Man with a thick chevron mustache trimmed along the top lip and a clean-shaven chin

Mustache Styles:
25 Mustache Types and How to Grow Them

Twenty-five mustache types, from the chevron and walrus to waxed handlebars, with growth times and how to trim each.

By Jessica Hamilton · Updated

Quick answer: Mustache styles split into natural shapes trimmed along the lip, such as the chevron, walrus, horseshoe, lampshade and pencil, and waxed shapes with styled ends, such as the handlebar, English, Dali and Imperial. Natural styles take two to six weeks to grow; waxed styles need two to four months for the ends.

Mustache Styles at a Glance

Every style on this page with its clipper guard, top length and trim interval. Tap a name to jump to that card.

25 styles compared
Mustache styles compared
StyleSides (guard)TopTrim everyBest for
Chevron Mustache––1 to 2 weeksSquare, oval faces
Horseshoe Mustache––2 weeksRound, oval faces
Walrus Mustache––3 to 4 weeksSquare, long faces
Pencil Mustache–8 in–Oval, heart faces
English Mustache––2 weeksLong, oval faces
Lampshade Mustache––2 weeksRound, oval faces
Painter's Brush Mustache––2 to 3 weeksOval, long faces
Handlebar Mustache––3 to 4 weeksLong, oval, square faces
Dali Mustache––3 to 4 weeksLong, oval faces
Imperial Mustache––3 to 4 weeksLong, narrow faces
Hungarian Mustache––3 weeksLong, oval faces
Fu Manchu Mustache––4 weeksRound, oval faces
Petite Handlebar–1 in2 to 3 weeksOval, square faces
Short Natural Mustache#34 in2 weeksMost face shapes
Thin Mustache#1 to #2–1 to 2 weeksOval, heart faces
Mustache with Stubble––1 to 2 weeksOval, long faces
Mustache and Soul Patch#2 to #31 in1 to 2 weeksOval, long faces
Mustache with Fade––2 weeksRound, oval faces
Toothbrush Mustache#21 in–Oval faces
Mustache for Black Men#1 to #3–1 to 2 weeksRound, oval, square faces
Asian Mustache#2 to #3–2 to 3 weeksOval, round faces
Gray Mustache––2 weeksMost face shapes
Mustache for Round Face––2 weeksRound, wide faces
Mustache for Long Face––2 to 3 weeksLong, oblong faces
Mustache for Patchy Growth#1 to #2–2 weeksOval, round faces

Mustache styles change more with a few millimetres than any other facial hair, since the whole shape sits in a small space between nose and lip. The 25 types below cover natural, waxed, short and face-specific shapes. Each lists the growth time, trim schedule, best face shape and the words to use when you ask a barber to shape it.

What Are the Main Types of Mustache?

Mustaches fall into two broad families. Natural styles are trimmed to a shape and left to lie flat: the chevron is thick and covers the top edge of the lip, the walrus droops over it, the pencil is a thin line just above it, and the lampshade and painter's brush are squared or brush-shaped versions in between. The horseshoe adds two strips running down to the jaw. None of these need wax, only regular trimming along the lip line.

Waxed styles grow the sides longer and train them into shape. The handlebar curls up at the ends, the English pulls straight out to the sides, the Dali points sharply upward and the Fu Manchu hangs down past the chin. These take months to grow and a daily minute or two with wax. If you want facial hair on the chin as well, our goatee styles and beard styles galleries cover the combinations.

How Do Mustache Styles Compare?

The table compares common mustaches on width, how they sit on the lip, whether they need wax and roughly how long they take to grow from clean-shaven. Growth times assume facial hair grows about half an inch a month, which varies from man to man. The chevron moustache guide covers the most common natural style in detail. Most waxed styles start as a natural mustache, so you can grow one and switch later.

How Do Mustache Styles Compare?
StyleWidthOn the lipWaxGrowth time
ChevronMouth widthCovers the top edgeNo4 to 6 weeks
PencilMouth widthThin line aboveNo1 to 2 weeks
WalrusPast the cornersDroops overNo3 to 4 months
HorseshoeDown to the jawTrimmed at edgeNo6 to 10 weeks
HandlebarPast the cornersTrimmed at edgeYes3 to 4 months
EnglishPast the cornersTrimmed short in centerYes2 to 3 months
Fu ManchuHangs past chinTrimmed at edgeOptional6 months or more

Which Mustache Style Suits Your Face?

