Your moustache is finally showing its true colours, but you may be struggling to wrangle stray hairs or to keep your bristles clean. This helpful guide will keep your Mo looking, and smelling, its best.

Congratulations, you’ve reached the halfway Mo mark. Don’t feel much like rejoicing because you’re too busy tackling unruly hairs? Don’t worry, our friends in Australia’s Uncle Rocco’s Barber Shop and America’s Blind Barber gave us the inside scoop on keeping it neat this Movember.

Prep work and patience

• Allow 7-10 days of upper-lip growth before you start to shape/direct the Mo. For some it’ll be closer to 15 days…
• Inspect your moustache carefully and understand the directional and growth patterns of your facial hair. It may be surprising to learn some hairs grow in sideways.
• Be sure to exfoliate and condition both skin and facial hair.
• Don't let it ALL go. Keep those nose hairs away from the Mo growth. Trim anything growing down towards your Mo.

Do it right -  the proper equipment

• Moustache wax is your best friend.
• Be sure to have the following available:
  • Good bristle comb/small moustache combs.
  • A nice pair of a T-Edge trimmers (available at any neighborhood apothecary).
  • Small scissors

Get to know your tools and how they feel, how they move and what they are going to do to the hair. If you have clippers, know the weight,  know how they cut and know how they pull. Your tools are really going to make your cut, in combination with your skill, so make sure to take care of them.

Making the cut

• First time trimming your Mo? Be confident and follow these tips. Still apprehensive? Head over to your local barbershop.
• Using a fine-toothed comb, gently rake your moustache so the hairs all run in one direction. Rein in any strays.
• Dampen the moustache hair - wet hair is easier to cut, but dry hair easier to trim. It is important to note that wet hair does bounce up when dry. Don’t snip too short - you’ve been warned.
• Using scissors, trim the long or stray hairs on the outer edge and bottom line of your Mo. Use your comb to restrain your Mo while you snip away. Remember to trim conservatively - you can always go over it again.

Keep an eye on the Movember News page for weekly tips from the barber.

Check out Moustachery for more