Movember Aftermath: Scott, Brian, & Doug

Nice staches, Scott, Brian, and Doug! Wow, today we have a triple treat of terrific nostril anchors! From left to right in this picture are Scott Meister, Brian Rossman, and Doug Graham. These three gentlemen make up three quarters of Movember Team Stacheforge and all work at Attainment Company in Verona, Wisconsin, making educational computer games, such as perhaps a game which would teach someone how to memorize the first 380 digits of pi, which is written on the wall behind them.

These are some nice boxcar-style old-fashioned mustaches, the kind that might have been in style when that Apple IIc in the background of the picture was manufactured.

Clearly these three men are all quite proud of their face-sprouts. While Scott and Doug assume casual poses, as if to say that they have already grown accustomed to having their manhood growing above their mouths for all to see, Brian gives the camera a smile which belies the message of his t-shirt: indeed, Brian does care, unlike the crazy nastyass honey badger.

Great job, boys. Our team didn't so much "raise money" but we did increase the number of mustaches in the universe, which is its own reward.

Movember Aftermath: Chril Plehal,

Nice stache, Chris!

Meet Chris Plehal, a comedy writer in New York City, who grew a mouth hat for Movember. Chris was so motivated to cure prostate cancer that he ruthlessly pursued donations, even sniping donors away from other Movember teams. Chris's team was SS+K, which raised over seven hundred dollars, and Chris himself raised over five hundred dollars! Way to go, Chris!

In this picture Chris holds a photo of his mustache hero, the one and only Sam Elliot, whose mustache is world famous. At the end of the month of Movember, Chris's lipfur wasn't quite as superlative as Sam's, but every young stache needs a role model for aspiration.

Because Chris is such a superstar, he actually created a video showing a picture from every day of Movember. You can see his stubble grow into manly whiskers. Mr. Plehal offered no hint on whether or not this Movember miracle would be sticking around for the new year, but even if not, it lived a beautiful and lippy life.

Michael Trapp, Jersey City, NJ

Nice stache, Michael! This suave lip fuzz works in New York City during the day, but commutes back home to Jersey City at night. It enjoys long walks on the beach, cold winters in New Hampshire, sliding across basement floors, and participating in Movember, where it is on the College Humor team. This nasal shadow was nicknamed "the Dirty Sanchez" by its friends, but its true name is "Merkin". Although it is not technically a merkin, the simile is obvious.

Merkin is worn proudly by Michael Trapp, shown in this photo with the reaction had by most people when confronted with such manly nostril roots: utter awe that such a beautiful thing could exist in this flawed universe in which we all toil. There is no word on whether Merkin will survive after Movember.

Movember 2011

Gentlemen (and maybe the occasional lady), are you ready for Movember? Act now to join the Stacheforge team for Movember.

Chicago: America's Most Mustache-Friendly City

The American Mustache Institute has named Chicago as America's most mustache-friendly city.

World Beard & Mustache Championships

On Stacheforge, there are no beards allowed! That is why we are NOT celebrating the recent World Beard & Mustache Championships: even though mustaches are part of the contest, they are explicitly subordinate to beards, and the organization's URL (www.worldbeardchampionships.com) doesn't even include the "and mustache" part.

There are a lot of mustache categories, however, including

• Natural Mustache
• English Mustache
• Hungarian Mustache
• Dali Mustache
• Imperial Mustache
• Freestyle Mustache
  

Please note that Stacheforge does not typically spell "mustache" with the old-world "o" plugged unceremoniously into the middle of it, but we don't object when others do. And finally, here is one awesome picture of a truly great styled mustache:

Mustache Sunglasses

Stacheforge wants to make its readers aware of these sweet sunglasses featuring a built-in fake mustache.

A fake mustache is NEVER a substitute for a real one, but for people who can't grow a proper mouthhat, these glasses will allow you to show proper respect for the mustachioed.

American Mustache Institute Interview With Aaron Rogers

Stacheforge reader Ben Palmer sent us a link to a CBS Sports article discussing the on-again-off-again presence of lipfur on Superbowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rogers. The American Mustache Institute did an interview with Rogers, where he acknowledges the realization of his lifelong goal to be a mustachioed American:

David Tatro, Madison, WI

Nice stache, David! Wow, check out that heavyweight-championship-contender mouthdrape! These two pictures were taken at different times, though incredibly in the same location, facing the same wall. This allows us fervent Stacheforge readers to appreciate the subtle evolution of a mustache over its lifetime. The quiet robustness of the earlier stache matures into the longer and less cohesive version of the later stache. Best of all, each of these photographs feature a picture of alopecia-style, evil bizarro David in the photograph over his shoulder, locked away safely like General Zod trapped in the Phantom Zone.

