Fitness
The Best and Worst Mustache Styles for Men
An iconic and timeless sign of masculinity, the mustache has a long and storied history. Archaeologists believe mustaches may date back to the caveman era, but the modern mustache surfaced during the late 1500s in England. Over the years, mustache styles have evolved, coming in and out of popularity. At times, the facial hair was a symbol of status. In other eras, it was viewed as unclean and sometimes even recognized as a symbol of evil. Today, the mustache is as popular as ever because if we’re being honest, it never actually goes out of style.
While facial hair is an evergreen trend in grooming, mustache styles have varied over the years. Here, we’ve compiled a list of popular looks—some you should rock, others you should leave in the past.
The Best and Worst Mustache Styles for Men
1. The Handlebar
The verdict: Better not
Named after its resemblance to bicycle handlebars, the handlebar mustache features long ends that curl up. Dating back to the 19th century, Handlebar mustaches were sported by European soldiers during the World War I era and Wild West figures in the U.S. The handlebar is a bold statement and, while it was once wildly popular, it may be a bit excessive for modern times. But if you’re really gunning for it—think costume party, Halloween, or Movember—keep the middle portion under the nose trimmed and grow out the ends. Make sure you use a mustache wax or balm to keep those ends twirled.
2. The Chevron
The verdict: Give it a go
One of the most classic mustache styles, the chevron was popularized by actor Tom Selleck and is often referred to as the Selleck. A simple style, the Chevron is the ultimate dad stache, and covers the entire upper lip. A key to a good Chevron mustache is keeping any hair that hangs over the upper lip trimmed while maintaining a clean shave on the rest of the face. A neat and tidy look, the chevron is a safe and timeless style.
3. The Pencil
The verdict: Faux pas—unless done correctly
In the 1930s and 40s, the pencil was the mustache style of choice. As the name suggests, the style is typified by a thin line of hair above the upper lip and requires regular maintenance. You’ll want to keep this short enough so it doesn’t cover your top lip and trim the bottom so it follows the shape of your mouth. How thick or thin you wear it is a matter of personal preference, but we’d err on the longer side like Brad Pitt sports here, rather than, say, John Waters…
4. The Beardsatche
The verdict: Sport it all the damn time
One of the more popular styles, the beardstache is a gruffer look. Typically, it combines a full mustache—dealer’s choice: walrus, chevron, or horeshoe—with a heavy layer of stubble on the rest of the face. Recently, this style has become popular among celebrities as it requires minimal maintenance and is easily individualized. To keep your beardstache looking good, simply trim to maintain your desired length. Think Henry Cavill in Mission Impossible: Fallout.
5. Modern Horseshoe
The verdict: Try it out
While the full horseshoe is a little overbearing (Hulk Hogan), the modern horseshoe is a subtler take on the classic style. In the traditional horseshoe mustache, the hair is thick, full, and grows from above the lip all the way down the side of the face. The modern horseshoe follows a similar frame but in a slightly slimmer cut: The hair doesn’t grow over the top lip and the ends are shorter. To style, let the hair grow out and around the corners of the mouth but shave the ends before they go past the bottom lip.
6. The Toothbrush
The verdict: Leave it in the past
The Toothbrush is a thick mustache shaved down to the width of the nose, giving it a stubby appearance. First popularized by Charlie Chaplin, the toothbrush mustache was initially worn by factory workers and associated with the Industrial Revolution. Later, the style made its way to Germany and, uh, yeah, sported by Hitler—so definitely leave this style buried in history.
7. Walrus
The verdict: Try it on for size
A big, thick mustache that covers the entire top lip and sometimes part of the bottom, the walrus got its name from its uncanny resemblance to a walrus’s whiskers. This style has been worn by iconic men over the years like Friedrich Nietzsche, Teddy Roosevelt, and Sam Elliott. Unfortunately, this look can’t be sported by all, as it needs to be full and requires a solid terminal length. You’ll need to comb regularly and use beard-trimming scissors to maintain your desired length. It’s more mountain man than city slicker, but who are we to tell you what to do with your facial hair.
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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