How to Style a Mustache: A Step-by-Step Grooming Guide
If you can grow a mustache, you may wonder how to style it. A neat mustache highlights your facial features and shows off personal style. A messy one just looks sloppy.
A well-styled mustache makes you look and feel great, and it is not as challenging as you might think. With the right tools, products, and techniques, a groomed, stylish look is well within reach.
This guide covers styling tools, preparation, and a step-by-step process for perfect mustache styling. Follow these steps for a groomed, sophisticated mustache that enhances your look. Let’s get into it.
How to Style Your Mustache
Before we get into specific mustache styles, let’s cover the basics of styling a mustache the right way.
Preparation
Styling a mustache is about more than just showing off your growth and trimming skills. You need to set yourself up properly before a single clipper or scissor touches your face. Here is what that looks like:
1. Research Mustache Styles:
Take the time to explore various mustache styles and figure out which one best suits your facial structure, personal style, and the density of your facial hair. Here are some solid options to consider:
Classic Mustache Styles:
Unique and Bold Mustache Styles:
Trendy and Modern Mustache Styles:
- Walrus Mustache
- Pyramid
- Anchor Mustache
- Beardstache
Historical Mustache Styles
- Imperial
- English Mustache
- The Hungarian
- Toothbrush Mustache
Additional Mustache Styles:
- Lampshade
- Painter’s Brush Mustache
- Zorro Mustache
- Cop Stache
2. Gather Necessary Tools and Products:
Make sure you have everything you need before you start. Depending on your chosen mustache style, that kit should include:
- A mustache comb to keep your facial hair looking neat and tidy on the go.
- Sharp, purpose-built scissors for precision trimming and shaping.
- A quality beard trimmer with adjustable clipper guards to maintain the length and shape of your mustache.
- Mustache wax to shape and hold your mustache in place for hours.
- Beard oil or beard balm to keep your facial hair and the skin beneath it healthy and moisturized.
- A gentle beard cleanser or specialized beard wash to keep your mustache clean and free of debris, so it looks and feels fresh all day.
3. Dedicate a Well-Lit Space for Grooming:
Choose a space with solid lighting, preferably a bathroom with a large mirror, so you can clearly see what you are doing while styling your mustache.
Step-by-Step Styling Process
Now that you know the different mustache styles and the tools you will need, it is time to walk through the step-by-step process of styling your mustache.
Step 1: Clean and Condition Your Mustache
- Wet your mustache with warm water.
- Apply a gentle beard cleanser or beard wash to your mustache and work it into a lather.
- Gently massage the cleanser into your mustache, making sure it reaches the skin beneath the hair.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all residue.
- Pat your mustache dry with a clean towel. Avoid rubbing to prevent irritation and beard frizz.
- Apply a few drops of beard oil or a small amount of beard balm, massaging it in to keep the hair soft and manageable.
Step 2: Comb Your Mustache
- Hold your mustache comb with the teeth facing upward.
- Starting at the center of your mustache, comb outward, following the direction of hair growth.
- Gently comb through any tangles to avoid breaking or pulling hairs.
- Repeat on the other side of your mustache.
Step 3: Assess and Plan Your Trim
- Examine your mustache in the mirror, identifying any uneven areas or stray hairs.
- Visualize your desired mustache style and shape, noting how it aligns with your current growth pattern.
- Decide on the length and shape you want to achieve during the trimming process.
Step 4: Trim Your Mustache
- Stand in front of a well-lit mirror for optimal visibility.
- Begin by trimming the hairs in the center of your mustache, working your way outward.
- Carefully trim along the upper lip line with your scissors or detail trimmer, maintaining your desired length and shape.
- Trim any strays that extend beyond your desired mustache outline.
- Step back and assess your mustache trim, making any final adjustments as needed.
Step 5: Apply Mustache Wax
- Scrape a small amount of mustache wax (about the size of a pea) from the container using the back of your thumbnail.
- Rub the wax between your thumb and forefinger to warm and soften it.
- Start at the center of your mustache. Apply the wax evenly, working your way outward.
