A Complete Guide to Mustache Styles: 13 Trending Looks for 2026

The mustache is having its biggest moment in decades. After years of full beards dominating men's grooming, the standalone stache has reclaimed center stage. Miles Teller's Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick sparked the wave. Henry Cavill, Travis Kelce, Timothée Chalamet, Ranveer Singh, and Vicky Kaushal kept it climbing. Stache-only is now one of the most requested looks at barbershops worldwide.

Whether you're growing your first one or refining what you already wear, here's the complete guide to the best mustache styles worth knowing this year, including which one fits your face shape and how to grow each one properly.

Quick Key Takeaways

The most popular mustache styles in 2026 are the Chevron (Tom Selleck's signature), the Beardstache (Henry Cavill's go-to), and the Pencil (Clark Gable refined for the modern era). Square and oval faces have the most flexibility across styles. Most mustaches take 4 to 8 weeks to reach a workable length. If it's your first time, start with the Chevron.

Why Mustaches Are Trending in 2026

Today's mustache revival looks nothing like the hipster handlebar wave of the early 2010s. This time, the styles read confident, modern, and mainstream. 

The Chevron is leading the charge as the cleanest, most masculine version of the look. The Beardstache is the bridge style for guys easing in from a full beard. The Pencil mustache has come back in a big way for those who want a refined, sharp finish. And styles that almost disappeared, like the Handlebar and Dalí, are showing up again on red carpets and runways.

How to Choose the Right Mustache for Your Face Shape

The single biggest factor in whether a mustache flatters you is whether it balances your face shape. The principle is simple. Pick a style that adds width where your face reads long, adds vertical or horizontal lines where you read round, or maintains symmetry where you're already balanced.

If you're not sure of your face shape, the easiest test is to measure across your cheekbones and from hairline to chin. Similar numbers mean square or round. Length significantly greater than width means oblong. Narrower at the chin than the cheekbones means heart.

Thick Mustache Styles

1. The Chevron

Grow time: 6 to 8 weeks | Difficulty: Easy | Best face shapes: Oval, Square, Long | Notable wearers: Tom Selleck, Freddie Mercury, Henry Cavill

The undisputed king of 2026 mustache styles. The Chevron mustache is thick, full, and follows the natural shape of the upper lip in a soft inverted V. It covers the entire upper lip without curving past the corners of the mouth. The current revival is largely about this style.

How to grow it: Let your mustache grow naturally for at least 6 weeks without trimming. Train the hairs downward with a mustache comb every morning. Apply beard growth oil daily to support healthy density. Once you have full coverage, use beard scissors to trim hairs sitting on or below the upper lip line.

How to maintain it: Trim the bottom edge weekly to keep hair out of your mouth. Comb down each morning to set direction. Apply a light wax or biotin growth balm for shape and softness. Avoid thinning the center, which kills the Chevron's signature density.

2. The Walrus 

Grow time: 4 to 6 months | Difficulty: Medium (mostly patience) | Best face shapes: Oval, Square, Long | Notable wearers: Sam Elliott, Theodore Roosevelt, Nick Offerman

A bigger, bolder, longer version of the Chevron, the Walrus mustache drapes over the upper lip and often past the corners of the mouth in a thick, bushy statement. This Wild West mustache style was famously worn by Sam Elliott. 

How to grow it: Skip trimming entirely for at least 16 weeks. Use beard growth vitamins to support density across the long growth window. Apply beard growth oil daily to keep skin healthy as the mustache thickens. Comb downward throughout the growth phase to train direction.

How to maintain it: Trim only when hair reaches a length that interferes with eating or speaking. Brush daily with a mustache comb to prevent tangles. Use a derma roller two to three times per week to encourage continued density. Condition with beard oil to keep coarse hairs soft.

3. The Lampshade Mustache

Grow time: 6 to 8 weeks | Difficulty: Medium | Best face shapes: Oval, Square, Round | Notable wearers: Eddie Murphy, Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick)

A trapezoidal mustache trimmed wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, never extending past the corners of the mouth. The Lampshade 'stache gives you the precision of a styled mustache without requiring wax or daily training. Miles Teller's Rooster look is a near-perfect Lampshade and a key reason the style is back.

How to grow it: Grow a full Chevron base first, about 6 to 8 weeks. Don't shape until you have enough material to work with. Apply oil daily to keep skin and hair healthy through growth.