Width and direction do the work. A mustache that runs straight across or curls outward adds width, which balances long and narrow faces; the handlebar, English and Hungarian do this. A mustache with vertical lines, such as the horseshoe or Fu Manchu, adds length, which helps round and wide faces. Square faces suit soft, full shapes like the chevron and walrus that balance a strong jaw, while oval faces can wear most styles.

Features matter too. A thick, full mustache balances a large nose, while a pencil or thin mustache suits finer features and thin lips. Men with a long upper lip can fill the space with a chevron or painter's brush. Growth pattern is the final filter: patchy corners rule out the horseshoe, while coarse, dense hair suits the walrus and chevron. If you are unsure of your face shape, how to figure out your face shape walks through it.

Classic Mustache Styles

These natural mustaches are shaped with scissors and a comb, with no wax needed. They differ by thickness, width and how they sit on the top lip, and most are ready within four to eight weeks of growth.

Style images are AI-generated illustrations.

Chevron Mustache

Trim
1 to 2 weeks
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Keep the hair off the top lip.
Best For:Square, oval faces + thick, coarse lip growth.

About This Style

Thick and about as wide as the mouth, the chevron angles down at the corners like the stripe on a uniform sleeve. It just covers the top edge of the lip. Coarse, dense hair holds the shape best, and it takes four to six weeks to grow. It suits square faces by balancing a strong jaw. The chevron moustache guide covers shaping it step by step.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the mustache straight down over the lip each morning.
  2. Trim along the lip line with small scissors, following the curve of the mouth.
  3. Angle the outer corners down slightly to keep the chevron shape.

Ask Your Barber

"Chevron mustache, thick and as wide as my mouth, trimmed so it just covers the top of my lip, corners angled down, rest of the face shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Brush
Beard Oil

Horseshoe Mustache

Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The chin and cheeks need shaving often.
Best For:Round, oval faces + strong growth at mouth corners.

About This Style

Two vertical strips run from the corners of the mouth down to the jawline, joined by a full mustache across the lip, forming an upside-down U. The chin and cheeks are shaved. Sometimes called a biker mustache, it needs strong growth at the mouth corners and six to ten weeks to fill in. The vertical strips lengthen a round face.

How to Style at Home

  1. Shave the chin, cheeks and the gap between the strips every day or two.
  2. Trim the mustache and strips to the same length with scissors.
  3. Brush the strips down so they stay straight.

Ask Your Barber

"Horseshoe mustache, full across the lip with strips running straight down to my jawline at each corner, same length throughout, chin and cheeks shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Brush
Beard Oil

Walrus Mustache

Trim
3 to 4 weeks
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Only the length over the mouth needs work.
Best For:Square, long faces + very dense, coarse growth.

About This Style

Large and bushy, the walrus droops over the top lip and often hides the mouth entirely. It spreads beyond the mouth corners and needs three to four months of growth. Very dense, coarse hair is required, and drinking and eating take some care. The size balances a large nose or strong jaw. Trimming is mostly limited to keeping the bottom edge level.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the mustache down and slightly outward after washing.
  2. Use a little balm to stop it from falling into your mouth.
  3. Level the bottom edge with scissors when it grows uneven.

Ask Your Barber

"Walrus mustache, leave the length so it falls over my lip, just level the bottom edge and tidy the sides. Shave everything else clean."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm
Beard Brush

Pencil Mustache

Top
8 in
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every week. A thin line widens within days.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + fine, even lip growth.

About This Style

Shaved down to a thin line just above the upper lip, the pencil mustache was common in 1930s and 1940s film. The space between the line and the nose is shaved clean, and the line is often split slightly at the center. Fine, even hair shows the line best; patchy growth breaks it up. Detailing every two or three days is needed to hold the width.

How to Style at Home

  1. Shave the skin above the line with a precision razor or detailer.
  2. Trim the line itself with a #0 or no guard.
  3. Check in a mirror that both halves are equal in thickness.

Ask Your Barber

"Pencil mustache, a thin line about 1/8 inch thick along the top of my lip, skin above it shaved clean, slight split at the center."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

English Mustache

Trim
2 weeks
Hair
straight
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Trim the center, never the long ends.
Best For:Long, oval faces + fine to medium lip growth.

About This Style

Narrow and long, the English mustache is parted at the center and its ends are pulled straight out to the sides, then waxed into slight points. Unlike a handlebar, the ends do not curl upward. The hair over the center of the lip is kept short. It needs two to three months to grow the sides and adds width to long faces.

