I always wondered about this. I’ve never known any guy with a mustache well enough to ask the question.
The next guide you need is “Which mustache is right for your facial type?” I imagine that, just like hats and glasses, certain styles complement certain face shapes.
The website http://www.thebeardly.com will help one comprehend the true significance of facial hair. read it and understand ye females and children without.
Marc, how long have you been reading this site??? Facial hair is a good idea for EVERY man. It’s something we grow to make a statement that we are men and we don’t care about clean-shaven, feminized pop culture stereotypes.
As a barber myself, may I suggest just heading over to the local barber shop and having your facial hair professionally trimmed, you’ll be surprised at how much better it will turn out. While your there, you might as well get a straight shave– your face will thank you.
I’ve always tried to do this myself. I sometimes do a pretty good job with only leaving a couple of long hairs poking out. I was wondering if anyone has tips on getting my beard/goatee soft? My girlfriend complains of the sharp edges, even if I use conditioner.
I have a full beard and mustache. I do trim both my beard and mustache every 1-2 weeks (depending on if I remember to or not). My wife much prefers a trimmed stache so I trim the length regularly.
My beard trimmer has a length attachment for the beard but it comes off when I trim the end of the mustache hairs. They should not cover the top lip or curl near your mouth. Regular rinsing and shampoo and conditioner keep it all soft and non-wirey.
My wife loves my facial hair when it’s well-maintained, although I’ll admit that I don’t often have it well-maintained. My bad.
But she absolutely HATES the mustache, and I only have one as a joke at her expense (though I kind of like mine). I wonder how many women (or men, whatever) hate it, and I can’t completely blame them, because I don’t think I’d want to kiss a ‘stache either. Does anyone have experiences that suggest that kissing a ‘stache is actually enjoyable? Or is a ‘stach basically a sacrifice that a woman must make for a man’s vanity, usually for him to prove a point?
I’ve tried to grow a mustache a couple of times over the past two years, but it always turns out like a 14-year-old’s “butt fuzz” facial hair. I really envy a man who can grow a real mo’.
Fashions come and go over time. Facial hair is a fashion/style. I’m with Mark. Unless you’re trying to hide a facial flaw,facial hair is seldom a good idea. For you other guys, the 1980s called and it wants its mustache back!
After I got out of the Navy, i started growing my facial hair, and haven’t looked back. I have a full beard, and I trim and maintain my beard with a straight razor and mustache scissors. I also cut my own hair, I’m very lucky that my wife loves my beard. I have a few friends that envy my beard, they think I look very distinct, especially when I’m out with my smoking pipe.
Unfortunately, not a relevant post for me. 34 years old and still can’t grow a mustache. I can grow something that is blonde and patchy but will never call it a mustache. My wife is happy though because I would rock the Ned Flanders push broom look if I could.
Sometimes you can trim out your patches to make them look like you want them styled that way. I have a pretty good “stache” and “goat” but the beard is a little scraggley under my bottom lip. I trim out 2 “moons” there and get a lot of compliments on it. I also never let the rest get any longer than a quarter inch.
Nick: I use a natural beard care product made from leatherwood honey, oils, etc. it smells awesomely manly, and the beard is so soft even my six-year-old daughter will happily give me a kiss on the cheek! I don’t know what the rules for “spamming” are, so I’ll just say Google “Bee Beauty” from Tasmania, Australia and look for their “Prof. Fuzzworthy’s” Beard Care Gloss.
I have a couple of more tips. Rule #1- NEVER trim your ‘stache while it’s wet. Rule #2- if you ignore Rule #1 and begin to trim anyway, as soon as you realise you’ve fouled up, stop immediately. You will only make it worse. @Bryan- this site offers a Guide to ‘Stache Styles. The Mrs. forbids me to remove my brush as potential grounds for divorce- she likes how it tickles. And find a good wax for proper grooming. Since it’s hard to locate, try ‘corradocutlery.com’. The Clubman line is fabulous.- Good day, Gentlemen.
If you are having problems with the lady folks not wanting to kiss you because of your mustache, for for a more trimmed look. When you’re trimming, trim along the top line of your lip. Generally kisses will be much less hairy (as will your food intake).
