How to Apply Beard Oil With the Beard Oil Brush

Not too long ago, we gave you some advice on How to Apply Beard Dry Oil with a Beard Oil Brush. While our Beard Oil Brush was sized perfectly to fit into a tin of Beard Dry Oil, it works equally well with our traditional beard oils.

Many of you likely know this already, but you may not be sure how to use it. Do you drip the oil around the perimeter of the brush to get circular coverage like with the Beard Dry Oil? Do you put the oil over the whole brush? What do you do?

Looking for a few other handy tips? Visit some of our other recent articles below.

How to Apply Beard Dry Oil with a Beard Oil Brush

How to Clean Your Beard Oil Brush

Is it Safe to Wax Your Moustache Every Day?

How to Prepare Moustache Wax for Use

How to Set Your Wax Up for Success

Should You Choose a Beard Oil Bottle or Beard Oil Flask?

Breaking Down the Ultimate Beard Care Kit

How to cheat this Movember

We can neither confirm nor deny that the man pictured in this photograph is Adam Causgrove, President & Chairman of the American Mustache Institute. Such a refined gentleman wouldn't encourage you to cheat, would he? Surely not!

Movember is nearly upon us. It's a month dedicated not only to moustaches, but to men's health issues. Charity drives and functions abound, and men across the world who wouldn't normally grow facial hair take a step to help their fellow man while letting their face fur fly free.

Some of you may have previously participated in Movember, and if you started clean shaven on November 1, first, let us commend you for having the bravery to start afresh. Second, let us acknowledge the fact that we realize you may not have been happy with your moustache's thirty day growth, so we're here with some tips to help you cheat this Movember.

How to Apply Beard Dry Oil with a Beard Oil Brush

• Place the Beard Oil Brush in the open tin of Beard Dry Oil;
• Give the brush a one-quarter turn while lightly pressing the brush into the Dry Oil. Always remember that less is more and you can repeat this step if necessary;
• Starting at your sideburns area, brush from the top of your beard to the bottom (don't forget your moustache!), repeating the process on the opposite side of your face, using light passes to make sure all of the Dry Oil is evenly distributed;
• If your beard is longer, feel free to do another one-quarter turn in the Dry Oil tin and then brush the underside/backside of your beard;
• Give your beard a thorough brushing or combing (we suggest using either a Kent Military Brush or Kent Beard Comb) to make sure the oil is evenly distributed and to give your beard a good shaping for the day ahead.

Feel free to use a bit more oil if you're applying at night, so your beard receives the maximum conditioning while you're sleeping, or if your hair is feeling particularly dry. The Beard Dry Oil works to keep your beard healthy by replacing the natural oils that your beard and moustache lose throughout the day.

Do you feel like there's a little bit too much oil built up on your brush from daily use? Head over and visit our post on How to Clean Your Beard Oil Brush.

How to Set Your Wax Up for Success

The secrets to an expertly styled moustache lie not only in knowing how to prepare moustache wax for use, but also in properly setting your moustache once it's styled. Whereas the secret to preparing your moustache is warmth, the secret to setting it is cold. This is especially important in the warmer months of the year as the outside environment is constantly fighting to undo your hard work.

Once you've styled your moustache to your liking, applying a cooling element to the wax will harden the wax and ensure that your style stays put. This can be accomplished in a number of ways:

• Turn your hairdryer to its cool setting and gently pass the hairdryer in front of your moustache at a distance that will cool it but not unsettle it;
• Place your face in front of the air conditioning vent in a car or other location and allow the cool air to set your moustache;
• Open the freezer door and stick your face in for thirty seconds to a minute - it may sound silly, but the quick change from a warmer environment to a much cooler one will set your moustache, and the lack of moving air will keep your moustache in place while the wax sets;
• In the cold months, simply step outside and let the cool environment set the wax.

The cooling process may take anywhere from thirty seconds to a few minutes, but this is an imperative step in the process. Allowing your wax to fully set will help make sure that your hard work and efforts to style your moustache aren't undone once you step out the door. Happy waxing, everyone!

Need some moustache wax? Try our Primary (medium hold) or Secondary (firm hold), and pick up some wax lifters and a moustache comb to make your styling even easier.

