Hairy Havens: Best cities for men with beards and mustaches
(BPT) – Guys with facial hair listen up and women take note. The annual ‘Most Facial Hair-Friendly Cities in America’ list is here and it’s a compass for all in pursuit of the hirsute.
The study is released each year by men’s grooming leader Wahl. The company is dedicated to celebrating great facial hair and has made a commitment to honor the cities helping in their effort to support follicular self-expression.
As you may have noticed, facial hair continues to be a growing trend, pun intended. According to Wahl, 7 out of every 10 guys don a beard, mustache, goatee or stubble at some point during the year. So which places are most welcoming of whiskers?
1. Washington D.C.
The Capital City has risen to the top of the facial hair food chain and it’s easy to see why. Not only does it boast the most stone sculptures of facial-haired men per capita than any other city in the U.S., but its pro baseball team led the league in facial hair last season.
2. Los Angeles
You don’t have to look very hard to find facial hair in the City of Bearded Angels. The male celebrity scene continues to support healthy stubble, as do many of the male musicians, artists and outdoor enthusiasts that call So Cal their home.
3. Seattle
While inclement weather and a warm cup of Joe certainly pair well with a 5 o’clock shadow, Seattle’s ascension to the third spot on this year’s list begs the question: Is a Grunge revival brewing?
4. San Francisco
San Francisco made a ‘Giant’ leap from 29th to 4th place thanks in large part to a plethora of baseball beards and some post-season magic last fall.
5. Nashville
Think Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr., not to mention today’s stars such as Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. What’s more harmonious than a man with a guitar and a beard?
6. Denver
Beer foam mustaches complement the real thing in Denver. It’s no surprise a city known for craft brewing takes a liberated approach to its facial hair.
7. Chicago
Residents in this city know some extra facial fuzz can ward off a windy chill. What’s more, their pro hockey team and rabid fan base are known for their facial hair prowess and can beard with the best of them.
8. New York
Despite a certain pro baseball team’s anti-facial-hair policy, the whiskered lifestyle is alive and well in the Big Apple.
9. San Diego
The machismo men of San Diego know how to rock a mustache à la Ron Burgundy, so naturally this city is on the list. Stay classy San Diego.
10. Indianapolis
By boasting one of the most impressive urban bike and pedestrian paths, residents of Indy are coming together and, in the process, creating a more facial hair-friendly culture.
To determine the ‘Most Facial Hair-Friendly Cities in America,’ Wahl partnered with market research leader Opinion Research Corporation. The study included in-depth analysis of the online universe over the past year for beard and mustache positivity. It measured conversations and searches about facial hair and the top cities were ranked based on overall interest and positive sentiment. Where does your city stand? See all 50 cities from this year’s list.
Whether or not your city made the list, every guy can make his hometown proud. As the Official Sponsor of Facial Hair, Wahl is looking to sponsor the most fantastic of follicles with its annual ‘Wahl Man-of-the-Year contest.’ The winner will receive $1,500 and be featured in a national advertisement. The contest runs through Oct. 2, 2015. To enter, just upload a picture using #OfficialSponsorOfFacialHair to Twitter or Instagram. More information and official rules can be found at OfficialSponsorOfFacialHair.com.