How to Style at Home

  1. Part the mustache in the center with a fine comb.
  2. Work warm wax from the center out to each tip.
  3. Pull the ends straight out to the sides and pinch them into points.

Ask Your Barber

"English mustache, keep the center short over my lip and leave both sides long. I wax the ends straight out, so do not trim the tips."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm

Lampshade Mustache

Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The angled sides need regular shaping.
Best For:Round, oval faces + medium, even lip growth.

About This Style

Trimmed into a trapezoid with a flat bottom edge and angled sides, the lampshade looks like the shade on a table lamp. It stays above the lip rather than covering it and is usually kept short and neat. Medium, even growth suits it. Being compact and tidy, it fits conservative workplaces and suits round faces by keeping the width inside the mouth.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the mustache down and trim the bottom edge straight above the lip.
  2. Cut the sides at an angle from the nose to the corners.
  3. Use a detailer to keep the flat bottom crisp.

Ask Your Barber

"Lampshade mustache, flat bottom edge just above my lip, sides angled in toward the nose, kept short and neat, rest of the face shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Painter's Brush Mustache

Trim
2 to 3 weeks
Hair
straight
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Thick hair holds its shape well.
Best For:Oval, long faces + very thick lip growth.

About This Style

Thicker and fuller than a chevron, the painter's brush is dense from nose to lip and stops at the corners of the mouth, so it resembles the head of a wide brush. The bottom edge is trimmed straight along the lip line. It needs very thick growth, around six to eight weeks, and fills the space on a long upper lip. Oil keeps the dense hair soft.

How to Style at Home

  1. Brush the mustache downward to show its full thickness.
  2. Trim the bottom straight along the lip line with scissors.
  3. Apply two drops of oil to soften the coarse hair.

Ask Your Barber

"Painter's brush mustache, full and thick down to the lip line and stopping at the corners of my mouth, bottom edge trimmed straight, rest shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Beard Brush

Waxed and Curled Mustache Styles

These mustaches grow the sides long and shape them with wax. Plan on two to six months of growth and a minute or two of styling each morning. The handlebar moustache guide covers the grow-in stage.

Handlebar Mustache

Trim
3 to 4 weeks
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Only the center over the lip is cut.
Best For:Long, oval, square faces + long, dense lip growth.

About This Style

Long sides curled upward at the ends with wax give the handlebar its shape, like the bars on an old bicycle. The hair needs about two to three inches at the sides, which takes three to four months. The rest of the face is usually shaved or kept short. It adds width, so it suits long and oval faces. Coarse hair holds a curl better than fine hair.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the mustache from the center outward to each side.
  2. Warm a pea-size amount of wax and work it through the length.
  3. Twist each end upward around a finger and hold for a few seconds.

Ask Your Barber

"Handlebar mustache, trim only the center so it clears my lip and leave the sides completely alone, since I am growing the ends for curling."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm
Beard Brush

Dali Mustache

Trim
3 to 4 weeks
Hair
straight
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Keep the narrow center trimmed short.
Best For:Long, oval faces + fine, long lip growth.

About This Style

Named after the painter Salvador Dalí, this is a narrow mustache whose long, thin ends are waxed into sharp points that sweep upward toward the eyes. The center over the lip is kept very short. It needs months of growth at the sides and a strong wax to hold the points. It is mostly worn for events and costume, and suits long faces with fine, straight hair.

How to Style at Home

  1. Keep the center trimmed short with small scissors.
  2. Coat each long side with strong wax from root to tip.
  3. Pinch and twist each end into a thin point angled upward.

Ask Your Barber

"Dali style, keep the center very short and narrow over my lip and leave the long sides untouched so I can wax them into points."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm

Imperial Mustache

Trim
3 to 4 weeks
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Bulk on the cheeks needs evening out.
Best For:Long, narrow faces + very dense lip and cheek growth.

About This Style

Big and bushy, the Imperial mustache grows from both the upper lip and the cheeks, with the ends curled upward. It is fuller than a handlebar and its hair often blends into the cheeks at the sides. It needs very dense growth and several months to reach length. The width suits long and narrow faces; on a round face it can look overwhelming.

How to Style at Home

  1. Brush the hair from the center out and slightly up.
  2. Work wax through both sides, including the cheek hair.
  3. Curl the ends upward and set them with a little more wax.