How to maintain it: Use a t-blade trimmer to define the side angles. Trim the ends right above the upper lip line, following the curve of the lip. Round out the bottom edges so they angle inward rather than dropping straight down. Re-trim weekly to maintain the shape.

4. The Hungarian

Grow time: 4 to 6 months | Difficulty: Hard | Best face shapes: Oval, Square | Notable wearers: Franz Joseph I of Austria, modern style enthusiasts

The biggest and bushiest of the thick mustache styles, the Hungarian mustache extends well past the corners of the mouth in a dramatic statement. Built for confidence and worn historically by Hungarian cavalrymen.

How to grow it: Same patience required as the Walrus, at least 16 weeks of untouched growth. Brush outward daily to train hairs to extend laterally. Use beard growth vitamins and oil consistently across the long growth window. Avoid any trimming until full volume is established.

How to maintain it: Apply strong-hold mustache wax daily to control the edges. Brush from the center outward to maintain shape. Trim only stragglers, never the bulk. A pocket mustache comb is essential for on-the-go shape correction.

5. The Painter’s Brush

Grow time: 6 to 10 weeks | Difficulty: Easy | Best face shapes: Square, Oval, Long | Notable wearers: Military officers, classic Hollywood actors

Cleaner than a Walrus, fuller than a Chevron, the Painter's Brush mustache is a thick, even mustache that extends slightly past the corners of the mouth without dramatic shaping. The look reads disciplined and effortless at the same time.

How to grow it: Let it grow naturally for 6 to 10 weeks. Train hair to grow flat across the lip. Apply beard growth oil daily for skin and hair health.

How to maintain it: Trim only to maintain an even bottom edge. Use a soft-bristle beard brush to keep hair smooth. Apply a light layer of wax or beard cream for frizz control. Avoid sharp shaped edges. The appeal here is natural fullness.

6. The Zappa

Grow time: 8 to 12 weeks | Difficulty: Medium | Best face shapes: Square, Angular | Notable wearers: Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa didn’t just create legendary music—he also pioneered one of the boldest mustache styles in history. The Zappa mustache is a thick, untamed mustache paired with a soul patch directly below the lower lip. The two pieces stay disconnected and the look reads creative and unapologetic. Best on guys with naturally dense facial hair.

How to grow it: Let the mustache and soul patch grow simultaneously. Shave the chin and cheek lines clean to isolate both. Apply beard growth oil daily to support density.

How to maintain it: Trim the soul patch neatly to contrast with mustache fullness. Brush the mustache regularly to keep it from looking unkempt. Use a mild wax if the mustache hairs flare too aggressively. Skip over-trimming since the Zappa lives on volume.

7. The Beardstache

Grow time: 6 to 8 weeks for the mustache, ongoing for the beard | Difficulty: Easy to Medium | Best face shapes: All shapes | Notable wearers: Henry Cavill, Travis Kelce, Tom Hardy

The beardstache pairs a prominent, full mustache with shorter, heavy stubble or a closely trimmed beard. The mustache reads as the lead, and the beard reads as support. One of the easiest looks to wear in a professional setting.

How to grow it: Grow the mustache and beard together for at least 6 weeks. Keep the beard trimmed shorter than the mustache from week three onward. Apply beard growth oil to both areas daily.

How to maintain it: Trim the beard to about 4 to 6 mm every 3 to 5 days. Let the mustache continue to grow fuller and longer. Apply mustache wax for extra definition on the upper lip. Use a derma roller on the cheek areas if your beard has some patchiness.

Styled & Shaped Mustache Styles

These styles require wax, training, and ongoing daily attention. The payoff is a mustache you can be proud of, and that turns heads.

8. The Handlebar

Grow time: 3 to 6 months | Difficulty: Hard | Best face shapes: Round, Oval, Long | Notable wearers: Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York), Victorian gentlemen, modern barbers

The iconic curl. A handlebar mustache features a thick center section with long ends that twirl upward using wax. Daily styling required. The most technically demanding out of these trending mustache styles, and one of the most recognizable on the list.

How to grow it: Let the outer thirds grow long, at least 4 inches, before attempting to curl. Keep the center section trimmed to stay above the upper lip. Apply beard growth oil to keep coarse hairs flexible as they grow.

