How long it takes to grow a mustache is different for each guy. A mustache doesn’t grow overnight. It is a fun and worthwhile project to grow a mustache for Movember or any other time of the year. In this article, I’ll describe how long it takes to a mustache and the factors involved in how long it takes.
How long does it take to grow a mustache? On average, it takes a guy the following time to grow a mustache:
- About 4 to 6 days to grow a basic infant mustache
- About 15 to 20 days to grow a mustache that you can start to groom and style
- About a month to grow a thick mustache
- About 3 to 4 months for a thick, bushy, fully developed mustache
Facial hairs grow three times faster than the hairs on your scalp. While this is true, a mustache will take quite a bit of time before it fully develops.
Nine factors that affect how long it takes for a mustache to grow are as follows:
- Genetics
- Ethnicity
- Testosterone
- Age
- Stress
- Diet
- Smoking
- Exercise
- Sleep
Read on to learn more about how long it takes to grow a mustache, including the time it takes for different styles and the factors involved.
How Long Does It Take to Grow a Mustache?
On average, it takes a guy the following time to grow a mustache:
- About 4 to 6 days to grow a basic infant mustache
- About 15 to 20 days to grow a mustache that you can start to groom and style
- About a month to grow a thick mustache
- About 3 to 4 months for a thick, bushy, fully developed mustache
The actual duration will depend on several factors for each individual, too. However, the given figure is just an approximation.
Mustaches grow on most men, but not all have them. The first time a mustache appears is when they become teenagers, about 15 to 16 years old. Some men have their first growth when they are already 25 years old. If you are already 30 years old and still haven’t seen a single strand of mustache growing on your face, it’s time to forget it.
For teenagers, the best advice to follow is to allow their mustache to grow naturally. Don’t shave it off, thinking that it will grow thicker and faster if you do. More importantly, never force your mustache to grow by using questionable growth products.
What Are the Different Types of Mustaches and How Long to Grow Each Type?
There are many different styles of mustaches, and each has a different length of time it takes to grow and fully develop. Each guy has a style of mustache that best suits him. Choose the best mustache that will enhance the shape of your face.
Here are the different types of mustaches and the approximate length of time it takes for each type to fully develop.
1. Chevron
The chevron style is a thick and full mustache. It partially covers the top lip. This style is sharper than other full mustaches. Tom Selleck sports this mustache style. It is also wider and angled. This style is only fitting for grown-up men.
It is also best for men with oval-shaped faces. Chevron can also fit with nearly all facial shapes. The time required to grow a full chevron is between 3 to 4 months.
2. Walrus
Walrus is very similar to the style of chevron. The difference is that the walrus style fully covers the upper lip or half of the mouth. Stalin and Theodore Roosevelt are two examples of men who wore this style of mustache. A living example is the Hollywood actor Sam Elliott.
The walrus needs a long time to grow fully, especially if your facial hair is not that thick. But if you have natural bushy growth, you can fully develop this style in a little over three months. That is from clean-shaven to full-grown walrus. Resist the urge to trim it until the hair gives you trouble swallowing your food.
3. Horseshoe
The horseshoe mustache is named after its shape – a horseshoe. Basically, it is similar to a goatee that has no hair at the bottom center. That portion is shaved off. This style is also very easy to grow. It may take around four months to grow a fully developed horseshoe mustache.
However, you have to be diligent in trimming it and shaving off your chin’s hair if you want to maintain its horseshoe shape. A good example is Ben Stiller’s horseshoe mustache.
4. Handlebar
This type of mustache has both ends curling upwards. The upward curling hairs at the end are shaped that way with the help of styling wax. If you can spare more time for styling, you should try the handlebar mustache.
In other words, this style takes time. It takes a short time to decide if you want it. But how long does it take to grow a handlebar mustache? It will take you at least three months to fully develop a handlebar mustache. Basically, there are two phases in creating the handlebar mustache.
The first phase involves developing a stubble. You need to develop a full mustache, a goatee, or even a beard. Phase 2 is where the hair growths become very itchy and may even creep into your mouth. You may be tempted to trim these hairs, but don’t!
This phase will only last about a couple of weeks. So hang in there. After you pass the second phase, you can now go to phase 3, which is the final phase. By now, you have a juvenile handlebar. The middle hairs have not reached the ends yet, but it already looks like a fully grown handlebar from a distance. Endure it, and in due time, you will have a full-grown handlebar mustache.
5. Pencil
The pencil mustache is a very thin group of facial hairs that line the upper lip. It is very thin because it is always trimmed like the point of a pencil. Moreover, it only takes a very short time to develop this mustache style at approximately less than three months. But since it needs frequent trimming, it takes a lot of time to keep it that way.
6. Imperial
The imperial style implies royalty because it was named after the last German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II. It is a mustache that has both ends ending up in the upper cheeks. To develop the imperial style, you need to have very thick, coarse hair. Your facial hair should not be too curly, as well.
