The Lost Art of Facial Hair

Freedom of expression is alive and well in our culture today. You can see it lifestyle preference, fashion, music, art, hairstyles, automobiles, etc. Everyone wants to have a "signature" look and the more original it is, the better. I can appreciate the piercings, tattoos (I have one and will probably get more), low rise jeans, low ride trucks, high ride cars, and even the tennis shoes that also double as roller skates. I mean, I'm a gen x guy, so that stuff is alright with me...to a point. However, I also have a little "old school" mentality, so you can bet that I was excited when I noticed that the ultimate fashion statement that was exhibited in the 70's and early 80's was making a comeback this week. This fashion statement wasn't meant to be a "fashion" statement at all. It was a symbol, if you will, of machismo. A symbol of manhood. Maybe even a proof of testosterone. It said, "Hey, look at me. I'm right above the upper lip...right below the nose. You can't miss me. And even though a man can grow hair all over his face, he chose to shave everything, but me. I'm a mustache!!!!" That's right. Thirty years ago nothing said "man" more than a line of hair that bridged the nostrils to the upper lip. And it's back, baby!!

Two movies opened last Friday: "Miami Vice" and "World Trade Center". Both had well known actors (Collin Farrel and Nicholas Cage) and both actors chose to sport what they knew would make them manliest of all, if you will. They could've gone with the conservative, trimmed goatee or even the full beard. They could've stretched it a little and been hip with the fu-man-chu or the thin sideburns, but they decided to keep it real. They knew what would project masculinity in a palpable way from the screen right into the theater. The 'stache.





















Deep down I've always wanted to sport just a mustache. My facial hair grows pretty fast and usually I'll have some shadow or a goatee or a full beard in the winter. I even once had a fu-man-chu mustache for "Cowboy Day" at the school where I teach. However, I never had the courage to pursue an all out real mustache. I guess I was concerned that a child molester look wouldn't flatter me or maybe I would look like a porn star from the 70's. But see, these people gave mustaches a bad rap. People quickly forget the torch bearers of the mustache movement: Magnum P.I., Hulk Hogan, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday. These were people who wore the mustache with pride. These were manly men.

Tonight I decided to bite the bullet. With help from Collin Farrell and support from Nick Cage and inspiration from Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, I too can call myself a member of the mustache mafia. True, I may look completely ridiculous and mothers may shield their young daughters from my sight as I walk down the street, but I know that I am helping bring something back that has been gone for too long. A symbol of strength, resolve, and, of course, bad taste. I'm not sure how long I'll keep it, but I will wear as a banner every second that it adorns my upper lip.