How to maintain it: Apply strong-hold mustache wax to the ends daily. Twist each side upward and outward, training the direction over the course of weeks. Use a fine-tooth mustache comb to detangle before applying wax. Touch up midday if the curl loosens.

9. The Horseshoe

Grow time: 8 to 12 weeks | Difficulty: Medium | Best face shapes: Square, Oval, Long | Notable wearers: Hulk Hogan, bikers, wrestlers

Reconizable as an upside-down "U" shape, the Horseshoe mustache extends past the corners of the mouth and runs vertically down past the chin in two parallel strips. Often confused with the Handlebar, which curls upward instead.

How to grow it: Grow a full Chevron base to start. Once full, shave the chin and surrounding area clean. Leave vertical strips connecting the mustache to the jawline.

How to maintain it: Use a beard trimmer or razor to keep the vertical strips clean. Re-shave the chin and surrounding area every 2 to 3 days. Trim the mustache top edge weekly to maintain shape. Apply oil to keep the longer strips conditioned.

10. The Dalí Mustache

Grow time: 4 to 6 months | Difficulty: Hard | Best face shapes: Oval (and confident wearers of all shapes) | Notable wearers: Salvador Dalí

If you want your mustache to be as much a work of art as you are, the Dalí mustache is for you. Worn famously by Salvador Dalí and rarely seen outside artistic and performance contexts. Pure self-expression.

How to grow it: Grow the ends extremely long over months. Shave the rest of the face clean to isolate the mustache. Apply oil to keep the long facial hairs flexible.

How to maintain it: Use strong-hold mustache wax daily to sculpt the ends upward. Twist the tips into points each morning. Re-set throughout the day as needed. A fine-tooth comb keeps stray hairs from ruining the shape.

11. The English

Grow time: 4 to 6 months | Difficulty: Hard | Best face shapes: Round, Oval, Long | Notable wearers: 19th-century aristocracy, Sherlock Holmes adaptations

The English mustache is a thin, narrow mustache with very long ends extended outward in a near-horizontal line, often slightly curled. Reads as refined and old-world rather than rugged.

How to grow it: Grow the entire mustache long, but train it to stay narrow. Brush the ends outward daily. Trim the top edge tight, near the upper lip line, to maintain the narrow width.

How to maintain it: Apply mustache wax to shape the ends into the outward sweep. Comb daily with a fine-tooth comb. Shave the surrounding area frequently to keep the narrow look defined. Avoid letting the center thicken. Narrow is the entire appeal.

Thin Mustache Styles 

These styles depend on precision rather than fullness. They require daily shaving of the surrounding area and careful trimming.

12. The Pencil 

Grow time: 4 to 6 weeks | Difficulty: Medium | Best face shapes: Round, Oval, Heart, Diamond | Notable wearers: Clark Gable, Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), modern revivalists

The Pencil mustache is a razor-thin line of mustache hair sitting just above the upper lip. reads as sharp, refined, and slightly mischievous. A classic Hollywood look that's seeing renewed momentum in recent years.

How to grow it: Grow a full Chevron base for 4 to 6 weeks. Once you have material, use beard scissors to trim closely along the upper lip. Define the narrow width with a precision trimmer.

How to maintain it: Trim daily to maintain the razor-thin width. Shave the surrounding area each morning to keep edges crisp. Use a fine-tooth comb to keep every hair in line. Apply a small amount of wax for shine.

13. The Parted Pencil Mustache

Grow time: 4 to 6 weeks | Difficulty: Hard | Best face shapes: Round, Oval, Heart, Diamond | Notable wearers: 1930s and 40s Hollywood stars

A Pencil mustache, but with a deliberate gap shaved through the philtrum. The split creates a debonair, vintage look. It's higher-maintenance than the standard Pencil because the mustache gap requires daily attention.

How to grow it: Grow a Pencil mustache first, about 4 to 6 weeks. Shave a clean vertical line through the center. Keep both sides exactly symmetrical.

How to maintain it: Shave the philtrum gap each morning to maintain the split. Trim each side to an identical width and length. Apply a small amount of mustache wax to keep the hairs flat. Use a fine-tooth comb for daily styling.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Mustache?

The honest answer: 4 to 8 weeks for most styles to reach a workable length, and 4 to 6 months for the longer styled options. Mustache hair grows at roughly 0.4 mm per day, or about 12 mm (half an inch) per month. Genetics, age, and overall health all affect personal growth rate.

