I hold 9 Guinness World Records for sticking everything from forks to straws in my beard — a holiday favorite that hurts the most

AN insurance expert has become a nine-time world record holder after placing a few objects in his facial hair.

Toothpicks, straws, paper straws, golf tees, last year’s bullet record, chopsticks, forks, clothespins and pencils have all found an fickle home in Joel Strasser’s beard.

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The record holder is best known for his Christmas beard challenge (beard decorations) – a record he has set four times.

In 2022, he broke the record again, placing 710 clip-on ornaments in his beard.

Discussing his latest accomplishment, the gregarious Strasser describes himself as a “crazy”.

“While I was breaking it for the fourth time, I was talking to my witnesses,” he said jokingly.

“I wonder why am I doing this again? That’s so stupid!”

how did it start

He started putting pencils in his beard to make sure his students were paying attention in class.

“I would walk around the classroom when people weren’t paying attention and just shove things up my beard,” Strasser told The Sun.

An observant student noticed him and told him to shoot for world records.

This student took the teacher on a new journey; Strasser created a YouTube channel to showcase his bearding skills.

“I wanted to make a video trying to see if I could break the world record for most toothpicks in a beard. And I broke it,” Strasser said.

The video proved that Strasser could break the world record; now he wanted the recognition of the best record holders.

“So after unofficially breaking the world toothpick record, I feel like I need to make it official and I need to figure out how to do it so I have a certificate and stuff.”

Many objects were in the beard

Strasser developed various techniques for all of his beard athletes.

He explains that clipped objects require different techniques than toothpicks or spaghetti.

“With the bobbles, with their small clips, you have to be very specific, it’s very tedious.“

“It’s also very painful. Putting that many in invariably leaves hair stuck in the feathers. And you try to pull it out gently without removing too much hair with it.”

Strasser doesn’t know if he’ll be able to hold his bear record next year.

He said: “It’s a super annoying record. I don’t know why I keep doing it.”

wanderlust beard

Strasser’s wife isn’t always the biggest beard fan.

“She wishes I had a short beard again,” he jokes.

Although her wish for a five o’clock shade and aftershave didn’t get fulfilled, the beard has taken the couple to a lot of fun places.

“We went to LA twice and recently to Rome to appear on an Italian TV show,” Strasser said.

“And when we were in Rome, she said, okay, I’ll stop complaining about your beard now.”

The couple has even appeared on TV shows like The Kelly and Ryan Show and Jay Leno.

To keep your beard looking fresh and luscious, he suggests two things: “beard oil” and “don’t put a bunch of shit in your beard.”

Strasser’s award-winning beard can be found on his Instagram @joelnert and YouTube under the same name.

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