The handlebar mustache. The Fu Manchu. The goatee. The ducktail. Mutton chops. The Salvador Dali 'stache (aka the "Muahaha") ... There are endless types and styles of facial hair, ranging from a dusting of stubble to a beard so thick it could harbor a family of chipmunks.
But what is it about facial hair that helps a man put his best face forward, and why is growing a beard growing in popularity?
Matt Patty — beard buff, fan of facial hair — is a cosmetologist who's been cutting hair for 16 years now. He owns and runs barbershop Chapel Barber with the help of stylist Angel Kachenko. And beards are their specialty.
"We probably do 200 beards a week," he says. "Sometimes you walk in here, and it looks like Hells Angels just showed up."
Patty, who sports a long, full beard himself, says that he's always had a certain connection with beards, long before they started becoming trendy. He says he admired his grandfather's beard as a kid and decided to grow one as soon as he was old enough to collect enough hair on his face, which was around the age of 30. He's been bearded ever since.
"I've had some type of facial hair most of my life — a soul patch or something," he says. "I didn't like to be clean-shaven." (For the uninitiated, a soul patch is that bristly chunk of human AstroTurf that lives between your lower lip and chin. Think Howie Mandel or Johnny Depp in his pirating days.)
To support his beard habit, Patty and his wife started the Chattanooga Beard Company — which sells beard-grooming products such as beard balm, beard oil and beard conditioner — out of their own kitchen in 2018.
Face Value
Patty considers beards to be "man makeup" that can improve a man's appearance and boost his self-confidence. He says that, like makeup, beards can hide blemishes or flaws. They can even change somebody's face shape.
"There are people behind those beards. Someone who's never had any confidence at all grows a beard, and it hides that lip or that thing that he always [disliked], whatever it was," he says. "And now he feels better about himself."
To keep a beard looking good and not like a "woolly mammoth thing hanging on your face," Patty insists that taking care of it is crucial. And that's where he comes in.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Barber and beard specialist Matt Patty at his barbershop, Chapel Barber
In the Thick of It
Not only does Patty trim, cut and style hair — whether on your head or your face — but he also acts as a beard mentor, advising and guiding other beardees or wanna-bes in the ways of the bearded. Patty coaches men on beard care and maintenance, as well as finding the right facial hair style for every face.
To keep your beard looking its best, he recommends hydration, vitamins and nutrition. "It's simple," he says. "You gotta clean it; you gotta keep it moisturized. And come in and see me when it gets too big."
Without proper care, beards can become real debris-catchers. Patty says that he's found a range of things hiding out in the facial forests of his clients, including sauces. Toothpaste. Today's lunch. Salsa. Residues of lotion or toothpaste. A single shrimp. "Some guys have beards so thick that they could catch a ninja star in it," he says. But, he assures us, keeping your beard clean will avoid those "How'd that get in there?" moments.
Brotherhood of the Bearded
There's camaraderie in facial hair — an entire community made up of the bewhiskered and the women who love them (who are referred to as "Whiskerias") come together for socializing, support and sport.
Beard competitions take place almost every weekend, with a variety of categories. Take Patty's friend, Aaron Johnston, for instance. His 20-inch beard won him the championship title in the Partial Beard category. "Some of those guys have beards almost down to their knees," Patty says.
People in the Freestyle category get creative and make shapes out of their beards, like the guy who turned his chin hair into a birdhouse. These beard competitions also raise money for charity.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Matt Patty’s station at Chapel Barber
Scratch That
Whether you're hoping to grow just a little fuzzy face-framing or a beard to rival that of Rip Van Winkle, Patty swears that with a little patience, persistence and genetics on your side, you can do it. But it isn't always easy.
Be prepared for it to be itchy. "Yeah, sometimes your face does itch, but there are oils and other products to take the itch away," he says.
And yes, if you're growing hair on your face mid-August, it really might be hot. "I always tell people to shave their legs [instead] because it will make them cooler," Patty says.
Putting in Some Face Time
And most importantly, don't give up. Growing a beard is a painstakingly slow process. Patty says to devote at least three months to the process to see real results.
In the meantime, he says, don't shave. Don't look at yourself in the mirror. Just let it grow. "It's not going to be pretty when it first starts," he says. "Just close your eyes and don't touch anything. It's going to get worse before it gets better."
And remember, beards aren't for everybody. "Some people just need a T-shirt or a hat. Not everybody looks great with a beard," he says. He'll be the first to tell you if you're better off staying barefaced.
"I like the clean-cut look. It's good. It's classic. It's always gonna be around," he says. "It's just not for me." (In fact, Patty says that he'd only consider shaving his beard for a "life-changing amount of money," which means no less than $100,000.)
"Beards are so big in my life. They're my business. They're who I hang out with. They're what I speak about and what I wake up thinking about," he says. "I'm not good at many things. But I'm good at beards."
Chapel Barber + Beard Supply is located at 515 Airport Rd. For more information, check out their Facebook page. For Chattanooga Beard Company info or products, go to chattanoogabeard.co.