Is it safe to wax your moustache every day?

If you have the moustache wax and the time, you could certainly wax your moustache every day, but should you? Will waxing your moustache so frequently compromise its health? If you care for your moustache properly, and use a quality moustache wax like our Primary Moustache Wax or Secondary Moustache Wax, you can absolutely wax your moustache every day.

Daily waxing of your moustache will help you train your moustache to lay the way you would like, whether this would be to sculpt a handlebar moustache or simply keeping your moustache out of your mouth. However, you still must take proper care to ensure that your moustache stays healthy. Our Primary and Secondary waxes contain local beeswax (from Michigan bees), USP lanolin, castor oil, coconut oil, shea butter and Vitamin E; ingredients that are designed to not only allow you to sculpt the style you wish but also keep your facial hair healthy.

In addition to using a quality moustache wax, be sure to properly care for your moustache. At the end of the day, take the time to apply one of our traditional beard oils or Beard Dry Oils to your moustache. This serves a dual purpose: 1) the introduction of the oils will slowly break down the holding properties of the wax, making the wax easier to wash out, and 2) the oils will condition your moustache, keeping it healthy.

There's no need to wash the wax out immediately, but if you do so, be sure to apply some oil again afterwards as the washing will have taken out the oils as well. If you do wax frequently, there is nothing wrong with giving your moustache a break for a few days, but be sure to continue to apply the beard oils or Beard Dry Oils during that time to make sure your moustache stays healthy.

How to Prepare Moustache Wax For Use

It's not enough to have a great moustache wax at your disposal - to create an enviable styled moustache, you have to know how to use your wax, and that starts with properly preparing it for use. Not too long ago, we published an article on How to Properly Prepare Moustache Wax for Use, but in case you're in more of a hurry, here are some quick tips to help you out. Remember, the name of the game is warming your wax.

How to clean your Beard Oil Brush

Our Beard Oil Brush has long been a favorite with our customers. It is sized perfectly to fit right into your tin of Beard Dry Oil to allow for a no-mess, "hands-free" application, and works great with our traditional beard oils as well. From time to time, excess product necessitates a cleaning of the brush, so here's a quick guide on how to clean your Beard Oil Brush.

How to properly prepare moustache wax for use

Quick tips: Warm your wax, both prior to and during use, and don't be afraid to take advantage of multiple heat sources.

Moustache wax is an excellent tool to help keep your moustache styled, and even conditioned if you use the proper wax. Just as a true handlebar moustache starts in the middle, an effective use of moustache wax starts with a thoughtful preparation of your chosen wax. As a producer of beard and moustache products, CanYouHandlebar wants to make sure you’re informed about the products you’re using on your facial hair. You take the time to cultivate it, so it makes sense that you would want to take the time to learn a little more about what you put into it, and the proper ways in which to do that.

Warm your wax

The name of the game is warmth. As you’ll notice when opening your tin of Primary or Secondary, the wax is rather firm in the tin. You can scrape some of the wax out with a thumbnail, or use one of our wax lifters for a less messy application. However, there are some considerations you should take into account before you reach this step. You want the wax to be warm prior to application. This will allow for easier removal and application.

Don't be afraid to experiment with warming methods to see which one suits you best

You can accomplish warming your wax in a number of different ways. 1) Place the tin of wax in your front pants pocket for a while as you go about your normal activities. Your natural body heat will warm the wax a bit; 2) Give your wax a bath. Put the entire tin (lid on) in a sink or mug full of hot water for a few minutes. We made our labels oilproof and waterproof for occasions just like this; 3) Aim a hairdryer at the wax (lid on or off) and hit it with heat for a few minutes; 4) Scrape out an amount of wax and use your thumb and forefinger to roll it into a ball, then place your thumb and forefinger in your mouth as though you were going to use them to whistle, and use exhaling to warm the wax. Just be careful to inhale through your nose and not your mouth as that could cause you to swallow the ball of wax.

Continue warming through application for smooth and even results.

