To grow a moustache, shave your whole face clean, then leave your top lip completely alone while keeping the rest of your face shaved. Expect itch and patchiness at first. Wash and moisturise the skin underneath, resist trimming until there is real length to work with, then tidy the lip line with scissors and shape the ends with a little moustache wax.
In short
- Start clean-shaven. It is what Movember asks for, and it gives you an even starting point.
- The first weeks are the hardest. Itch and gaps are normal, and most of it settles as the hair gets longer.
- Genetics decide how thick and fast your moustache grows. No oil, balm or wax changes that.
- Trim the lip line, not the length, until you know which style you are growing into.
- A small amount of moustache wax keeps the shape and trains the ends.
What is a Movember moustache?
A Movember moustache is one grown during November to raise money and start conversations about men’s health. The charity’s own guidance is simple: start Movember clean-shaven, then start growing, and shave down at the start of the month so everyone begins from the same place.
That clean start is part of the point. A moustache that appears from nothing gets noticed, and every question about it is a chance to explain why.
How to grow a moustache from clean-shaven
The method is mostly patience.
- Shave clean at the start. A full, close shave across the whole face, including the top lip. Our Shaving Cream gives a smooth, creamy lather and is designed with sensitive skin in mind.
- Stop shaving the top lip. From here on, the razor does not go anywhere near it.
- Keep the rest of the face clean. Shave or trim your cheeks, chin and neck as usual.
- Decide the edges early. Shave a clean line where the moustache will stop at the corners of your mouth. If you are growing a horseshoe, leave the hair running down from the corners instead.
- Leave the length alone. Do not trim the body of the moustache yet.
- Wash and moisturise daily. It makes the itchy stage far easier, as below.
How long does it take to grow a moustache?
There is no single answer. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr John Anthony puts it plainly: how thick facial hair grows depends on genetics, and some men’s beards take longer than others to reach their full potential. The same article notes that, between the ages of 18 and 30, most beards are still developing in thickness and coarseness.
So treat the stages below as what many people experience over a month of Movember, not a schedule your moustache has to keep.
Week one: stubble
It looks like ordinary stubble. The hairs have blunt, freshly shaved ends, and this is often when the itch starts.
Week two: the awkward stage
Long enough to see, not long enough to lie flat. Gaps show, especially at the corners and under the nose. It is tempting to give up or trim it to neaten it. Keep the cheeks clean instead, which does more for the overall look.
Week three: a recognisable shape
For many men the hairs start to lie over the lip and the itch eases. Longer hairs often cover gaps that looked obvious. A good point to tidy the lip line for the first time.
Week four and beyond: shaping
Now you can see how dense your moustache really grows, which tells you which styles are realistic. Longer styles such as the handlebar usually need more than a month, so if you like it, keep going past November.
Why does a new moustache itch, and how do you stop it?
New hair has blunt tips where the razor cut through it, and dry skin underneath makes it worse. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that, without moisturiser, the skin beneath facial hair can become dry, flaky and itchy, which in turn makes the hair feel dry and prickly.
The same guidance recommends washing your face and facial hair every day with a gentle cleanser rather than soap, rinsing in lukewarm water, and moisturising while the skin is still slightly damp. A moustache catches food and coffee, so a daily wash also keeps it clean. Our Beard Shampoo works just as well on a moustache: it is made with argan oil and other natural oils and cleans without stripping.
If you are prone to ingrown hairs, the AAD suggests a gentle exfoliating scrub once or twice a week during the stubble stage. If itching comes with redness, bumps or a rash that does not settle, see a pharmacist or your GP. More in our guide on how to stop beard itch.
Keeping the skin under your moustache comfortable
Beard oil works on a moustache too. As general guidance, a drop or two is plenty. Work it into the skin, not just the hair, because the skin is where dryness starts.
Our Beard Oil pairs hemp oil, which moisturises the skin under facial hair, with jojoba oil to soften the hair itself. It comes in Century or Willow. To be clear, it does not make a moustache grow faster or thicker. What it can do is help the skin feel more comfortable and the hair feel softer while you wait.
If you have sensitive skin, patch test any new product on a small area first, and keep scented products away from broken or irritated skin.
Moustache styles: which one should you grow?