Goodness gracious, that mouth-mane looks like it is ready to step off of his face and street-fight a pair of hoodlums. In the second picture, it looks like he just ate a donut dusted with the white ashes of his mortal enemies, who vaporized under the intensity of that manly lipcover. Perhaps David had a nasty accident involving peroxide, or else got in an accident like that kid from that song from the 90s.

Stacheforge is very sad to inform its readers, however, that this telling of the life story of a worthy lip-hood is also a eulogy, because David reports that he shaved off that bad boy after taking the second photograph. As we've said before, Stacheforge supports the right of all mustaches to live proudly upon their caretaker's lips, and we cannot condone the destruction of any mustache whatsoever. Nevertheless, this was a good mustache which lived a good life, even if it was -- ahem -- cut short.

Chris Rinard, Anchorage, Alaska

Nice Stache, Chris! Up there in Alaska, there's the breed of man who doesn't need a full beard to fight off the cold, blustry winter storms. For this kind of man, one only needs a sweet strip of liphair which dangles menacingly over each mouth-corner like one of those spaceships from Tron. Stacheforge readers might ask themselves why Chris would need sunglasses in a land with so little sunlight that they write songs about it, and the answer is that Chris needs to shade his eyes from the perpetual glow of that incredible facial adornment.

Stacheforge advises Chris to keep allowing the 'stache to have lots of sunlight, which will help it grow.

Girls Have Mustaches, Too

"I’d always figured that by finding a girl with her original mustache that I’d be finding some re-creation of the original woman, like meeting Eve, although probably a lot more enriching than that. Especially since, according to the fossil record, when Eve wasn’t basking in the magnificence of God’s Creation she was probably eating bugs out of old logs with a stick. Even so, finding a girl with a mustache would be finding a girl more likely to make the sort of bad decisions that favored the ruddier and more salacious pleasures of life, like nose-picking and peeing at the side of the road."

Ladies, if you have a sweet 'stache, send us a picture at submit@stacheforge.com.

Markus Matei and Todd Steinhauer, Napa Valley, CA

Nice stache, Markus! Nice stache, Todd! These two suave gentlemen show how different styles of mustaches compliment different styles of fashion.

Markus, on the left, is a German working as a production assistant on the set of a reality television show out there in Napa Valley, where this picture was taken. His mustache goes well with his pressed shirt and fancy pocket pen.

Todd, on the right, is an audio engineer for the same reality television show. His trucker-style mustache matches that special vest, which is reportedly specially built to hold the various audio equipment used in that line of work.

Note how the mustaches even seem to match the looks on the mens' faces. Also note that both men have sunglasses, which perhaps they offer to bystanders who need to shield their eyes from such brilliant and stunning fuzzy facial features. Great mustaches, guys!

On a final note, Stacheforge acknowledges the woman in the background who is photobombing the picture. Her name is Shannon, and she is the production coordinator on the set. We discourage her from her desperate attempts to appear here on Stacheforge until she grows a mustache of her own, although we share her enthusiasm for these two awesome hairy lips.

Frank Yoshida, Seattle, WA

Nice stache, Frank! That thing right there is one fashionable facial feature. According to Mr. Yoshida, this lip coif lived a short life of only one day, as an intermediate step between an unshaven face and a cleanshaven face. That is a pity, because that is a beauty!

Look how carefully Frank trimmed the whiskers to be so even in length and balanced at each corner of his mouth. Clearly Frank has both hirsuteness of face and the dexterity of scissor, so we hope that someday he will reprise this mouth hat. Stacheforge cannot promote the destruction of mustaches, because we believe that every one has a right to live long upon its lip, free from the fear of razor blades and beards. Nevertheless, the life of some mustaches, like this one, are short but beautiful.

As always send pictures of real men with real mustaches to submit@stacheforge.com.

Brett Baddorf, Madison, WI

Nice stache, Brett! That incredible mustache is a true facial feature. It looks like a whiskery inner-tube is wrapped around Brett's face. It looks like the noseband of a horse bridle. It's the kind of mustache that would sneak out at night, attack and kill other mustaches, then eat them to gain their power. Note the jealousy evident in the face of the clean-shaven unnamed gentleman in this picture.

Eric Phillippi & Jimmy Bero, Madison, WI

Nice stache, Eric! Nice stache, Jimmy! Wow, these men are taking facial hair to a new level.

