TORONTO – For the entire month of Movember, once known as November, thousands of men across the country will grow and groom a moustache in support of men’s health.
“For every style of moustache there is a different personality,” says Movember Canada. “You will become that man, you will be treated as that man and you will act like that man. It’s important you like who he is.”
For three years in a row, Canada was among the top fundraisers in the world in raising money for Movember, an annual campaign that aims to increase awareness and engagement about men’s health with a particular focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.
READ MORE: What makes the Movember movement so successful?
While growing a moustache to most well-known styles like the regent or handlebar in one month can be difficult, keeping cheeks clean shaven will help make your moustache more pronounced.
“Your moustache depends on how you can grow facial hair,” says Chris Hammell from Town Barber in Toronto. “Not everyone can get it to a certain point that’s needed to pull off a regent or a handlebar moustache.”
Grooming and styling tips
Hammell says that while men grow their Mo’s, it’s important for them to get past anything that is frustrating them.
“If you get itchy, use moisturizers and oils,” he says. “Trim over the lip to make sure you can eat certain foods. You don’t want any facial hair catching your dinner before it gets in your mouth.”
Movember Canada says on its website that men who want a cleaner shave should soak their face with a hot and moist washcloth for a minute or so first and should take their time when shaving.
“You’ll get a cleaner shave and you’re less likely to cut yourself.”
Which Mo should I grow?
Do you envy Freddie Mercury’s handlebar (yes, of course you do) or will a classic Magnum/Selleck decorate your lip?
Here’s a look at some common styles Movember Canada suggests you can sport this November and at just some (we know there are many) of the famous faces who have (or had) them.
The regent
Parted in the middle, straight across the bottom, “a well maintained Tom Selleck,” Hammell says.
Worn famously by: Tom Selleck
The trucker (a.k.a. the handlebar)
Frames the side of the mouth, the moustache consists of having long, curved ends that resemble the handlebars of a bicycle.
Worn famously by: Freddie Mercury
Worn famously by: Hulk Hogan
The box car
Popular during the Great Depression, Hammell describes this moustache as one that “is just there.”
“No definition in the middle, no part,” he says. “It’s just straight across the lip and is groomed a bit on the shorter end.”
Canada’s late New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton (seen below) famously had one.
Worn famously by: Jack Layton
The connoisseur
Hammell says this style is pretty hard to accomplish within a month as it’s “very pronounced in the middle and the ends curl up.”
Editor’s note: We aren’t sure who this fellow is below, but we are just simply impressed with his stylish connoisseur so we included him in this list.
The after eight
“Think of an old butler,” Hammel says. “Parted in the middle, the after eight moustache is fairly thin, but not as much as the wisp moustache.”
The wisp
“Very thin, often reserved for men who cannot grow a thicker moustache,” says Hammell.
Worn famously by:John Galliano
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