I’ve noticed there are a lot of you out there; letting your facial hair grow past the stubble stage to create a new look and perhaps even a new perspective on life.  I’d like to draw your attention to some famous men with beards or mustaches, as well as library materials that might be of interest…

Joseph Palmer.  Mustaches and beards have gone in and out of style during the last 50 years, but can you imagine a time in America when you would be imprisoned for refusing to shave?  Joseph Palmer  was a nineteenth century American who refused to conform to society and even went to jail for what he thought was his right  - to grow a beard that would make  those dudes in ZZ Top look like facial hair amateurs.  Read about Palmer in The Quite Contrary Man written by Patricia Rusch Hyatt, illustrated by Kathryn Brown.

Zach Galifinakis.  Zach is one of the funniest bearded stand-up comics & actors of our time, and a southern boy to boot.  You’ve probably seen The Hangover, so I recommend you watch him in the quirky HBO series Bored to Death.    And if you haven’t seen any of the online episodes of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifinakis, get ready to laugh yourself silly!

Hercule Poirot.  Agatha’s Christie’s famous Belgian detective sports a finely groomed mustache while cleverly solving the most complicated mysteries.  The widely respected English actor David Suchet has portrayed Poirot (and that mustache!) since 1989.

Justin Vernon.  For those not in the know, Justin is behind the thoughtful and melodic music of Bon Iver, and he is arguably at the forefront of the recent sensitive guys with beards movement.   If you’ve never listened to Bon Iver, start with For Emma, Forever Ago, which was recorded mostly in a remote cabin in the wilds of Wisconsin.

Joe Hill.  Joe Hill is now known as the son of Stephen King, but don’t jump to discount his skills at crafting a good tale!   Hill’s stories are as entertaining and macabe as his famous father’s (read Horns for starters.)  In 2010, Joe grew one heck of a mustache while raising money for the charity Movember, an organization that raises funds and brings awareness to men’s health issues, in particular prostate cancer.

I’ll leave you with one final quote from Marc Maron, a comic who wears what he refers to as a facial hair configuration.  The quote is taken from his latest album This Has to Be Funny – “I’m not a hipster… I’m more of  a middle-aged man who has made a facial hair decision.”                                                -crystal