Here’s the thing about the mustache: it’s no longer just something you do for charity every November. After years in the style wilderness, the ’stache is genuinely back — on actors, athletes, and the guy two seats down on your morning train.
From a rugged chevron to a precise pencil line, the right one reads as confident, not costume. Here are 23 mustache styles worth growing in any month of the year.
Find what suits you: browse all beard styles, mustache styles, or the trimming guide.
How to Pick a Mustache Style
Mustaches are magical. They can change your entire appearance. Have a thin upper lip or a recessed chin? A mustache fills out the lip, but balance a recessed chin with some chin coverage too: a Van Dyke, circle beard, or short full beard.
There’s a mustache style for every man, from a thick, brush-like chevron mustache to a sleek pencil mustache. You have plenty of time to choose, too, because the first thing you need to do is just let the hair on your upper lip grow.
Study styles as your mustache grows in, so you’re ready once it’s time to groom. Familiarize yourself with the different mustache types.
Pick a manly Tombstone mustache to evoke a Wild West vibe. Choose something thin, like Errol Flynn’s famous upper lip. The Zappa tends to droop and comes with a soul patch.
The handlebar mustache is the hipster’s best friend. The regulation chevron, favored by law enforcement, is neat and polished, while the Franz Josef merges with mutton chops. From the Dali to the Fu Manchu, you just have to envision what’s going to look sharp and suit your face.
The classics you will meet in the gallery below include the handlebar, the chevron, the horseshoe, and the English, each with its own entry and styling notes.
01 of 23Salt-and-Pepper Chevron Mustache
The same broad chevron shape worn in salt-and-pepper. The mixed gray and dark strands make the texture more visible, so keep a crisp weight line along the lip and clean up the cheek shadow so the mustache stays the focal point. A clean-shaven face underneath makes the contrast sharper and more deliberate.
02 of 23Hungarian Mustache
A bigger, bushier cousin of the handlebar. The Hungarian is grown long and full, then swept out to the sides rather than tightly curled, and high density is the whole point. It pairs naturally with a soul patch and demands daily combing and wax to keep the bulk under control.
03 of 23Petite Handlebar Mustache
A scaled-down handlebar for guys who want the curl without the commitment. The body stays short and tidy and only the tips are waxed into small outward, slightly upturned points. It is the most office-friendly way to wear a handlebar and grows in far faster than the full version.
04 of 23English Mustache
Closely related to the handlebar but without the upward curl, the English mustache is trained straight out to the sides and kept off the top of the lip. The center is parted and the long extensions are waxed flat and horizontal. Refined, formal, and unmistakably old-school.
05 of 23Long Swept-Out Mustache
This long mustache is thick and bushy, with the ends swept far out to the sides. It is the heavy lifter of the group and rewards serious density, so thin upper-lip growth will not carry it. Comb the long ends outward and keep the center clear enough to eat and drink comfortably.
06 of 23Horseshoe Mustache
Also called the biker mustache, the horseshoe is a full mustache with two vertical bars running down past the corners of the mouth toward the jaw, forming an upside-down U. The chin itself is shaved clean. It carries huge presence and pairs especially well with longer hair.
07 of 23Full Mustache with Short Beard
A full mustache paired with a short beard, with slightly extended tips and lighter growth across the cheeks. David Beckham has worn this version. Keep the mustache defined and the surrounding beard neatly trimmed.
08 of 23Pencil Mustache
The pencil is a thin, sharply defined line of hair tracking just above the lip, traditionally with a small gap at the philtrum. It is high-maintenance by nature, since the clean line only holds with regular detailing using a trimmer or a razor. A classic Hollywood look.
09 of 23Pencil Mustache with Soul Patch
A pencil line up top paired with a small soul patch below the lower lip. The two thin elements balance each other and add a little vertical structure to the chin. It works best on faces that can grow a clean, even line along the lip.
10 of 23Dali Mustache
Named for Salvador Dali, this is a thin mustache whose narrow tips are waxed into dramatic, near-vertical points. It is a statement style that lives or dies on a strong-hold wax and daily styling, with no low-effort way to wear it.
11 of 23Toothbrush Mustache
The toothbrush is shaved down to a short, dense block in the very centre of the upper lip, with the sides taken off completely. It is defined entirely by clean vertical edges, so it is all about precise detailing rather than growth.
12 of 23Lampshade Mustache
The lampshade sits between a chevron and a toothbrush: a full mustache cropped to roughly the width of the mouth with the outer edges angled in like a trapezoid. Tidy and modern, it suits most face shapes and is easy to maintain with a trimmer guard.
13 of 23Short Mustache with Chin Strap and Soul Patch
This combination pairs a short mustache with a small soul patch and a narrow beard along the chin and jaw. Keep the cheeks tidy and the mustache separate from the chin beard. It flatters round faces by adding length to the chin.
14 of 23Circle Beard (Connected Goatee)
The circle beard connects the mustache to a rounded chin beard in a closed loop around the mouth. It is the most universally flattering mustache-and-beard combination and the easiest of the connected styles to maintain: keep the circle clean and the cheek lines defined.