- Use your mustache comb to evenly distribute the wax throughout your facial hair.
Step 6: Shape Your Mustache
- With your fingers or a mustache styling tool, gently mold your mustache into your desired shape.
- For a natural finish, use a light touch and avoid over-styling and trimming.
- For more elaborate styles like the handlebar mustache, use a twisting motion to create the curled ends.
- Adjust the hairs along your upper lip as needed to achieve a clean, polished appearance.
- Allow the wax to set for a few minutes to lock in your desired mustache shape.
Bonus Tips
- Be patient: If you’re growing a mustache for the first time or trying a new style, give it time to fill in and take shape. It might not look perfect right away, but with consistent beard grooming and care, you’ll get there.
- Healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper hydration all contribute to healthier, fuller facial hair growth. Taking care of your overall well-being pays dividends above the lip too.
- Consider professional help: If you’re unsure how to achieve your desired mustache style, book a session with a professional barber. They can provide expert guidance and dial in the perfect mustache shape for your face shape and personal preferences.
Tips for Styling Different Types of Mustaches
1. Thick Chevron Mustache
The chevron mustache is a classic style popularized by icons like Tom Selleck. It’s characterized by its thick, wide, full coverage that angles just slightly downward over the upper lip. The chevron is a great pick for anyone who wants a bold yet timeless look that never goes out of rotation.
Styling tips: Let your mustache grow thick and full. Trim along your upper lip line to keep it tidy, and comb it regularly to maintain that signature dense, downward-sweeping shape.
2. Pencil Mustache
The pencil mustache is a razor-thin strip of facial hair that sits just above the upper lip. It shot to fame in the early 20th century, worn by Hollywood legends like Clark Gable, and it still carries that old-school cinematic energy today.
Styling tips: Keep it tight and narrow with a precise detail trimmer. Make sure it sits cleanly just above the upper lip line and never strays wider than the corners of your mouth.
3. Auburn Handlebar Mustache with Curled Tips
The handlebar mustache is a classic choice for those who want a bold yet timeless look. It’s characterized by its thick, wide, and slightly downward-angled body, with ends that are trained and waxed into upward-curling points.
Few mustache styles command attention quite like this one. Growing the ends long enough to curl is the whole game here, and a firm mustache wax is your best friend for holding those curves in place.
With roots in the Wild West, the handlebar carries a vintage appeal that somehow never goes stale. It can be worn in various lengths and thicknesses, making it surprisingly versatile across different face shapes.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache long enough to allow the ends to curl. Use mustache wax to shape the curls and keep them in place. You may need to train your mustache for growing horizontally.
4. Horseshoe Mustache
The horseshoe mustache is a bold style featuring a full mustache connected to vertical strips of hair that extend down the sides of the mouth, forming that unmistakable upside-down U shape.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and let the hair extend down the sides of your mouth. Keep those vertical strips neat, trimmed, and symmetrical.
5. Fu Manchu Mustache
The Fu Manchu is a striking mustache style defined by long, thin whiskers that hang down past the corners of the mouth, often reaching well below the chin. It’s a serious commitment to grow, and an even bigger statement to wear.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache long and thin, allowing the whiskers to hang freely past the corners of your mouth. Keep the upper lip area clean and the hanging strands well-defined.
6. Dalí Mustache
The Dalí mustache is a genuinely theatrical style inspired by surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, featuring long whiskers sculpted with mustache wax into dramatic, sharply upturned points. Nobody is wearing this one by accident.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache long enough to allow the whiskers to curl upward. Use a strong mustache wax to shape and hold those points. Check out our guide on how to curl your mustache for the full technique.
7. Walrus Mustache
The walrus mustache is thick, dense, and unapologetically bushy. It covers the entire upper lip and often spills past the corners of the mouth. No fuss, no wax, just pure, full-coverage growth.
Styling tips: Let your mustache grow thick and full. Trim it just above the upper lip line and comb it regularly to keep the shape from going completely wild.
