1 How to grow it

One word: patience. You’ll need to have as much hair as possible to work with before deciding on a style. Consider growing a beard if you don’t already have one, this will help to shield the awkward inbetween stage as hairs begin to sprout atop the lip (and help to mask patchy areas). Facial hair will grow around ½ an inch a month, so it may take some time before trimmers are required.

2 How to style it

Once you’ve got enough length to style it, it’s time to seek professional help. No, but seriously, no one can sculpt a handlebar like a pro barber. Before kick-starting your grand design, make sure to layer up the products to keep the hairs – and skin beneath – extra healthy. Get your hands on a rich moisturiser to nourish your face and a beard oil for hair TLC.

3 Which style should I choose?

The choice is yours – fact. The general guidance goes that if your jaw is 'strong' (Ryan Gosling, Henry Cavill), you’ll carry off a full moustache with ease. If your face is more oval, try a ‘beardstache’ combo instead. As for the names, the classic does what the name suggests – think Tom Seleck. The ‘skimmer’ is a Jamie-Foxx-style minimal number, and the handlebar needs absolutely no description. If you don’t know, you’re not ready.

4 How do I maintain it?

The holy grail tools: a good trimmer, and a pair of facial hair scissors. Or both. Once you’ve grown the hair to optimum length (i.e. long enough to style), you should be trimming it around every three-four days. That’ll keep pesky strays controlled. Do this while the hairs are dry (so you can see the true length). Invest in a good comb. to help straighten the hairs for trimming and styling. Also, looks pretty suave on your bathroom shelf. ​

With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area for your next wax.