Personally I’ve rocked the same mustache since 16. As I’ve never shaved it off, Movember hasn’t been something I’ve participated in yet. I’m considering it this year though.
@Rupert: I take quite an offense by your comment that men without facial hair are either female or little boys. Have you, and like-minded people, ever consider that some men simply cannot grow facial hair? Those men who try to sport any facial hair often produce little more than patchy clumps of downy-haired growth. There are many men who desire to wear facial hair as it is a celebration of being a man, but they cannot due to reasons outside their control. What is worse: being clean-shaven or looking as if someone dabbed glue in select areas on his face and threw pubes in hoping it looked like a beard?
If one cannot have a full beard or mustache, then it is best to be clean shaven. It doesn’t make them a woman or a little boy because they decided to look presentable rather than scraggly.
Therefore, Rupert, I would retract your insinuation or give thought to the words you wrote as you have offended me and many others.
I’ve got a handlebar, which doesn’t get trimmed regularly – my barber might trim a little once every two or three months. I guess it all depends on what style, you’re into. Some people like it short and well trimmed across the lip, and longer towards the edges. Personally, I realy like what a full lenght moustache does to my face in terms of masculinity. I use a wax with brown color, which makes it pop out even more. I enjoy the reactions from both men and women – young and old, and kissing isn’t a problem at all. Keep it well waxed and you good to go. I have noticed how ever, that I get much more positive reactions from the ladies, since I had a real classic haircut, which matches the moustache. The whole moustache and haircut combination even made me wear nicer clothes, and thinking much more about how I behave when being around other people. I think every one just likes that – men and women. My advise: if you like what a moustache does to your face, go for it. Just remember that the moustache is 10% of the full package, and women aren’t in to that. Get a nice haircut, some nice clothes and a nice attitude, and they’ll love you for it.
Cheers and thanks for a great site.
PS. sorry if my english is a bit rusty, but I’m writing from Denmark, so I don’t get to use it that often.
I use Jojoba oil on my beard and mustache. You can find it at GNC. It’s great for keeping my facial hair softer. I have always had a stache and grew a goatee last winter (2011). I totally stopped shaving last Easter. My wife hates my full beard. She feels like I look like Grizzly Adams. I love my beard. However, I am not to good at grooming it. I need to find a barber. If you can grow a good beard every man should grow one once in his life.
That’s exactly how I’ve been trying to do it, but I seem extremely inept at trimming with scissors. Back to the electric trimmer! I have an office job, so facial hair has to be neat. Plus, my wife won’t kiss me if the mustache hair is over the lip. The beard could get a bit more grown out but then it’d be longer than the mustache and I’d just look silly.
i don’t have a mustache yet but now thanks to this manly website i will always know how to shave my future beard and trim the mustache i plan to grow soon.
And if you have a handlebar, DON’T trim at all. Just train it every day. Tr$# is a dirty word. You do more damage than good with trimming. If you must trim, see a barber to do it right.
I used to sport a van dyke until my wife said I looked younger clean shaven, I think it made me look old because had a lot of gray in it. IMO, facial hair does not make you any more manly than if you don’t have any. I am the same man I was when I had my van dyke!
@Natty boh If a women makes you compermise who you are, you need to find a new women. First it’s the stash, then it’s something else. Been there, done that.
Does anybody know of any successful products to enhance facial hair growth? I had a full beard for over 4 years, it was very patchy when long but when trimmed, it was great. “Distinguished” is the compliment I got the most. I recently started working in the oil field and had to trade the beard for a mustache for OSHA. Any grooming tips/ product advice for a guy new to the stache life?
It has been an interesting adventure to read through the variety of discussions posted here regarding facial hair. I have had a goatee for many years. During a moment of weakness, I hacked it off and was staring at a clean shaven man. As I was uncertain if I had made the right choice, I just left it to mother nature to decide (Mother Nature is virtually any female opinion I might garner!) I knew I was wrong when my fourteen year old fashion maven daughter walked into the room and loudly announced “What have you done?” After several other very fashionable ladies made comments that they missed the beard, I have decided either I am for too butt ugly to show my clean shaven face OR, the beard was a good one. Well in three weeks time I was back to my old self and the ladies stopped running in terror when I entered the room. I cannot nor will not offer a general opinion on facial hair but as for me…. I will man up and be proud.
