How to Style Your Mustache: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you can grow a mustache, you may wonder how to style it. A neat mustache highlights facial features and shows personal style. A messy mustache looks sloppy.

A styled mustache makes you look and feel great. And it is not so challenging to do so. With proper tools, products, and techniques, you can easily achieve a groomed, stylish look.

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. Enjoy styling!

How to Style Your Mustache

Before we describe how to achieve specific mustache styles, let’s first understand the basics of styling a mustache.

Preparation

Styling a mustache is not only about showing your mustache growth and demonstrating your trimming and shaping skills. You need to prepare yourself before styling your mustache. The preparation includes:

1. Research mustache styles: 

Take the time to explore various mustache styles to determine which one best suits your facial structure, personal style, and the thickness of your facial hair. You can check these mustache styles:

Classic Mustache Styles:

• Chevron
• Pencil
• Handlebar

Unique and Bold Mustache Styles:

• Horseshoe
• Fu Manchu
• Dali

Trendy and Modern Mustache Styles:

• Walrus
• Pyramid
• Anchor Mustache
• Beardstache

Historical Mustache Styles

• Imperial
• English
• The Hungarian
• Toothbrush Mustache

Additional Mustache Styles:

• Lampshade
• Painter’s Brush Mustache
• Zorro Mustache
• cop stache

2. Gather necessary tools and products:

Ensure you have all the tools and products needed for your chosen mustache style. These may include 

1. A mustache comb to keep your facial hair looking neat and tidy on the go.
2. Sharp, specially designed scissors for precision trimming and shaping.
3. A good beard trimmer with adjustable guards to maintain the length and shape of your mustache.
4. Mustache wax to shape and hold your mustache in place for hours.
5. Beard oil or balm to keep your facial hair and skin healthy and moisturized.
6. A gentle cleanser or specialized beard shampoo to keep your mustache clean and free of debris, so it looks and feels fresh all day long.

3. Dedicate a well-lit space for grooming:

Choose a space with good lighting, preferably a bathroom with a large mirror, to ensure you can see what you’re 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

1. Wet your mustache with warm water.
2. Apply a gentle cleanser or beard shampoo to your mustache, creating a lather.
3. Gently massage the cleanser or shampoo into your mustache, making sure it reaches the skin beneath the hair.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all soap residue.
5. Pat your mustache dry with a clean towel, avoiding rubbing to prevent irritation and frizz.
6. Apply a few drops of beard oil or a small amount of beard balm to your mustache, massaging it in to keep the hair soft and manageable.

Step 2: Comb Your Mustache

1. Hold your mustache comb with the teeth facing upward.
2. Starting at the center of your mustache, comb outward, following the direction of hair growth.
3. Gently comb through any tangles to avoid breaking or pulling hairs.
4. Repeat on the other side of your mustache.

Step 3: Assess and Plan Your Trim

1. Examine your mustache in the mirror, identifying any uneven areas or stray hairs.
2. Visualize your desired mustache style and shape, noting how it aligns with your current growth pattern.
3. Decide on the length and shape you want to achieve during the trimming process.

Step 4: Trim Your Mustache

1. Stand in front of a well-lit mirror for optimal visibility.
2. Begin by trimming the hairs in the center of your mustache, working your way outward.
3. Carefully trim along the upper lip line with your scissors or beard trimmer, maintaining your desired length and shape.
4. Trim any stray hairs that extend beyond your desired mustache shape.
5. Step back and assess your mustache, making any final adjustments as needed.

Step 5: Apply Mustache Wax

1. Scrape a small amount of mustache wax (about the size of a pea) from the container using the back of your thumbnail.
2. Rub the wax between your thumb and forefinger to warm and soften it.
3. Start at the center of your mustache. Apply the wax evenly, working your way outward.
4. Use your mustache comb to evenly distribute the wax throughout your facial hair.

Step 6: Shape Your Mustache

1. With your fingers or a mustache styling tool, gently mold your mustache into your desired shape.
2. For a natural look, use a light touch and avoid over-styling and trimming.
3. For more elaborate styles, like the Handlebar, use a twisting motion to create the curled ends.
4. Adjust the hairs along your upper lip as needed to achieve a clean, polished appearance.
5. Allow the wax to set for a few minutes to secure your desired mustache shape.

Bonus Tips 

1. Be patient: If you’re growing a mustache for the first time or trying a new style, give it some time to fill in and take shape. It might not look perfect right away, but with proper care and grooming, you’ll achieve the desired look.
2. Healthy lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper hydration, can contribute to healthier, fuller facial hair growth. Make sure to take care of your overall well-being for the best mustache results.
3. Consider professional help: If you’re unsure about how to achieve your desired mustache style, consider seeking assistance from a professional barber or stylist. They can provide expert guidance and help you achieve the perfect mustache style for your face shape and personal preferences.

Tips for Styling Different Types of Mustaches 

1. Chevron

The Chevron is a classic mustache style popularized by icons like Tom Selleck. It’s characterized by its thick, wide, and slightly downward-angled appearance. The Chevron is an excellent choice for those who want a bold yet timeless look.

Styling tips: Allow your mustache to grow thick and full. Trim it along your upper lip, and comb regularly to maintain its shape. 

