It was in the year 1585 when the word “mustache” or “moustache” was first used in a French book. Today, men from all across the globe have experimented with a number of dramatic mustaches and beard combinations.
How a French Mustache Really Looks Like
The French mustache is bushy and it has small points on each end. It’s referred to be some as the handlebar mustache or the spaghetti mustache. It is a type of mustache that is lengthy and has upwardly curved extremities. Furthermore, as the word “handlebar” suggests, this type of mustache resembles that of a bicycle’s handlebars.
Does a French Mustache Suit My Face Shape?
The French mustache is actually a large family that rotates around different kinds of hairstyles. Lucky for you, it is customizable by taste. In addition, you can grow a French mustache and still have it suit your face shape.
With that in mind, it is important to identify the different types of face shapes. Understand which one is yours and see why having a French mustache may affect how attention is drawn to your face.
The History of French Mustache
Throughout history, the mustache has become a fashion symbol for men. However, over the years, the simple rise and curl of a man’s mustache have never been that straightforward. Social history showed how King James was proud of his thick french type mustache. King Charles made the handlebar mustache and goatee combination iconic. Over the years, Sir Anthony Van Dyk went out in public with his jealousy for the monarch’s dapper mustaches. By the end of the 1800s, mustaches, beards, and goatees have come in and out of the lives of men.
How to Grow and Style a Classy French Mustache
Growing your French mustache takes commitment. In this guide, we show you how to properly grow and style your classy French mustache. It all starts with the proper mustache maintenance, which leads us to the first point: do not trim your mustache.
1. Do Not Trim Your Mustache
No matter how tempting it is to trim your mustache – don’t. Eventually, you will be allowed to trim it if you desire to grow a full-on beard. However, French mustache maintenance indicates that you should stick with simply by combing your facial hair.
2. Make It A Habit To Comb Your French Mustache
As soon as your mustache has reached a certain length, you may now begin to comb it once a day. The proper way of combing it would be to part it into two while combing out from under your nose to the right and left respectively. This act will help your mustache grow out of the traditional facial hair fashion. A mustache comb will do the trick!
3. Make It A Habit To Wax Your French Mustache
Over the years, men have experimented with various products to maintain their mustaches. For those growing a French mustache, leaving it as it is should not be made into a habit. Instead, as soon as you jump out of the shower, leave your mustache damp for a few minutes.
With the use of your fingertips, have a small amount of mustache wax and start applying it from the middle part of your lip up to the upper part of the edge. Furthermore, you can make use of a comb to spread it down through the hair. Carefully work your way out to each end of the mustache. A wiry mustache entails that you need to make use of more wax.
4. Follow The “Twist And Shape” Procedure
A French mustache is famous for its “twist and shape” procedure. Apply some wax at the end of your mustache and twist the ends of it with your fingers. It is important that you curl it inwards and upwards. Some would even make use of a pen as a means to wind the ends as tightly as possible.
5. Proper French Mustache Maintenance
One thing is for sure, if you plan on having a French mustache, you would need the commitment to maintaining it. You have to have a daily schedule for washing it, combing it, waxing it, and of course, curling it using the “twist and shape” approach.
French Mustache: With or Without A Beard?
A mustache is a type of facial hair grown above the upper lip. For most men, the mustache makes the beard. For some, it’s the other way around. Nonetheless, having a clean face does not necessarily mean you have to be shaven. It’s all about your grooming habits. Whether or not you commit to having a beard with your mustache, tending to it properly is the key to making it appear stylish.
On the other hand, deciding on whether or not you should grow a beard as a complement to your French mustache is a process every man should go through. However, pairing your French mustache with an equally awesome beard is the way to go about it.
Exhibit A
A visual inspection clearly shows that a mustache is better with a beard.
Exhibit B
Unless you are a 19th century Mormon or an Amish man, you may want to stick with growing a beard with your French mustache.
Exhibit C
Growing a beard actually presents several health benefits. Believe it or not, extensive scientific research shows that thick beards have the capacity to block out 95% of the sun’s UV rays.
Exhibit D
A beard is actually considered as a natural filter. Growing a mustache presents microscopic allergens which can result in the reduction of various effects and conditions such as allergies and hay fever. With a beard, this protection drastically improves and is taken to a whole new level.
Most Popular Men with French Mustache
Among all the mustache styles, French mustaches were sported by many famous people. Check out below the 3 popular men who tried it.
1. Wyatt Earp
Considered as one of the most famous handlebar mustaches of all time, Sheriff Wyatt Earp’s mustache stretches far up his mouth and down into his chin.
2. William Howard Taft
American presidents surely know a thing or two about a mustache. William Howard Taft was known for how he styled his stocky frame with a French mustache.
3. Roland Glen Fingers
Believe it or not, even men who played in sports are attracted to the “twist and curl” approach. Roland Glen Fingers or Rollie Fingers is a retired professional baseball player from America who also sported the French mustache.
This only goes to show that having a beard or a mustache does not spell out “lazy.” Facial hair maintenance is key to having a well-groomed attitude towards your French mustache. While a great number of people would rather choose a different kind of mustache, a French mustache is one of those facial hairstyles that never really goes out of style.
The day you finally decided on growing a French mustache will be the day you commit yourself to maintain it well. Nonetheless, if by any chance you get to participate in an intense bare-knuckle boxing match, you’ll thank yourself for properly maintaining your French mustache.