Only the styled categories can use styling aids (products with hold), all others are considered natural. Any styling with them should only include brushing, combing, conditioning (including the use of beard oils and light balms).
‘STACHES
Facial hair that is grown on the upper lip, up to a maximum of 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) beyond the corners of the mouth.
✶ natural ‘stache - sponsored by Stephen Palmer Ceramics
✶ styled/freestyle ‘stache
PARTIAL BEARDS
Facial hair that is neither a full beard nor a moustache. Natural or shaven gaps define the different styles and categories.
✶ partial beard*
✶ styled partial beard
FULL BEARDS
Facial hair that consists of a moustache and is grown contiguously along the jawline without a gap. Moustaches do not have to connect to the rest of the beard to be considered a Full Beard.
✶ beard 2-6" - sponsored by Bearded Men Society of Ocean City
✶ beard over 6"
✶ beard over 12" - sponsored by Two Labs Coffee
✶ styled/freestyle beard
✶ beard with styled moustache - sponsored by Drew
✶ groomed/barber-styled beard - a full beard cut and trimmed into shape, kept short at the hairline to the hair on the head and shaved at the neck. The beard should be kept natural (without styling product) but the moustache can be styled with styling aids.
Think faded sideburns and crisp edges resulting in a cleanly tailored look.
FAKE BEARDS (OPEN TO EVERYONE!)
Artificial and imaginative creations meant to resemble facial hair of any category, either literally or abstractly.
✶ fake realistic - The goal is to create the most realistic-looking facial hair of any style following the traditional and realistic structure of a beard and moustache.
✶ fake creative - sponsored by Amy Black Tattoos - This category is open to everyone. The goal is to create the most imaginative, creative, and fantastic design that you can inspired by any style facial hair.
✶ kids beards - Fake beards for those under 16
✶ Craft Whisker Battle Live! - sponsored by The Craft Whisker Club - a build-a-beard blitz where each competitor starts with the same box of materials and tools and is given 45 minutes to build a fake beard.
PLUS PARTY/GROUP CATEGORIES OF …
✶ best duct tape accessory - sponsored by David Strickland Tattoos
✶ tackiest person/couple
✶ best dressed
✶ thrift shop royalty - sponsored by Bearded Hero
✶ furthest traveled competitor
✶ best represented club - sponsored by The Pink Ink Fund - we will again be awarding a Best Represented Club trophy this year! This award goes to the club** who brings the greatest number of competitors to the Mid-Atlantic Championships. Details below.
and of course, the HONEST AMISH BEST IN SHOW whose entry fees to the Honest Amish 2024 Great American Beard & Moustache Championships in Michigan this September will be covered!
*Additional traditional beard categories will be available for pre-registration. They will be present at the MABSC 10 only if they reach 3 competitors each.
** To make sure everyone's on the same page, we define an eligible club as:
a group of people in a common geographic region who work together for a shared purpose,
who have an organizational or leadership structure, and
hold regular meetings at least 4 times a year.
To be considered a member, the person must at least participate in 1 club-organized event, activity, or meeting each year.