November: falling leaves, longer nights, wrapping up warm and, for some of us, growing a moustache. Movember is a campaign to raise funds for men’s health projects and bring back those upper-lip bristles.
BBC Bitesize takes a look at spectacular face-fuzz past & present, and asks a barber his tips on how to grow a moustache in style.
But first let's start with some inspiration
Image caption, Benson Boone and his tash
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How to grow a moustache
Chad Beardmore has been cutting hair, beards and moustaches for over 17 years and opened his own Mr Beardmore’s Barber Shop in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in 2015.
“When you’re starting out it’s best to let everything grow for a couple of weeks — even areas you don’t plan to keep,” Chad says.
This will help you see your natural growth pattern and density before you start shaping. Then “once you’ve got an idea of what grows strongest, you can start defining just the moustache area”.
When to trim
Chad says early on the key is patience. “Resist the temptation to trim too soon and trim gradually, you can always take more off but you can’t put it back on.”
The biggest mistake he sees is trimming straight across too early. “This can ruin the natural shape and make the moustache look thin or uneven,” Chad says.
For shaping he recommends, very carefully, using small, sharp barber scissors or a precision trimmer for control. “Comb the hair downwards first to catch any uneven lengths.”
How to help a moustache grow
-Brush it daily. Chad keeps a comb in his car, “just like hair on your head, it trains the direction of growth and keeps it tidy”.
-You can tint a moustache if you want a fuller appearance. “There are semi-permanent tints made specifically for facial hair that give a natural result,” Chad says.
-A good quality beard or moustache wax is essential for control and shape. Chad recommends adding a touch of moustache oil to help “soften the hair and prevent irritation around the lips”.
The Classic Chevron
Full, natural and easy to maintain. Think Henry Cavill — it suits thicker growth and gives a confident, traditional look.
The Pencil
A neat, fine line just above the lip. It works well if your hair grows lighter or patchier, and it’s low-maintenance. You’ll see versions of this on people like Paul Mescal when they’ve gone for a cleaner, stylish edge.
The Handlebar
Bold, vintage, and great for anyone whose hair grows longer at the edges. Taika Waititi and Matty Healy (The 1975) have both sported creative twists on this — it’s perfect if you want a bit of personality and flair.
Historical face hair
Image caption, Freddie Mercury with surely one of the most famous moustaches in the world
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Movember: what’s it for?
Movember is a charity known for asking people to grow a moustache during November, with money raised from sponsorship going towards men's health projects around the world. Since 2003, funds raised have gone to over 1,320 men’s health projects across 20 different countries worldwide.
How did it start?
In 2003 two friends (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) in Melbourne, Australia, came up with the idea, to make moustaches cool again all for a good cause.
By the following year, 480 people had signed up to grow one and they raised over £21,000. This was donated to prostate cancer research and a movement was born. In 2007, Movember made it to the UK, Canada, USA and Spain, working alongside men’s cancer charities. They’ve been expanding ever since.
How many people take part?
By 2024, Movember had over 285,000 people take part across 20 countries, raising £69.8 million. Since the beginning, the charity had logged 6 million participants either growing a moustache, sponsoring and supporting growers or attending their events to raise money.
This article was published November 2025
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