Tight curls courtesy of Got2B Glued

Curled tips

The last couple of days, I have reached back in my drawer and got the Got2B tube out for the first time in a while and used it on the curls only (after using American Crew Fiber to get the stache in shape) and found that the tighter curls that it creates seem to give me more compliments. Anyway, here's how I looked yesterday.

Today I did it again and here's how it looks:


Tight curls, close up

The curls seemed to spring into position when applying the Got2B Glued.  As the glue dried, the curls tightened to form complete 360 degree circles. 

I have a hard time deciding if I look the look of a tighter curls or larger more open ones.  Decisions - decisions.

Oiling the mustache

Today's mustache is brought to you with only mineral oil added.  No other styling products were used.


Lightly oiled mustache - otherwise au natural

Non Kissable Mustache

Kissing my wife has become an issue of late.

As I approach my five month mark, for the last couple of weeks I have noticed a lot of hairs entering my mouth while eating recently (which is not that big of deal) and also my wife has really started complaining about hairs getting in the way while kissing. As you can see from this photograph, Yes, the mustache is coming down over my lips.

Me and my non-kissable handlebar mustache

She is asking me to trim the never-trim area over the lips. I don't think that she realizes, however, that this will only increase the problem because then she would be stabbed with the sharp ends of the fresh cut. And, it would doom me to having to fight a trimmed center.

I have been using the Push-Tuck-Slide technique and I may try and see if just combing it to the sides opens up the lip area for her. I have posted to the Handlebar Club Forum asking for advice.  Should I get some that works, I will post it here.

Momma's not happy, and when Mamma's not happy, no one is happy.

Push - Tuck - Slide results

Top - mustache as of August 10, 2013
Bottom - mustache as of August 31, 2013



Using the Push, Tuck, Slide method of grooming my mustache has been a real game changer.  The top picture shows my best results after laboring multiple waxes and glues in my attempt to control the beast.  The bottom shows the same mustache three weeks later after I started using the push-tuck-slide method.

Notice the differences:

• Curls:  much fuller, nicer shape
• Fangs:  gone
• Shape: changed from sloppy to a nice sweeping flow from the center to the sides.
• Mouth:  clear of hairs

What the pictures do not show is the difference in time needed in grooming and preparation.  I probably spent over 20 minutes  prepping for the top one.  I did not time the bottom either, but I guess that it was about 3 minutes.

The Push, Tuck, and Slide Handlebar Mustache Styling Technique

Styling my mustache using Push, Tuck, and Slide

This animated pictures shows the steps that I use to finger groom my handlebar mustache and get the center looking great.

1.   PUSH:  Using index finger push the hairs at the top of the mustache down towards the lips.  Pushing gives the front of the mustache a "shell" to tuck the lower hairs behind.

2.   TUCK:  Using the thumb, take hairs that extend below the mustache and tuck them up and under the hairs that have been pushed down.  Be aggressive and tuck high under the mustache.  Tucking keeps the hairs out of your mouth.

3.  SLIDE:  At the end of the tuck, use the thumb to slide the tucked hairs and any other hairs in the back of the mustache toward the side of the mustache.  This forms a "pipeline behind the shell" that moves the hairs to the curls making them thicker and fuller.

Start at the center and work towards the ends. Once done, a couple of twirls give nice curls. 

When applying wax or other styling products, coating the tips of the thumbs and adjacent sides of the index fingers and then using this method works to hold everything in place.  But, I find often no product is needed to keep it styled.

Please comment on this post and let me know how this technique works for you.

Tiger colored mustache

The tiger stripes of the right side of my mustache

As my mustache has gotten longer and I have improved my styling technique (is it ever really mastered?), I have noticed that it has very unique stripes of color. Rather than a random scattering of different colors, there are definite rows of multiple similarly colored hairs. Some are white, others black and some red-orange.  I tried to capture it in the photograph above, but the camera fails to adequate capture the variety of color so I have annotated some of the stripes. 

So, what color is my mustache?  I could say calico, but since the colors are in stripes or red, black and white, I will call it "tiger".

The picture above also shows the beautiful handlebar shape and curl that I am presently achieving with very little effort and no styling products. Additional length makes it easier to style.

Perfect mustache day ... until I shaved

Me and another family member with whiskers

Lately I have been perfecting my styling technique where I use my index finger to push the top of the mustache down in the front, and then use my thumb to tuck the bottom hairs underneath it and slide them towards the ends.  It works very well and I will elaborate on it in a future post.

The night before last, I used this technique while laying in bed after taking a shower.  Well, I yesterday morning I awoke to a beautiful mustache with nice curls on both sides - no styling product or anything..  Oh, it was going to be a glorious mustache day.  Then I shaved and washed my face and all was lost.  While repeating the technique gave me a very nice center, the tips were wonky and no amount of wax or glue could completely fix them.

Today's picture shows no curls - just a gentle sweep, with the mustache behaving just drawn out to the sides with no product.  I am meeting a client shortly, and have not shaved.  Hmmm, do I dare get the mustache wet and face yesterday's debacle?  No,  The client will just have to live with me unshaved this morning - as he is bearded I don't think that this will be a problem.

English Style Handlebar

My first time in with the English style - Using Firehouse Wacky Tacky and glue stick

This morning I styled my handlebar mustache for the first time in the English Style.  This dramatic style sends the ends straight out to a narrow sharp point.

It takes length to pull of an English style and up to this point I did not have it.  Last night after taking a shower, I deliberately messed up the mustache and went to bed to see how it would look in the morning.  It did not look as scarey as I thought it would, but since it really didn't have much curl, I thought that I would give it a try.

My wife laughed as I worked at it.  She is convinced that this is a phase and evidence of a midlife crisis.  "At least it's cheaper than a red convertible" she said.

"Mr. Follicle" says that he can't grow a mustache like mine! Really?

Close up shot - no wax or other product used



I walked into a conversation that two of my restaurant coworkers were having about my mustache.   One of them, whom I will call Mr. Follicle,  was saying how he could never grow a mustache like mine - he just didn't have the genetics.

I could hardly keep a straight face since he is not some smooth-faced cherub, but one of these men who develops a heavy 5 o'clock shadow by noon.  Usually, however, he wears a couple of days growth and clearly he has no lack of facial hair including that on the upper lip.   I jokingly told him that he had more hair on one of his cheeks than I do on my whole body.  I told him that I had virtually no sideburns and whiskers were as common on my cheeks as trees in the Sahara.