Stach Care Surviving the Awkward Stage
Weeks two through five are where mustaches go to die. Here is why the awkward stage happens, how long it lasts, and how to get through it with your dignity and your lip hair intact.
There is a window, roughly from day ten to day thirty-five, when a new mustache is long enough to be noticed and short enough to look like a mistake. Mr. Stach calls it the Awkward Stage. Everyone who has ever grown a mustache has been through it. Most people who fail at growing a mustache failed right here. Let's talk about how to not be one of them.
What Is Happening
Your mustache hairs do not all start at the same time or grow at the same rate. In week two, some are a quarter inch and some are barely there. Color is uneven. The hair is not long enough to lay down, so it sticks straight out. The outline is undefined. It doesn't look like a mustache yet; it looks like you were too busy to shave.
On top of that, the skin is adjusting. New hair can itch. Your lip feels strange. You are hyper-aware of it in every mirror and every photo.
None of this is a sign that it is not working. It is exactly what working looks like at week two.
How Long It Lasts
For most people, the worst of it is weeks two through four. By week five or six, the hair is long enough to comb flat, the outline is visible, and it reads as a mustache. People with faster or denser growth get through it sooner; people with lighter growth take a bit longer.
The important number is six weeks. Almost everyone who gets to week six keeps going, because at week six it finally looks like something.
The Rules
1. Do not trim for shape. You will be tempted to "clean it up." Every hair you remove now is a hair you will want in a month. The only acceptable trimming is clearing hairs that are poking into your mouth.
2. Do not shave the edges. Tightening the edges at week two leaves you with a thin strip that takes another month to regrow. Leave the outline alone until the mustache has filled in and you can see what you are working with.
3. Comb it every day. Even when there is barely anything to comb. Combing downward starts training the hair early and makes the stubble look more intentional. See combs.
4. Keep the skin happy. Wash gently, dry, and use a drop or two of oil. Itch is the second biggest reason people quit, and it is mostly a dry-skin problem.
5. Keep the rest of your face sharp. A clean shave around the mustache, a neat haircut, and tidy eyebrows make a short mustache look like a decision instead of neglect. This is the single best trick for the awkward stage.
6. Commit out loud. Tell people you are growing a mustache. "Yes, I'm growing it out" ends the conversation. Mumbling about it invites commentary.
7. Stop studying it. Checking the mirror hourly makes every day feel like no progress. Check it once a week. Take a photo on day one and on day fourteen; the difference will surprise you.
Dealing With Comments
You will get some. "Are you growing something?" "Is that on purpose?" "It's looking... interesting." The correct response is a calm yes and a change of subject. Humor helps: "It's a work in progress. So am I." Nobody is as interested in your upper lip as you think. By week six, the same people will have stopped noticing, and by week ten some of them will be asking for advice.
Patchy or Slow?
If week four arrives and you still have gaps, do not panic. Many mustaches fill in with length; longer hairs overlap thinner areas. Give it until week eight or ten before judging. If it is still patchy then, we have a whole guide for patchy mustaches with style options that work with sparser growth.
A Word on Timing
If you can, start during a stretch when you are not facing a big wedding, a job interview, or your passport photo. Vacation, a long weekend, or the start of a month with no major events is ideal. Many people start in November for exactly this reason: there is a built-in excuse and a community doing it alongside you.
The Payoff
Weeks two through five are the price of admission. They are uncomfortable, they are slightly embarrassing, and they end. On the other side is a mustache. Keep combing, keep your hands off the scissors, and let it do its thing.
Mr. Stach grooming content is educational and not medical advice.
Grooming content is educational and not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the mustache awkward stage last?
Typically from about week two through week four or five. By week six, most mustaches are long enough to comb flat and look intentional.
Should I trim my mustache during the awkward stage?
No, except to clear hairs poking into your mouth. Trimming for shape or tightening the edges this early removes hair you will need for coverage later.
How do I make a short new mustache look intentional?
Comb it daily, keep the rest of your face cleanly shaved and your hair neat, and tell people you are growing it out. A tidy face makes a short mustache read as a choice.
My mustache is patchy at week four. Should I give up?
Not yet. Many mustaches fill in as the hair gets longer and overlaps. Give it eight to ten weeks before deciding, then look at styles suited to lighter growth.