That's Eric on the left; Jimmy on the right. This dynamic duo developed these hirsute visages for Mustache March at Blackhawk Church, which might or might not be the same as this Mustache March. Jimmy explains it this way:

Every Sunday, our church youth group gets together, and we decided to celebrate Mustache March by having all our high school students and leaders come with mustaches. The staches ranged from stick-ons bought on Amazon to ribbon taped below the nose. Someone actually glued their own hair cut from their head onto their face. Simply an epic night.

Stacheforge is excited to recognize Mustache March as a legitimate complement to Movember. Stacheforge is also excited to mention Mustache May, but Stacheforge is much less excited about the pretender mustache-themed months, with websites found only on Facebook: Mustache February, Mustache July, Mustache September, Mustache October, and Mustache December. It is true, however, that any month is good for showing off a homegrow soup strainer.

Eric's chinhair is dangerously close to being a beard, but Stacheforge is willing to round it down to "tickler" status because of the truly epic nature of that manly facial stripe! The mustache itself, too, dances with the boundaries of what it means to be be a mustache, but definitely qualifies, because it is disconnected from both sideburns. Jimmy doesn't play fast and loose with the rules the way Eric does: his mustache is a traditional throwback style, distinct on an otherwise closely shorn face.

Lynn Hauldren, RIP

It is with enormous sadness that Stacheforge acknowledges the passing of Lynn Hauldren, spokesman for the Empire flooring company. Although Lynn is most widely known as "The Empire Man", Stacheforge readers will remember him for having an awesome mustache. Rest in peace, Mr. Hauldren.

India's love affair with the mustache

Mo, tash, ‘stache, lip caterpillar, slug, even snickering cockroaches (as a pitiful poet once called Stalin’s). Call it what you will, the mustache comes with a fair dollop of history -- and mirth -- wherever it grows. From Magnum PI-styled symbol of virility to Borat-esque nose-tickler, the mustache shouts "pride" louder than most hairstyles. And nowhere is man's dedication to the hirsute upper lip more apparent than in India.

Announcement: Stacheforge Purchased By Logic Masons, LLC of Madison, WI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Logic Masons LLC Acquires Stacheforge.com For Undisclosed Sum

MADISON, Wi, April 25, 2011 - Logic Masons LLC of Madison, WI announced today that it has agreed to acquire Stacheforge.com, the world's leading online mustache gallery, for an undisclosed sum of cash and stock options. Following the acquisition, Logic Masons will assume complete editorial control over Stacheforge.

The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online mustache destinations with Logic Mason's expertise in developing web properties for maximum exposure and monetization. The new leadership will focus on growing the Stacheforge brand, bringing Stacheforge to new markets, and being generally stachetastic.

"Stacheforge.com has grown into the number-one website for men with sweet, sweet lipcovers" said Logic Masons in a statement early Monday afternoon. "Stacheforge will complement our mission to feature mustaches that are worthy of public attention."

The value of the acquisition was not released, but some analysts estimate that it could be as high as $5-$6 million in combined stock and cash. Stacheforge.com joins a growing family of web properties controlled by Logic Masons.

Former editor-in-chief Nicholas Keene will stay on at Stacheforge, continuing to be the public face of the website. Comments and questions can be submitted to Nicholas, but please remember that on Stacheforge, there are no beards allowed.

Bodystache

Some readers will be familiar with this example of a bodystache, but now there is a new bodystache champion. Stacheforge endorses both of these as legitimate mustaches: they meet on the upper lip, and join neither the sideburns nor under the chin. This is the first time, however, that anyone at Stacheforge has seen a mustache that grows below the knees.

Jerry Begel, Oak Park, Michigan

Nice stache, Jerry! Nice stache, Marshall! Today Stacheforge is honored to feature its first father-and-son mustache team. Marshall says that it was his father's idea to shave down to matching pencil mustaches. Readers will remember the first time we featured Marshall, he sported a bell-bottom trucker stache as shown in the "before" picture, and the look on his face suggests he was apprehensive about giving it up. That is understandable because mouthbrows can be hard to grow and hard to make look good. Luckily, the look on his face in the 'after' picture suggests he was happy with the change and nobody can deny that the Begel boys have what it takes to rock this under-appreciated mustache style.

We here at Stacheforge approve of the pact, no matter how it was conceived, because it caused Jerry's beard to turn into Jerry's mustache. Sure, his beard was okay for a beard, but like the statue David emerging from a block of Michelangelo's marble, Jerry's awe-inspiring bright-white lipfrost emerged from the beard. Marshall's traded in a substantial facial drape for a much more refined and understated mouthliner, each of which have been meticulously sculpted and look great. Remember, the worth of a mustache is not counted in whiskers.