8. Pyramid Mustache
The pyramid mustache is a clean, triangular-shaped style that tapers from a wider base at the nose down to the corners of the mouth. It’s structured, tidy, and surprisingly low-maintenance once you nail the shape.
Styling tips: Keep your mustache trimmed into a neat, triangular outline. A detail trimmer makes precision work here much easier.
9. Anchor Beard with Mustache
The anchor beard pairs a mustache with a pointed chin beard and a thin strip of hair tracing the jawline, creating a shape that mirrors a ship’s anchor. It’s a sharp, contemporary style that works especially well on oval and square face shapes.
Styling tips: Grow a full mustache and a chin beard, keeping the hair along the jawline thin and precise. Regular beard shaping and trimming are essential to hold that clean anchor outline.
10. Beardstache
The beardstache is a sharp combination of a prominent, well-groomed mustache sitting above a shorter, more subdued stubble beard. The mustache does the heavy lifting here, while the stubble adds texture and frames the face without competing for attention.
Styling tips: Keep your mustache full and polished while maintaining the beard at a shorter stubble length. Comb and trim regularly so the contrast between the two stays balanced and deliberate.
11. Imperial
Characterized by a full mustache with upwardly-curled whiskers that extend beyond the cheeks, often paired with a small, pointed beard.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and long, then use mustache wax to curl the whiskers upward. Pair it with a small, pointed beard for an authentic Imperial look.
12. English Mustache
The English is a thin, neatly-trimmed mustache with long whiskers that extend horizontally from the corners of the mouth.
Styling tips: Keep the mustache trim thin and well-groomed, and grow the whiskers long enough to extend cleanly outward in a straight horizontal line.
13. Hungarian Mustache
The Hungarian is a thick, wide mustache with long, upward-curving whiskers that command serious real estate on the face.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and bushy, and let the whiskers extend upward. A generous application of mustache wax will hold those sweeping ends right where you want them.
14. Toothbrush Mustache
The Toothbrush is a short, thick mustache trimmed into a tight rectangle covering only the area directly beneath the nostrils. Its negative historical associations make it a style virtually no one wears today.
Styling tips: Grow your facial hair to about 1/4 inch, then trim the edges straight and even. Shape it into a rectangle no wider than your nose using a comb and trimmer. A touch of mustache wax or pomade keeps it in place, and a fine-toothed comb keeps the outline crisp.
15. Lampshade Mustache
The Lampshade is a short, wide mustache that tapers down toward the corners of the mouth, mimicking the shape of a lampshade. It sits neatly above the lip line and keeps things clean without being too fussy.
Styling tips: Keep the mustache short and wide, and use a detail trimmer to taper the corners downward at a slight angle for that signature shape.
16. Painter’s Brush Mustache
The Painter’s Brush is a full, bushy mustache that covers the entire width of the mouth, with the ends trimmed straight across for a clean, blunt finish.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and dense, then use scissors or a trimmer to cut the ends straight across. It’s a low-maintenance style that still looks polished when kept tidy above the lip line.
17. Zorro Pencil Mustache
The Zorro is a bold, narrow pencil mustache with slightly upward-curved ends, named after the fictional swashbuckler known for his dashing style.
Styling tips: Keep the mustache narrow and defined, trimming it just above the upper lip and letting the ends curve upward slightly. A small amount of mustache wax locks the shape in place. Regular combing and consistent mustache trim maintenance are essential to keep this one looking sharp.
18. Chevron Cop Stache
The Cop Stache, also known as the “Police Mustache,” is a no-nonsense chevron mustache style long associated with law enforcement. Full and neatly trimmed, it covers the width of the mouth without extending past the corners.
Styling tips: Grow your mustache full across the entire width of the mouth. Keep it trimmed just above the upper lip and make sure it stays within the corners. Consistent mustache trim maintenance is what keeps this classic looking authoritative rather than overgrown.
When choosing a mustache style, factor in your face shape, personal style, and how much maintenance you’re realistically willing to commit to. The right mustache should work with your features, not against them.
