Beardos & Weirdos event promises hair-raising good time

Before a competition, you can usually find Dustin Rucker in front of a mirror, twisting loops and curls into his full beard using hairspray, glue and a hair dryer.

“I usually spend about an hour to an hour-and-a-half styling. That’s about average,” he said.

Rucker, who competes in beard and mustache contests, is the organizer behind a new one in Columbia called Beardos & Weirdos.

The event, geared toward facial hair enthusiasts and their agreeable friends, is Saturday, Feb. 27 at New Brookland Tavern.

Facial hair is an easy common ground for people from all types of backgrounds, Rucker said. “And typically whenever you get a room full of eclectic people, things get weird.”

Hence the name.

Beardos & Weirdos will have several pre-competition happenings, but the competition is the marquee attraction. There also will be a wedding ceremony during the event between two serious beard aficionados. (Does that qualify as weird? Asking for a friend.)

“It’s like going to a beauty pageant, but for facial hair,” Rucker said.

There are 11 judging categories, from goatees to partial beards to full beards over a foot in length. There are categories for natural styles and “free styles,” which include the crazy curls and hairy spikes. There is even a fake beard category for women called Whiskerina.

“I’ve seen girls make beards out of cookies, clothespins, beer cans, you name it,” Rucker said. Some also artfully arrange the hair on their heads into beard-like formations.

Walk-up registrations for the competition will be accepted, and trophies will be awarded to the winners. Each category will be evaluated by a panel of experienced judges.

Rucker is a member of the Midlands Whisker Society, a social club for the local beard community. Formed almost three years ago, the group gets together once a month for socializing and charity work.

“But the competitions are our bread and butter,” Rucker said.

Saturday, he’ll be hosting, not competing. Circus-themed costumes, heckling and general goofiness are encouraged.

All of the proceeds will go to Camp Wonder Hands, a Lexington County overnight camp for hard-of-hearing and deaf children. Beardos & Weirdos will hopefully grow the collective and raise plenty money for Camp Wonder Hands, Rucker said, adding, “If you’re not going to shave, then why not do something positive with those whiskers?”

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 9:37 AM.