No matter what style you’re rocking, there will most likely be times when your lip ferret just refuses to behave. It begs the question, how do you stop your mustache from sticking out?
The simplest ways include keeping the mustache clean, getting used to scissor trimming, regularly brushing and combing, as well as using styling products like beard balm. Growing it out a little may also make it easier for you to keep the mustache hairs flat.
Ultimately, the trick is to train the mustache to grow in the direction you want it to, as well as keep the mustache well-nourished, moisturized, and clean.
It does take time, but these basic mustache grooming habits should get you to where you want to be.
That was the answer in a nutshell, but digging a little deeper into this frustrating topic will definitely yield better results.
I want to discuss the easiest ways to discipline those bristles in a little more detail.
Let’s get to it.
How To Stop Your Mustache Sticking Out
Here are the six simplest methods. They don’t require in-depth knowledge, professional help, or ultra-expensive grooming tools.
They’re just basic mustache-grooming habits that’ll serve you well for years to come.
1. Keep That Mustache Clean
Mustache hygiene is important – more so than what might be considered convenient.
An unclean, greasy, and oily beard is not only unpleasant for you and those around you, but it also makes it incredibly difficult to groom properly.
Unclean mustache hair will look like it sticks out because the greasier hairs will clump and stick together. This makes the hairs next to them look like they’re sticking out in comparison.
It’s all relative, and it comes down to the fact that greasy mustache hair looks uneven.
Keeping it clean will also allow you to groom it properly in other ways. For example, it’s much more effective to trim clean and dry hair than it is to trim oily, unclean hair.
As I mentioned, unclean hair strands stick to each other and this makes trimming it more difficult. It makes you less likely to achieve a nice, even trim.
Unclean hair is also harder to brush and style effectively.
Essentially, not keeping your mustache clean will make all other efforts to stop your mustache sticking straight out completely pointless.
So, wash your mustache daily with water alone, while also using beard shampoo once or maximum twice a week.
Overwashing your beard and mustache with beard shampoo will dry it out, together with the underlying skin.
Using it in moderation is important for maintaining a healthy balance of natural oils in your mustache.
Once you’ve got this habit down, other grooming practices will seem like a breeze.
2. Try Growing It Out A Little
I’m not saying you need to go Fu Manchu with it, although that would almost undoubtedly be awesome.
But mustache hair often sticks out because the hair itself is too short. Often, it may just be a case of a few millimeters too short.
Short mustache hair is able to prop itself up and stick straight out. No matter how much you try to brush or comb it down, it’ll simply spring right back up.
Frustrating.
It’s often tempting to trim the hair down whenever you feel a spiky mustache. But try doing the opposite and see whether you notice a positive difference.
Simply let it grow out a few millimeters. What you may find is that due to the effects of gravity and the weight of longer hair, it lays flatter or at the very least is easier to comb downward.
3. Get Used To Scissor Trimming
If you do find that growing it out hasn’t done the trick, or you simply aren’t comfortable with the thought of a longer mustache, scissor trimming would be a good option.
The problem with scissor trimming is that it’s time-consuming.
A lot of men hate doing it because trimming your mustache with a beard trimmer or pair of clippers is much, much quicker.
But trimming with a pair of mustache scissors instead will usually give you better and more natural-looking results.
Yes, it takes time and the smaller shears can be difficult to maneuver at first. But you get used to it and the results speak for themselves.
A key reason for this is that your mustache hair strands tend to grow at different rates. At any one time, some will be longer, and some will be shorter.
This difference in length is why some mustache hairs appear to stick out more than others.
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It may be tempting to use an electric trimmer to trim the mustache short; this would certainly give you an even cut. But it would be quite temporary and the result won’t look very natural.
A better option would be to continuously make small trims with your mustache scissors whenever you see hairs sticking out.
A little bit like a bonsai tree you could say. An ongoing process of perfection, instead of a sudden and drastic electric trim.
Invest in a pair of actual mustache scissors and don’t be tempted to use the everyday pair in your kitchen drawer.
A good pair of mustache scissors usually has short shears, is between 4 and 5 inches long, and made of stainless steel.
Grip is important – check the reviews of whichever pair you’re buying to see how comfortable people find them to hold.
4. Brush And Comb Regularly
After 3 to 4 weeks of growth your mustache will most likely be long enough to benefit from brushing.
Much like with a beard, a boar bristle beard brush is what you need.
Boar bristles are similar in texture to mustache and beard hair and so will glide through it easily without much tugging.
Do stay away from synthetic beard brushes as these do more harm than good.
Brushing the mustache daily will prevent it from sticking out by training it to grow downward and straighter over time.
After a while, you’ll most likely find that you won’t need to brush it as much, but it’s recommended you do so in any case.
Mustache brushing is also great for re-distributing natural sebum oil.
This gives the mustache a nice, even, and healthy coating of natural oils instead of allowing it to accumulate at the bases.
Investing in a good mustache comb would also be a good idea, particularly when you’ve had around 2 to 3 months worth of growth.
The teeth of a comb are great for detangling and also styling the mustache, both of which allow you to keep it straighter and flatter throughout the course of the day.
5. Use Beard Oil
Beard oil is usually brimming with nourishing ingredients such as argan oil and jojoba oil.
It’s moisturizing for beard and mustache hair.
Plus, it smells great. This is ideal for hair that sits right under the nose.
Applying beard oil onto a clean mustache will make it look and feel softer. It’ll also make it easier for you to style and tame – perfect for a mustache that sticks out.
The best time to apply it is right before you brush or comb. Doing this will allow the bristles or teeth to evenly distribute the beard oil across the mustache.
You could, of course, just use your fingers. But boar bristle beard brushes and beard combs (often sandalwood or pearwood) are much more effective at oil distribution.
6. Use Styling Products
Using mustache styling products are fun and effective.
The huge range of beard and mustache styling products available at the moment can be pretty overwhelming, particularly if you’re just getting started.
Balms, waxes, pomades, and more.
But keep it simple.
Essentially, they all work in a similar way. They have a level of hold which allows you style and shape the mustache more effectively and also keep the hairs in place.
It’s very important when you’re styling more in-your-face staches such as Handlebars.
But even if you just want to flatten a few stray hairs here and there, some styling product would likely serve you well.
Beard oil may be great, but it doesn’t have any hold and so won’t be able to keep hairs in place.
The question is, which one should you choose?
Essentially, you’ll need to figure out how much hold you’ll really need.
For most men, the gentle hold provided by beard balm or beard butter would be enough to tame some mustache hairs sticking out.
But if you’re looking for a stronger level of hold, go for wax instead. It can feel quite heavy and maybe a little overbearing sometimes, but it’s perfect for heavy-duty styling.
This may be what you need if you’re looking to keep a more complex style in place, or if those hairs that are sticking out are just quite stubborn.
Conclusion
As with any grooming habit, routine and discipline is everything. The habits listed in this article will eventually become second-nature.
You’ll eventually get to a point where you’ll feel uncomfortable or even incomplete when you haven’t oiled, brushed, or styled your mustache.
Unfortunately, simply letting that stache do its thing isn’t going to help. Hairs that stick out is a problem that doesn’t correct itself.
Now, you’ve got the know-how to take matters into your own hands.
Experiment and figure out what works best for you. Enjoy.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.