For faster, fuller results, the proven moves are:

• Daily beard growth oil application morning and night

• A consistent beard growth vitamin routine for at least 12 weeks

• Two to three derma roller sessions per week to stimulate blood flow to follicles

• Biotin growth balm for daytime conditioning and shape

Patchy growth is the most common roadblock. The fix isn't shaving more, which is a persistent myth. The fix is giving slow follicles enough time to catch up, usually 8 to 12 weeks of untouched growth, before deciding whether the style is working. 

How to Maintain Any Mustache Style

Beyond style-specific maintenance, every mustache benefits from the same daily routine:

• Wash 2 to 3 times per week with a dedicated beard wash to clean skin and hair without stripping natural oils

• Apply beard oil daily to soften coarse mustache hairs and keep the skin beneath healthy

• Comb morning and evening with a fine-tooth mustache comb to train growth direction and remove tangles

• Trim weekly with beard scissors for thick styles, more often for thin styles

• Apply wax as needed for styled looks like the Handlebar, Imperial, and Dalí. For a full breakdown. 

For covering grays as your mustache fills out, The Beard Club's beard color products handle both ends of the spectrum. The permanent beard dye lasts 4 to 6 weeks, and the 1-day temporary beard color gives you 30-second touch-ups whenever you need them.

Your Next Step

Whichever style you pick, the path is the same. Give it time, condition the skin and hair underneath, and trim with intention. Your tools deserve as much attention as your patience.

If you're just getting started, The Beard Club's beard growth kits bundle the essentials in one place. The Starter Growth Kit is the easiest entry point, with the Advanced and Ultimate kits for guys committing to longer, fuller styles. Pick your stache, pick your stack, and start growing.

Your Mustache, Your Statement

Nervous to try something new in the world of staches? Don’t be. Facial hair is one of man’s greatest ways to express their style. It's a rite of passage, whether a subtle display, like a goatee or soul patch, or a full-on statement like the Dalí. 

Join the ranks of these and other whiskered icons with help from The Beard Club. From pro grooming tips, like how to trim your mustache, to our catalog of tailored beard care products, you can be on the right track to looking like Burt Reynolds or Freddie Mercury in no time. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best mustache style for a beginner?
The Chevron is the easiest entry point. It grows naturally over 6 to 8 weeks, requires no wax or daily styling, and flatters oval, square, and long face shapes. Tom Selleck made it iconic, and it's the most popular mustache style trending right now.

How long does it take to grow a mustache?
Most mustache styles need 4 to 8 weeks of growth to reach a workable length. Thicker styles, such as the Walrus or Hungarian, require 4 to 6 months to reach full volume. Styled options like the Handlebar and Dalí need 3 to 6 months for the ends to reach proper length.

What's the most popular mustache style in 2026?
The Chevron leads, followed by the Beardstache and the Pencil. Miles Teller's Rooster mustache in Top Gun: Maverick sparked the current revival, and figures like Travis Kelce, Henry Cavill, Timothée Chalamet, Ranveer Singh, and Vicky Kaushal have kept it mainstream.

Which mustache style works for a patchy mustache?
The Beardstache is the best choice for patchy growth. Pairing the mustache with heavy stubble or a short beard masks any thinness in the mustache itself. The Pencil also works well since it depends on precision rather than density.

Do mustaches work for all face shapes?
Yes, but the style choice depends on the shape. Oval faces have the most flexibility. Square faces work with full, thick styles like the Chevron and Walrus. Round faces benefit from styles with horizontal or vertical extension, like the Handlebar. Long faces look best with wide horizontal styles that add width.

Should I use mustache wax or beard oil?
Both, but for different reasons. Apply beard oil daily to condition the hair and keep skin healthy. Use mustache wax for styled looks like the Handlebar, Imperial, English, and Dalí where you need hold to maintain shape. Thick natural styles like the Chevron and Walrus need oil but not wax.

Sources:

Timothee Chalamet Shaves Off His Mustache | People Magazine

Tom Selleck Almost Shaved off His Iconic Mustache | People Magazine

Watch a Beard Model Show You How to Pull Off Henry Cavill's Epic 'Beardstache' | Men's Health

Salvador Dalí talks about his iconic, 'very aggressive' moustache | BBC