It’s Time for Your Mustache Experiment

Republished source article: This article originally appeared in GQ. First-person statements, product selections, quotations and editorial-team claims belong to the original source.

By: Eric Sullivan

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Admit it: You’ve trimmed your weekend stubble into a ‘stache just to see how it looked, only to shave it off before you left the bathroom. Can’t do it, you’d think. The mustache was too risky; it was a hipster punch line and a charity case. (Remember Movember!) But now it’s having a no-joke moment on the mugs of famous guys, male models, and street-style kids alike. Men, let your ‘stache out of the bathroom and into the light.

Is a lip broom still deviant? Sure, and that’s the secret to its power. It’s a differentiator. It’s both refined and a bit shaggy. It’s an exclamation point on your face, and people will notice. But you need to get the ‘stache right. With our help, you’ll stay on the right side of the line between looking sharp and looking like a mall cop.
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty

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Start with More Than a ‘Stache

Just like: Jason Sudeikis

Sad truth: Not every man can grow a quality mustache. To find out, let your beard grow for a week, then shave back the underbrush and see what you’re working with. Hopefully you’ll get something robust, like Jason Sudeikis—in which case you’ll want a moisturizer (try Mr Natty Frank’s Beard Elixir) to keep the porcelain skin underneath well toned.

Photo: Russ Einhorn/ Splash News/ Corbis

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Get Yourself Into Shape

Just like: Jason Schwartzman

Once you’ve grown yourself a worthwhile lip tickler, step two is making it into something that works for you. A square jaw calls for a strong, full look. Not exactly the carved-from-granite type? A more sculpted shape, like what Jason Schwartzman’s rocking above, can turn even Mr. Rushmore’s gentle mug into a Clark Gable doppelgänger.
Photo: Splash News/ Corbis

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Avoid Any Funny Business

Just like: Billy Childish

It’s easy to go too far with your newfound face brush. The magnificent handlebar of English garage-rocker-slash-artist Billy Childish marks the outer limits of a gentlemanly ‘stache. No cartoon-villain curlicues. No oddball designs. With something so bushy, a small, inexpensive comb from Kent, like this one, is key for keeping everything in check.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty

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Keep the Canvas Clean

Just like: Michael B. Jordan

Whether or not you opt for the patented Michael B. Jordan chin cup, tidiness is crucial: You want your ‘stache to appear intentional, not like you missed a spot that morning. Use something like the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler), which has both razor and trimmer attachments, for daily touch-ups.
Photo: Dave M. Benett/ Getty

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Wear Your ‘Stache Proudly

Just like: David Beckham

Beckham is the master of pulling off ballsy style maneuvers—the indoor scarf, man jewelry, and yes, the mustache—not only because he’s good-looking but because he acts like it ain’t a thing. Follow suit. Be cool. Don’t touch your ‘stache constantly. And definitely don’t stroke it like a creepy ’70s porn star.

Illustrations by Josh Cohran

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What’s on His Face?

A Short Gallery of Tragic ‘Staches

1. The Satan’s Tickler: Mel Gibson

2. The Fifth-Year Senior: Michael Cera

**3. The Air-ian Nation: **Michael Jordan

4. The Pube Lip: Justin Bieber

**5. The L. Ron Hogan: **John Travolta

Source: GQ

Original publication date: 2014-05-05T03:00:00.000-04:00