No model of facial hair makes an impression the way in which a mustache does, and the king of all mustache types is the handlebar mustache.
After going dormant for almost a century, handlebar mustaches started to burst again onto the scene within the early 2010s. Within the nineteenth century, there was a refined savagery to the handlebar mustache—its wearer equally more likely to be a back-alley bare-knuckle boxer as he was a fop. However what does the handlebar mustache say about its wearer within the twenty first century? Is he a hipster? Is he antiquated? It would not matter as a result of the handlebar mustache is about as badass because it will get when carried out proper.
So, how do you develop and magnificence an epic handlebar mustache that may make the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis and Charles Bronson shudder in envy?
We’ll present you the ropes on this final information to the handlebar mustache.
WHAT IS A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE?
Do you even curl, bro?
A handlebar mustache requires Mustache Wax or different styling aides to realize a mustache that resembles bicycle handles. The handles may be styled in a curl, straight out, or left extra pure.
The “handles” of the mustache are grown lengthy sufficient to model. They don’t seem to be related to the face anyplace aside from the corners of the mouth, an vital distinction that separates the handlebar mustache from totally different types just like the horseshoe mustache (pictured under on Hulk Hogan).
There are a number of totally different handlebar mustache styles:
The Handlebar Mustache – The normal handlebar mustache curls upward and typically again in on itself. The curl may be slight or a full loop a la Rollie Fingers.
Well-known handlebar mustaches: Greg Berzinsky, Rollie Fingers, William Howard Taft, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
The Petite Handlebar Mustache – The petite handlebar is a tinier model of the normal handlebar mustache and is an efficient choice for males whose mustache hair doesn’t develop lengthy sufficient for some other types.
The English Mustache – The English Mustache is much like the normal handlebar mustache, besides the handles are styled to level straight out as a substitute of curled.
Well-known English mustaches: Jimmy Edwards.
The Hungarian Mustache – The Hungarian mustache is huge and burly, overlaying the eternity of the higher lip. The handles swoop decrease than the normal handlebar mustache.
Well-known Hungarian mustaches: Franz Ferdinand, Eric Bandholz, Greg Berzinsky, Jeffrey Buoncristiano, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Seth Bullock, and Wealthy Uncle Pennybags (the Monopoly man).
HOW TO GROW A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE
All it’s essential to develop a handlebar mustache is time and a bit assist out of your genetics. It could possibly take 4 to 6 months for the mustache hair to develop lengthy sufficient to help you create a full handlebar mustache. And in the end, there’s no assure that you just’ll be capable of develop one. Keep in mind, the handles are grown solely from the hair on the edges of the mustache, and for some males (myself included), that hair doesn’t develop lengthy sufficient to get a lot of a handlebar.
For many types, you are able to do gentle trimming of the mustache hair to maintain it from getting in your mouth because it grows. However watch out to not minimize the corners of your ‘stache as you’ll want all of the size you may get there.
In case you’re rising the Hungarian model, simply let that mo’ go full walrus and don’t trim it.
You possibly can develop a handlebar mustache by itself or with a full beard. Or pair it with a puffy soul patch for a Three Muskateers model Van Dyke. We predict it seems exceptionally badass when paired with just a bit little bit of scruff on the cheeks and chin—a mode referred to as a beardstache.
HOW TO TRIM A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE
The handlebar mustache requires a great deal of grooming and frequent trimming. Pulling off this model is all about holding your mustache tidy. Protecting the middle of the mustache neat is crucial to giving a clear, flowing look. Stray hairs and flyaways will take away from the general look of your mustache.
Right here’s what you’ll want: A Beard Comb and a pointy pair of Beard Trimming Scissors or electrical clippers. We desire scissors since they offer you extra management and precision. Mustache Wax or one other styling support may be useful however isn’t completely vital.
6 STEPS TO TRIM A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE
- Use your comb to divide your hair into three sections—left, center, and proper. The center part would be the mustache hair immediately beneath your nostril. The left and proper sections are the hair that may make up your handlebars.
