Grooming a handlebar mustache involves careful trimming, shaping, and styling to achieve and maintain its distinctive curled ends. Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Growing it Out
- Patience is key: It takes time to grow a mustache long enough to style into a handlebar. Allow several weeks, even months, for sufficient growth.
- Initial Shaping: As it grows, comb the mustache hairs outwards towards the corners of your mouth. This encourages the growth needed for the handlebars.
2. Trimming and Shaping
- Follow the Lip Line: Carefully trim the mustache hair along your upper lip line, following its natural curve.
- Small Snips: Use small, sharp scissors designed for facial hair. Make small, deliberate snips to avoid accidentally over-trimming.
- Blend the Length: Trim the hair so it transitions smoothly from the shorter hairs near the center of your upper lip to the longer hairs at the ends that will form the handlebars.
- Symmetry: Pay close attention to symmetry, ensuring both sides are evenly trimmed and shaped.
3. Training and Styling
- Mustache Wax: The secret to a good handlebar is mustache wax. Choose a wax with a hold level that suits your hair thickness and desired style.
- Application: Warm a small amount of wax by rubbing it between your fingers.
- Distribute Evenly: Apply the wax evenly throughout the mustache, focusing on the ends you wish to curl.
- Shape the Handlebars: Use your fingers to carefully shape and curl the ends into the desired handlebar shape. Twist the ends outwards and upwards.
- Comb and Refine: Use a fine-toothed comb to refine the shape and ensure the hairs are neatly aligned.
- Practice: Achieving the perfect curl takes practice. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't look perfect on the first try.
4. Maintenance
- Daily Styling: Reapply wax and reshape the mustache daily to maintain its form.
- Regular Trimming: Trim stray hairs and maintain the overall shape with regular trims.
- Washing: Wash your mustache regularly with a gentle cleanser to remove wax buildup.
By following these steps and practicing regularly, you can achieve a well-groomed and impressive handlebar mustache.