Ask Your Barber

"Imperial mustache, keep the length on the lip and the cheek hair at the sides, just clear the lip in the center. I wax the ends up."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm
Beard Brush

Hungarian Mustache

Trim
3 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The long sides need evening out.
Best For:Long, oval faces + very thick, coarse growth.

About This Style

The Hungarian is thick and bushy, growing from the upper lip and extends well past the corners of the mouth, about an inch and a half on each side. The ends are pulled outward and lightly tapered, not curled. It needs dense growth and about three months. The horizontal sweep adds width to long faces and draws attention away from a large nose.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the hair out from the center to each side.
  2. Apply a little wax or balm to the ends to keep them pointing outward.
  3. Trim stray hairs that fall into your mouth.

Ask Your Barber

"Hungarian mustache, thick across the lip and extending well past the corners, ends tapered outward. Please leave the side length and only clear my lip."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm
Beard Brush

Fu Manchu Mustache

Trim
4 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Shaving the sides of the mouth is daily.
Best For:Round, oval faces + strong growth at the lip corners.

About This Style

Grown only from the upper lip, the Fu Manchu leaves its ends long so they hang down past the chin in two thin strands. The skin beside and below the mouth is shaved. Unlike the horseshoe, the long ends are made of lip hair, not hair grown on the jaw. It takes six months or more. The vertical lines lengthen a round face.

How to Style at Home

  1. Shave the sides of the mouth and chin every day or two.
  2. Comb the ends straight down and twist a little balm into each.
  3. Trim only the hair over the center of the lip.

Ask Your Barber

"Fu Manchu, leave the ends long hanging down past my chin and keep only the center over the lip trimmed. Shave the chin and the skin beside my mouth."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm

Petite Handlebar

Top
1 in
Trim
2 to 3 weeks
Hair
curly
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Small curls lose shape without trimming.
Best For:Oval, square faces + medium lip growth.

About This Style

Smaller than a full handlebar, the petite version curls up a little beyond the mouth corners instead of reaching toward the cheeks. It needs only about one inch of length at the sides, so it is ready in six to eight weeks. A light wax holds the small curl. It suits men who want a styled mustache without months of growth or a dramatic shape.

How to Style at Home

  1. Comb the sides out from the center toward each corner of the mouth.
  2. Work a small amount of wax into the ends only.
  3. Give each end a single small upward twist.

Ask Your Barber

"Petite handlebar, trim the center over my lip and leave about an inch at each side so I can give the ends a small upward curl."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm

Short and Modern Mustache Styles

Short mustaches take weeks rather than months and suit men trying facial hair for the first time. These versions pair the mustache with stubble, a soul patch or a fade, plus one historical style.

Short Natural Mustache

Sides
#3
Top
4 in
Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 2 weeks. A quick trim along the lip is enough.
Best For:Most face shapes + any lip growth or texture.

About This Style

Left close to its natural shape and trimmed only along the lip line and corners, this short mustache sits at about a #3 to 1/4 inch. It is the easiest place to start, filling in within two to four weeks. There is no defined edge, so it looks relaxed rather than styled. Most faces suit it, and it can grow into a chevron or handlebar later.

How to Style at Home

  1. Trim the mustache with a #3 guard once a week.
  2. Snip hairs along the lip line with small scissors.
  3. Brush it down and finish with a drop of oil.

Ask Your Barber

"Short natural mustache at a #3, trimmed along my lip line and tidied at the corners, no hard edges, rest of the face shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Thin Mustache

Sides
#1 to #2
Trim
1 to 2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Light hair shows uneven ends quickly.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + light, fine or teen growth.

About This Style

Thinner and lighter than a full mustache but less precise than a pencil, the thin mustache keeps a narrow band of natural growth over the lip at a #1 to #2. It is common with teens and young men whose growth is still light, and it pairs with fades and line ups. Keeping it short and even makes light hair look intentional rather than sparse.

How to Style at Home

  1. Trim with a #1 or #2 guard every week.
  2. Shave above the band so it stays narrow and even.
  3. Clean the corners so both sides end at the same point.

Ask Your Barber

"Thin mustache at a #1, narrow band just above my lip, cleaned up above and at the corners so it looks even, everything else shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Mustache with Stubble

Trim
1 to 2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Hold the stubble shorter than the lip.
Best For:Oval, long faces + medium to dense growth.