- Comb the left and proper sections of your mustache out of the way in which in the direction of their respective sides. Comb the hair within the center space down and in the direction of the middle of your mouth.
- Use your scissors to chop hairs from the center part of your mustache which have grown too lengthy. Comply with the pure curve of your lip, and make small, cautious snips to stop over-trimming.
- Comb the handlebars of your mustache again in in the direction of your mouth. Trim the hair till you might have a easy transition from shorter mustache hair close to the center of your higher lip to longer hair on the ends. Use your scissors to mix any spots that look uneven.
- Apply a small quantity of Mustache Wax or Styling Balm to the ends of your mustache, utilizing your comb to push your handles again in the direction of the edges. Use your fingers to easy every of the handles into a degree. Pull the handles straight out to see if one is longer than the opposite. Trim as essential to make the handles even in size.
- Lastly, raise one in all your mustache handles and shave or trim any hair that grows beneath them. Repeat on the opposite aspect. (In case you are pairing your mustache with a beard, skip step 6 and transfer on to styling your handlebar mustache).
Trimming a mustache is delicate work. Not like trimming your beard, you might have much less hair to work with, and errors shall be way more noticeable. We advocate watching the video under to let Greg Berzinsky stroll you thru the abovementioned steps.
HOW TO STYLE A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE
Styling a handlebar mustache comes down to a few steps:
- Coaching your mustache
- Correctly making use of wax
- Curling your mustache
Many guys skip the first step and don’t take the time to coach their mustache, however that little further work makes all the pieces loads simpler. Now, let’s get into styling that mustache.
What you’ll want: Mustache Wax, Beard Brush or Beard Comb, and a blowdryer.
1. Coaching your mustache
One of many largest frustrations amongst first-time mustache growers is how arduous it may be to curve a mustache—and maintain it curled all through the day. Very similar to the gunslingers that popularized handlebar mustaches, mustache hair is ornery and wild. It isn’t predisposed to fall naturally right into a swooping curl. For this reason it’s essential to prepare your mustache.
One of the best ways to coach your mustache to curve is by making use of sizzling air from a blow dryer to a moist mustache whereas utilizing a Beard Comb or Spherical Brush to assist kind the specified form. By making use of warmth, the hair will start to carry that form naturally. Change the air temperature to chilly because the hair will get nearer to dry to assist lock within the new hair sample. Doing this alters the chemistry inside every strand of hair in your mustache.
Then, when it comes time to use Mustache Wax, you’ll be utilizing it to refine the form you’ve already created as a substitute of utilizing the wax to try to drive your ‘stache into submission.
2. Making use of wax
Mustache wax isn’t very malleable when it’s at room temperature, and making use of it this fashion can depart you with thick clumps in your ‘stache—not look. As an alternative, scrape off a small quantity of wax with a fingernail after which start to heat the wax between your fingers. As soon as it has softened up, begin making use of it to your mustache.
Professional tip: warmth the wax with a blowdryer earlier than scraping it out together with your fingernail. Heat wax is considerably simpler to work with.
Use a boar’s hair Beard Brush or Beard Comb to evenly unfold the wax by means of your mustache.
3. Curling your mustache
Scrape off a bit extra wax and use your thumb and index finger to easy your mustache handlebars to some extent. Simply making use of stress to the hair needs to be sufficient to get the hairs to gel collectively. It is perhaps tempting to twist or roll the mustache, however that is pointless and doesn’t look as clear.
As soon as your handles are fashioned, curl them into the form you need.
Professional tip: In case your handlebar mustache isn’t holding up all through the day, you need to use a stick of Elmer’s glue to solidify issues. Elmer’s glue is a secret ingredient typically used at mustache competitions. Nonetheless, we don’t advocate it for on a regular basis use so reserve it for particular events.
It takes some apply to in the end get your mustache to curve the way in which you need it to, however with nice mustache, comes nice accountability.
THE WRAP-UP
Have questions on your mustache or want recommendation in your beard? Textual content “STYLE” to 512-879-3297. Our resident beard and magnificence knowledgeable will textual content you again with customized recommendation—free of charge.
Carry on Rising.
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