyway.”
14. Alaskan Whaler Beard with no mustache. Surprisingly iconic when balanced welllike a strong bassline
    with no vocals and it still slaps.
15. Partial Beard Freestyle The rulebook shrugs and says, “If it’s not the others, it’s here.”
    Often the birthplace of the weirdest (and best) ideas.
16. Verdi Short, rounded beard with a styled mustache. Classic shape, high polish.
    Think “opera singer,” not “forgot I owned a trimmer.”
17. Garibaldi Broad, full, and rounded with a length limit. It’s friendly-looking,
    like your beard wants to invite people over for chili.
18. Natural Full Beard (0.1–15 cm) The “respectable growth spurt.” Dense, healthy, and the gateway drug
    to longer classes.
19. Natural Full Beard (15.1–30 cm) Now we’re talking commitment. The beard starts having opinions about
    humidity and wind direction.
20. Natural Full Beard (30.1–45 cm) The point where strangers begin saying, “How long did that take?”
    and you consider charging consulting fees.
21. Natural Full Beard (45.1–60 cm+) Long enough to make gravity part of your grooming routine.
    Not a beard; a household member.
22. Natural Full Beard with Styled Moustache The hybrid: natural beard, mustache gets the fancy treatment.
    It’s like wearing a tuxedo with comfortable shoesbest of both worlds.
23. Full Beard Freestyle The headline act. Braids, loops, shapes, symmetry gamesthis is where beards
    become performance art.
24. Realistic Beard (craft/fantasy) When “beard” becomes a costume craft. Natural-looking, but not
    necessarily grown. The artistry is in the illusion.
25. Creative Beard (craft/fantasy) Anything goes. If you can build it and attach it, it can compete.
    Your face becomes a gallery wall.

Crowd-favorite “best beard” moments (inspired by what made 2017 feel legendary)

27. The Double-Loop Handlebar Beast A mustache styled into stacked loops that look like they could
    open a safe. Equal parts elegance and “how?”
28. The Braided Viking Ladder A long beard split into clean braids, often weighted or beaded.
    Looks like it belongs on a warrior and a runway at the same time.
29. The “Two-Tone” Power Beard Natural color contrast (or carefully maintained gray/ginger separation)
    that turns a beard into a bold, living gradient.
30. The Forked Beard Divide A full beard split into two strong sections. Dramatic, symmetrical,
    and oddly satisfying, like perfectly sliced brownies.
31. The Spiral-Tip Showstopper Mustache ends curled into clean spirals. Precision styling that says,
    “Yes, I own a tiny comb and I’m proud.”
32. The Ultra-Long “Curtain” Beard Length with flow. It moves like fabric and demands careful care:
    detangling, drying, and avoiding zippers like they’re enemy combatants.
33. The Sculpted Jawline Frame A beard shaped to emphasize the jaw and cheeks with crisp edges.
    It’s not about length; it’s about architecture.
34. The Rounded “Friendly Giant” Big volume, soft lines, approachable shape. The beard that makes
    people trust you with their dog’s leash.
35. The Needle-Point Goatee A sharply tapered chin beard that looks like it’s pointing toward
    your next decision. Great for dramatic pauses.
36. The Sideburn Statement Piece Oversized sideburns that feel like a deliberate outfit choice.
    The face equivalent of shoulder pads (in a good way).
37. The Symmetry Flex A freestyle beard styled into mirrored shapes. Not easy, not accidental,
    and absolutely designed to break your brain.
38. The “Minimalist, But Unfairly Dense” Beard Shorter length, maximum thickness. The kind of beard
    that makes other beards whisper, “Must be nice.”
39. The “I Came For Best in Show” Energy Not a single shapemore like the total package:
    grooming, confidence, presentation, and a beard that looks like it trained for this.

Notice what’s happening here: the “best” beards aren’t only the biggest. They’re the ones that nail the assignment
whether that assignment is “pure natural growth,” “classic shape,” or “turn your face into a work of art.”

