How to Select and Apply Moustache Wax

Close portrait of a man with a beard and mustache. Brown jacket, white shirt, brown background.

So you’ve decided to cultivate a moustache. It is a look most befitting of an elegant gentleman, and is without a doubt incredibly attractive to the fairer sex. But how does one begin?

Today we are starting with the basics – how to select and apply moustache wax to keep your facial hair healthy and trained to a desirable shape.

Natural vs. petroleum-based

It’s worth noting that while both natural and petroleum-based moustache waxes work well, petroleum-based waxes do not penetrate the hair shaft – rather, these waxes coat your hair. Natural waxes, on the other hand, do penetrate your hair shaft, offering extra conditioning. Typically natural waxes have a beeswax base, like Dr. Dittmar Original Hungarian Moustache Wax.

For basic hold and taming stray hairs, a wax with light to medium hold will do. For a twizzler worthy of the World Beard and Moustache Championships, you’ll want strong or extra strong hold.

There are several ways to get the wax warm:

If you’re using a wax in a tin, warming up the wax will help with application. You can run the tin under hot water for a minute, or hit the tin with a blow dryer on a low setting for a couple of seconds. Be careful not to make the wax hot, which will render it runny and useless. You want to aim for a smooth consistency or else it won’t go on evenly.

If you carry your moustache wax around with you, simply leaving it in your pocket should warm it up enough for application.

hr_439-003-00_stern-moustache-comb

Stern Moustache Comb

The application

1. Before application, make sure your hair and fingers are dry.

2. Slide your fingernail over the wax, scraping a small amount onto the top of your nail.

3. Work the wax back and forth between your thumb and forefinger, forming a ball.

4. Starting from the center, work the wax through one side of your moustache with your thumb and forefinger, finishing with the tip. To ensure the moustache wax distributes evenly through your beard and that no hair clumps occur, comb through with a moustache comb like the Stern Moustache Comb.

5. Repeat the process on the other side of your moustache. To keep the look natural, don’t twist the ends.

To create a fancy twizzler:

Add more moustache wax to your facial hair, styling it to the look of your choosing (the Dali, Tom Selleck, or pencil moustache are all wonderful). Twist the ends towards your face for a handlebar look. To seal the style, blast your moustache with cold air from your blowdryer.

Tip: Always start with less and only add more as necessary. Even the fanciest, largest ‘staches don’t require a lot of wax and are waxed in sections.

To train your moustache:

After adding more moustache wax to your facial hair, create a center part and comb hair in the direction you want it to grow. Done daily, this will train your whiskers to keep away from your mouth.

Regarding touch-ups:

Use as little wax as possible if you plan to do touch-ups throughout the day.

Infographic: Moustache 101 and Moustache Styles

According to a Workplace Mustache Study by the American Mustache Institute (AMI), moustache acceptance in workplaces is higher than ever. And with whiskers being a centerpiece of the hipster movement, moustache styles in every permutation have flourished. If you proudly wear a moustache, we recommend checking out the infographic below, which gives you an informative review of the art of owning a moustache.

From selecting a quality local moustache wax maker to famous celebrity moustaches (Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I. chevron is a natural choice for this list), this Moustache-o-Graph infographic covers how to own the ‘stache, and own it well.

While we’re on the subject of moustaches, do you prefer to be moustached, bearded, or clean shaven? And would you consider growing a beard or a moustache if you’re currently clean shaven? We’d love to know in the comments below – or let us know your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram.

Interview: Captain Fawcett

captain-fawcett

Known as “The Gentleman’s Stiffener” Captain Fawcett is the home to a range of Gentlemen’s grooming products. The products range from Beard oil, mustache wax, shaving soap, shaving brushes, safety razors and so on. This all started back in 1997 when an old trunk was purchased from a house clearance and taken home. Discovering that this belonged to Captain Peabody Fawcett R.N Ret’d, the Edwardian Explorer it was forced open and among the contents inside were oils and ointments and an old journal containing detailed lists of exotic ingredients. Taking on the responsibility of carrying out the legendary “keep a stiffer upper lip regardless” the formulae have been faithfully followed and are now available to Gentleman all over the world.

We have a privilege to interview the man behind the discovery of Captain Fawcett’s. Read more to see what he has to say.

 Where are you located?

The dear Captain is based in Norfolk & Good Blighty.

When did you start this business?

Circa 1905

When did you realize you wanted to be a barber?

I am not currently a barber but a purveyor of First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites.

Describe a few steps you took to pursuit this.

As an Edwardian explorer of some repute I believe it is imperative to present stiff upper lip regardless of whatever the day may present.

How would you deal with a customer who didn’t know what they wanted?

Refer them to their commanding officer.

What are some of your accomplishments?

AS a manufacturer of the world’s best moustache wax I am proud to have aided in the ennobling of many an upper lip.

Who are some of your favorite barbers?

Sweeny Todd

What do you believe makes a quality hairstyle, cut and groom?

Whatever your chosen image, be it a Scumbag, Young Fogey, Rockabilly or Lounge Lizard be sure to cut a dash.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Plant hunters and Explorers of yesteryear.

What advice do you have for aspiring Mustache growers?

Let it grow, Let it grow, Let it grow!

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Captain Fawcett is hugely popular on; (these will all be Links)

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

captainfawcettmustachewax

 

Buy here: http://bit.ly/1y4XV4W

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How to: Trim your Mustache

579937e16c445e576f4fb85042f03823There are many mustache shapes, styles and sizes these days. This trimming tutorial will give you the basics to trim and shape the mustache you want.

You will need:

Firstly know what style mustache you want. Then once you have figured that out we can begin.

Dampen your mustache with water and comb through the hair with the fine-toothed comb. Look for long hairs that are sticking up or that are too long. Trim those hairs! Start at the middle of your mustache and work your way outwards. This helps maintain the length and bushiness of your mustache. After that move to trimming above the top lip. keep the middle of the mustache short, just above the pink of the top lip so you are able to eat and drink without it getting in the way or smelling.  Secondly, trim the top of the mustache for shape and definition. Some mustaches are uneven in this area below the nose and that’s okay, all you need to do is use a mustache razor. This is a quick and simple task.

Once you have trimmed those extra hairs away then move onto the next area, the bottom of the mustache. The bottom of the mustache is trimmed for a smooth even line otherwise your mustache will look uneven.This helps keep even parameters around the mustache. See diagram below:

mustachediagram

Once the trimming is taken care of and the areas are under control you can use the mustache wax. Apply it to your index finger, middle finger and thumb and rub them together so the wax warms up a little between the fingers. Then slowly apply the wax on your mustache. When applying the wax to the mustache make sure you squeeze your mustache to really get the wax in the hairs. Towards the ends twist the hair with your fingers to get a curl at the end. This method will keep the wax rooted into the mustache. Do this a couple times until you feel satisfied with the style and curl.

Voila, you are done!

That simple!

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