Facial hair styles go in and out of fashion just like hairstyles or clothes, and it’s clearer than ever that mustaches are in style in a big way. You can spot plenty of your favorite celebrities sporting them, and you might be tempted to try growing your own. Here at Fresh Beards, we say to go for it! With so many styles and types of mustaches out there, it’s a great way for men to experiment with their look and have fun with style in ways that they often don’t get to do.
On the other hand, you might be dealing with some serious mustache envy as you watch this trend. Maybe you’ve tried to grow a ‘stache of your own before without much luck and been disappointed in the results, or you’ve just never ventured into the realm of wacky whiskers and are unsure of where to start. We’re here to give you the definitive guide on how to grow a fantastic mustache so that you don’t have to wonder anymore! Here’s what you need to know.
Time
None of us like hearing it, but if you’re going to grow out your facial hair, the one thing that you need to be ok with is a time commitment. A mustache takes a little while to grow, depending on the speed of hair growth, which can vary from man to man. You’ll need to be patient through the process, but you can also support healthy hair growth with the following tips.
Care
Cleaning
As a general rule, clean facial hair is healthy facial hair, and regularly washing your mustache with a beard wash can help keep dirt, debris, germs, bacteria, oils, and other irritants at bay. These things can cause acne or irritation and aren’t good for your hair growth, so make sure to bust them at least a few times a week with a good wash!
Moisturizing
Keeping your facial hair moisturized is crucial to keeping the hair flexible, healthy, and growing, and to making your beard or mustache comfortable. This is especially important during the itchy early stages of growing out your mustache, where dryness will only make the problem worse! Use an oil or a wax to keep the skin and hair hydrated and soft.
Combing
As your mustache grows and gets longer, combing it every so often will become important. This not only keeps things neat, presentable, and tangle-free, but helps to keep your facial hair clean and get rid of things like dust or pollen in between washes.
Trimming
Trimming is essential to keeping your mustache tidy and under control, and it’s even important in the first few phases of growing out your ‘stache. Regular trims help to keep your hair growing reliably– just don’t overdo it or you’ll cut off all your new growth! Shoot for once a week, or less if your hair grows slowly.
Diet and Nutrition
Flourishing facial hair is often looked to as a sign of health and vitality, and there’s some truth to that assumption. If you’re finding that you often have trouble growing a beard or a mustache, taking a look at what you’re putting into your body could help to give your facial hair the boost it needs. Make sure your diet has plenty of protein and a sufficient amount of fat for your dietary needs. You should also make sure that you’re getting lots of servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The vitamins and minerals in them are important for all parts of your health, including hair growth!
Styles
There are about as many mustache styles as there are men with mustaches in the world, and like hats, glasses, or other parts of your look, some are going to suit you better than others. We recommend doing some research into mustache styles and potentially using photo editing or an app to get a sense of what you’ll look like with certain mustache styles before you commit to one. Don’t be afraid to get weird with it and try out some unusual types– you never know what you might end up really liking! To help you get started, here are some of the most recognizable styles.
Classic/Chevron
Picture your dad’s mustache, and it’s probably this. The classic, basic mustache, sometimes referred to as the chevron, is what you can find on men like Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson, Freddie Mercury, and Burt Reynolds. It’s an oldie but a goodie– a simple, full mustache that’s wider than the mouth and has a slight upside-down V shape to it. If you’re new to mustaches, it’s a great starting point. It works on lots of different faces and requires minimal fussing and shaping.
Walrus
The walrus mustache is the chevron’s big brother. It’s full, unwaxed, usually long enough to cover both lips, and instantly recognizable, so if you really want to change the look of your face, this is it. Teddy Roosevelt was well-known for his walrus mustache, and you can find it on modern men like Jamie Hyneman from MythBusters. Its old-fashioned reputation has caused it to fall out of fashion a little, but it’s still worth trying out– if you’ve got it in you. Not every man has hair long and robust enough to grow this type of mustache!
Handlebar
The favorite of hipsters and cartoon Frenchmen, it’s the classic handlebar mustache. Having this kind of a ‘stache requires you to grow out a fair bit of length at the sides, which you then style with a mustache wax to help it keep the shape you want. The curlicue is classic, of course, but today, ambitious men get incredibly creative with the shapes of their handlebar variants. You might end up really liking this style. It makes a big statement!
Beard Combinations
Pretty much any style of mustache can be combined with a style of beard that you like to make it more your own and achieve the look that you want. Experiment with it– you’re sure to find what works for you!
With this guide in hand, we’re confident that you’ll be sporting a fantastic mustache before you know it. You can check out some of our beard products here that will help you to grow and maintain your whiskers!
