This trope refers to instances where a character is shown wearing postiches (fake beards and mustaches). Either for comedy, as a disguise, or as a status symbol. In real life, not everyone can grow facial hair; some areas are patchier and thinner than others, actors might have a condition that affects hair growth, and genetics play a role in a man's ability to grow facial hair. Sometimes, age and health affect hair growth.

For this trope to qualify, the character has to be shown with fake facial hair or is confirmed to be wearing a postiche. One of the most common jokes with fake beards and mustaches is that they see it as fake and try to rip it off, either to expose their true identity or as a prank by others. In crime dramas, fake beards and mustaches allow the character to go incognito as they infiltrate organisations.

In comedies, the character uses fake mustaches because they cannot grow real facial hair, which leads to many jokes about them being unmanly and boyish. The most common reason why the character would need a fake mustache or beard is that they've usually done something to damage or lose the beard or mustache, forcing them to wear a postiche until it grows back. Women use postiches to disguise themselves as men.

Prosthetic or novelty mustaches are helpful when the actor or actress cannot grow facial hair or is in a routine that requires quick changes between scenes. Sometimes the joke is how blatantly fake the mustache is, sometimes the joke is in how foolish the character looks to others when they have the mustache. Fake mustaches are usually done in a few ways: a fake mustache that is glued to the character's face, which can be peeled off, a prop mustache, a painted-on mustache, or the mustache is part of a mask that resembles a face.

Beards and mustaches can be invoked by face paint or by masks. As Malevolent Masked Men, these masks can act as statements as the wearer is criticising society through their choice of mask or face paint. If it's homage to the silent era of comedy, then it can fall into Monster Clown territory due to its cheery or festive appearance. It could also serve as a political statement if it's a mustachioed or bearded president.

Fake beards and mustaches are more popular because it can take time for an actor to grow facial hair, and not every actor can grow facial hair. That, and because when an actor is under contract to have facial hair, they cannot shave it under any circumstances. They'd be stuck with it until their contract is complete, which can be problematic because the actor may not like it or its style is too controversial to be wearing in public, leading to some embarrassing photos.

Can go with Stylistic Suck if the facial hair is supposed to look fake on purpose. YMMV examples can go with WTH, Costuming Department?. This is because, although the facial hair can look fake, the narrative treats it as if it were real facial hair.

Can go with Comedic Mustache, Good Hair, Evil Hair, 'Stache of Duty, and Wig, Dress, Accent. Can also go with Charlie Chaplin Shout-Out if it's a Toothbrush mustache. Not to be confused with Mustache Vandalism, which is about drawing a mustache on the face of a portrait. Opposite trope of Mistaken for Fake Hair. With women wearing fake mustaches, it may overlap with Sweet Polly Oliver and Girls with Moustaches. Compare with Fake Muscles and Fake Boobs.

Examples: