Top 39 Pencil Thin Mustache Styles for 2024

Did you always want a mustache but growing one seemed like a real hassle? Consider getting a pencil thin mustache that is easy to make and simple to maintain. Such a mustache is usually located just above your upper lip and is made to be about a quarter to half an inch thin. The shape is created by using a trimmer and a razor blade.

It might require some practice but most men do just fine without any help. Pencil mustaches are popular nowadays and will make you look very stylish. Start out by growing a full mustache and go further by shaping it with the scissors and a trimmer. The mustache should look as if a thin line was drawn by a pencil. That’s where the name comes from.

What Is a Pencil Mustache?

A pencil mustache is a very thin mustache. Indeed, some pencil mustaches are so incredibly thin that it almost looks like someone penciled it on. As such, the pencil mustache is very sophisticated and precise-looking.

pencil mustache variations
Two Types of Pencil Thin Mustache: Single & Double Parted. credit: bespokeunit.com

What Face Shape Best Fits the Pencil Mustache?

The pencil mustache has stood out as one of the most iconic mustache styles of all time, but is it right for you?

Specific face shapes lend themselves to the pencil-thin mustache more than others. The best face shapes for a pencil-thin mustache are a diamond-shaped face, a heart-shaped face, and an oval-shaped face.

A square or oblong-shaped face is also considered to be a good match for a pencil mustache.

pencil mustache
pencil mustache

Although the aforementioned face shapes tend to look the best with a pencil mustache, don’t be discouraged if your face shape wasn’t listed above.

If you’re determined to have a pencil mustache, then by all means, go ahead and try it.

The truth is, a pencil mustache can look good on just about anybody so long as they keep it trimmed and properly maintained.

How Do You Trim a Pencil Thin Mustache?

You should know that a pencil mustache requires constant care. Keeping a pencil mustache looking perfect takes a lot of maintenance. For example, a pencil mustache requires daily trimming to maintain its shape.

You will also need to shave regularly to keep the rest of your face free of any hair. When you have a pencil mustache, the rest of your face should remain smooth and clean-shaven.

To maintain a pencil-thin mustache, you will need to follow a strict yet rewarding maintenance protocol. Start off by shaving everything except the mustache itself. The next thing you will need to do is to use clippers to trim your mustache down to the desired length.

When trimming a pencil mustache, you must take utmost care not to remove more hair than necessary accidentally. You have precious little hair to spare when you have a pencil mustache, which means one mistake could offset the entire look.

modern pencil thin mustache

As a general rule, men with fair hair should sport a thicker mustache, even if it’s a thin pencil mustache. When trimming your mustache, be sure to shave the contours downwards away from your nose. Try to keep the overall shape of the mustache as straight as possible.

The last step is to use a pair of scissors to trim along the bottom of your mustache. Again, make sure that you make it as straight as reasonably possible.

By following this maintenance protocol, you’ll have a fine-looking and well-kempt pencil mustache that you can be proud of!

What Famous People Wear the Pencil Mustache?

The pencil mustache is steeped in romanticism as it goes back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, which marks its popularity.

Tons of famous people sported a pencil mustache. Their names on the silver screen have become as timeless as the mustache style itself.

Vincent Price

Vincent Price thin mustache
Vincent Price

Vincent Price was one of the most prominent actors that chose to sport a pencil-thin mustache, and he wore it very well. Few can best Mr. Price in terms of class, style, and eloquence.

Brad Pitt

brad pitt with pencil mustache

Even Brad Pitt wore a pencil mustache for a time. He is perhaps one of the most well-recognized men with fair hair to have a pencil mustache.

Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí

Renowned artist Salvador Dalí also had a pencil mustache for a while before it evolved into the more eccentric style that he is commonly pictured with.

Clark Gable

Clark Gable
Clark Gable

Clark Gable is another famous person that wore a pencil mustache and wore it well. The famed actor did much to popularize the style.

Pencil Thin Mustache To Enjoy the Style

Knowing how to make a really stylish mustache is a real art. If you are not afraid of some challenges, we would recommend trying to make a pencil thin mustache. This mustache looks very fashionable and doesn’t take too much effort to create. The length of the pencil mustache varies.

It can run from one corner of your mouth to the other or stop where your nose ends. All depends on your face type. Start with the longest mustache and go from there. You will soon find out which one suits you the best. The pencil mustache should be taken care of on the daily basis. Otherwise, it will soon lose its charm.

1. Double Pencil Mustache with Skin Fade 

pencil thin mustache for round face

Despite being a vintage mustache style, a good pencil mustache can go really well with a modern fade with short hair. A small goatee stubble goatee can also look good with a pencil stache.

2. Thick Salt and Pepper Mustache 

actor johnny depp with pencil thin mustache

If the thinner variety isn’t doing it for you, then you can even grow a thicker, single pencil stache that can look especially good with slick back hair and a clean shave.

3. Thin Pencil Mustache with Chin Straps 

pencil thin mustache with beard

A pencil mustache usually looks good with an equally thin beard. So you can easily pair it with thin chinstraps that go into a full goatee or stay separate from your mustache. 

4. Single Pencil Mustache with Stubble Goatee 

celebrity inspired pencil thin mustache

Stubble is your best friend when growing a pencil mustache since it always looks good with a thin mustache. This stubble goatee is a good example, with the clean shave on the sides giving it a cleaner look.

5. Pencil Mustache with Waves Haircut  

pencil thin mustache with curly hair

A Pencil mustache looks especially good with most African American haircuts like waves. With the pencil stache, you don’t have to deal with the messy look that comes with a bigger, curlier mustache and beard.

6. Pencil Mustache with 5 O’clock Shadow

pencil thin mustache for fat guys
aivenlovesdisney/Instagram

If you want to keep some semblance of a beard with your pencil mustache, pair it with a 5 O’clock shadow. Just remember that lighter beards go well with a lighter mustache.

7. Single Pencil Mustache with Short Hair 

pencil thin mustache for black men

Short hair also makes for a good combination with a thick pencil stache, but the best choice is to skip the beard entirely.

8. Double Slat and Pepper Pencil Stache 

double pencil thin mustache
davidzward/Instagram

People with a middle gap look especially good with a pencil stache since the smaller, thinner look blends in with the face better than a bigger, thicker mustache.

9. Vintage Thick Pencil Mustache 

pencil thin mustache style for men
marcodamoda/Instagram

The vintage pencil stache with the thin hairs is the best to keep if you don’t like bothering with a beard and like something that can work on most occasions.

10. Trimmed Pencil Stache with Rectangle Frames

pencil thin mustache with glasses
mr_djmasterevguy/Instagram

A thin mustache can even go well with all sorts of glasses and accessories, especially rectangle frames that especially go well in more formal settings.

11. Long and straight

old men pencil thin mustache

This option is great for men with thin lips. The mustache will be outlining your lips to make them seem fuller. The length of the mustache can vary but the longer it is, the better it will look. Make it at least as long as the lip line.

Guide to Grow a Perfect Mustache

12.  Make it thicker

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 08: Former wrester, Hulk Hogan at AT&T Stadium before a Sunday night game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on September 8, 2013 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

If you are not sure you can make a pencil mustache, opt for a thicker option. Allow the mustache line to be about an inch thick. Create a middle part for a special zest. You will need to trim your mustache on a regular basis and shave the rest of the facial hair daily.

13.  Thin ends

1940 pencil thin mustache style

Your mustache doesn’t have to be all the same size. If you opted for a long mustache then you can make the middle part thicker than the ends. Such mustache is easier to create and will make a great impression. The thin tips should be created beyond the lip line.

Horseshoe Mustache Styles

14. Middle part

pencil thin mustache 4

Making a pencil thin mustache with a middle part is a real art. You can learn to make this mustache on your own. However, when you are just starting out, get some professional assistance. You might make a few mistakes at first but soon you will become a real expert.

15. Thin and neat

black men Thin and neat thin mustache

The main goal of the pencil thin mustache is to look like a real pencil line. Try to keep the mustache as thin and as neat as possible. The thinner it is, the better it will look. Practice your trimming skills as often as you can.

16. Mustache mix

pencil thin mustache 6

This mustache is a mix between pencil thin and Hitler mustache. It is quite hard to create if you don’t have any mustache trimming experience. Ask your barber to show you how to go about it. The result will exceed all your expectations!

17. Messy pencil

cool Messy pencil mustache style

Pencil thin mustache doesn’t have to be absolutely clean cut. You can leave some stubble around it to make it appear a little messy. This is a modern way to go about the old school pencil mustache. It will appeal to the younger generation.

18. Low ends

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Not all mustaches have to be absolutely straight. You can go further by making the ends hang a little low. This will give your image a little more uniqueness. Just don’t forget to shave the rest of the hair around the mustache.

19. Modern classics

Modern classics pencil thin mustache for men

If you would like your pencil thin mustache to look modern, consider making it in the middle between the tip of the nose and the upper lip. Make it as thin as you can and let the ends stick a bit out beyond the line of your mouth.

20. Thick and trimmed

Pencil-moustache

This mustache is a great choice for special occasions. It is a little thicker than usual which allows you to show off your trimming skills. Let the ends hang a little low and make sure the rest of the face is cleanly shaven.

More Pencil Mustache Examples

21. Teenage Pencil Stache with No Beard 

thin mustache

A pencil mustache can even look good on teenagers who are still growing out facial hair since they don’t have to bother growing a beard with it. The stache alone looks good with most styles and on most occasions. 

