Whether you should trim your mustache for kissing depends mainly on the preferences of your partner. While some women despise them, others may prefer one. You may eventually determine that trimming it down may be the best option for you. If this is true, this article will be of particular interest to you.
Bear in mind that it isn’t usually quite as simple. Kissing a man with a mustache isn’t always a love or hate experience. There are many people who don’t mind it, but would much rather it was trimmed neatly and precisely. In fact, most people fall into this category.
The main reason for this is that a poorly-groomed mustache feels awful against the face of a partner. Stray, dry hairs of differing lengths, split ends, sharp edges, etc. It just doesn’t feel right.
Out of the people who don’t mind kissing a man with a ‘stache, the vast majority of them need it groomed.
It could also be argued that a man with a neatly trimmed mustache is more likely to attract a partner in the first place. Although this is most likely the topic of a different article, it’s worth bearing in mind.
This article is directed at men with partners who fall into that larger category of “trim it down neat”. I’ll show you how to do it, and how to do it in style. Then I’ll give you some additional mustache grooming tips to keep it looking and feeling ultra-sleek.
How to Trim A Mustache for Kissing In 6 Steps
This is a simple, step-by-step routine for getting an unruly and untidy mustache ready for those intimate moments.
Before you read on, it’s important to note that there are multiple trimming tools you can choose from. Yes, it’s possible to trim a mustache using a pair of trimmers or clippers.
But my preferred method will always be a good-quality pair of beard or mustache scissors. It allows for intricate and precise control and is really the best way to sculpt the shape of a mustache into what you’ve visualized. The fact that it’s a considerably cheaper option is just a bonus.
Let’s get started.
1. Choose a mustache style
This is entirely down to personal preference. Always remember that the length you choose to trim down to is very dependent on the style you want to achieve.
There’s very little point in trimming down very short and trying to style a Handlebar at the end. In this instance, you’ll obviously want to keep the sides long enough to curl upwards.
The style you choose will also determine how you shape the mustache a little later on. This is where scissors prove to be so valuable – sculpting and carving the shape you want is much harder with a bulky pair of trimmers. It’s possible, but just a lot harder.
Although personal preference will ultimately dictate what you choose, there’s a universal rule that can be applied to whatever style you choose.
Don’t allow the mustache hair to creep down into your upper lip. This is particularly important when it comes to kissing, as the mustache hair crawls into your partner’s mouth. This would be an unpleasant experience for anyone.
Anyway, we’ll be making a point to address this problem later on in the tutorial.
2. Gather your mustache tools
Here’s a summary of what you’ll be needing:
- Mustache or beard scissors
- Beard shampoo
- Mustache or beard comb
Although the number of available mustache grooming tools on the market today does seem like an endless vortex of consumerist fodder, keeping it minimalist will ensure you stick to a routine.
You shouldn’t need anything other than these tools.
Spending a relatively small amount of a good quality pair of mustache scissors will enhance your results hugely.
It isn’t worth risking the integrity of your beloved bristles by using the same pair of scissors you use to cut cardboard with.
Not only are they uncomfortable and impractical to trim with, but they’ll also most likely damage the mustache hair.
Beard shampoo is crucial for ensuring adequate hygiene. A mustache is dangerously close to the mouth, which is why it’s prone to accumulating bits of food and debris. This is, of course, a hazard to whoever happens to be kissing you.
A mustache comb would also come in very handy. The “scissor over comb” technique used by barbers worldwide is something you can easily deploy on your mustache at home. The results will speak for themselves, particularly if you’ve got a long mustache.
3. Wash and Towel-Dry the Mustache
It’s definitely possible to rinse a mustache properly using water alone. In fact, the overuse of beard shampoo can dry out the mustache and beard over time, so it is best used just once or twice a week.
Shorter mustaches, in particular, may not require a shampoo product whatsoever. Whatever you do, don’t use hair shampoo on your mustache. It’ll only dry out the mustache and the underlying skin, causing dryness and excessive flaking.
As you can see, what we’re aiming for is the removal of dirt, debris, excessive oil, bits of food, and odors from the mustache. This is obviously all crucial, particularly when it comes to kissing.
Once you’ve washed it, with or without shampoo, you’ll want to towel-dry it gently until it’s a little bit damp.
Having it slightly damp will make it easier to snip. However, having it soaking wet will make it difficult to estimate its length, and may even cause you to trim too much.
4. Comb it in preparation
You’ll want to comb the mustache downward in order to get a good idea of what you’re trimming. Assess the current length, shape, and texture. This is much easier to do once you’ve got a washed, dried, and combed mustache.
Use your beard or mustache comb to do this. Avoid using a plastic or synthetic comb, as these cause static, frizziness and ultimately damage the facial hair strands. This will cause split-ends, which as you’d expect, feel awful to kiss.
Comb it straight downward in preparation for the cut.
5. Clean up the lip line
When it comes to trimming the mustache for kissing, having a nice, crisp lip line is essential. This may actually be the most important step of all.
What this refers to is trimming the edges of any scraggly mustache hair creeping over the border of the upper lip and toward the mouth. The upper lip needs to be completely clear of any mustache hair.
Having the mustache hair combed neatly downward is a good place to start. It’ll make it clear where cuts need to be made.
