A man with the military mustache style.

How to Do a Military Mustache

Some branches of the military require that a mustache not extend beyond the corners of the mouth, be less than a 1/2-inch in length and not conceal any part of the upper lip. Unless you’re enlisted, however, you can grow it out a bit more and adhere to your own regulations.

How to Do the Military Mustache Step-by-Step

  • 1

    Use your Wahl trimmer to closely trim all facial hair on your cheeks, chin and neck, leaving the mustache intact.

  • 2

    Use your trimmer to remove any mustache whiskers that extend beyond the corners of your mouth (or a 1/4-inch beyond, depending on which branch of service you prefer).

  • 3

    With your trimmer, trim the bottom of the mustache until you have a strong lower edge that is flush with the uppermost border of your upper lip. Use the trimmer guide to trim all whiskers to a uniform length of 1/2-inch or less.

What to use

Lithium Ion+™ Stainless Steel Grooming Kit

Lithium Ion+™ Stainless Steel Grooming Kit

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LITHIUM ION™ MULTIGROOM

Lithium Ion™ MultiGroom

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LITHIUM ION™ TOTAL BEARD

Lithium Ion™ Total Beard

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POWERPRO™ CORDED CLIPPER / TRIMMER

PowerPro™ Corded Clipper / Trimmer

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Beard & Stubble Rechargeable Trimmer

Beard & Stubble Rechargeable Trimmer

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Need help deciding what you need?

Wahl offers trimmers and grooming kits that let you achieve the look you want and keep it looking great.

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More Mustache Style Tips

Combing Your Mustache

A man combing his mustache.

Always comb hair straight down before you trim.

Lining Your Mustache

A man lining his mustache with a Wahl trimmer.

Use a compact precision ground trimmer—like the Wahl Mustache Trimmer—for great lines and hard-to-reach areas like under the nose.

Shaping Your Mustache Without a Guide Comb

A man shaping his mustache with a Wahl trimmer.

Experiment with different styles to see what shape suits your face or personality best.

Shaping Your Mustache With a Guide Comb

A man shaping his mustache with a Wahl trimmer and attachment head.

When trimming with a guide comb, work from inside out and cut in a downward motion.

Applying the Right Pressure

A man using just enough pressure to trim away hair from his mustache with a Wahl trimmer and attachment head.

Applying too much pressure with your trimmer may remove more hair than desired.

Using a Taper Guide to Trim

A man using a taper guide to trim the mustache hair above his lip.

Use the taper guide comb post trim to refine or tighten up any whiskers above the lip.

Maintaining Your Facial Hair Between Trims

A man maintaining his facial hair between trims.

Remember, style dictates the amount of time you need before trims.

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