2. Pencil

It is a thin mustache design that sits just above the upper lip. It became popular during the early 20th century and was often seen by Hollywood stars like Clark Gable. 

Styling tips: Keep your mustache thin by trimming it regularly with a precise trimmer. Ensure that it sits just above the upper lip, and maintains its narrow appearance.

3. Handlebar

The Handlebar mustache is another classic choice, characterized by its upwardly curved ends. With roots in the Wild West, this style has a unique, vintage appeal. The Handlebar can be worn in various lengths and thicknesses, making it versatile for 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

The Horseshoe is a bold mustache style that features a full mustache connected to vertical lines of hair extending down the sides of the mouth, resembling an upside-down horseshoe.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache full, and allow the hair to extend down the sides of your mouth. Keep the vertical lines neat and trimmed. 

5. Fu Manchu

The Fu Manchu is a unique mustache style characterized by long, thin whiskers that hang down past the corners of the mouth, often extending below the chin.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache long and thin, allowing the whiskers to hang down past the corners of your mouth. 

6. Dali

The Dali is a whimsical mustache style inspired by the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, featuring long, upwardly-curved whiskers.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache long enough to allow the whiskers to curl upward. Use mustache wax to shape the curls and keep them in place. Learn how to curl your mustache with our guide.

7. Walrus

The Walrus is a thick, bushy mustache that covers the entire upper lip and often extends past the corners of the mouth.

Styling tips: Let your mustache grow thick and bushy. Trim it just above the upper lip and comb regularly to maintain its shape.

8. Pyramid

The Pyramid is a triangular-shaped mustache that tapers from the base of the nose down to the corners of the mouth.

Styling tips: Keep your mustache trimmed into a neat, triangular shape.

9. Anchor Mustache

The Anchor mustache is a facial hair style that combines a mustache with a thin strip of hair extending from the chin to the jawline. This style gets its name because the shape of the facial hair resembles the silhouette of an anchor. The Anchor mustache is popular among individuals seeking a fashionable and contemporary appearance.

Styling tips: Grow a full mustache and a chin beard, and keep the hair along the jawline thin and neat. Trim and shape regularly to maintain the anchor appearance.

10. Beardstache

The Beardstache is a trendy combination of a mustache and a short beard, where the mustache is more prominent than the beard.

Styling tips: Keep your mustache full and well-groomed, while maintaining a shorter beard. Comb and trim regularly to keep the look balanced.

11. Imperial

It is a historical mustache style characterized by a full mustache with upwardly-curved whiskers that extend beyond the cheeks, often combined with a small, pointed beard.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and long, and use mustache wax to curl the whiskers upwards. Pair it with a small, pointed beard for an authentic Imperial look.

12. English

The English are a thin, neatly-trimmed mustache with long whiskers that extend horizontally from the corners of the mouth.

Styling tips: Keep your mustache thin and well-groomed, and grow the whiskers long enough to extend horizontally. 

13. Hungarian

The Hungarian is a bushy, wide mustache with long, upward-curving whiskers.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and bushy, and allow the whiskers to extend upward. 

14. Toothbrush Mustache

The Toothbrush Mustache is a short, thick mustache that covers only the area beneath the nostrils, made infamous by Adolf Hitler. Due to its negative associations, it’s not a recommended style.

Styling tips: To style a toothbrush mustache, grow out your facial hair to about 1/4 inch, then trim the edges straight and even. Shape the mustache into a rectangular shape using a comb and trim it to no wider than the width of your nose. Use mustache wax or pomade to keep it in place, and shape it with a fine-toothed comb or your fingers.

15. Lampshade

The Lampshade is a short, wide mustache that tapers down toward the corners of the mouth, resembling the shape of a lampshade.

Styling tips: Keep your mustache short and wide, and trim it to taper down toward the corners of your mouth. 

16. Painter’s Brush Mustache

The Painter’s Brush is a full and bushy mustache that covers the entire width of the mouth, with the ends trimmed straight across.

Styling tips: Grow your mustache full and bushy, and trim the ends straight across to maintain a neat appearance. 

17. Zorro Mustache

The Zorro Mustache is a bold, narrow mustache with slightly upward-curved ends. It is named after the fictional character Zorro, who was known for his swashbuckling adventures and dashing appearance.

Styling Tips: Grow your mustache so that it remains narrow and defined. Trim the mustache just above the upper lip and allow the ends to curve upward slightly. Use a small amount of mustache wax or pomade to shape the ends and keep them in place. Regular combing and maintenance are essential to keep the Zorro Mustache looking neat and stylish.

18. Cop Stache

The Cop Stache, also known as the “Police Mustache,” is a simple, no-nonsense mustache style commonly associated with law enforcement officers. It is a full, neatly trimmed mustache that covers the width of the mouth but does not extend beyond the corners.

Styling Tips: Grow your mustache full, covering the entire width of the mouth. Keep it trimmed just above the upper lip and ensure that it doesn’t extend beyond the corners of the mouth.

Remember, when choosing a mustache style, it’s essential to consider your face shape, personal style, and the level of maintenance required to keep your mustache looking its best.