Facial hair can be a big man’s best friend. It has the ability to mask double chins, elongate a round head, and frame the face in many creative and interesting ways. You may have a beard that rivals this one, but do you know where the style came from, or how best to take care of it? A Gentleman’s Guide to Beard and Moustache Management gives you more information on the history, styling, and care of facial hair than you ever knew existed.

The guide kicks off with a bit of beard history: from the prehistoric man who preened his facial hair with clam shells and shark’s teeth, to Nero – who wore history’s most infamous neck beard. Not only do the stories in the book serve as interesting conversation starters, they also show you how facial hair style has evolved throughout time.

If you’re considering changing up your look, the guides to various types of Mustache (The Chevron and The Dali) and Beard ( The Hollywoodian and Mutton Chop) give you great information on your chosen look, and a few laughs to go along with it. A Gentleman’s Guide to Beard and Moustache Management does a great job of showing you what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to styling your facial fur. A chapter titled “When Facial Hair Goes Wrong” shows you what to stay away from, while “The Hall of Fame” brings you legendary looks from men like Burt Reynolds, Charles Darwin, and the biker from The Village People.

If you’re looking for a fun and funny book with great information on the history of facial hair, and how you can best manage your own, take a look at A Gentleman’s Guide to Beard and Moustache Management, by Chris Martin. $11.66 at Amazon.