With the popularity of mustaches back on the rise, more and more people are looking for inspiration on the facial hair they should sport, especially since the vast array of styles out there makes it difficult for people to know what suits them best.
Whether they decide to go for something like the classic chevron, or something a little more out there, like the walrus, there’s definitely a mustache style for everyone, it just takes some time, effort, and experimentation in order to get it right.
However, for every great-looking mustache out there, there’s always going to be a style of mustache that simply looks awful, no matter who is wearing it.
If you’re unsure of what mustache look you should be going for, then it can very often be easy enough to get swept up in picking a style that is simply awful.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best of the bad mustache styles out there so that you know what to avoid at all costs!
With the popularity of mustaches back on the rise, more and more people are looking for inspiration on the facial hair they should sport, especially since the vast array of styles out there makes it difficult for people to know what suits them best.
Whether they decide to go for something like the classic chevron, or something a little more out there, like the walrus, there’s definitely a mustache style for everyone, it just takes some time, effort, and experimentation in order to get it right.
However, for every great-looking mustache out there, there’s always going to be a style of mustache that simply looks awful, no matter who is wearing it. If you’re unsure of what mustache look you should be going for, then it can very often be easy enough to get swept up in picking a style that is simply awful.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best of the bad mustache styles out there so that you know what to avoid at all costs!
The Pencil
Popularized in the early 1930s and 1940s, this mustache style was made famous by a variety of different Hollywood actors at the time (Also check out Best Actors With Mustaches), and is characterized by a straight, thin line that extends from just above the upper lip.
Another one of the biggest characteristics of this mustache is that it requires a lot of trimming in order to keep it neat and tidy, which is why it’s often seen as being worn by people who are often in formal settings, such as black-tie events, and weddings.
Many view the pencil as an iconic mustache style, but whether or not you decide to go for this style is entirely up to you.
Why It’s Bad
Many people seem to believe that because of its popularity in formal settings, the pencil is a mustache that helps them to be seen as higher-class citizens. The reality, however, is that it does nothing of the sort.
While it might seem like a suave choice of mustache, it just doesn’t quite look as good when sported outside of formal settings, so unless you’re someone who is constantly wearing a suit, then it might be a good idea to leave this style to the starts of early 20th-century silver screens.
Another one of the bad things about the pencil is its negative connotations, you see, the pencil has become a popular choice of mustache amongst fictional villains throughout the years, which means that unless you like playing the villain, it might be something you want to avoid.
The Handlebar
Arguably one of the most iconic mustaches styles out there, this style features long upward-curving tips above each corner of the mouth, getting their name from resembling the handlebars you would see on a bicycle or a motorbike.
This style has an incredibly long history, dating back to the 19th century, where it was a popular facial hair style worn by many of the wealthy men of the Victorian era.
This is another mustache that requires a lot of maintenance, and even requires styling products in order to encourage the hair to be shaped into the distinctive curly pointed style.
Why It’s Bad
The handlebar has become the mustache of choice for many hipsters out there, which means that for those who aren’t trying to achieve that style, it’s definitely one to avoid.
It can also be particularly tiring have to maintain your mustache so frequently, especially if you’ve either never grown one before, or have only ever had something simple.
Plus, the ability to be able to grow one of these mustaches hinges almost entirely on genetics, which means that it might not even be achievable for you.
In our opinion, we think it’s best to stay far away from this style, and instead opt for something slightly more sensible and practical.
The Horseshoe
The horseshoe, also known as the biker, is an incredibly distinctive and bold facial hair style, and features a mustache with downward curving hair that goes beyond the sides of the mouth and all the way down to the chin, often connecting either with a goatee or a beard, and gets its name from the resemblance of a horseshoe.
Many people like the idea of a horseshoe mustache because of its association with masculinity, which stems from it being the go-to mustache sported by biker gang members, and many other tough guy personas, such as wrestler Hulk Hogan.
This mustache requires a lot of work to get into shape too, as the hair around the mouth will need properly trimming on a regular basis.
Why It’s Bad
While the macho style is what many men are looking for in a mustache, the horseshoe definitely isn’t the way to go.
While it might seem like fun trying to imitate the wrestler you watched as a kid, the horseshoe is not a style looked upon favorably in professional settings.
In addition to this, the biker gang look isn’t one you want to play pretend with either, and the style is overall very hard to carry off, no matter how much you think it suits you.
The Hungarian
Another particularly large and distinctive facial hair style is the Hungarian, which is sometimes also called the Hungarian wax, or the droopy mustache, and features a thick, long, and droopy style mustache that extends just past the corners of the mouth (If you want to learn more about Hungarian mustache, read here).
Earning its name from the Hungarian nobility who would often be seen adorning this style, if you were to grow this style for yourself, you’d need to make use of styling products in order to help fashion the mustache into the proper shape.
There have been a number of notable figures throughout history that have worn this style, such as Franz Josef I of Austria, and Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. More recently, actor Jeff Bridges also helped to popularize the style too.
Why It’s Bad
While the style itself might not be particularly offensive or outlandish, it’s a style that just feels a little bit dated, which is precisely the reason why you see so few people sporting it these days.
It’s slightly more untidy than some of the other styles out there, even if it is properly maintained, so it’s not a style you’d want to wear if you have to adhere to a certain dress code and style on a regular basis.
Plus, the sheer amount of grooming and maintenance required in order to keep this style looking at least somewhat presentable is honestly just not worth the effort, so we’d highly recommend staying far away!
The A La Souvarov
This mustache choice is a rather obscure choice of mustache, so we doubt it’s one you’d ever really consider wearing. Either way, it still makes for a worthy inclusion on our list.
This incredible distinctive mustache is distinguished by the inclusion of the mustache connecting to the sideburns, which are grown to about an inch below the mouth level, where it then goes upwards to connect to the mustache. Appearing as one connecting piece of facial hair.
This incredibly bold style is best suited to men who have strong facial features, and it’s a style that has been adopted by many military figures, notably Russian General Alexander Suvorov, which is where the mustache gets its name!
Why It’s Bad
Why is it bad? Well, it’s a style of mustache that connects to sideburns that drop below the mouthline, so it’s probably not a mustache style that anyone with any sense would consider adorning, thankfully.
It’s especially bad for those who have much softer facial features, where the style will look even more out of place, so if you’re considering it, just keep that in mind.
The Freestyle
This style isn’t really characterized by any particular look and style and is more about the disjointed combination of different mustaches and other facial hair looks put together, which allows people to express themselves and their style in the way that they choose.
This can lead to some pretty random combination choices and might require a lot of maintenance depending on the styles chosen too.
Why It’s Bad
This style isn’t necessarily bad, but considering that it allows people to mix and match any style they want, there can be some quite bad-looking combinations, which means that you’ll need to make sure that you pick carefully when putting together your freestyle look.
