By Jordan Laird STAFF WRITER
In the refurbished King’s Theater in Brooklyn, New York, Hofstra freshman Scott Lakeram took the stage wearing colonial-esque breeches, high socks, a suit jacket and his signature sideburns.
He stood next to the other contestants and held a red number in front of himself. Five judges of the 2015 Just for Men National Beard and Mustache Championships presided over the partial beard sideburns category on Nov. 7. They analyzed Lakeram’s locks and how his beard complimented his outfit.
Lakeram, at his first national competition ever, walked away with a third place medal.
“I don’t know how to put it. The vibe of the competition, I’m never in a room full of bearded guys except at that moment,” said Lakeram. “I’m always surrounded by either clean-shaven guys or guys who keep a five o’clock shadow, nothing epically major like this.”
This year’s competition included seventeen categories decided by seven judges. According to competition officials, the most elaborate beard this year was styled to look like a birdcage, complete with a working door.
Lakeram first sprouted facial hair during his freshman year of high school. He kept a goatee until sophomore year. In his junior year, Lakeram began growing a mustache. The summer before his senior year, he started growing pork chops with sideburns.
“Everyone’s dad teaches him how to shave and they use the regular Gillette 5 blade razor that rips your face apart,” says Lakeram.
Lakeram says shaving made his face break out so eventually he gave in and said, “Screw this, I’m not going to shave at all.”
Now he is a master groomer and a master shaver. He knows how to use all types of blades, from straight razors to safety razors to Japanese knives. Lakeram learned a lot from videos online, but he also attended some classes at the Art of Shaving in Manhattan.
“My plan was to grow a beard and braid it, you know when it gets long, look like a Viking, probably throw some beads in it,” said Lakeram. “But when I started growing my beard, it got really crazy. Because it would go all the way up to my lip and cover my lip and then my mustache would cover my lip. When I ate, it was just terrible.”
Lakeram decided to try out the partial beard sideburn look and shave the middle part on his chin. If it didn’t feel right, he could grow the beard back in there.
“It worked out perfectly,” said Lakeram. “I can still shave, use all my expensive equipment, still kiss my girlfriend without her complaining too much.”
Lakeram said that his girlfriend absolutely hates his beard. He grew it after they had already started dating. Lakeram said his girlfriend often wonders why he couldn’t just grow a regular beard.
But his hairstyle matches his eccentric sense of style. Lakeram never wears regular dress pants, instead choosing to wear breeches or something else more unique.
“I’m more on the eccentric side. I need something to compliment my cowboy boots or my kilt or something,” said Lakeram. “I could change categories if I wanted but I’m in it to win it.”
Lakeram started the Hofstra Beard and Mustache club last month. The club is open to everyone and already has around 12 members attempting to grow their own facial hair. They even have a female board member.
“Yeah, I thought it would make no sense to join the club because I am a girl and don’t have a beard,” said freshman treasurer Danielle Pitter. “I told Scott that and he told me it's an opportunity to learn about a different interest of people. So I thought ‘Why not?’”
Pitter described Lakeram as “goal-oriented” and an “excellent leader.” The club is planning a beard and mustache competition for November of next year to be held at Hofstra.