At age 26 I still couldn’t grow a full beard and mustache. After 6 years of shaving everyday in the Marine Corps, it now ALL comes in perfectly at age 32. For those of you that can’t grow it, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!
Eww. I just turned 40 and am growing a stash but alittle gray is showing. I dyed it and it now looks like I have dirt under my nose. Thinking this is going to be it for the stash. I like the facial hair but the old and gray look is not happening YET.
I found this article on accident, after reading the comments I have to say as a lady, my “man-friend” recently shaved off his beard (he kept the stache) and I can’t wait for it to grow back! He has a very nice face (I haven’t seen it clean shaven in years!) and while I like the way he looks now, there is something about his beard that is super hot! As for kissing someone with a beard, I have much more of a problem with how it is now. With his beard it was nice, not scratchy. With him shaven, by the end of the day it is rough and nowhere near as pleasant to be rubbing against as it was with his full beard, whether long or trimmed. Just one lady’s point of view for ya :) And also, it is just super manly which is how I like my men!
I shaved my beard and mustache last summer on the first day of vacation just to see what’s under there, had it for at least 18 or 19 years. My kids (all 20 and over) and my wife were mortified and immediately requested it’s return. I started it immediately. Took about 3 weeks to grow back to a usable state and 4-6 for it’s former glory (I keep it trimmed pretty short). Mama likee the beard!!
In my late 20′s it was pretty evident that I would soon be bald. My wife suggested I grow a beard because she had seen several handsome bald, bearded men on TV. Of course I agreed, That was 1979. The beard looked great and I learned to manage it pretty well. It silvered in my 30′s and made me look mature and wise (looks can be deceiving). So I’ve had it over 30 years, and never had one negative comment. I’m just a “beard guy”. Women and children like to touch it, and often men will ask me about “beards”. My beard is as much a part of me as my nose and my eyes. ‘Nuff said.
OK guys one tip to remember unless you want to move into the manly arena of plumbing repair (clearing a P trap and snaking a waste line id pretty manly) is that facial hair is much tougher than head hair. It take too long to break down, so don’t send it down the sink. keep a plastic trash bag with your trimming tools and spread it over the sink before trimming. Toss the trimmings in the trash.
Oh and for the rookies who’s partners don’t like the bearded kiss: no one likes to kiss hair. Get those lips out front, like the silly duck mouth in the party pictures. It looks dumb, but you are going for sensation, that way lips not hair is the main course. It is all about technique gentlemen.
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{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
Seldom is facial hair a good idea for any man.
A beard, or even a moustache, is a gift you give to your face. Bless the men with facial hair, for they are warriors against clean-shavenness.
We stand strong together.
An opinion is simply that: an opinion. ‘Stache on, gentleman!
I always wondered about this. I’ve never known any guy with a mustache well enough to ask the question.
The next guide you need is “Which mustache is right for your facial type?” I imagine that, just like hats and glasses, certain styles complement certain face shapes.
The website http://www.thebeardly.com will help one comprehend the true significance of facial hair. read it and understand ye females and children without.
Marc, how long have you been reading this site??? Facial hair is a good idea for EVERY man. It’s something we grow to make a statement that we are men and we don’t care about clean-shaven, feminized pop culture stereotypes.
I was honestly just on here last night looking for a mustache trimming guide! It’s like you knew I needed one!
@Marc, you must be new here. New and wrong.
Hey marc….im sorry u have alopecia…get over it.
As a barber myself, may I suggest just heading over to the local barber shop and having your facial hair professionally trimmed, you’ll be surprised at how much better it will turn out. While your there, you might as well get a straight shave– your face will thank you.
I’ve always tried to do this myself. I sometimes do a pretty good job with only leaving a couple of long hairs poking out. I was wondering if anyone has tips on getting my beard/goatee soft? My girlfriend complains of the sharp edges, even if I use conditioner.
Marc must want to be like the Greeks and Romans. Real men over here buddy
I have a full beard and mustache. I do trim both my beard and mustache every 1-2 weeks (depending on if I remember to or not). My wife much prefers a trimmed stache so I trim the length regularly.
