HISTORY OF THE MUSTACHE
History has shown ,time in, and time out of the social, political, and historical impact and influence that surrounds and is projected by historical, professional,and yes even cartoon figures
that wheel aMustache.
From the Presidents of the United States , to the Canada Prime Minister's, to World Leaders, to such figures in the cinema as Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin whose mustaches in question were not even real for most of their lives, to rock ledges such as Frank Zappa,and Freddie Mercury, and yes even to Snidely Whiplash the mustache wheels and projects a powerful statement of confidence, control, and profound nobleness in the individual wearing the mustache, and enjoyment to the people that view them
What is a gentlemen without a properly wax mustache?
WHAT IS A MUSTACHE?
A mustache (or moustache) is facial hair usually grown on the upper lip. The term ‘mustache’ implies not only is the wearer of said lip hair all man, but that the wearer grows only the upper lip hair and chooses to shave the hair on his chin and cheeks, whereas growth of all facial hair would constitute a beard as worn primarily by college professors, aging beatniks and men who wander around downtown with whom you don’t want to make eye-contact.
What Is A Handlebar?
In order for a mustache to be considered of the handlebar variety, it must have long "extremities." That is, the ends of the mustache that rise off of the grower's face must be significant enough in length to be grabbed or held. This is an important distinguishing factor, as it takes years, not weeks, to accomplish.
History
1.
Albrecht Von Roon, first Minister and President of Prussia, 1873
The first recorded appearance of a mustache dates back to around 300 B.C., although it is difficult to say when the first handlebar mustache was fashioned.
Mustaches of all kinds became incredibly popular in the military around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The higher a man's rank, the more elaborate of a mustache he was permitted to wear. It follows, then, that handlebar mustaches would only have been acceptable for high ranking officers.
The handlebar mustache became a cliche of Western films in twentieth century America, and the Western is now the most common association with the style.
Identification
A handlebar mustache is easily identified by the length of its extremities. These extremities are often curled at the ends, a feat accomplished most often by using mustache wax.
Misconceptions
It is easy to confuse other types of mustaches with the handlebar, and there are several factors to consider when classifying a mustache. A handlebar mustache does not include any facial hair on the chin or cheeks; it is solely a mustache. This separates the handlebar from several other types of facial hair, most notably the Fu Manchu mustache.
In general, handlebar mustaches do not thin out as they extend away from the nose. The goal of the handlebar is to maintain a uniform thickness throughout.
Significance Handlebar mustaches have become synonymous with Western culture and film in the United States, but their significance abroad may be even greater. In past centuries, the handlebar has been a signifier of power and high rank, especially in the military, and its importance should not be underestimated. The amount of time a person must invest in growing a handlebar mustache also speaks to the dedication and individuality of those who chose to wear the style.
Mustache Styles
Natural Mustache English Wild West Dali Imperial
* Natural – Mustache may be styled but without aids. The hairs are allowed to start growing from up to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip. No aids are allowed
* DALI – narrow, long points bent or curved steeply upward; areas past the corner of the mouth must be shaved. Artificial styling aids needed. Named after Salvador Dalí
* English - is a mustache style that is narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side, slightly curled; the ends are pointed slightly upward; areas past the corner of the mouth must be shaved....
– narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side, slightly curled; the ends are pointed slightly upward; areas past the corner of the mouth usually shaved. Artificial styling may be needed.
* Imperial – whiskers growing from both the upper lip and cheeks, curled upward (distinct from the royal
Other Types of Mustache Include:
* Fu Manchu mustache is a full mustache that extends downward past the lips and on either side of the chin. Often, the ends of the mustache will hang past the jaw, with pointed or tapered ends....
– long, downward pointing ends, generally beyond the chin;
* Pancho Villa mustache – similar to the Fu Manchu but thicker; also known as a "droopy mustache", generally much more so than that normally worn by the historical
Pancho Villa
* Handlebar mustache is a mustache with particularly lengthy, often graspable, extremities. They are named for their resemblance to the handlebars of a motorcycle or bicycle, bushy with small upward pointing ends. Also known as a "spaghetti mustache" because of its stereotypical association with Italian men.
* Horseshoe mustache is a full mustache with vertical extensions grown on the corners of the lips and down the sides of the mouth to the jawline, resembling an upside-down horseshoe. Often confused with the Fu Manchu style, the horseshoe was possibly popularized by modern cowboys and consists of a full mustache with vertical extensions from the corners of the lips down to the jawline and resembling an upside-down
* Pencil mustache – narrow, straight and thin like a pencil closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and mustache. Also known as a Mouth brow
* Toothbrush mustache is a bushy mustache, shaved at the edges, except for three to five centimeters above the center of the lip. The sides of the mustache are vertical rather than tapered....
– thick, but shaved except for about an inch (2.5 cm) in the center; associated with
Adolf Hitler
, Charlie Chaplin
& Oliver Hardy
* Walrus mustache is characterized by vibrissae that are thick and bushy in nature. Its name derives from the fact that the whiskers usually droop over the mouth, giving an appearance to the human face that is very similar to that of a walrus bushy, hanging down over the lips, often entirely covering the mouth.
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