Mustaches can be magnificent! They can transform a face and for many men who grow them, they can even give them a new-found confidence. But, without a proper grooming routine and care, a mustache can soon lose its appeal.
Like growing a beard or your hair, growing a mustache requires maintenance. Whether you have a thick ‘tache covering your upper lip, or a finer lined one, looking after it is key. This includes trimming it, so it doesn’t get out of control, and keeping it clean.
Whether you’re starting to grow your majestic mustache, or need to tame your upper lip pet, you’re in the right place. In today’s blog, we are going to run through the best mustache grooming maintenance tips you need to know to ensure your ‘tache is the best around.
Mustache Grooming Tips
1. Clean and Scrub the Mustache
Just like the hair on your head, your mustache hair also needs regular cleaning. Think about where your mustache is situated – right above your mouth. Therefore, it is prone to take on food particles and daily grime. Without proper cleansing, it can start to smell pretty unpleasant.
To ensure your mustache is adequately clean, use a regular facial wash on your face and mustache hair. This can also prevent your skin from drying out, with important minerals to keep it healthy and clean.
Many men suffer from dry skin, especially underneath their facial hair. Ingrown hairs can also become an issue. But, if you use a facial scrub once or twice a week, you can scrub away the dead skin and, in turn, prevent the development of ingrown hairs.
2. Have A Good Trimming Routine
In the initial stages of mustache trimming, you should use a beard trimmer or clippers to keep the hair in shape and neat. If you grow your mustache for over three or four weeks, move on to a pair of facial hair scissors to carefully trim around the mouth.
After three weeks or so, the hair may be pretty thick and long. At this stage, you should start using a mustache comb combined with some mustache hair wax. This will help you shape your stache and even it out. And, if there are any gaps present, the comb and wax can help fill in the gaps and prevent the hair from looking overly fluffy.
For long and stray hairs, you should snip them away using a mustache or manicure scissors. When shaving around the mustache, use a transparent gel to see where to shave and where not to shave. It takes some precise cutting, but you’ll get the hang of it. If not, you can always have it professionally trimmed by a barber.
3. Shampoo And Condition That Mighty Mustache
Unlike the head on your head, facial hair tends to be much coarser. This can irritate the skin and make it feel itchy and dry. That is why you should shampoo and condition the hair using a two-in-one formula. This will help keep the mustache clean, soft, and well-conditioned (Also check out How To Soften Mustache Hair).
Flaky, dry patches of skin beneath your mustache can be quite tricky to get to with traditional moisturizer. It can become tangled in the hair and will not be absorbed into the skin very well. Instead, a dedicated mustache and beard hydrator is the best solution to hydrate the skin and keep it fresh and clean.
4. Do Not Cut When Your Mustache is Wet
When washing your beard or mustache, you must wait for it to dry before attempting to trim it. Wet hair is generally heavier and will hang longer. That means it will appear longer than it does when dry, so if you cut the hair at this point, you may regret it. Only once the hair has dried and retracted can you see its true length. Then, you can trim it.
5. Wax it up
We’ve already discussed adding a little wax to your mustache, but once it gets to a certain length, you should add wax to it daily to give it some definition. Wax can also give your mustache a very pleasant aroma, which is important as it sits right beneath your nostrils!
Before you apply the wax, warm it between your fingers first. This will make it easier to use and blend into your mustache hairs for simpler grooming.
6. Time To Comb
You should regularly comb your mustache to keep it tidy and free of dry skin and debris. Also, a mustache comb can help you distribute the wax evenly and help part its middle. And, when it comes to trimming your stache, a comb can be a helpful tool to trim off small hairs to make them even.
When using a comb, simply lift your mustache hair, so you can cut it easily. Angle the comb in the same direction as your lips, and you will get an even cut every time.
7. Grow Some Stubble If You Like
Many men are afraid of growing a standalone mustache without stubble, as they are not sure how it will look. If you don’t like the look of a clean-shaven face besides your mustache, you can grow some stubble.
We suggest growing the mustache longer and then shaping it with a beard trimmer. Then, shave the rest of your beard down to a number two or three. Then, your face will have stubble to keep it company, giving you a rugged look.
8. Take Your Face Shape into Account
Some mustaches look better on some face shapes than others. That is why you must take your face shape into account when shaping and styling your mustache. Think about the “Tom Selleck mustache.” He pulls it off like a God, but it may not suit your face shape. The same applies to pencil mustaches or horseshoe ‘taches.
You need to strike a good balance between the style of mustache you have and your face shape. For oval faces, a mustache with a medium width and slightly triangular shape tends to be best. For more square faces, a longer, heavy mustache can work well. Play around and see what suits your face best.
9. Twirl Away
You may want to spice things up with your mustache by twirling its ends. To make your mustache pointy at its ends, simply use a small amount of mustache wax and rub it between your thumb and index finger. Then, twirl the ends of your mustache in the same manner as you would when snapping your fingers. After this, you’ll look like a regal gentleman.
10. Moisturize
And, it’s back to moisturizing the skin under your mustache. This skin is susceptible to becoming very dry because the hair draws moisture from the skin. Therefore, make sure you moisturize under your mustache every day with your fingertips.
In Summary
Sporting a mighty fine mustache is not for everyone, but if you want to grow one or already have a beast on your upper lip, you’ll need to take care of it with our key mustache maintenance tips above.