My beard trimmer has a length attachment for the beard but it comes off when I trim the end of the mustache hairs. They should not cover the top lip or curl near your mouth. Regular rinsing and shampoo and conditioner keep it all soft and non-wirey.
you forgot the last step if you are doing it at a sink be courteous and clean it out before you walk away
Almond Oil combed in daily will keep your mustahce nice and soft – plus helps avoid those occasional “wild hairs”.
I shave my beard in 1994, and lost the “porn-stache” two years ago, but after this discussion I’m thinkin’ the beard needs to make its comeback….
Joel, your comment would have much more meaning if you had learned the manly art of grammar.
My wife loves my facial hair when it’s well-maintained, although I’ll admit that I don’t often have it well-maintained. My bad.
But she absolutely HATES the mustache, and I only have one as a joke at her expense (though I kind of like mine). I wonder how many women (or men, whatever) hate it, and I can’t completely blame them, because I don’t think I’d want to kiss a ‘stache either. Does anyone have experiences that suggest that kissing a ‘stache is actually enjoyable? Or is a ‘stach basically a sacrifice that a woman must make for a man’s vanity, usually for him to prove a point?
Steps 1-4 are crucial for a presentable mustache, but I’d like to add one additional step that’s a big hit with my wife.
5. Clean up after yourself. All of those hairs in the sink aren’t going anywhere unless you take action.
I’ve tried to grow a mustache a couple of times over the past two years, but it always turns out like a 14-year-old’s “butt fuzz” facial hair. I really envy a man who can grow a real mo’.
If you want to grow a handlebar moustache don’t trim it at all. Just make sure you wax it so it looks maintained and keeps the ends curled.
Fashions come and go over time. Facial hair is a fashion/style. I’m with Mark. Unless you’re trying to hide a facial flaw,facial hair is seldom a good idea. For you other guys, the 1980s called and it wants its mustache back!
After I got out of the Navy, i started growing my facial hair, and haven’t looked back. I have a full beard, and I trim and maintain my beard with a straight razor and mustache scissors. I also cut my own hair, I’m very lucky that my wife loves my beard. I have a few friends that envy my beard, they think I look very distinct, especially when I’m out with my smoking pipe.
Unfortunately, not a relevant post for me. 34 years old and still can’t grow a mustache. I can grow something that is blonde and patchy but will never call it a mustache. My wife is happy though because I would rock the Ned Flanders push broom look if I could.
Sometimes you can trim out your patches to make them look like you want them styled that way. I have a pretty good “stache” and “goat” but the beard is a little scraggley under my bottom lip. I trim out 2 “moons” there and get a lot of compliments on it. I also never let the rest get any longer than a quarter inch.
Great….
Now, if only this guy would learn to shave….
Nick: I use a natural beard care product made from leatherwood honey, oils, etc. it smells awesomely manly, and the beard is so soft even my six-year-old daughter will happily give me a kiss on the cheek! I don’t know what the rules for “spamming” are, so I’ll just say Google “Bee Beauty” from Tasmania, Australia and look for their “Prof. Fuzzworthy’s” Beard Care Gloss.
I have a couple of more tips. Rule #1- NEVER trim your ‘stache while it’s wet. Rule #2- if you ignore Rule #1 and begin to trim anyway, as soon as you realise you’ve fouled up, stop immediately. You will only make it worse. @Bryan- this site offers a Guide to ‘Stache Styles. The Mrs. forbids me to remove my brush as potential grounds for divorce- she likes how it tickles. And find a good wax for proper grooming. Since it’s hard to locate, try ‘corradocutlery.com’. The Clubman line is fabulous.- Good day, Gentlemen.
If you are having problems with the lady folks not wanting to kiss you because of your mustache, for for a more trimmed look. When you’re trimming, trim along the top line of your lip. Generally kisses will be much less hairy (as will your food intake).
Personally I’ve rocked the same mustache since 16. As I’ve never shaved it off, Movember hasn’t been something I’ve participated in yet. I’m considering it this year though.
I have a fondness for the 80′s, mustaches and all. Bring back the stache!
