Beard Care

Movember: How to Grow and Groom a Moustache That Looks Good

Every November, a lot of men commit to growing a moustache for charity and then spend three weeks looking like they forgot to shave. It does not have to go that way. With a bit of patience and the right shaping, you can get through Movember looking deliberate rather than dishevelled. Here is how.

Start clean and then leave it alone

Shave clean on the 1st so you have a clear starting line. Then the hard part: do nothing for the first two weeks. Moustache hair is slow, and if you start trimming too early you will cut away the length you need. Let it fill in first, and resist the urge to tidy it before there is anything to tidy.

Pick a style that suits your growth

Not everyone grows a thick moustache, and that is fine. The natural moustache, sometimes called a chevron, follows your top lip and sits just above it. It suits almost everyone and needs the least work, which makes it the safe Movember choice. If you grow thick and want length, the handlebar is the showpiece, but it needs wax and daily styling to hold its shape.

Keep it tidy through the month

• Trim the hairs that creep over your lip with small scissors or a guarded trimmer, so it stays off your mouth.
• Clean up the edges where the moustache meets your cheeks, so it has a defined shape.
• Use a little moustache or beard oil to soften the hair and stop the itch in the early weeks.

Styling a moustache in Dubai's weather

Heat and humidity can make a moustache feel coarse and look frizzy. A small amount of oil keeps it soft, and a tiny bit of wax will hold a shaped style in place through the day. If you are also growing the beard out alongside it, our guide on beard grooming in Dubai covers washing and oiling in the heat.

Let a barber shape it

The difference between a scruffy moustache and a sharp one is usually the shaping, and that is hard to do yourself in a mirror. Maison Cut brings a barber to your door across Dubai and Abu Dhabi to line it up and trim it properly, so your Movember effort actually looks the part. Beard and moustache work is from AED 80.

FAQ

How long does it take to grow a moustache for Movember?

Most men get a visible moustache in the 30 days. Start clean on the 1st and leave it for the first two weeks.

What style suits most men?

The natural or chevron moustache. It follows the top lip, suits most faces, and needs little upkeep.

How do I keep it tidy?

Trim the hairs over the lip, clean the edges, and use a little oil to soften it. A barber can shape it if you are unsure.