By Sara Bauknecht

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

PITTSBURGH – This is home to the American Mustache Institute, and former Mustached American of the Year titleholder Adam Causgrove of Mount Washington. Now he’s in good company.

Conor Barrett, 25, of Point Breeze, Pa., is the Wahl Man of the Year for best facial hair in the nation. He was one of 12 finalists who went “face-to-face” for the title.

“I found out about a month ago, and I had to keep it a secret,” he says. “Now it’s a bit of a relief that I can tell people. So far, it’s been pretty wild.”

The public had the chance to vote for its favorite face of hair on Facebook, and that pick made up 40 percent of the score. The rest was based on a review by a judging panel, which ranked finalists on general enthusiasm for facial hair, media readiness and potential brand ambassadorship for Wahl, which makes facial grooming products.

Wahl visited places its research deemed to be the “Most Facial Hair Friendly Cities in America” and brought along a mobile barbershop to scout men with the best beards and mustaches. Barrett’s full, burly beard earned him the name of Wahl Man of Pittsburgh and got him in the running for the grand prize.

And the grand prize is (drum roll) … $1,000, a national advertisement spot for Wahl grooming products and all the bragging rights and glory that go along with being Wahl Man of the Year.