A well-groomed mustache can add a large dose of flair to one’s appearance. Many would-be mustache wearers are unsure of how to care for their facial hair, however, and as their upper-lip region grows increasingly unkempt, they give in to the temptation to shave. Just a few simple tips can take the confusion out of grooming a mustache. These include keeping one’s mustache clean, trimmed, and combed. When grooming a mustache of unusual shape, it may also be necessary to train the hairs using specialty wax.
One of the most important steps of grooming a mustache is keeping the mustache clean. Due to their very close proximity to the mouth, mustaches are prone to harboring renegade crumbs and dried liquids such as soup. Prevent food buildup by inspecting the mustache after each meal, using a comb to brush away trapped food remnants if necessary. Many mustache wearers also recommend cleansing the facial hair each day with a gentle shampoo and applying conditioner to keep the hairs soft and smooth.
Regular trimming is another essential part of grooming a mustache. The bottom of the mustache should be carefully clipped with mustache scissors as needed to prevent overgrowth. Additionally, the outer edges of the mustache should be regularly monitored, and a razor should be used to keep these edges neat by shaving away stray hairs. To prevent bushiness, an electric beard and mustache trimmer can be used to thin the body of the mustache. When clipping, shaving, and trimming the mustache, care should be taken to avoid accidentally altering its basic shape.
For maximum neatness, it is also important to comb the mustache each day. Specially-designed mustache combs can be purchased at pharmacies, barber shops, and from online retailers. The best combing technique depends on the shape of one’s mustache. A natural mustache, for instance, may need only to be combed with a few downward strokes. More elaborate shapes, such as handlebar mustaches, may need to be carefully combed outward or upward.
Finally, when grooming a mustache of unusual shape, it may also be necessary to use mustache wax to obtain the desired appearance. This specialty wax, which is available from many online retailers, barber shops, and pharmacies, is generally applied to the ends of the mustache. The ends can then be curled, extended, pointed, or otherwise styled. Over a long period of time, daily manipulation of one’s mustache may cause the hairs to become “trained” so that they retain the desired shape with minimal grooming.
