Welcome to our epic mustache styles article, chart (above), and illustrations.
Learn all the different mustache styles and names associated with illustrations as examples.
Chevron
This is really the ideal mustache if you want a bushy, large look without letting it completely cover your upper lip.
While you can generally leave this mustache alone once you have started growing it, you will need to give it some care from time to time to keep it looking its absolute best, but that is the case with any mustache, and this one is generally low maintenance.
This angular and sharp mustache shape is recently enjoying a comeback and only looks best on grown men who are confident and not afraid to make a statement with their facial hair.
The Chevron is not something that jokes around; usually, more serious men gravitate towards this style.
It looks great on any face shape, making it one that you will probably see more often as men realize how versatile it is.
You can grow out this mustache style by allowing all of the hair on your upper lip to grow freely before you trim it.
Make sure that during this time you keep your chin and cheeks clean so that the main focus is on the mustache.
After it has grown enough to trim it without losing much of the length or fullness, you want to keep it off your lips but allow the edges to slope down gently around the mouth.
Be careful that it doesn’t get too long on the ends, or it will venture into appearing like a horseshoe mustache, which is a completely different look.
Dali
Almost everyone who is not big art and is a fan can recognize Dali from other mustache styles.
It is a very extreme version of a handlebar mustache and practically seems to defy gravity when the wearer knows how to style it to the extreme.
The corners are incredibly thin and waxed, so they can extend out, up, in loops, or stretched to the sides of the face.
This mustache is the most popular among amgamAmgamongsts and others who aren’t afraid to make bold statements.
While it looks best on oval or oblong faces, the type of man who wants to wear the Dali mustache won’t be overly concerned with their face shape and will wear this mustache regardless of what society thinks.
You must give your mustache ample time to grow very, very long.
Start by growing it longer than you think it needs to be, and then allow it to grow even more for the best effect.
You will want a well-defined part under the nose that you can create by combing the mustache to the sides or carefully shaving away some of the hair.
You will need to use a fair amount of wax each day to style your mustache, and it may require touch-ups during the day, especially if it is very hot outside.
One of the fun things about this mustache is how you can change it up from day to day, depending on your mood and how you want your mustache to be styled.
Fu Manchu
This iconic mustache is just as easily recognizable as the Dali but has a very different look.
Even if you couldn’t name this mustache when you saw it, you most likely remember it because of its impact on the viewer.
It is a full mustache and is left long and straight, with both sides of the mustache growing well past the chin.
Longer seems to be better with this style, but you don’t want the ends to become too wispy, so you will want to trim them to keep them looking their best regularly.
If your mustache isn’t long enough, it tends to look more like a horseshoe mustache, so if this happens, keep growing out of your hair.
This facial hair will probably not be HR-approved, but it is a vrecreativeyle that works for some men in more relaxed work settings.
It looks best on men with diamond or oval faces due to the length of the hair.
While you can grow this style by shaving down a full beard, most men allow their mustache to grow and grow until it reaches the desired length.
Make sure you keep the chin, cheeks, and jawline nice and clean, so the focus is on the mustache itself.
Shaving a part between the two sides of the mustache right below the nose ensures that it looks kempt and purposeful.
Imperial
Similar to the Walrus and Chevron mustaches in that this facial hair is incredibly bold and daring, the Imperial is a little more daring and works well on men with authority.
While you have to have the confidence to pull off any of those three styles, the Imperial sets itself apart because the mustache includes some of the hair on the upper cheeks.
This ensures that you have a nice, full look and that you have enough hair to give the ends of your mustache a slight twist up and in.
Don’t use wax, or the look will border on the Dali mustache, but train your mustache to curl, and you’ll be all set.
It’s important that you temper the confidence that comes with this mustache with a little humility, or it can come across as cocky.
Men who have square or larger faces will be able to pull off this look without problems easily.
It can be tricky to get the hair on the upper cheeks and upper lip to grow at the same rate, but don’t trim too early, or you will lose your progress.
Many men like to start with a full beard and then trim it down to their desired shape, ensuring a clean look even while growing out their upper cheeks.