@Rupert: I take quite an offense by your comment that men without facial hair are either female or little boys. Have you, and like-minded people, ever consider that some men simply cannot grow facial hair? Those men who try to sport any facial hair often produce little more than patchy clumps of downy-haired growth. There are many men who desire to wear facial hair as it is a celebration of being a man, but they cannot due to reasons outside their control. What is worse: being clean-shaven or looking as if someone dabbed glue in select areas on his face and threw pubes in hoping it looked like a beard?
If one cannot have a full beard or mustache, then it is best to be clean shaven. It doesn’t make them a woman or a little boy because they decided to look presentable rather than scraggly.
Therefore, Rupert, I would retract your insinuation or give thought to the words you wrote as you have offended me and many others.
I’ve got a handlebar, which doesn’t get trimmed regularly – my barber might trim a little once every two or three months. I guess it all depends on what style, you’re into. Some people like it short and well trimmed across the lip, and longer towards the edges. Personally, I realy like what a full lenght moustache does to my face in terms of masculinity. I use a wax with brown color, which makes it pop out even more. I enjoy the reactions from both men and women – young and old, and kissing isn’t a problem at all. Keep it well waxed and you good to go. I have noticed how ever, that I get much more positive reactions from the ladies, since I had a real classic haircut, which matches the moustache. The whole moustache and haircut combination even made me wear nicer clothes, and thinking much more about how I behave when being around other people. I think every one just likes that – men and women. My advise: if you like what a moustache does to your face, go for it. Just remember that the moustache is 10% of the full package, and women aren’t in to that. Get a nice haircut, some nice clothes and a nice attitude, and they’ll love you for it.
Cheers and thanks for a great site.
PS. sorry if my english is a bit rusty, but I’m writing from Denmark, so I don’t get to use it that often.
Is the cowboy hat required?
@ Dan
Why, yes.
Yes it is.
The 510D GRILL would really be a great gift!
…Why did that get posted here?
The 510D GRILL would really be a great gift! I know my dad would love it.
I use Jojoba oil on my beard and mustache. You can find it at GNC. It’s great for keeping my facial hair softer. I have always had a stache and grew a goatee last winter (2011). I totally stopped shaving last Easter. My wife hates my full beard. She feels like I look like Grizzly Adams. I love my beard. However, I am not to good at grooming it. I need to find a barber. If you can grow a good beard every man should grow one once in his life.
May I also suggest. If you are interested in growing a beard go to beards .org. Great web site. Good luck.
That’s exactly how I’ve been trying to do it, but I seem extremely inept at trimming with scissors. Back to the electric trimmer! I have an office job, so facial hair has to be neat. Plus, my wife won’t kiss me if the mustache hair is over the lip. The beard could get a bit more grown out but then it’d be longer than the mustache and I’d just look silly.
i don’t have a mustache yet but now thanks to this manly website i will always know how to shave my future beard and trim the mustache i plan to grow soon.
Agreed – “Regulation” moustache (no hair touching the vermillion of the lip) is more popular with the wife. Also, with the soup/milk/beer.
@marc, do you also sit down to pee?
This should be re-posted in November (Movember), when a lot of guys grow moustaches for various charities ;)
And if you have a handlebar, DON’T trim at all. Just train it every day. Tr$# is a dirty word. You do more damage than good with trimming. If you must trim, see a barber to do it right.
I used to sport a van dyke until my wife said I looked younger clean shaven, I think it made me look old because had a lot of gray in it. IMO, facial hair does not make you any more manly than if you don’t have any. I am the same man I was when I had my van dyke!
I have been trimming mine since 12 yrs old and used this method, but ever since I started using a Straight Razor to trim it has been super neat.
I don’t have a mustache, but these new guides are awesome.
JG wrote: “I would retract your insinuation or give thought to the words you wrote as you have offended me and many others.”
This statement makes you appear more like a little girl than your admitted lack of facial hair ever could…
I’m in that club that can get a mustache and chin bush, but not the full beard, still nice to have it trimmed up and whatnot, great guide!
A thought I keep in mind when trimming my beard:
Trimming a beard and mustache is a bit like sawing table legs. Always stop before you think you’re finished!
The sudden and unannounced loss of a stash makes you look gay
Trimming my beard weekly gets annoying! Just shave it off (:
My girl wants the stash gone but I’ve grown quite fond of it. Surrender the stash or forfeit the female? Really don’t want to lose either
At last, some inspired help for us mo bros. thank you!
