During a past year’s Hi-Neighbour festival in Transcona, I was abruptly stopped by a disoriented man and asked, pointing to another innocent bystander, “Would you sleep with that guy if he had a moustache?”

I’ve contemplated this incident numerous times since and have decided that my answer, instead of an awkward nod of agreement, should have been, “No, but I would if he had a beard.”

Beards are the sexiest and warmest type of facial hair for the winter season.

As a young female who cannot yet grow facial hair like my Baba, I’ve often been consumed with jealousy for the male species, who can sprout thick, warm, wondrous beards whenever they so choose.

Well ladies, children and gentlemen lacking in the naturally bushy facial hair department, now is our chance.

Thanks to Jeff Phillips, our pleas have been answered with Beardo: a hat with a built-in beard.

“I came up with the first Beardo when I converted a scarf into a makeshift beard while on a snowboarding trip in Whistler at the end of 2006,” Phillips said in an email.
Phillips constructed the prototype for Beardo by poking some holes in a scarf and wrapping it around his head.

“ Phillips constructed the prototype for Beardo by poking some holes in a scarf and wrapping it around his head. Now, Beardo offers the style and warmth of a beard, but can also be tucked away into the attached toque, when you’re striving for that clean-shaven look

Now, Beardo offers the style and warmth of a beard, but can also be tucked away into the attached toque, when you’re striving for that clean-shaven look.

Although a solo-beard is obviously a wonderful facial accessory, the addition of a moustache really ties the look together, which is why Beardo will soon be coming out with a new beard design with an even cooler moustache.

“I think the moustache adds class to a person’s beard,” said Phillips. “They are playing on the same team ... the goal being awesomeness.”

Beardo will not necessarily make you wiser by giving you a beard to stroke during thoughtful contemplation, but Phillips says those wearing a Beardo while thinking will definitely look more stylish and have the added convenience of being able to fold away their beard when they’re done thinking.

Phillips, 31, who comes from a family of beard enthusiasts, has been thrilled with Beardo’s popularity, particularly with fellow Canadians.

Phillips believes that Beardo has been so successful because its design is strange and wacky, yet still totally functional.

He and the other folks behind Beardo will soon be coming out with more styles and colours for Beardo, while also working to develop sponsorship programs for skiers and snowboarders, and working with Soulvation, a non-profit organization working to improve the global community.

Whether your genetics prevent you from growing a beard, your boss made you shave it off or you need extra beard-benefits to add to the beard you already have, Beardo offers a fun way to bring a little more facial hair into your life, without the hassle of shaving.

Published in Volume 65, Number 18 of The Uniter (February 3, 2011)