Never trim your mustache ends until you can train them to go up, or you will only set yourself back.
With a comb and a little wax you can train your mustache, just be careful not to apply too much wax to the ends.
English
This is a classic-looking mustache that looks great on men who have longer faces.
It’s imperative that the mustache is well trimmed, or it will quickly become too bushy and look like a different kind of mustache altogether.
By parting the mustache in the middle and allowing the ends to come out towards the cheeks, you create a striking mustache that speaks volumes about your personality.
Men need to make sure they shave around the mouth, chin, cheeks, and jawline every day, or the look won’t make the same impression.
This mustache is all about stand-out clean lines, so regular trims and maintenance are both very important.
Handlebar
This classic mustache consists of a full mustache with smaller, thinned-out edges that are carefully turned up.
It has always been a fashion statement, and while not the most popular mustache choice today, it is sure to be appreciated by most people.
One of the main benefits of this mustache is that it can be worn together with a variety of different facial hair without looking out of place.
It looks equally as great by itself as with a full beard or goatee, and its versatility makes it look great on most men.
This mustache does require a little more upkeep than other types, but once you have your morning routine established, it will begin to train to go into shape on its own.
Begin by growing as thick of a mustache as possible, combing it in opposite directions under the nose, and waxing it into shape.
Again, be careful with the amount of wax, and don’t let the mustache grow too long, or you will border on a Dali mustache without meaning to.
Pencil
There are as many variations of the pencil mustache as there are men who wear them, making this one of the most easily customizable mustaches.
It’s not a complicated type of facial hair; even though it is relatively unassuming, it still makes quite an impact.
They conjure up images of elegant men drinking martinis, so it’s important that you wear the right clothes with your pencil mustache, or it will just look out of place.
Even though you may be comfortable in sweatpants, this is not the best facial hair to pair with that outfit.
This mustache makes the men who wear it a little more classy than others. It looks like great square, round, and oval faces and does require a little effort to grow.
By starting with a thick mustache, you will have plenty of hair to trim off without making the pencil too thin.
Make sure that all the hairs are the same length, and don’t be afraid to use a comb to help you examine all of them.
Because it’s such a small amount of facial hair, you have to ensure each hair is perfectly trimmed and lays where it needs to to get the impact you want.
Horseshoe
This is a full mustache shaped like an upside-down horseshoe on the face.
It looks great on rugged, outdoorsy-type men and bikers and isn’t something that you will usually see worn inside an office.
While any man can wear this mustache, it will look its best on wider faces, particularly on oval or rounder faces. It needs a fair amount of room to spread and look its best.
It’s a good idea to work your way into the horseshoe mustache by growing a full beard and then shaving the cheeks and chin away.
This will leave behind a full mustache that blends in with hair down the sides of your mouth and chin.
Keep it at a reasonable length, however, or people will begin to think you’re trying to grow a Fu Manchu, and it hasn’t reached its full length yet.
Lampshade
A great choice for men with a strong jawline who want to show it off the best they can, the Lampshade mustache is very thick and sits right on the upper lip.
You don’t want it to have a rectangular shape, so it’s important that you trim the sides to give the whole mustache a slight angle down.
This draws attention to the mouth and the jawline and ensures that the mustache improves the wearer’s appearance and doesn’t detract from it.
Since this is a full mustache, it’s a good idea to grow a nice thick mustache on the upper lip and then carefully trim it into this shape.
This is the best way to get the desired final look without the awkward growing-out stage common with shaped mustaches such as this one.
Petit Handlebar
Perfect for men interested in growing a handlebar mustache but not ready to make the full commitment, this petite version is the same type of mustache but simply a little bit shorter.
This means you can have a great mustache style without all the work of growing it out, and you don’t have to spend as much time each day caring for your facial hair.
This mustache looks great on any longer face and can also easily be paired with any sort of beard you want.
Because of its extreme versatility, you will likely see this mustache many times throughout the day but not realize what it is.
It can complement so many different beards that it will look a little different each time you see it, but it also looks amazing by itself.