15 of 23Light Mustache with Narrow Jawline Beard
A simple, modern pairing: a light mustache up top and a narrow beard along the jaw and chin, with the cheeks kept clear. It is a low-commitment way to add a little structure to the lower face without growing a full beard.
16 of 23Sparse Mustache with Disconnected Goatee
For lighter or patchier growth, leaning into a sparse mustache with a disconnected goatee is smarter than forcing a full style. Keeping the two elements separate makes thinner density look intentional rather than incomplete. Trim conservatively and let the shape do the work.
17 of 23Beardstache
The beardstache puts a fuller, groomed mustache front and centre over a short, even stubble beard. The mustache is the hero and the stubble is kept low so the mustache reads as the dominant feature. One of the most popular modern looks and very forgiving to grow.
18 of 23Full Beard with Groomed Mustache
When the mustache is worn as part of a full beard, the key is grooming it so it does not swallow the top lip: keep the bottom edge trimmed off the lip line and the bulk combed down. A clean mustache is what separates a sharp full beard from a scruffy one.
19 of 23Chevron Mustache with Full Beard
A bold chevron carried into a full beard, with the mustache kept thick and distinct rather than blended away. The mustache stays broad and flat across the lip while the beard fills the jaw, giving the whole look a strong horizontal weight line. Big density required.
20 of 23Handlebar Mustache with Full Beard
The handlebar and the full beard are a classic pairing, with the waxed, upswept tips sitting cleanly on top of the beard for contrast in both shape and finish. Wax only the mustache tips and keep the beard separately combed so the two elements stay visually distinct.
21 of 23Friendly Mutton Chops (Burnside)
Named for General Ambrose Burnside, the friendly mutton chops connect large sideburns to the mustache while leaving the chin completely shaved. It is a big, characterful Victorian look that needs full cheek growth and careful edging where the chops meet the mustache.
22 of 23Five O’Clock Shadow Mustache
The lightest option here: a mustache kept at stubble length, barely past a five o’clock shadow. It suits finer or lighter growth and reads as effortless and modern. A trimmer with a short guard keeps it at an even length without ever committing to a full mustache.
23 of 23Statement (Colored) Mustache
For the bold, a statement mustache uses temporary color or dye to turn the mustache into the centerpiece, and it is popular for events and Movember. Use only a color product labeled for facial hair and follow its directions, and start from a healthy, full mustache so the color reads evenly.
Mustache Style: With or Without Beard?
You can wear a beard with pretty much any mustache, but that doesn’t mean it’s a requirement. Some mustache styles just look better flying solo. The Dali and Fu Manchu are two prime examples.
Most mustache styles appear even more masculine when paired with a beard or goatee. A handlebar mustache is rugged but refined alongside a small goatee. The Zappa depends on a soul patch, and the Van Dyke’s pointed beard and mustache combo is simply hard to beat.
Mustache Styles for Different Face Shapes
Not every mustache style will suit every face, so it pays to choose wisely. Just like any beard style or haircut, certain mustache styles work best with specific face shapes.
The horseshoe mustache flatters softly rounded, oval faces, while a small Van Dyke is a great pick for a round face. Try a mustache with some scruff if you have a triangular face. A long face benefits from a full, thick chevron mustache.
Opt for a thinner mustache if you have a small face. Trim the mustache regularly to achieve an impressive look.
For The Face With Thin Lips
A slightly larger mustache is a solid option for a face with thin lips. Going a little longer on the sides creates the illusion of fuller, thicker lips.
For The Face With Thick Lips
A shorter, more compact mustache works best when you’ve got thick lips. Keep it neat and avoid letting it grow long at the corners of the mouth.
For Long And Thin Faces
A handlebar mustache is a great move for long, thin faces. The width it adds across the upper lip visually shortens and balances out the face shape.
For Long Face
The horseshoe mustache, with its bold, aggressive presence, is one to skip on a long face: its vertical lines stretch the face even further. Steer clear of sparse, wispy styles, since minimal hair will only make the face appear longer.
For The Faces With Soft Features
Soft facial features call for a mustache with sharper, more defined ends. That added structure gives your look a rugged, masculine edge it wouldn’t otherwise have.
For Square Face
A square-shaped mustache is the natural fit for a square face, since its clean, geometric lines highlight and reinforce that strong chin outline.
For Round Face
For a round face, go straight and thin. Since round faces lack strong angles, a slim, horizontal mustache line creates the contrast needed to make the cheeks appear leaner.
Mustache Growing and Care
The trickiest part of having a mustache is normally growing it. You may have to wear your mustache in a few awkward in-between styles while it fills in to the length you actually want.
Once it’s long enough, a detail trimmer keeps everything looking sharp, and a good mustache wax locks it into whatever style you’re going for.
If you’re struggling to get it going, check out our post on how to grow a healthy and thick mustache.
We’ve pulled together the sharpest, most wearable mustache styles out there so you can find your fit.