22. Pencil Stache with Patch Goatee and Thick Glasses

Patch goatees are incredibly popular these days for their versatility since you can easily pair any mustache with it. The best thing about it is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining a longer beard or anything.

23. Pencil Mustache with Thin Side Burns  

pencil mustache

If you don’t want to pair a proper beard with your pencil stache, then you can extend your sideburns and let them grow out a little more. Trimming down the sideburns to the thinnest that they can be is always a good look to sport.

24. Single Pencil Stache with Light Stubble Goatee 

thin mustache

Light stubble is possibly the best length for a beard to pair with a pencil mustache since it doesn’t make the mustache look out of place. A light stubble goatee with a pencil stache complements a more angular face and is generally easier to maintain.  

25. Thick Pencil Mustache with Sideburns 

pencil mustache style 2018

If the thin sideburns aren’t looking good, then you can even try thicker sideburns and an equally thick pencil mustache. This style can look a lot better on square faces, but you don’t want to grow out your hair for it.

26. Pencil Stache with Balbo Beard and Short Hair 

The classic beard to grow out with your pencil stache is the balbo beard, which should be the same thickness as your mustache. An extended beard going down to your neck can also be a good choice.

27. Single Pencil Stache with Soul Patch and Goatee

pencil thin mustache

For a more angular face, you want to be showing off your cheek and jawline with a more pronounced goatee with a soul patch combination. Of course, you want to keep a thick pencil mustache to pull off this style.

28. Long Pencil Mustache with Clean Shave and Curls 

A thick pencil mustache that extends further from the top lip can go well with slightly curly hair. You want to keep that curly hair at mid-length but don’t want to overcomplicate it with a big beard as well.  

29. Single Pencil Mustache with High Fade 

thin mustache

A pencil mustache that is thick from the middle and slowly thins out towards the edges is a great style to pair with a more modern haircut like a high fade. Bonus points if you let your wavy hair grow out mid-length.

30. Double Pencil Stache with Smooth Hair 

thin mustache styles

A double pencil stache was all the rage in the early 1900s, with everyone pairing it with a pin-striped suit. And the best hairstyle to pair with it if you’re looking for that authentic 1900s feel is a smooth side part with hair going all the way back.

31. Vintage Double Mustache with Suit 

People with a square or diamond face benefit the most from a double pencil mustache since it lets them show off their face’s stronger features. A vintage double pencil mustache always makes for a good fit for every occasion, but you want to make sure that it is closer to the top of your lip.

32. Chicago Style Pencil Mustache 

The Chicago Style Pencil Mustache goes well with a rounder face, with the super thin mustache making it barely noticeable. It can especially look good with gray hair on the sides and a top hat to go well with it.  

33. Pencil Mustache with Soul Patch and Goatee 

If the thin stubble goatee made you feel like something was incomplete, then adding a soul patch to that combination would do the trick. However, you need to make sure that the soul patch, mustache, and goatee are all the same thickness.

34. Pencil Mustache without Sideburns

thin mustache

While a good pencil mustache is always a good style to pair sideburns, you can even try it out without sideburns and a short afro. While you could pair it with a balbo beard, you might have to make your mustache a little thicker for it to work.  

35. Salt and Pepper Mustache with Caesar Cut 

pencil moustache

A pencil mustache is very compatible with all sorts of modern haircuts since it can even work with a Caesar cut if you have a more oblong face. The specks of gray in the mustache only add to the overall appeal of the mustache.

36. Thin Mustache with Goatee and Bald Head  

A thin mustache can look a little off-putting when paired with a beard that’s too big. You want to keep a consistent thickness between your mustache and your goatee, making your choice in style look a lot more uniform.

37. Long Pencil Mustache and Soul Patch without Side Burns 

A popular variation of the traditional pencil mustache is the long one that extends past the lip. This is an especially good style to pair with a rounder face, especially if you don’t plan on keeping longer sideburns.

38. Pencil Mustache with Short Mullet  

Pull off the 80s street thug look with a short mullet and a pencil stache, which make them go extremely well together. The thin mustache perfectly complements the mullet and doesn’t take away any attention from your hair.

39. Double Mustache with Dyed Hair   

thin mustache

A pencil mustache can even look good with dyed hair, or specifically what people like to call frosted tips. The black roots of your hair can look nice with your mustache and beard, with the dyed ends usually soaking up all the attention.

Pencil thin mustache has always been a hit because they require some work to be perfect. If you like one of these options, ask your barber to give you a master class. Once you get good at caring for your pencil mustache, you’ll be ready to conquer the world!

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One Comment

  1. RafaelHal says:

    Grow out your beard first. The hair on top of your lip can look a little thin at first. If you want to avoid some initial awkwardness, consider growing out all your facial hair first, and then trimming the rest of the beard off when the mustache is ready, or progressively trimming everything but your mustache to make the transition less abrupt.

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