Part of the fun of this mustache is curling the ends up, so make sure that you invest in some quality wax that will hold your mustache in this shape all day long.
It won’t have to be retouched the way that a full handlebar may because there is a lot less weight in the hair that you are curling up, making it ideal for the man who is busy and doesn’t want to spend a lot of time fussing with facial hair.
Pyramidal
Just like Pencil mustaches, Pyramidal mustaches come in a variety of different styles, which means that no two mustaches have to be exactly alike.
They are narrower on the top and wider on the bottom, like a pyramid resting on the upper lip.
How you shape it will depend on your preference, and it may take some time to find the style that best compliments your face.
When done correctly, this mustache can complement the wearer’s facial features. It looks great on men with all facial types, especially those with square, rectangular, or oval faces.
You don’t want the point of the mustache to juxtapose too much with a pointed chin, so be careful if you have a sharp and angular face.
While some men grow this mustache and begin to shape it right from the beginning, working your way backwards from a full mustache is best.
This ensures the facial hair is thick and keeps it from looking sparse. When the pyramidal mustache looks too thin, the wearer will appear very young and detract from their maturity.
Painter’s Brush
This mustache is commonly mistaken for the Chevron mustache, although there are a number of major differences that will clue you in as to which kind you are looking at.
Men who have solidly square faces look great with this style mustache, and it does a great job making every man who wears it appear a little bit manlier.
This mustache will never grow past the mouth and has to be kept shorter and trimmed to stay in this style. It also has rounded edges right at the edge of the mouth.
This mustache does not have the typical narrowing of the Chevron mustache, and when you trim it, you will have to make sure it does not extend over the lip.
It’s incredibly easy to keep this mustache looking great, and because of its clean appearance, it is often accepted not only in office situations but also in the military.
The rest of the face needs to be clean, and while you can pair this mustache with a beard, it is often the only facial hair a man needs to make an impression.
Toothbrush
You must be very careful if you decide to grow a toothbrush mustache, as it generally has a negative connotation since Hitler most famously wore it.
Unfortunately, this is a great style that was once very popular before it was so famously worn, but if you decide to wear this mustache, you must prepare yourself for the comments that are sure to come.
This style involves a clean shaven face and looks almost like you have your soul patch moved to above the lips instead of below them.
This mustache looks great on men with round faces, but if you are thick skinned enough to wear this provocative style, you likely don’t care what kind of face shape you have and if it flatters your face or not.
While most people associate this mustache with Hitler, both Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jordan have worn it and looked great doing it, showing the world that this style can look great on men who choose to wear it.
You will want to make sure your mustache is nice and thick to look its best, as a thin Toothbrush mustache will not improve your appearance.
It’s best to begin by growing a full mustache and then carefully trimming it into shape, ensuring it does not touch the upper lips.
Because of this, the mustache’s sharp lines require regular upkeep, but it doesn’t need to be waxed to look its best.
Walrus
This mustache is more of a beard for your mouth than anything else and will make quite a statement, whether by itself or paired with hair on the chin.
It’s generally worn alone because it is so large and in charge, and it’s one of the best styles to grow if you are able to grow a lot of mustache hair and want to flaunt that fact.
Much bushier than the Chevron, this mustache was named after the animal it so closely resembles, and because of that, requires a fair amount of confidence to pull off well.
It’s important that if you are committed to this mustache style, you’re not afraid to really let it grow and even take on a life of its own.
Older men generally wear it, as younger ones either can’t grow the amount of facial hair it takes to form this mustache or don’t have the rugged features and patience it demands.
It looks great on men with larger faces, but anyone can wear it with enough confidence.
Begin by allowing all of the mustache to grow as long and thick as possible for a few months before you even begin to shave it.
Once it covers the entire mouth, you can trim it into your desired shape.
It will need to be combed every day, or it won’t stay in shape, and you want to avoid trimming it unless necessary, as it’s easy to take too much off accidentally.
Arguably the most famous man to wear this mustache was President Roosevelt, which speaks a lot to the character and reserve of the men who choose this style.