Local man brings facial-hair club to Mahoning Valley

POLAND — Anthony Fontes says growing a beard isn’t easy — it takes an amount of dedication to let it grow out.

Fontes, 38, chose to grow facial hair six years ago, but said it wasn’t until two years back he took up the hobby of bearding.

Fontes is a part-time photographer who lives in Poland with his wife and 8-year-old son. He said the “art of bearding” is about changing perceptions on facial hair by styling it in a unique way for fun or competition. He said it’s more of a challenge than simply growing facial hair, adding that it takes

“patience, determination and lots of hair products” to style it in a way that’s unique.

“I stumbled across the National Beard and Moustache Championships in Las Vegas two years ago, and it was spectacular,” Fontes said.

Fontes described the competition as a cross between a masquerade ball and a dog show.

“You don’t just show up to these things with a beard,” he said. “I mean you certainly can, but there’s an amount of pageantry to the contests.”

Fontes started a group called the Rust Belt Whisker Society about one year ago for other men interested in competing and discussing facial-hair trends. He said the group has a Facebook page where he will post meeting spots to talk about facial hair once a month.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com