How to get a beard stage-ready (without turning it into a crunchy science project)

Whether you’re aiming for a competition category or just want your beard to look like it pays rent, “stage-ready”
comes down to three things: clean skin underneath, healthy hair, and intentional shape.

1) Treat the skin like it matters (because it does)

• Wash with purpose: Over-washing can dry things out; under-washing can invite itch and flakes.
• Mind the beard itch: Dry skin and irritation are commonhydration and gentle products help.
• Watch for beard dandruff: Flaking under facial hair can happen; medicated options exist if needed.

If you have persistent irritation, scaling, or painful bumps, consider checking with a clinician or dermatologist.
A trophy is cool, but comfortable skin is cooler.

2) Build a simple grooming routine you’ll actually follow

• Condition/soften after washing (especially for coarse or curly beards).
• Use beard oil or balm to reduce dryness and improve manageability (and yes, it can help with frizz).
• Brush/comb daily to train the hair and spot uneven growth early.
• Trim strategically: Even “natural” looks benefit from cleaning the neckline/cheekline (unless rules forbid).

3) Shape for your face, not for a meme

The best-looking beards tend to do one thing exceptionally well: they match the wearer’s face and growth pattern.
A wide, rounded shape can soften angular features. A slightly tapered beard can lengthen a rounder face.
And a clean mustache line can make a full beard look instantly more intentional.

Pro tip: If you’re going for anything “freestyle,” do a practice run. Nothing humbles a person faster than realizing
their mustache wax has a different plan for the day.

What it feels like to be around 2017-level beard greatness (500-word experience add-on)

Walking into a world-class beard eventespecially one with the scale and buzz of 2017feels like stepping into a parallel
universe where facial hair is a legitimate sport, a fashion week, and a family reunion all at once. You’d notice it first
in the little things: the pocket combs appearing like magic, the quiet intensity of someone checking symmetry in a phone
camera, and the oddly comforting smell of beard balm floating through the air like a scented fog of confidence.

The vibe is surprisingly friendly. People talk to each other the way runners do at a marathoncomparing routines, sharing
tips, asking how long it took, and responding with the same mixture of pride and exhaustion. (“About seven years.”)
There’s a lot of laughing, a lot of photos, and a lot of spontaneous education. You learn that humidity can ruin a curl,
that a good brush matters, and that a beard can absolutely get caught in a zipper if you don’t respect it.

Then you get to the stage moments. The “natural” categories have this calm, high-skill energylike watching an expert chef
plate something simple and realizing you’ve been doing it wrong your entire life. The beards look healthy, balanced, and
consistent, and the winners are often the people whose grooming reads as effortless (even though you know it’s not).
In the styled categories, the mood shifts: now it’s precision and personality. Mustaches point upward like punctuation,
beards are shaped into classic silhouettes, and the crowd reacts the way you’d react to a perfect basketball shotloudly,
immediately, and with zero shame.

And then freestyle hits. Freestyle is where the whole event turns into a celebration of “because we can.” You’ll see curls,
loops, braids, and shapes that look like they were drafted in a notebook during math class. The best part is how much
presentation matterspeople don’t just walk; they perform. A competitor might pause for a beat, turn slightly to let the
lights catch the styling, and suddenly the beard isn’t just hairit’s a prop, a costume, a punchline, and a flex all at once.
The audience eats it up because it’s impossible not to.

If you’ve never been to something like this, the biggest surprise is how it changes your perspective afterward. You go home
and look at your own beard (or the idea of growing one) differently. You start noticing shape, texture, and grooming details
on strangers in line at the coffee shop. You realize “beard goals” aren’t one universal thingsome people are built for a
dense, short masterpiece; others are destined for long, flowing legends; and the truly fearless will always be tempted by
wax, braids, and the dark magic of symmetry. In the end, the 2017 championship energy lingers in the best way: it makes
facial hair feel fun againless like a trend, more like self-expression you can literally grow into.