Bearded Carson City residents took the stage for the most-bearded community during the Nevada Day beard contest Saturday.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
It was a showdown at McFadden Plaza Saturday afternoon following the Nevada Day parade as a group of unshaven men competed in the best beard contest.
Hosted by Cipriani’s Downtown Barber Shop and Paradise Salon-Spa-Wellness, the event is an annual tradition in the celebration of Nevada’s statehood. Eleven categories separated the best-bearded from the merely whiskered: best overall, longest, fullest, reddest, blondest, whitest, blackest, best salt and pepper, best groomed, scruffiest and most-bearded community.
Carson saw a resounding victory for most-bearded community with 37 participants versus 14 for Washoe and nine for Lyon County. Douglas County came in fourth with six participants.
Judge Amber Law feels Anthony Ramos’ beard during the fullest-beard contest at McFadden Plaza on Saturday.
“We get a great crowd. Everybody loves what we do,” said Perry Nixdorf, owner of Paradise Salon.
Paradise has been organizing the event for nine years. Nixdorf said the contest goes all the way back to the 1960s.
“It’s just a good time,” he said.
Amber Law, one of three judges, said she’d be looking for facial hair “big and full” for the best overall category. That honor was later bestowed on Matt Wagner, a Carson resident defending last year’s title.
“It’s great. It’s fun. I do it for the fun,” Wagner told the Appeal after clinching not just best overall, but a first-place win for fullest beard.
Carson City resident Matt Wagner with best overall and fullest -beard awards at McFadden Plaza Saturday for the Nevada Day beard contest.
He shared the secret to his success:
“Jeremy at East 50 Barbershop is my secret,” he said.
Carson’s Robert Beeler, who won first place for whitest beard, also shared what makes his beard a cut above the rest.
“I just wash it with soap and conditioner,” he said. “That’s all I do.”
Judge Amber Law measures Jake Calhoun’s beard during the longest-beard contest at McFadden Plaza Saturday.
Results
Most-bearded community:
Washoe 14
Storey County 1
Lyon County 9
Douglas County 6
Carson City 37
All others: 1
Longest beard:
Jimmy Johnson, first place, 22.5 inches
Boyd Lasater, second place, 20.75 inches
Jake Calhoun, third place, 20 inches
A crowd gathers to watch the best-groomed beard contest at McFadden Plaza on Saturday.
Blackest beard:
Rohit Bhatia, first place
Tashin Karin, second place
Moises Roman, third place
Whitest beard:
Robert Beeler, first place
Gregory Liston, second place
Thomas Simmonds, third place
Reddest beard:
Lex Garraway, first place
Jonathan Pickett, second place
Craig Wagner, third place
Robert Beeler won whitest beard during the Nevada Day beard contest at McFadden Plaza Saturday.
Blondest beard:
Ryan Mield, first place
Joe Harder, second place
Steve Rozier, third place
Best salt and pepper beard:
Brian Burris, first place
Anthony Ramos, second place
Scot Jones, third place
Scruffiest beard:
Steve McMartin, first place
Michael Giancontieri, second place
Brady Cartwright, third place
MC Perry Nixdorf of Paradise Salon names Matt Wagner, center, winner of best overall beard of the Nevada Day beard contest Saturday.Best-groomed beard:
Best overall winner: Matt Wagner
Judges for the Nevada Day beard contest. From left, Jo Spidle, Kevin Law and Amber Law at McFadden Plaza on Saturday.