How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Gilded Bearded

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Gilded Bearded 

This Wednesday’s How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview we find ourselves in Dayton, Ohio, “The Gem City”! Home to, ironically enough,”The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Gilded Beard”…what are the chances of that? The G.C.G. (for short) are Dayton, Ohio’s official chapter of Beard Team USA. Founded in February of 2010 by three pals sitting in a booth at a Mexican Restaurant…How many beard & moustache clubs begin in a booth each day all across the world I ask, hmmmmm? These folks have grown a lot since the booth (in many ways) and are creating a lot of buzz, especially in media coverage, so keep an eye out for them.

So let us check in now with Nate Stevens the clubs official mouth piece or as his credentials state “orator”…we need an orator. Enjoy and happy last few days of Moustache March!

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: How long has your club been together?

Nate: We officially started the Dayton, OH beard club (Gem City Gentlemen of the Gilded Beard) in February of 2010. Later that same year, we banded together the other Ohio facial hair clubs to form Beard Team Ohio.

HTGAM: What is your membership criteria?

Nate: We do not discriminate. Our club is one of acceptance; we have no application, no dues or fees, and we do not even require that you have facial hair. Our members are men, women, and even children from all walks of life, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The only pre-requisites to joining our club is that you must (1) make a sincere effort to be the best citizen of Dayton and of Ohio that you can, and (2) be ready to have some fun. That being said, a healthy appreciation for various styles of facial hair is definitely a plus!

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: Do you host events and competitions, If so how many a year and for what  causes? How much have you raised?

Nate: As of this writing, we have hosted three state competitions in Ohio, the most recent being BeardCon in Columbus last October. The proceeds from those events went to benefit The Stillwater Center in Dayton, and the Central Ohio Men Against Prostate Cancer. To date, we have raised nearly $10k.

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: Does your group participate in regional, national or international competitions?

Nate: We are constantly traveling to beard competitions and events. Over the next several months, we will be visiting Philadelphia PA, Cleveland OH, Lansing MI, Richmond VA, and Charleston SC, and a group of our primary members will be traveling to Germany this year for the World Beard & Mustache Championships.

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: Have you had any big wins?

Nate: Several! Members Neil Moherman and Justin Kellermeier, along with co-founder Thomas “Maurice” Smith have brought home the bulk of the awards for our club. Justin and Thomas recently received gold and silver (respectively) in Freestyle Beard in both Lexington KY and Austin TX. Neil is the reigning National Full Beard champion, and Thomas got 1^st place in Freestyle Beard in New York and 2^nd at the BTUSA Nationals in 2010. We also have many female members, including Tess Jefferies and Lindsay Stinner, who are constantly competing for the top spots in the female fake beard competitions. There have been (and will be) many more victories along the way, but those are the ones that stand out.

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

Nate: If you are passionate about facial hair and about your community, get involved. This club has allowed us to see places, meet people, and impact our world in a way that would never have been possible otherwise. If you do it right, it really can change your life.

HTGAM: Any tips or pointers for other stache and beard wearing men reading this?

Nate: Co-founder Stephen Alexander offers the advice, “Have confidence. Choose the facial hair that’s right for you. Grow it out. See what comes in naturally for you, embrace it, and maintain it.”

HTGAM: Does anyone in your group have any humorous facial fur stories to share?

Nate: Oh certainly, too many to count. But you’ll have to sit down for a pint with us if you want the really good ones. 

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: What are some of your group’s favorite grooming products and why?

Nate: We have many members, who use many different grooming products to achieve many different goals. Several of us like Got2B Spiking Glue or Clubman Moustache Wax to style our moustaches. Our freestylers use predominately Got2B hairspray to achieve the gravity defying suspension that defines their elaborate styles, and most of Beard Team Ohio uses Dream Beard Oils for daily beard maintenance.

HTGAM: What do they look for in a moustache wax?

Nate: It depends on who you talk to. Some people will look for a firm hold and moisture-resistance above all, while some prefer one that will comb in easier, to prevent any unnecessary stress on the hairs.

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

HTGAM: What do you see in the future for your club?

Nate: More of the same! More events, more traveling, more charity work, more trophies, more friends, more love, more laughs, more memories.

HTGAM: Do you see an increase in the popularity of moustache and beard clubs?

Nate: Absolutely. The scene is really blowing up right now, we have new members at every meeting. We can only hope the upward trajectory of facial hair continues, and it can get a foothold permanently, as a universally accepted lifestyle in this country.

How To Grow A Moustache Feature Interview With The Gem City Gentlemen Of The Bearded Guild

Nate: It’s really been so much more than we ever thought it could be. When we started, the goals were modest, mostly just to have an excuse to grow our beards and get together for pints once in awhile, and maybe to eventually bring a little positive press to our hometown. Instead, we’ve formed lifelong friendships, traveled the world, become quasi-celebrities, helped a lot of people who needed and deserved it, and really developed a great set of skills related to organizing, fundraising, marketing, and just making things happen. You will truly be amazed what people are willing to do for you if you just ask, and that lesson will be valuable to us for the rest of our lives.

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A very special thanks to The Gem City Gents & Gems! To find out more about them we encourage you to seek them out at gemcitygentlemen.com or on Facebook Please leave comments below!

Thank You for reading and stay tuned for this weekends Final Special Moustache March Exclusive Interview Featuring Mr Michael “Atters” Attree! 

Interview By Douglas Smythe

Contact Douglas: whiskers@howtogrowamoustache.com