@Natty boh If a women makes you compermise who you are, you need to find a new women. First it’s the stash, then it’s something else. Been there, done that.
Does anybody know of any successful products to enhance facial hair growth? I had a full beard for over 4 years, it was very patchy when long but when trimmed, it was great. “Distinguished” is the compliment I got the most. I recently started working in the oil field and had to trade the beard for a mustache for OSHA. Any grooming tips/ product advice for a guy new to the stache life?
@ James H. May 31, 2012 at 8:40 pm
5. Clean up after yourself. All of those hairs in the sink aren’t going anywhere unless you take action.
^– Woman posting as man, 100% sure. :’)
BTW, thought the rule was to never ever trim a mustache, according to your other article?
It has been an interesting adventure to read through the variety of discussions posted here regarding facial hair. I have had a goatee for many years. During a moment of weakness, I hacked it off and was staring at a clean shaven man. As I was uncertain if I had made the right choice, I just left it to mother nature to decide (Mother Nature is virtually any female opinion I might garner!) I knew I was wrong when my fourteen year old fashion maven daughter walked into the room and loudly announced “What have you done?” After several other very fashionable ladies made comments that they missed the beard, I have decided either I am for too butt ugly to show my clean shaven face OR, the beard was a good one. Well in three weeks time I was back to my old self and the ladies stopped running in terror when I entered the room. I cannot nor will not offer a general opinion on facial hair but as for me…. I will man up and be proud.
At age 26 I still couldn’t grow a full beard and mustache. After 6 years of shaving everyday in the Marine Corps, it now ALL comes in perfectly at age 32. For those of you that can’t grow it, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!
Eww. I just turned 40 and am growing a stash but alittle gray is showing. I dyed it and it now looks like I have dirt under my nose. Thinking this is going to be it for the stash. I like the facial hair but the old and gray look is not happening YET.
I found this article on accident, after reading the comments I have to say as a lady, my “man-friend” recently shaved off his beard (he kept the stache) and I can’t wait for it to grow back! He has a very nice face (I haven’t seen it clean shaven in years!) and while I like the way he looks now, there is something about his beard that is super hot! As for kissing someone with a beard, I have much more of a problem with how it is now. With his beard it was nice, not scratchy. With him shaven, by the end of the day it is rough and nowhere near as pleasant to be rubbing against as it was with his full beard, whether long or trimmed. Just one lady’s point of view for ya :) And also, it is just super manly which is how I like my men!
Remember: a kiss without a mustache is like a day without sunshine.
lucky for me, my Fiance loves my facial hair. i shaved for Movember last year and she said i’m not allowed to do it ever again.
Never lose faith in your ability to grow one. At 42, I must have hit second puberty, because after Movember it turned into something real.
I shaved my beard and mustache last summer on the first day of vacation just to see what’s under there, had it for at least 18 or 19 years. My kids (all 20 and over) and my wife were mortified and immediately requested it’s return. I started it immediately. Took about 3 weeks to grow back to a usable state and 4-6 for it’s former glory (I keep it trimmed pretty short). Mama likee the beard!!
In my late 20′s it was pretty evident that I would soon be bald. My wife suggested I grow a beard because she had seen several handsome bald, bearded men on TV. Of course I agreed, That was 1979. The beard looked great and I learned to manage it pretty well. It silvered in my 30′s and made me look mature and wise (looks can be deceiving). So I’ve had it over 30 years, and never had one negative comment. I’m just a “beard guy”. Women and children like to touch it, and often men will ask me about “beards”. My beard is as much a part of me as my nose and my eyes. ‘Nuff said.
Looks like Joseph Stalin
OK guys one tip to remember unless you want to move into the manly arena of plumbing repair (clearing a P trap and snaking a waste line id pretty manly) is that facial hair is much tougher than head hair. It take too long to break down, so don’t send it down the sink. keep a plastic trash bag with your trimming tools and spread it over the sink before trimming. Toss the trimmings in the trash.
Oh and for the rookies who’s partners don’t like the bearded kiss: no one likes to kiss hair. Get those lips out front, like the silly duck mouth in the party pictures. It looks dumb, but you are going for sensation, that way lips not hair is the main course. It is all about technique gentlemen.