Growing a handlebar moustache is a bold move – it's a facial hair style that certainly makes a statement.
This style first became popular in the late 19th century but today, you’re more likely to find it accompanying a hipster beard. The long, thick moustache style with the ends curling upwards resembles the handlebars of a bicycle, giving the facial hair style its name.
A handlebar moustache suits a quirky personality perfectly. If you like your facial hair long, this is a great way to experiment with your look. However, growing and maintaining a handlebar moustache takes work. You’ll need a reliable razor, plus the right grooming and styling products to achieve the iconic facial hair style. Luckily, King C. Gillette makes it easy to achieve the ‘tache of your dreams.
Here’s our guide to growing, styling, waxing and maintaining a handlebar moustache for facial hair that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
How Long Does it Take to Grow a Handlebar Moustache?
Handlebar moustache growth doesn’t happen overnight. It might only take a few days for you to grow a moustache usually, but it could take months for you to get that distinctive handlebar look, especially if you’re starting from scratch. It all depends on how fast your facial hair grows.
You’ll need to be patient to grow a handlebar moustache. Be prepared for a lot of trimming as your hair grows longer to keep it from creeping over your top lip. However, be mindful that there might be a few days (or even weeks) where you have to put up with slightly odd-looking facial hair while your ends get steadily longer. It'll all be worth it in the end though!
Keeping your facial hair groomed and nourished is a must when growing a moustache. Using King C. Gillette Beard Oil regularly nourishes coarse facial hair to help prevent your moustache from looking dry and wiry.
How to Trim a Handlebar Moustache
Keeping a handlebar moustache in shape requires some precision grooming. Keep your facial hair well groomed as you grow it out with the King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer, which is ideal for trimming a handlebar moustache and everything from your eyebrows to your nasal hair and moustache. If you use scissors, you won’t be able to achieve anywhere near as much precision.
Our Braun-powered beard trimmer is designed to give you a neat, even trim with crisp, clear lines to highlight the curled ends of a handlebar moustache.
If you want your ‘tache to be the standout feature on your face and don’t want a handlebar moustache with beard, try the King C. Gillette Double Edge Razor, inspired by our original 1901 safety razor. Designed for precision grooming, the razor is perfect for clean shaping and maintenance of your handlebar moustache.
Trimming a handlebar moustache is a breeze with our King C. Gillette Beard Care Kit, which includes everything you need for the perfect moustache – like trimming, conditioning, and styling essentials.
How to Style a Handlebar Moustache
There are three important steps for styling a handlebar moustache: combing, waxing and curling. When your moustache is long enough to comb, make sure you’re brushing it through at least once a day to keep it looking neat and to encourage it to continue growing in the right direction.
Next, use wax to shape the ends of your moustache to get those classic handlebar curls that will stay put all day. Apply moustache wax by rubbing a small amount between your fingers until it dissolves a little, then rub it into your moustache, starting in the centre and working towards the ends.
It is important to remember that caring for your moustache is just as key as styling it. A perfect handlebar moustache isn’t scratchy or dry and the King C. Gillette Beard Balm is the best way to help your facial hair stay hydrated and healthy. With our signature King C. Gillette fragrance and the ability to be used as a leave-in conditioner or wash-off beard mask, you can relax knowing that your perfectly shaped handlebar moustache is as healthy as it is stylish.
5 Handlebar Moustache Styles to Try Out
Looking for moustache style inspiration? There are endless ways to style your ‘tache, from the classic handlebar to the Hungarian handlebar. There’s also the rest of your facial hair to think about.
To beard or not to beard, that is the question. You can pair a handlebar moustache with beards or go clean-shaven – the choice is yours.
Here are five different handlebar variations to try to let your personality shine through your facial hair:
1. The Classic Handlebar
Keep it simple with the classic handlebar. Get a classic handlebar moustache style by curling the ends of your ‘tache and styling them upwards in the direction of your cheekbones.
2. The Petite Handlebar
This style is a classic handlebar variation, just a bit smaller. The edges of a petite handlebar should end just before your cheeks, rather than covering them.
3. The English Handlebar
For this equally classic look, grow your facial hair in the same way, but instead of curling the ends of your moustache, wax them into a straight point to create your own distinctive style.
4. The Imperial Handlebar
This thick moustache style was particularly popular around the turn of the 20th century. It’s a bushier moustache with the ends twisted upwards towards your cheeks. The Imperial style is a great option if your facial hair grows quickly and thickly.
5. The Hungarian Handlebar
Another thick moustache style. To get a Hungarian handlebar moustache style, grow your ‘tache in the same way you would to achieve a classic handlebar, but style the ends by curling them downwards rather than upwards.
Will I Suit a Handlebar Moustache?
The only way to really know if you’ll suit a handlebar moustache is to try it out. Experimenting with your facial hair can be a lot of fun, but it requires patience, and you might have to put up with a less-than-flattering look while you grow it out.
Suitability for moustaches depends a lot on your face shape. If your face is quite long and square or rectangular in shape, a handlebar moustache will suit you particularly well. Face shape and facial hair go hand in hand, so you might want to research what facial hair suits your face shape. Check out some great facial hair styles for long face shapes and the best beard styles for oval faces.
It’s completely up to you whether or not you choose to style it with a beard - just make sure you keep your beard well-groomed with the nourishing beard care range from King C. Gillette.
