The Many Mustaches of The Grand Budapest Hotel

There are 10 distinct beards and mustaches in Wes Anderson's new film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. At least I think there are. Almost all the men in this movie have some sort of fur sprouting from their lips or jaw lines, making it hard to keep track.

You've probably heard that Wes Anderson has a particular style of filmmaking. His movies are intricately planned puzzles, filled with whimsical knickknacks and easter eggs. For Grand Budapest—which tells the tale of Zero Moustafa, a former lobby boy at a famous establishment who is taken under the wing of concierge Gustave H.—Anderson opted for the eccentricities of pre-World War II Europe. That included its facial hair, which came in an array of angles, twists, and curlicues.

To create the film's beards and mustaches, the director turned to a longtime collaborator, hair and makeup artist Frances Hannon, who helped brainstorm, shape, trim, condition, and wax all the facial hair you see on screen.

Esquire spoke with Hannon to get the story behind each style and the prep work it took to create them. We also consulted with noted beard expert Allan Peterkin, author of One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair, for grooming tips and historical analysis.