HOW TO: Grow a Moustache For The First Time
You’re probably reading this blog because a) you’ve browsed/bought/used our products before, or b) you’re ‘B-curious’ (you heard that term here first - it means you have beard or moustache envy but haven’t ‘got around to growing one’). If you fall into the latter category - well, my silken-faced friends, it’s time to take the plunge so come winter you can bask in the glory of your majestic facial fuzz. But where do you start? Do you simply stop shaving and see what happens? No, of course not! If you want a beautiful garden you don’t just sit back and let the grass and plants grow. You need to prepare the land, provide the right environment for your garden to flourish and tend to your crops. (You get the idea.) Anyway, here are our top tips for anyone wanting to know how to grow a moustache for the first time.
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Don’t: scratch
Once you’ve taken the plunge and stopped shaving, the first couple of weeks can get pretty itchy, but avoid the urge to scratch. Cave in and you could risk getting bacteria in the pores and causing ingrown hairs. Use a hot cloth compress and a gentle exfoliator to release any trapped hairs lurking beneath the surface, which should relieve the itch. Finish with Old Joll's beard oil which contains tea-tree oil, a natural anti-bacterial oil which will prevent any nasties.
Do: be patient
Accept there’ll be a few weeks where it’s not going to look great, but this is your time to prep. Arm yourself with your moustache grooming tool: our ox horn moustache comb is all you need to get on the right track. You need to train the hair by guiding the direction it grows in – so even when short, comb it through a couple of times in the morning and evening and smooth with a little moustache wax (see below).
Do: use face scrub
As your face becomes increasingly hidden beneath your new lip-warmer, bear in mind that a good face scrub is important to remove dead skin cell buildup. Also beware of food getting caught in there!
Don’t: use an electric razor
You wouldn’t want all of the afore-mentioned scratch-resisting and beard-training to go to waste with a slip of the hand would you? Use a single-edge safety razor or scissors for better accuracy when trimming and shaping.
Do: use shampoo and conditioner
Often neglected but important - facial hair is often more coarse and wiry than bonce hair, and this can result in the skin underneath feeling dry and itchy. Make sure you shampoo and condition your moustache to keep it clean, moist and wonderful.
Do: be realistic
There’s only one real key to growing a 'tache, and that’s time. Don’t expect Ron Burgundy-level greatness straight away – it’ll take at least a couple of months to get some thickness going on, but persevere and you’ll be glad you did.
Don’t: cut your moustache when it’s wet
This is a classic rookie error. While it might feel like it’s easier to trim your moustache when it’s wet, as it dries and loses the weight of the water you might find that it retracts and you end up with wonky face furniture or you’ve trimmed too much off him.
Do: use wax
Using wax doesn’t mean your ‘tache has to look too perfect. You can still keep a natural look but use wax to keep things tidy. Smooth in a little of our moustache wax to tame the beast, and use our ox horn comb to make sure the hair is all flowing in the same direction, or go a bit further and use a healthier dab of wax to twirl the ends of your moustache, for a bolder look.
Don’t: let the skin under your moustache dry out
Make sure that you massage moisturiser into the skin under your moustache: the area around here can be vulnerable to drying out and you want to avoid any moustache dandruff scenarios. As with your head hair, make sure you rinse any shampoo, conditioner or other product out each day to avoid irritation.
Finally, the best of luck with your new ‘tache! Get in touch and let us know how you get on with yours - tag us in your before and after shots with #brightonbeardco.