Do you ever want to stand out in a crowd based on your looks? Masculinity is closely tied to mustaches and beards. They symbolize authority and power. However, it will be unfair to say that mustaches are merely about facial grooming because they have a history of wars, politics, acuity, and romance. They’ve been the center of any discourse involving men and have been relished, condemned, glorified, and even constituted against in medieval times. There has never been a consensus over mustaches, and at the end of the day, it depends on an individual if he likes to keep one or not. It is not different than choosing what kind of clothes you wear or shoes you fashion.
If you decide to keep a “stash”, remember that it will reflect your personality and form an aura about you. And, while almost all types of mustaches make an impression, something is enchanting about handlebar mustaches. Their elegance exudes an air of power and authority. If you flip through a history book of great men, you will notice many of them had handlebars, looking poised in their posture. So, if you have also been thinking about growing a mustache, then keep reading and see if handlebars are for you or not!
A Sneak Peek: What is a handlebar mustache?
True to its name derived from the handlebars of a bicycle, a handlebar mustache may be the most iconic kind in the mustache catalog. It is one of the most notable facial hairstyles, and you most definitely must have seen it somewhere before. The good news is that there is no singular way of wearing a handlebar mustache because they are a large family with novel styles. However, the characteristic that sets this hipster handlebar mustache apart from all other types is its extension beyond lips with that emblematic twist in the upward direction. It takes time, energy, effort, grooming products, and lots of love to grow lush-looking handlebars.
The most high-grade thing about a handlebar mustache is its versatility. There is no one way to wear it, and it is not reserved for a selected group of men with a unique face shape. You can wear it alone in its own glory or pair it with a full beard or goatee. Moreover, the degree of curl is also dependent on your personal choice and has no set rules. You can curl your handlebars as much or as little as your like. And, lastly, ladies love a man with a robust and rich handlebar mustache— so that is another thing to keep in mind before you read on how to grow a handlebar mustache.
How long does it take to grow a handlebar mustache?
It is easy to get inspired, but it is not always easy to reach the destination. However, once you make up your mind and have a clear idea of your goal, absolutely nothing can come in your way. The handlebar can be grand to look at, and it will definitely define your character in a more manly way and make you feel great. But the journey to grow on is not an uncomplicated one, but super worth it!
You can make a decision to grow a handlebar mustache within minutes, but it takes about to grow with ample proper care routines. Like all kinds of beards and mustaches, the handlebar entails patience, attention, and grooming. It is a long commitment before you can have a mustache long enough to be styled into a proper handlebar. So, keep this in mind before starting your journey.
If you’re intimidated by the process, then here is a word to the wise— it is manageable if you’re dedicated to your goal! So, if you’ve made up your mind and want to learn how to grow a handlebar mustache, then keep reading.
How to grow a handlebar mustache?
Growing a mustache is only for those who can preserve and devote themselves towards their goal because it is not an easy game. However, the handlebar is ten times more challenging to grow as it takes much longer to reach the suitable length. This kind of mustache demands months of growth and care. Moreover, there will be periods when the growing handlebar will cause itching and will swerve closely to unbefitting looks. The other times, you may get food or liquids in your mustache, and dining will be hard. The poking and curling of the hair into your mouth might also get very infuriating at times. In fact, you might even have to physically restrain yourself from giving up and trimming your mustache at times.
But it is essential to keep the end game in mind and continue to imagine how dignified you will look once your efforts bear fruits. To grow a handlebar mustache may be a slightly complicated affair, but it is worth it in the end— you just have to learn how to train the hair on your face. So if you’re curious about the process, then keep reading!
Week one and two: Groom the stubble phase
Step one may be the easiest one. First thing first, grow a goatee, mustache, or a beard or a combo of mustache and goatee/beard as you regularly would without trimming. If you already have one, then skip to the second part. If you don’t, then here’s a deal: you need more facial hair so that your mustache area will acquire some length to make the process easier later. Make sure you regularly use a natural grainy bristled brush to caress your skin above the upper lip and keep it clean from dead skin and hair that naturally pluck off. Additionally, you won’t have enough facial hair to wax the ends in two weeks, but it is still advised to use mustache wax. This practice will help train your hair and keep them more put-together, ultimately giving you a more neat and groomed look during the process.
Week two through six: Do not trim
After week two, your facial hair might enter the zone area where they would start being infuriating, and you will have all the urges to go kill-bill on them. However, don’t! The whiskers-like-mustache may get in the way of your eating or speaking and may even tickle your upper lip, but you will need this hair later. During all of this, resist any and every attempt bit of temptation to cut this hair because they are crucial if you want to fashion a handlebar mustache in the near future. Instead, you can keep a hot wax with you at times during this phase to dab on your hair and keep them out of your mouth. In addition, mustache wax will help you part your hair from the middle in the left and right direction, giving you a glimpse into what your future handlebars will be like once they fully grow.
This may be the most challenging phase, but don’t bail at this point and keep going!
Week six and through: Flaunt the efforts
Post-six weeks, your efforts will start to manifest. You will have enough hair on your upper lips to decide if you want to go down the lane that leads to handlebars or stick to a well-kept goatee or beard. This might be the most critical phase because you get to choose your style now. Some people prefer to keep handlebars without the beard, while others prefer the complete set with handlebars and a well-groomed beard. Whatever look you choose for yourself, just know that you can’t go wrong with it! Flaunt your young handlebar mustache and keep waxing it from the tips to increase its length from both ends.
What not to do while growing handlebars
Now that you have a general idea about what efforts go into growing handlebars, here are a couple of things that you should try to swerve to enjoy the fruit of your labor. First, remember that it is not supposed to be an easy journey, but it is full of excitement, and you should learn to roll with it.