It will take a long time to train your hair in this manner. If you can spare more than three months to develop it, then give it a go. But remember, you need to have natural hair resources to do it. If you don’t have it, you’ll be wasting your time.
So we’ve answered the question, ‘how long does it take for a mustache to grow’; next, let’s look at the factors that influence the growth of the mustache.
What Are the Factors That Influence the Growth of a Mustache?
I have already mentioned that if you aren’t able to grow a mustache at 30 years old, it is very unlikely to have one. Many factors can influence the growth or non-growth of facial hairs. Here are some of those contributing factors:
1. Genetics
The first suspect is, of course, genetics. Generally, if you’ve not seen your father with a good mustache and beard all his life, chances are, you won’t be able to grow one. While this can be true, it is still possible if this trait is not handed over to you by your father. Your mother’s lineage could make it possible for you to grow a mustache.
In general, those who can grow mustaches and beards have a Y chromosome. It bears the genes that determine if you will be a male.
2. Ethnicity
Your ethnic background or race also contributes if you can grow a mustache or whether you will have a thin mustache and not a thick one. Generally, most Asians find it hard to grow thick mustaches and beards. Most Caucasians, on the other hand, have no trouble developing thick facial hairs. But, of course, there are always exceptions.
3. Testosterone
Your testosterone level has a great deal to do with you having or not having thick facial hair. During puberty, you can develop vellus, which are thin facial hairs. As you grow older, your facial hairs become thicker and darker because of testosterone, which is continuously produced in your system.
As you mature, more hair will grow on your face, under your arms, and on your private parts. But if a person’s testosterone levels are low, the hair growth in his face and other parts of his body will be weaker and slower.
4. Age
Typically, facial and body hairs start appearing in males who are entering the age of puberty. This is about their 13th year and onwards. Between ages 25 and 35, men have a lot of chances to grow and develop their facial hair. Some call this period the “beard prime.” During this period, men can expect to grow healthy and thick mustaches and beards.
After this period, some men may experience a decline in their facial hair growth. But this is not true for all. Most men will continue to enjoy growing healthy beards up to their advanced years. It is the hairs on their tops that experience a growth decline.
5. Stress
Stress is something that you must avoid if you are growing a mustache or beard. If you want a strong immunity against diseases, you need to manage your stress effectively. Low immunity levels result in low hair growth on the scalp as well as the face. If you are under stress or pressure, do some yoga exercises, meditation, and the like, so that your facial hair growth won’t be affected.
6. Diet
A faulty diet can also hamper the growth of your facial hair. Eating the wrong stuff will delay the time that your mustache could grow. You should include foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E in your diet. Take supplements like silica, selenium, zinc, iron, and magnesium if you want to grow a mustache as fast as possible.
You should also consume a lot of protein foods to help boost the growth of your facial hair. Eat more chicken, fish, eggs, salmon, tofu, and yogurt. Protein should constitute about 25 percent of your daily intake of calories.
7. Smoking
There is evidence that shows smoking may cause hair loss. If you are trying to grow a mustache, it’s about time you ditch this unhealthy habit.
8. Exercise
Lack of exercise is another factor. When you engage in regular exercises, your testosterone level will increase. This hormone is responsible for facial hair growth. Exercise also enhances your blood circulation.
9. Sleep
Lack of sleep is also another factor. When you sleep, your body temperature drops. This drop causes increased blood circulation. Increased blood circulation means more blood going to the hair follicles in your body, including the area where your mustache grows.
How to Grow a Mustache Faster
You can follow the useful tips below to help speed up the growth rate of your mustache:
1. Clean Your Face Regularly
Regular facial cleaning will open up the pores of your skin and clear bacteria, allowing your skin to breathe freely.
2. Exfoliate Your Face
Exfoliate to get rid of the barrier of dead skin cells on your face. If they are not removed, they will block the normal growth of your facial hair. Use an exfoliator that is designed for your skin type.
3. Moisturize Your Face
You need to keep your face hydrated by moisturizing it. Use a moisturizer that contains eucalyptus. It is the best for moisturizing and hydrating your face.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
Stay away from junk and processed foods. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, include protein in your diet. Good sources of protein are fish, lean meat, eggs, and chicken.
Milk and other dairy products, along with olive oil, should comprise around 25 percent of your diet. Protein should also be about 25 percent. The rest should consist of carbohydrates such as whole grains, potatoes, and the like.
5. Take Vitamin Supplements
Supplement your dietary requirements by taking vitamins B1, B6, and B12. These vitamins are known to speed up the growth rate of facial hair.
Conclusion – How Long Does It Take to Grow a Mustache?
So, to answer the question: How long does it take to grow a mustache? On average, it takes a guy the following time to grow a mustache:
- About 4 to 6 days to grow a basic infant mustache
- About 15 to 20 days to grow a mustache that you can start to groom and style
- About a month to grow a thick mustache
- About 3 to 4 months for a thick, bushy, fully developed mustache
Facial hairs grow three times faster than the hairs on your scalp. While this is true, a mustache will also take a little more time before it fully develops.