For this step, I prefer to trim from the midline of the mustache to one edge and then repeat it on the other side.
Start trimming the edges of the scraggly mustache hairs creeping over the upper lip border. Try to keep it nice and horizontal. Keeping a neutral facial expression, or even a slight smile should make it easier for you.
As you approach the edges, bear in mind what style you’ll eventually want to have. This will determine whether you want to trim horizontally here or taper the edges.
At the end of this step, you should have a nice, crisp lip line with the upper lip border just about visible. It’s time to move on to the bulk of the mustache itself.
6. Trim the bulk of the mustache
Anyone can trim a mustache. Honestly, anyone can. But experienced mustache and beardsmen know that being organized about it is what separates an average trim from a dazzling one.
In your mind, split your mustache into four sections. You’ll be left with two inner sections and two outer sections.
The reason we do this is to give ourselves a structured, methodical approach to trimming that should lead to more symmetrical results at the end.
It doesn’t really matter whether you start with the outer or inner sections. Just choose one and stick with it.
For the sake of this tutorial, let’s start with the inner sections. Trim one side and then the other, from the midline outward, being sure to maintain symmetry as you do so.
When you “fine-tune” the results, you’ll most likely find that you’ll need to trim one side a little more than the other to maintain symmetry. Use the “scissor over comb” technique if you want to.
This is particularly useful for longer mustaches. Some people may find it unnecessary, whereas some others may find it very useful.
To do this, comb through the mustache so that the ends to be cut are held between the teeth at the required length.
They’ll be held in place by the teeth of the comb at a 90-degree angle, perfect for trimming with scissors quickly and efficiently.
You’ll probably find that mustache hair manages to find its way into your mouth as you trim it. If it happens, wash your mouth out now and again to maintain sanity.
Be cautious, and don’t trim off more than you’d like. It’s easy to get carried away, so start with small snips and gradually trim more if you need to.
Once you’ve done this, repeat the process on the two outer sections. Again, try and maintain symmetry. Scissors give you a lot of versatility when it comes to this. It makes you feel like a sophisticated sculptor with the mustache being the clay.
Additional Mustache Tips For Kissing
You’ve just learned how to trim one like a consummate professional. But there are some additional grooming habits to adopt to take you to the next level. To make a mustache ultra-kissable, try out the following tips.
1. Mustache wax
Mustache wax is crucial for men with longer mustaches and more complex styles. This is because it’ll ensure the bristles stay in place during the course of the day.
You won’t need to worry about stray hairs sticking out or the style itself unraveling due to environmental pressures.
Although it isn’t as essential for men with shorter, simpler mustaches, it may still be worth using. One reason for this is that they generally smell incredible. Another is that they smooth out the mustache very nicely. Both of these factors make kissing the mustache a lot more pleasant.
Using beard balm is an alternative for men who want something a little bit lighter. Mustache wax can feel heavy and overbearing at times. Beard balm is a gentler alternative, albeit with a lower level of hold.
2. Beard oil
The benefits of using beard oil are similar to those of using mustache wax. Applying a couple of drops of beard oil into the mustache immediately after you trim is a great habit to get into.
One additional benefit is that it nourishes the mustache and the underlying skin. It’s thoroughly moisturizing and softens the mustache nicely. As you’d expect, this makes the mustache much easier to kiss.
Comb the beard oil through once you’ve applied it to the mustache to ensure it’s evenly distributed throughout.
3. Take care of the nose hair
Just to completely remove any ambiguity, when I say “take care of”, I mean remove. It’s as simple as that.
There is nothing attractive about nose hair. It isn’t as divisive as mustaches where some partners like them and others don’t. There are hardly any grooming practices as objectively essential as nose hair trimming.
When nose hair blends into the mustache to the point where the mustache essentially looks like it’s flooding out of the nostrils, you know that something has gone wrong.
What you use to trim the nose hair is up to you. You can choose to use a small pair of scissors or even an electric nose hair trimmer.
Many multi-purpose electric trimmers come with detachable nose hair trimming heads. This would be ideal, although may be out of budget for some. It’s just important that it’s dealt with. It may be boring, it may be unpleasant, but it’s essential.
4. Get feedback from your partner
This won’t apply to all men, as some of them will definitely have partners who won’t be shy with their mustache opinions. They’ll let you know exactly how you feel about it and any changes you’ve made to it.
Others may be a bit too polite to be this forthcoming. Their opinions might need to be teased out of them. They may actually be “suffering in silence”, quietly tolerating the feel of your mustache for the sake of being polite.
Once you’ve made changes to your mustache, be sure to ask your partner how it looks and feels. Take their opinions into consideration, and let it guide your mustache grooming habits going into the future.
After all, they’re the ones who have to experience it rubbing against their cheeks and lips.
Conclusion
The fact that you’ve thought to research this information speaks volumes about you. You care enough about how your mustache feels on someone else to the extent that you’re willing to change your trimming habits to accommodate them.
It’s a noble objective for a mustache’d man to pursue. Good for you.
Hopefully, this article has given you a broad range of tips and ideas to draw upon going forward. Experiment, have fun with it, and most importantly – ask your partners for their opinions.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.