Terminate All Plans to Trim
You won’t have handles to hold if you plan to trim, so bar yourself from doing it. Let’s say worst-case scenario where you must trim, then at least give it a few days before you make any rash decisions. This time can be used for you to gauge which hair needs to go. If you let them all grow, you can better assess the situation and decide which ones you need to keep and which ones must go. However, during all this affair, make sure that you don’t touch hair that is directly above your upper lip. It may be hard to ignore them and let it be, especially if you’re one of those people who keep a close-cropped mustache. But the reason you should avoid trimming any hair from there is to ensure that you don’t end up with a handlebar mullet. You must be patient for that hair to grow and meet the length of the outer hair to give your handles a fuller and lusher look. However, not all hair is meant to be kept. You will notice some that don’t belong with your facial hair or don’t blend in with your mustache so you can trim them right away.
Get a separate comb
One question that often arises is how to comb your mustache without damaging the curls. When you’re on your journey to grow handlebars, you should be ready to invest a little into it. For example, get a comb solely for the purpose of brushing your mustache. If you’re using wax, then the comb can help you evenly spread the wax on all of your mustache hair. Sometimes, you may notice this wax accumulated, so make sure you run your comb under hot water and clear it by using a block of reliable dish soap and an old toothbrush. Whatever you do, just don’t let residue of the wax make its home in the gaps of your comb!
Hairfall is inevitable
Setbacks are part of any successful journey. It does not mean it’s not working out, and it means you just need to find a way not to let that hindrance stand in your way to achieve results. Here is a little something: hair loss is expected during the growth of beard and mustache. It is granted that the hair fall is more noticeable when your hair grows longer, but it happens to everyone and is not unnatural. When you put in the time of your day and energy towards growing a long, curled mustache, then you should know that occasional hair loss will not stop you from reaching your final goal. So, the bottom line is, don’t be overly worried about it. Hair is one thing you can always rely on coming back. So keep ensuing your routine, take care of your mustache, follow the rules, and you’ll soon have a gorgeous handlebar to flaunt.
How to apply mustache wax?
Mustache wax is the solution to all of your problems. Well, not all problems, but it will definitely help you placate by solving your ‘stash problems. When you’re starting with the waxing step, make sure that your mustache is damp. You can either do this right after you shower or wash your face to wet the facial hair. You need to start from the middle of your lip, apply a slight touch of mustache wax with your index finger and dab it in the upward direction. Once you’re done, use the comb to spread the wax along with the mustache evenly. You can slowly work your way to the corner of each end while constantly applying more wax based on your instinct.
Once your mustache hair has grown long enough to twist, make sure that you roll them while applying the wax. All you have to do is dab some in the middle, work your way to the edges, and while doing that make sure you twist the handles between your thumb and finger in the upward direction. Make sure the angle is according to your liking. Use your right hand while twisting the right side of the mustache and your left hand while rolling the left side.
One of the most common mistakes men make while applying mustache wax is that they overuse it to shape the hair. When you commit this mistake, what happens is that your mustache hair looks glued together. So, unless you want the edges to be curled to an extreme, try to keep your look as close to the natural look as possible.
Is maintaining a handlebar mustache difficult?
Once you reach your goal and have a handlebar mustache to show off, don’t forget to celebrate because you deserve it. However, on a much serious note, the work here is not done! Don’t forget that your handlebars will only look glorious if you’ll keep up the ritual of taking care of them and doing proper maintenance. Of course, you don’t want your handlebars to wilt after all that care, right?
You need to wash it properly on a regular basis, comb and wax it diligently, and curl them generously to keep up the shape. Don’t let wax accumulate in the folds of mustache hair, and use a dedicated comb to remove all residue.
Maintaining a handlebar mustache is not easy, but it is worth it. Unfortunately, your mustache might get dirty from the food and drink particles that you will consume. You obviously can’t stop eating food but try to avoid the wet and sloppy dishes until you have mastered the craft of keeping your mustache clean. Also, always clean your lips and the skin beneath the mustache hair to ensure that it doesn’t have food particles make their home there.
So, to sum it all up:
- At least wash the mustache three times a week
- Invest in beard oils and only use them on facial hair
- Exfoliate your skin above the upper lip
- Trim only those hair that doesn’t blend in
- Optional: visit a professional barber once in a while to make sure you’re not straying from the path.
Is growing a handlebar mustache worth it?
The handlebar mustache makes a grand fashion statement, but it is so much more than that. It is a tactility of grace in your personality; it symbolizes machoism and adds a glint to your manliness. In addition, the handlebar mustache has a historical effect of dominancy. So while beard and goatees are classics, the handlebar enhances your personality. Does it take time to grow? Yes. Does it take effort and energy? Yes. But is it worth it? Also, a big, fat YES! So invest into it, commit to it, and be prepared to hear a myriad of compliments coming your way!
What is the best handlebar mustache?
As mentioned above, handlebar mustaches are versatile in style and can be worn in more than one way. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for the best handlebar mustache, there is no universal answer to that. The answer relies significantly on the individualistic style. You can explore the options, see which one will look the best in you, and then indulge in some experimentation and styling. Some people may prefer a well-cut handlebar, while others may prefer it with a full-fledged beard. Low handlebars and 90 degrees handlebars are also some of the top choices of men in modern times. However, some men like classics and go with slight twists or beveled ends to give their mustaches a vintage touch. A few men, who are always seeking a rush of adrenaline, also like to experiment with the thickness of handlebars. They keep swaying between thin and thick hair until they find the right look.