About This Style

Keeping the cheeks, jaw and chin at 2 to 4 mm stubble while the mustache grows fuller makes the lip the focus without bare skin around it. The difference in length is what reads as the style, so the mustache should be at least twice as long as the stubble. It looks more relaxed than a clean-shaven face with a mustache and hides razor irritation.

How to Style at Home

  1. Trim the stubble at 3 mm with the trimmer every few days.
  2. Comb the mustache down and trim along the lip line.
  3. Clean the neckline so the stubble ends neatly.

Ask Your Barber

"Full mustache trimmed along my lip line, with the rest of the face at 3 mm stubble and a neckline one finger above my Adam's apple."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Beard Brush

Mustache and Soul Patch

Sides
#2 to #3
Top
1 in
Trim
1 to 2 weeks
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Two small shapes need frequent edging.
Best For:Oval, long faces + good lip and under-lip growth.

About This Style

Pairing a short mustache with a small patch of hair under the lower lip, and shaving everything else, gives the face two points of focus. The two do not connect. The mustache is often kept at a #2 to #3 and the soul patch about an inch wide. It suits oval and long faces and men whose chin growth is weak but whose lip area fills in.

How to Style at Home

  1. Shave the cheeks, chin and gaps around the mouth.
  2. Trim the mustache and soul patch with the same guard.
  3. Square the soul patch edges with a detailer.

Ask Your Barber

"Short mustache at a #3 and a soul patch about an inch wide under my lower lip, not connected, everything else shaved clean."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Mustache with Fade

Trim
2 weeks
Hair
straight, wavy, coily
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The fade and mustache edges grow together.
Best For:Round, oval faces + straight, wavy or coily hair.

About This Style

Combining a defined mustache with a low or mid fade haircut keeps the look sharp at both ends of the face. The cheeks are shaved or kept at light stubble, and the mustache edges are often lined up to match the hairline. A chevron or short natural mustache works best. Book both at the same visit so the lines match; fade types explained covers the haircut options.

How to Style at Home

  1. Line the mustache with a detailer to match your hairline.
  2. Shave the cheeks or keep them at 1 mm.
  3. Brush the mustache down each morning so the lined edge stays visible.

Ask Your Barber

"Mid fade on the haircut, and a short chevron mustache with the top edge lined up to match my hairline, cheeks shaved clean."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Edge Brush

Toothbrush Mustache

Sides
#2
Top
1 in
Maintenance:
High
Trim:Every week. The narrow block blurs fast at the sides.
Best For:Oval faces + dense hair under the nose.

About This Style

Historically, the toothbrush was a short, square block of hair about an inch wide directly under the nose, with the rest of the lip shaved. It was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, partly because it was easy to keep neat. It is rarely requested today. Upkeep is constant, since the narrow sides need shaving every day or two.

How to Style at Home

  1. Shave the lip on both sides of the block every day.
  2. Trim the block with a #2 guard, moving straight down from the nose.
  3. Square the corners of the block with a detailer every few days.

Ask Your Barber

"Short block mustache about an inch wide under my nose, trimmed with a #2, squared corners, the rest of my lip and face shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Mustache Styles by Face Shape and Hair Type

The same mustache can look heavy on one face and thin on another. These cards adjust width, thickness and edges for coily hair, light growth, gray hair and round or long faces.

Mustache for Black Men

Sides
#1 to #3
Trim
1 to 2 weeks
Hair
curly, coily
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Coily hair can curl back into the lip.
Best For:Round, oval, square faces + coily, dense growth.

About This Style

Coily mustache hair grows dense and curls back toward the skin, so a short chevron or natural mustache looks full at a #1 to #3. Barbers usually line the edges with a trimmer rather than a close razor to limit bumps. Hair that curls into the lip should be trimmed weekly. A mustache with a line up and low fade is a common pairing.

How to Style at Home

  1. Brush the mustache down with a soft brush to lay the curls.
  2. Trim hairs that curl into the lip line with small scissors.
  3. Use the trimmer, not a razor, to touch up edges.

Ask Your Barber

"Short chevron at a #2, edges lined with the trimmer rather than a razor, trimmed off my lip, cheeks taken down with the trimmer."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Beard Brush

Asian Mustache

Sides
#2 to #3
Trim
2 to 3 weeks
Hair
straight
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Fine hair grows in slowly.
Best For:Oval, round faces + fine, straight lip growth.

