There are many different mustache styles and if a gentleman wants to grow a long mustache, he will have a variety to choose from. Some of the more popular long mustache styles include the fu Manchu, the Dali, the handlebar, and the chevron. Other styles include the horseshoe, the villain and the cowboy. Each of these styles can have their own variations as well, and each mustache is bound to be as individual as the person who wears it.
The classic fu Manchu is a long mustache that droops down along the sides of the face and usually extends below the chin. It typically has a medium width and might or might not connect with a narrow beard, depending upon individual preference. A Dali mustache is almost the opposite of a fu Manchu. It is long and thin, and cures up at the cheek bones, sometimes extending upward as far as the eyes. The ends of a Dali are kept pointy and well-groomed with mustache wax.
Another type of long mustache is the old-style handlebar. It is called a handlebar because it is roughly shaped like the handlebars of a bicycle. This type of mustache is thick inside, towards the nose, hooks upward, and tapers to a point. A handlebar mustache can either be worn long or short, although an old-style handlebar is usually a long mustache that extends past the corners of the mouth and curves up to the mid-cheek area.
A chevron mustache can be worn long or mid-length. Generally, it is a thick, boomerang-shaped mustache that extends onto the upper lip and slightly below the corners of the mouth. Probably one of the most well-known chevron mustaches was sported by the actor Tom Selleck in his role as “Magnum, P.I.”
If a person grows a long mustache that is similar in style to a fu Manchu, but is thicker, it is known as a “horseshoe” mustache. The horseshoe mustache generally extends to the chin, but can be grown longer, extending several inches below the chin. Again, the exact length really depends upon an individual’s style and taste.
Although less popular than other styles, the classic “villain” mustache is still sported by some men. The villain, sometimes called an “English” mustache, is long, narrow and pointy, extending almost straight out from under the nose but with a very slight curve up at the ends. Mustache wax is used to keep this type of long mustache very thin and straight.
Finally, for men who enjoy a large amount of facial hair, the cowboy mustache might suit their style. This mustache is a thick, bushy flock of hair shaped like a semi-circle, usually extending well below the upper lip. If this style of long mustache is grown so that it droops down past the corners of the mouth, it is sometimes referred to as a “walrus” mustache. This type of mustache has been classically worn by such popular actors as Wilfred Brimley and Sam Elliot.