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    Beard and Mustache Competition Coming to The Ohio State Fair

    Big mustaches, long beards and interesting facial hair are all in hot demand for the first time in quite some time at the Ohio State Fair this summer. The first ever Beard and Mustache Competition will be taking place on Monday, July 28th from Noon to 4pm, and will be hosted by the folks in charge at the Old Familiar Barber Shop in Olde Towne East.

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    Beard and mustache competitions happen regularly across the US, but this is a first for The Ohio State Fair. Prizes will be awarded to competitors in multiple categories, based on a variety of factors.

    “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Kenji Prince, owner of Old Familiar Barber Shop and the host of the competition. “There are different competitions on different levels — For example, the natural beard growth will probably be about the length, but there are also styles and presentation is a key factor also.”

    Prince, who was contacted by the fair, said he is excited to be the host of the event.

    “I told them I would love to help out with whatever they need,” he explained. “And they said, ‘Great, why don’t you do it all?’ So I became the coordinator of the entire thing, which is huge.”

    Aside from the competition, attendees can also enjoy live performances by unshaven entertainers, mustache-inspired art, and a few other surprises. No entry fee is required for the competition and interested individuals are encouraged to sign up to compete in four different categories: Mustache, Partial Beard, Full Beard and Fake Beard.

    Top barbers from all over Ohio will come together to decide the champions. And although the winners of the competition will be judged subjectively, Prince said the key to the competition is to have fun.

    And how confident is he about the success of the event?

    “On a scale of 1 to 10? 11.”

    More information about the competition can be found at www.ohiostatefair.com. (PDF)

    Photos by Sally Wenxin Xia.

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    Sally Wenxin Xia
    Sally Wenxin Xiahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Sally Wenxin Xia is a multimedia journalist, adventurer and elephant lover. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Sally just graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism. She loves discovering and telling stories about people, and their interaction with the community. In her spare time, Sally loves going to concerts and playing basketball.
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