Eric Bandholz: the man, the brand and the beard

Eric Bandholz is a bearded man on a bearded mission. Realising there was no organisation representing ‘urban beardsmen’ (as he calls them), he created Beardbrand in 2012.

Based in Spokane, Washington, Beardbrand creates quality products catering to the hirsute gentleman. His videos on beard care and grooming are a beardsman’s go-to for tips on keeping beards in tip top condition. Proud supporter of one of the fieriest, reddest beards on the planet, he should know.

We were pretty excited to grab some time with the maestro himself to talk grooming, beard oils and Beardbrand.

How did you come up with the original idea for Beardbrand and what was the inspiration behind it?

I started Beardbrand after going to the 2012 West Coast Beard & Mustache Championships in Portland, Oregon. It was my first beard competition and I had an absolute blast! I noticed there was a large contingency of what we call “urban beardsman” and no one else was building that community. I’m not one to wait, so I started Beardbrand as a blog and a way to build that community.

Is it true you make all your own products on your kitchen table? Tell us about the process.

We developed our Beardbrand line of beard oils on our kitchen table. What is funny is that we all love the Sandalwood scent, but whenever we put it into our blends; it wasn’t our favourite. It seems like we had about a million different scent combinations out there. Since developing our formula we have passed over the production to my friend’s mom. That allows us to focus on the things we are passionate about – communicating with other beardsmen.
Beyond that, we do purchase some great products from The Bearded Bastard and sell those on our store. Most of the items we are aren’t actually made by us, in fact.

Which is your favourite product from the range?

I use the Spiced Citrus Beard Oil every day, but I also like to have a little bit of variety once in a while.

What has the reaction to Beardbrand been like? What are your best-sellers?

I’ve been blown away by the response from our customers and our fans. It shows how much a company like Beardbrand was needed. The Woodsman is our best seller, followed by Tree Ranger. I guess people really love that forest smell.

‘Growing a beard is a bit like raising a child: you hope they’ll turn out right but you can never really tell until they’re fully grown what the outcome of your nurturing is’ Comment?

Ha, I think that pretty much nails it. I’ve seen guys who look like they can’t grow anything, and then once they start growing it becomes a fantastic beard.

In your opinion how are bearded men perceived in Washington State and USA in general? Thumbs up or down?

We want to end beard bigotry. I think it’s still out there, but minds are changing. There are still a lot of people in this world with hate, and it seems silly to me to get upset over beards. Personally, I surround myself with positive people and haven’t run into much hate about my beard. It also helps that I’m 6’5”. I get a lot more random “Hey man, great beard” than negative comments.
In Washington, I think they are fairly beard-friendly; definitely more so than South Carolina, where I last lived.

What is your favourite thing about having a beard?

Stroking the beard and having the beard flow in the wind are two great experiences. That and just looking awesome.

Who is your ultimate bearded hero and why?

I’m not an Australian, but Ned Kelly had a pretty cool beard and he stood up to the man. While I’m not too fond of supporting murderers, his style was kickass.

What are the three most important tips in beard care and grooming?

1 – Don’t shave off your beard. 2 – Try to shampoo your beard once or twice a week. 3 – Don’t cut your neck line too close to your jaw.

What do you like to do when you’re not in beard mode?

I’m a creative guy, so I like to create things – whether that be graphic art, businesses, or anything else. I’m also a big fan of the political thought process called Voluntaryism. I spend a lot of time learning about the ins and outs, as well as hanging out with other like-minded people.

Would you consider life without a beard?

Of course. If I ever got face cancer and needed to shave my beard to have surgery, I wouldn’t bat an eye. The beauty of beards is that they grow back – so if you ever do decide to live part of your life beardless; it’s not permanent. That being said; I don’t see myself going beardless anytime soon.

For the full story visit: www.beardbrand.com