About This Style

Many men of East Asian descent grow straight, fine hair on the upper lip that is often strongest at the corners. A short, natural mustache at a #2 to #3, with the center trimmed and the corners left full, looks even. Sharp edges can make fine hair look thin, so a soft outline works better. Pair it with a light chin beard for more coverage.

How to Style at Home

  1. Trim with a #2 or #3 guard to keep the hair dense.
  2. Leave the corners slightly fuller than the center.
  3. Avoid hard edges and just snip strays with small scissors.

Ask Your Barber

"Short natural mustache at a #3, soft outline with no hard lines, keep the corners full, and shave or lightly trim the rest of my face."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil

Gray Mustache

Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Wiry gray hairs stray out of shape.
Best For:Most face shapes + gray, white or mixed growth.

About This Style

Gray and white mustache hair is often coarser than it was when dark, and stray hairs stick out at odd angles. A neat chevron or short natural mustache kept trimmed along the lip looks distinguished, while a gray walrus can look untidy without regular care. Yellowing from coffee or smoke shows on white hair, so wash it daily. It pairs with short gray haircuts.

How to Style at Home

  1. Wash the mustache daily with a gentle cleanser.
  2. Snip wiry hairs that poke out of the outline.
  3. Apply a few drops of oil to soften the coarse gray texture.

Ask Your Barber

"Gray chevron mustache, trimmed along my lip line and tidied at the corners, strays removed, the rest of my face shaved clean."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Beard Brush

Mustache for Round Face

Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Keep the width inside the mouth corners.
Best For:Round, wide faces + medium to dense lip growth.

About This Style

On a round face the mustache should add vertical lines, not width. A horseshoe, a narrow chevron kept inside the mouth corners, or a mustache paired with a short goatee all lengthen the face. Wide, horizontal styles such as the English or Hungarian make the cheeks look fuller. Pair it with a haircut that adds height on top to finish the effect.

How to Style at Home

  1. Trim the sides so the mustache ends at the corners of your mouth.
  2. Angle the corners slightly downward with scissors to draw the eye down.
  3. Keep the cheeks shaved clean to avoid adding width.

Ask Your Barber

"Chevron mustache kept inside my mouth corners with the ends angled down to lengthen my face, trimmed just over the lip, cheeks shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Brush

Mustache for Long Face

Trim
2 to 3 weeks
Maintenance:
Medium
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Let the sides grow, trim the center.
Best For:Long, oblong faces + thick lip growth.

About This Style

Balance on a long face comes from horizontal lines, so a mustache that extends past the mouth corners helps. An English, Hungarian or petite handlebar adds width at the cheeks, and a full chevron fills a long upper lip. Avoid vertical styles like the horseshoe and Fu Manchu, which add length. Short sides on the haircut keep the overall shape in proportion.

How to Style at Home

  1. Grow the sides slightly past the corners of your mouth.
  2. Comb the ends outward and add a light wax.
  3. Trim the center so it clears the lip.

Ask Your Barber

"Mustache extending a little past my mouth corners, sides kept long and combed outward to add width, center trimmed off my lip."

Recommended Products

Beard Balm
Beard Brush

Mustache for Patchy Growth

Sides
#1 to #2
Trim
2 weeks
Maintenance:
Low
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Even length hides the gaps.
Best For:Oval, round faces + patchy or slow lip growth.

About This Style

Gaps at the corners or under the nose show least when the mustache is short and even, around a #1 to #2, with no hard edges. Growing it out for six to eight weeks first often fills small gaps. Skip styles that depend on full corners, such as the horseshoe or handlebar. A chevron trimmed slightly narrower than the mouth is a good target once it fills in.

How to Style at Home

  1. Grow it untouched for six weeks before shaping.
  2. Trim to the length of the thinnest area so it looks even.
  3. Brush it down daily to make it look denser.

Ask Your Barber

"Short even mustache at a #2 to hide the patchy spots, soft edges, slightly narrower than my mouth, the rest of my face shaved."

Recommended Products

Beard Oil
Beard Brush

How Do You Ask Your Barber to Shape a Mustache?

Name the style, then give three details: where it should sit on the lip, how wide it should go and what happens at the ends. For natural styles, say if the hair should just touch the lip line, cover it or stop above it. For waxed styles, tell the barber you are growing the ends, so they trim only the center over the lip and leave the sides alone. A barber who does not know you are growing a handlebar will often tidy the corners and undo weeks of growth.