The style you can wear depends on how dense your hair grows and how much length you have. Start with what your growth allows.
| Style | What it looks like | Good for | Length needed | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron | Thick, covering the top lip, angled down at the corners | Most faces; a classic first Movember | Moderate | Low: trim the lip line |
| Pencil | A thin line just above the lip, shaved clear below the nose | Lighter or finer growth | Very short | High: frequent shaving |
| Horseshoe | A chevron with strips running down to the jaw | Dense growth at the mouth corners | Moderate, plus the sides | Medium: shave around it |
| Handlebar | Full across the lip, ends curled upwards | Patient growers | Long, especially at the ends | High: daily wax |
| English | Narrow, parted in the centre, ends pulled sideways | Fine, straight hair | Long at the ends | High: daily wax |
| Walrus | Bushy, hanging over the top lip | Thick, fast growth | The most overall | Low shaping, high cleaning |
If your growth is patchy, the chevron is the most forgiving. Its fullness hides small gaps and it looks finished at a shorter length.
How to trim a moustache
Trimming a moustache is mostly about the lip line. Leave the overall length as long as you can.
- Trim dry. Wet hair looks longer, so you cut off too much.
- Comb it straight down over the top lip with a fine-tooth comb.
- Trim along the lip line with small scissors. Snip a little at a time, following the natural curve of your lip.
- Leave the ends if you are growing a handlebar or English. Trim only the centre over the lip.
- Check both sides straight on and from each angle before taking more off.
- Clean up the edges with a trimmer: under the nose and the shaved skin around the moustache.
If you are keeping stubble alongside, our guide to trimming a beard at home covers tools and guard lengths.
How to shape a moustache
Shaping is training the hair to sit where you want it. Do it daily and the hair gradually follows.
- Comb it out from the centre outwards, starting at the philtrum, the groove under your nose.
- Part it in the middle if you want a defined split for the handlebar or English styles.
- Push the hair sideways along the lip with the comb, so it sits across rather than straight down.
- Twist the ends between finger and thumb, upwards for a handlebar, outwards for an English.
- Set it with wax. Without hold, most moustaches drift back to wherever they naturally want to sit.
How to use moustache wax
Moustache wax is a stiff styling product, usually based on beeswax, that holds moustache hair in place and sets curls or points at the ends. It has far more hold than beard oil or balm.
As general guidance:
- Use very little. Scrape a small amount with a fingernail, roughly the size of a grain of rice to start.
- Warm it first. Rub it between your fingertips until it softens.
- Work it in from the centre outwards, then comb through to spread it evenly.
- Shape the ends last. Twist each end into place and hold it for a moment while the wax sets.
- Wash it out at night. Warm water and a beard wash removes it.
Our Moustache Wax is made with real beeswax and gives a reworkable, medium hold that lasts the day, so you can reshape it with your fingers without starting again. It comes in our Century scent, with blackcurrant, apple and bergamot at the top and a warm vanilla base.
Should you join Movember?
If you are growing a moustache in November anyway, it is worth signing up. Movember points out that men die nearly five years earlier than women, mostly from preventable reasons, and the money raised goes towards mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Once you sign up, you set up a profile page, share it, and let the moustache do the talking. If growing one is not for you, Movember also lets you take part by moving, hosting an event or fundraising your own way.
Frequently asked questions
Does Movember have rules about growing a moustache?
Movember asks you to start the month clean-shaven, then grow a moustache through November and raise funds for men’s health. You sign up on the Movember website or app and choose Grow. Beyond that, the style is up to you.
What if my moustache grows in patchy?
Patchiness is common early on and often looks better once the hairs are long enough to lie over the gaps. Thickness is largely genetic, so no product will fill them. Keep the surrounding skin clean-shaven and choose a fuller style such as the chevron, which hides small gaps well.
Does beard oil help a moustache grow?
No. Beard oil does not make facial hair grow faster or thicker. It moisturises the skin underneath and softens the hair, which can make the itchy stage more comfortable and help the moustache look neater.
Should I trim my moustache while growing it?
Trim the lip line once the hair starts to fall over your lip, but leave the overall length alone for as long as possible. Cutting the body back too early makes it look thinner and sets you back.
Can you grow a handlebar moustache in one month?
For most men, a full handlebar needs more length than a month usually allows. You can start training the ends with wax as soon as they reach past the corners of your mouth, then keep growing after November if you want the full curl.
Everything for washing, conditioning and shaping your moustache is in our beard care range.