Jerry and Marshall join the ranks of other great men who have worn this distinctive style of facial hair, including John Waters, Vincent Price, Prince, Wayne Newton, and Sean Penn.

Paul Soglin, Madison, WI

Nice stache, Paul! Mr. Soglin is running for mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. Paul was also mayor of Madison from 1973-79, then again from 1989-97. He ran for a third time in 2003 and was narrowly defeated by current incumbent Dave Cieslewicz -- who, let it be said, does not have a mustache. The two men are in a sort of rematch in the current mayoral race for which elections will be held on April 5, 2011.

Wow, if Stacheforge has its facts straight, that mustache has been hanging out for a long time. If mustaches are back in style, they are back from last time they were in style, in the 1970s, when Paul was in college, which apparently is when that caterpillar first climbed onto Paul's lip. Although many of his peers chickened out and shaved when the style passed, Mr. Soglin dedicated his face to that bad boy. Soglin's 'stache shares something in common with Soglin's suits: although each evolved with the vagaries of fashion, each are a lasting part of Paul Soglin's look. His mustache became wider at times, and more trim at times. When some salt was dropped into the salt-and-pepper color, Paul proudly wore it like a champion, like a silverback gorilla -- although, ironically, silverback gorillas do not grow mustaches.

Mr. Soglin has been well known in Madison as an activist since his college days, and is well respected for improving the city during his stints as mayor. In the opinion of Stacheforge, however, none of that is as important as the constancy and respect that Soglin's mustache brings to the city of Madison. As we wait for the April election to see whether the people of Madison elect Soglin mayor, Stacheforge endorses that mustache as candidate for awesomeness.

Otto Von Kenzie, Portland, Maine

Nice stache, (ahem) Otto! In the cold, wet winters they have up in Maine, sometimes a man needs help with the medical condition commonly known as "shivery lip". Like many real men, Otto treats that illness with a medicine commonly known as "a totally sweet mustache". He describes it as a "delta" shaped mustache, but we here at Stacheforge simply describe it as fantastic.

Mustaches Don't Lie

Our friends over at the Gallery of Regrets has another mustache tattoo to share. It's not as awesome as the previous one, but it's still sweet.

Mustache Mugs

Artist Peter Ibruegger has some pretty sweet coffee mugs. Stacheforge likes them all, but especially appreciates the one in the lower right of this photo.

Newport Breaks Mustache Contest Record

The city of Newport, NH recently set a world record for most participants in a mustache contest. Congratulations, Newport! That's class. The contest itself was won by New London resident Steve Lucas. Nice stache, Lucas!

Joe Frazier, Kenai, AK

Nice 'stache, Joe! That there is the kind of mustache grown to keep Joe's thin-blooded upper lip warm during those cold, Alaskan winters. Even when the nighttime lasts for months at a time, Joe's sweet mouth ornament is sure to bring some sunshine to the land.

Rumor has it that Joe once killed a wolf in the woods using only his bare hands, but he won't say whether or not this lipfur is actually a snip from that wolf's hide. Also not confirmed is whether or not the wolf pictured in the background is that same wolf.

Rumor also has it that Joe's mustache can act as a flotation device on the local Kenai river. Rumor also has it that Joe can spread the wings of his mustache like the majestic bald eagle and soar over the treetops. Rumor also has it that Joe's mustache is the only thing in the universe that can defeat Chuck Norris in a kickfight.

Bring. Back. The. 'Stache.

I’ll say it– I’m a fan of the mustache. Sadly, we saw the ‘stache fall largely by the wayside over the past few decades as pretty boys seemed fixated on primping, grooming, moisturizing, metrosexualizing, etc. in a vain and sissy attempt to one-up the ladies in the looks department. Let the ladies be pretty. Let the men be men. I say — Bring. Back. The. ‘Stache.

Marshall Begel, Madison WI

Nice stache, Marshall! This is a chic look, an homage to the traditional trucker, but with a subtle curve and thickening at the bottom, shaped like the teardrops of men who wish they had such a sweet mustache. Marshall is clearly dedicated to this manly facial feature: it is well defined on an otherwise recently shorn face, and carefully trimmed into shape.

Stacheforge also approves of Marshall's lower lip hair -- a 'shadow' or 'tickler' -- because it is not a beard; a beard grows on the chin; a tickler grows on the lower lip.