Ask for the rest of the face to be shaved or kept at a set stubble length, and say if you want the area under the nose cleaned. Bring a front photo of the shape, since mustache names vary between shops and countries. The handlebar moustache guide lists what to say at each stage of a long grow. Ask for a quick neck and cheek tidy between full visits if you shave at home.

Clipper Guards Used in Mustache Styles

A clipper guard is the plastic comb that clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left: a #1 leaves 3 mm (1/8 inch), each step up adds about 3 mm. The right column lists the cards on this page that call for each guard. See the full clipper guard numbers guide for the complete chart.

Clipper guard sizes for mustache styles
GuardmminchWhere it goes on this cut
#13 mm1/8 inThin Mustache, Mustache for Black Men, Mustache for Patchy Growth
#26 mm1/4 inThin Mustache, Mustache and Soul Patch, Toothbrush Mustache and 3 more
#310 mm3/8 inShort Natural Mustache, Mustache and Soul Patch, Mustache for Black Men and 1 more

How Do You Grow and Style a Mustache?

Start by growing the whole mustache for at least four weeks before shaping it, keeping the rest of the face shaved or at stubble. During that time, trim only the hairs that fall into your mouth, using small scissors along the lip line. Comb it down each morning to train the direction. Beard oil helps with the itch that often comes in weeks two to four; beard growth stages explains why it happens.

Once there is enough length, choose the shape. Natural styles need only a comb and scissors every week. Waxed styles need a small amount of mustache wax or stiff balm, warmed between the fingers, combed through from the center outward and twisted at the ends. Wash wax out each night with warm water and a gentle cleanser so it does not build up and dry the hair.

What Mustache Mistakes Should You Avoid?

The biggest mistake is trimming too early. Cutting the corners at week three to make it look tidy removes the hair you need for a handlebar, English or horseshoe. Another is trimming wet, which leaves the mustache shorter than planned once it dries. Using clippers along the lip line also tends to cut too much; small scissors give more control when shaping the bottom edge.

Mismatch causes problems too. A heavy walrus on a small face can hide the mouth entirely, and a pencil mustache on coarse, patchy growth rarely looks even. Too much wax makes the hair look wet and clumped. Finally, keep both sides the same length, since a mustache sits in the middle of the face where any difference shows. Check symmetry in a mirror before you finish each trim.

Which Mustache Style Is Right for You?

Pick your hair type and how much upkeep you will put in. The matches below come from the Best For and Maintenance notes on each card. Upkeep follows the Maintenance badge: low means a cut every 3 to 6 weeks and almost no daily styling, high means weekly line-ups or daily product.

Mustache Style by hair type and upkeep
Hair typeLow upkeepMedium upkeepHigh upkeep
StraightPainter's Brush Mustache
Asian Mustache
–English Mustache
Dali Mustache
Wavy––Mustache with Fade
Curly–Petite Handlebar
Mustache for Black Men
–
Coily–Mustache for Black MenMustache with Fade

Frequently Asked Questions

Q2: How long does it take to grow a mustache?+
A short, natural mustache fills in within two to four weeks. A full chevron takes about four to six weeks, and styles with long ends, such as the handlebar or English, usually take three to four months. A Fu Manchu can take six months or longer. Growth speed varies with genetics and age.
Q3: Which mustache suits a round face?+
Styles with vertical lines suit round faces best, because they add length. The horseshoe and Fu Manchu draw the eye downward. A chevron trimmed slightly narrower than the mouth also works. Avoid very wide styles such as the English or a large handlebar, which add width at the cheeks.
Q4: Do you need wax for a mustache?+
Only for styles with shaped ends, such as the handlebar, English, Dali and Imperial. Natural styles like the chevron, walrus, pencil and horseshoe need only trimming and combing. A light balm or oil helps keep any mustache soft, and a small amount of wax can tame stray hairs on very coarse growth.
Q5: What is the difference between a horseshoe and a Fu Manchu mustache?+
A horseshoe grows from the upper lip and continues down the sides of the mouth to the jaw, with the hair on the lip and the strips at the same length. A Fu Manchu grows only from the upper lip, with the ends left long so they hang down past the chin, while the skin beside the mouth is shaved.
Q6: How often should you trim a mustache?+
Trim along the lip line every week or two at home with small scissors to keep hair out of your mouth. Get a barber to reshape it every three to four weeks. Pencil and toothbrush styles need detailing every few days, while waxed styles need only the center over the lip trimmed.

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