UrbanUpdate

Learning how to grow a mustache takes a bit more than simply growing the mustache. It requires patient trimming, some aesthetic consideration, and the right products to maintain it all. (Much like growing a beard.) You can’t just let the hair grow out and expect a flattering, perfectly groomed miracle. Instead, you’ve got to work with the hair as it grows, and keep it healthy, nourished, and styled. It's not going to take over your life—we're just asking you to do a little little research and mind a few pointers on how to grow a mustache, lest you end up looking like Frank Zappa. Unless that's what you're after, in which case: rock on, brother.

Let’s get into these mustache growing tips:

1. Acknowledge your limits.

First, you’ve got to confront the truth. It might not be possible for you to grow a full Selleck. And that’s O.K., because there are hundreds of other mustache styles to choose from. Maybe you realize that your capacity (at least for now) is a cluster of wisps on the upper lip. Well, that's something, and Bieber makes it look great.

2. Do your research.

The second step is a fun one: Pick a mustache that will look best on you. Luckily, just about every male celebrity has been photographed with a mustache at some point in his life, whether for a film role or just because it looks rad. I’d suggest Googling someone whose features closely resemble your own. Try searching for this celeb with “mustache” after his name, or just find an endless-scroll Pinterest board. We’ll save you some work, though: consider this the celebrity-approved guide for how to grow a mustache. 

If you want that teen icon look: Joe Keery

J. Kempin/Getty Images

If you want to keep it trim: Eddie Murphy

Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images

Pair it with a goatee: Michael B Jordan

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Or rock it straight up: Milo Ventimiglia

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images3. Get the right tools.

A trimmer: Whether you need to maintain a preferred length, or simply shear off the top rows of hairs to prevent bulk, then a trimmer is your tool for the task. It’s also effective at snipping the strays off your lips, or simply shaving off everything except your upper lip.

For mustaches especially, get a trimmer with interchangeable heads—ones that allow for tiny, fine-tune detailing, bite-size buzzing (on any peripheral hairs that compromise your style) or squared-off edges. It’s this ability to customize and detail your mustache that makes a huge difference, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all trimmer.

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The Best Mustache Trimmer

Philips Norelco "Multigroom" customizable trimmer$45

Amazon

Mustache scissors: These tiny scissors are the easiest way to spot-check any strays, or to snip a straight line across your lip. Mustache scissors are low cost and highly helpful. Make sure they’re pointed at the tips, but also make sure not to point those tips directly towards your lips. (Ouch.)

The Best Mustache Scissors

Tweezerman mustache scissors$10

Amazon

4. And buy the right products.

Just like you have a hair-care regimen separate from your styling regimen, you need to separate these two steps when it comes to mustache maintenance. It’s easy to wash your mustache by using a gentle cleanser, the same you use on your face. However, after you shower, your mustache needs some special attention.

Beard oil: Mustache hairs are thick and bristly, and when they get too dry, they start to irritate your skin—and anyone you plan on locking lips with. Do everyone a favor and keep your whiskers soft and supple, with a few drops of beard oil each morning. It’ll also help relax the hairs, so once the oil is absorbed, it’ll be easier to style the mustache into place.

The Best Beard Oil for Mustaches:

Beardbrand unscented beard oil$15

Target

Mustache wax: This stuff gently “locks in” your desire style for the day. If your ‘stache is of maneuverable length, then stock up on a small tin of wax to keep it tame without weighing it down. Rub it between your finger and thumb, then massage it into the base of the mustache as you coach it into place.

The Best Mustache Wax

Lucky Tiger mustache wax$10

Amazon

5. If all else fails, dye it.

This tip runs counter to our first step: Yes, so maybe your mustache is blonder than your hair, or maybe it’s a little gray and you’d rather match your (previous) natural color. For blonde whiskers on dark-haired guys, beard dye can make your mustache look instantly fuller, and can transform it from “Is he trying to grow a mustache? It’s so... precious!” to “Whoa, check out the guy with the mustache! It’s so… present!”

Just For Men is a reliable brand for this—with plenty of shades to match your own hair, and a recently reformulated recipe that is gentler on hairs. It's best for enforcing a uniform color overall, so be sure to match your shade carefully, perhaps picking one tick lighter than you might suspect if it’s your first time.

Best beard dye for solid coloring:

Just for Men facial hair dye$9

Walmart

True Sons is a subtler approach, particularly if you’re going gray. It dyes the hair more gradually, so nobody realizes that you changed it overnight.

Beast beard dye for subtle gray blending:

True Sons hair dye for gray hair$30

True Sons

Either way, I’d be extra cautious if you’re dyeing red hairs, and bottom line, I’d also not shy away from the fact that you dyed it. If you want to change the color of your whiskers, much like the color of your hair, just say “Yes, I dyed it.” when asked. Nobody will question your confidence, even if it’s bolstered by some artificial coloring.

6. Be good to the rest of your face.

Since you’re likely shaving the rest of your face in order to spotlight the mustache, you need to spare yourself any agony (irritation, bumps, ingrown hairs, and so forth). So read up on the best shaving methods to keep the focus on your prized facial hair—and not on your subpar shaving technique.

Read MoreHere's How to Shave Your Face Correctly

Get cleaned up without bumps, nicks, or ingrown hairs.

By Adam Hurly



Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQMustachesFacial Hair