Problem: Hairs Curling Into Your Mouth

There is a specific misery known only to mustache wearers: the hair that curls under the lip and into the mouth, so that every bite, sip, and sentence comes with a side of your own whiskers. It is the most common reason people trim too aggressively and the leading cause of the "I'll just shave it" moment. It is also very fixable.

Why It Happens

Growth direction. Upper lip hair naturally grows downward, and the hairs closest to the lip curve under it as they lengthen. Coarse or curly hair does this more.

Length without training. Between the first month and the first real styling routine, hair is long enough to reach the mouth but has not been trained to lay outward.

Wet hair. Water makes the hair heavy, and it drops straight down. This is why the problem is worst after a shower or while drinking.

No lip-line maintenance. The lip line needs cleaning up every week or two. Skip a few weeks and the hair will find your mouth.

Fix One: Trim the Lip Line

The fastest relief. With a dry, combed mustache:

1. Comb everything straight down.
2. Using the comb to hold the hair flat against the lip, snip the hairs that hang below the edge of the upper lip. Small cuts, center outward, one side then the other.
3. Keep the blades parallel to the lip line.
4. Stop when the hair sits at the lip line rather than below it.

If you want a fuller look that still stays out of your mouth, let the body grow but keep just the bottom row of hair trimmed to the lip. That creates a clean underside without shrinking the mustache. Full technique in How to Trim.

Fix Two: Train It Outward

This is the long-term solution, and it is mostly combing:

• Every morning, comb down, then comb out to the sides, from the center toward the corners of the mouth. Repeat several times.
• After meals and washing, comb again.
• When the hair is slightly damp, comb it outward and let it dry in that position.

Over a few weeks, the hairs learn to lay sideways rather than curling under. Longer mustaches eventually hold this shape on their own; shorter ones need a daily reminder.

Fix Three: A Little Hold

A small amount of balm or a light wax, combed through and then shaped outward with the fingers, keeps trained hair in place all day. You do not need handlebar-strength wax for this; a medium hold is plenty. Apply to dry hair. See Mustache Wax 101.

For handlebar wearers, the traditional fix is to wax the whole mustache outward and upward, which keeps the entire thing clear of the mouth. That is, historically, one of the reasons the style exists.

Fix Four: Let It Get Longer

Counterintuitive but true. A very long mustache (walrus territory) often stays out of the mouth better than a medium one, because the weight of the hair pulls it down over the lip rather than under it, and a daily comb lays it flat. If you are growing toward a long style, the hair-in-mouth phase is temporary.

Eating and Drinking

Some practical tips while you train it:

• Comb outward right before eating.
• Drink from the side of a glass, or use a straw; mustache guards for mugs exist and are not as ridiculous as they sound.
• Keep a small comb and a napkin handy.
• Rinse and comb after meals so food does not dry in the hair and drag it down.

What Not to Do

• Do not shave the bottom edge higher and higher. You end up with a thin strip above a bare lip, which looks unintentional and takes a month to regrow.
• Do not pull or bite the offending hairs. Pulled hairs regrow with sharp tips that are worse.
• Do not trim wet. Wet hair looks longer and lays lower; you will overcut.

Summary

Trim the lip line, comb it outward every day, add a touch of hold, and give it time. Within a few weeks, your sandwiches will be mustache-free again.

Mr. Stach grooming content is educational and not medical advice.