There are certainly a number of other methods that work, but these are the ones we have found to be the most effective and easiest to accomplish. Remember that the wax will continue to cool as long as it’s not exposed to a heat source, so be prepared to use a hairdryer on a low heat setting, or mini-flat iron, as you work the wax into and through your moustache for a smooth, even application. Proper preparation of your wax will save you time and get you the best looking results.

How to grow a handlebar moustache

Quick tips: Be aware of your genetics, be patient, remember a true handlebar moustache starts in the middle, and start training your moustache early.

One of the most common questions we get is “how can I grow a handlebar moustache?” While a great handlebar cannot simply be grown on advice alone, we would like to offer you a few tips as you set out on your manly quest. Remember that your ability to grow a moustache will depend somewhat on genetics, and your own facial hair coverage. If you have grown a moustache before you should have some idea about whether or not a handlebar is in your future. If you haven’t attempted to grow a moustache before, take a moment to commend yourself on this most manly of pursuits. Then, sit back and wait. It will likely take you a few months of uninterrupted growth before you realize your moustache’s true potential.

A true handlebar starts in the middle

Uninterrupted simply means no trimming. As your moustache starts to grow, you will soon find that it starts to hang over your upper lip – embrace this and resist the urge to trim. A true handlebar moustache starts in the middle and all of the hairs are swept towards the edges of your lips to form the handlebars. Some growers trim the middle section of their moustache but leave the sides long to style them into handlebars. While this may generate a similar effect, it is not a true handlebar and can sometimes produce an awkward looking moustache. Instead of trimming, take the time to train your moustache.

Train your moustache

Training can come in a number of different ways. (Cue Rocky theme music and training montage.) One of the easiest ways, once your moustache gets a little length, is to comb your moustache every day. Use a comb meant for moustaches like our Kent Moustache Comb. Starting at the crease right above your upper lip, comb your moustache out towards the edges of your lips. Do one side, then the other, repeat, and do this every day. The repetitive motion will train your hairs to lie that way. You shouldn’t expect your moustache to stay that way once you’re finished combing as the hairs will be tempted to fall towards their natural laying pattern, but this repetitive motion will help you give the hairs a new laying pattern. You should also find this helps keep your moustache out of your mouth which will further help you resist the urge to trim. You can enhance the effects of this training with some of our Primary moustache wax. This will keep the hairs in place once combed and work to speed up giving the hairs a new laying pattern.

Beards and moustaches grow at different rates

If you are growing your moustache in concert with a beard, remember that despite being connected, your moustache and your beard will likely grow at different rates, and for those who have particularly dense facial hair, remember that when you are training and styling your moustache, you are training and styling your moustache, not your beard. When your moustache is long enough to style into a full handlebar, resist the temptation to include some of your beard hairs in the styling to make your moustache appear longer. According to the World Beard and Moustache Association, hairs more than two centimeters past the edge of your lips are considered part of your beard. Granted, that rule is more for competition purposes than anything else, but it’s an easy guideline to follow. Regardless, don’t get frustrated if your moustache doesn’t seem to grow as quickly as your beard. Most men’s don’t, and it doesn’t mean your moustache won’t eventually have some length.

Remember your training

Finally, once your moustache has gotten long enough to style, after taking another moment to commend yourself for making it this far - remember your training. But now, instead of just sweeping the hairs out from the center of your lip, add in a step of using the moustache comb to help curl up the ends of the moustache to begin shaping your handlebar. This can also be accomplished with a flat iron or small curling iron, but be sure not to singe your moustache – you don’t want to damage what you have spent such a long time cultivating. Continue to use our Primary wax, or for more aggressive and longer lasting styles, pick up a tin of our Secondary. If you’re wanting to try both, take advantage of our discounted “Get a Pair”. Good luck, and happy growing!

The phases of growing a handlebar moustache

Knowing the phases upfront

The decision to grow a handlebar moustache can be made in a day; however, the work required to actually grow a handlebar to full maturity requires about three months (aka 90 days, 12 weeks, or a quarter of a year--whichever seems the shortest to you). If you know this you are ahead of the game and have the opportunity to prepare your mind and your face. Here are the phases and what you need to know for each.

Phase One: Stubble phase

This phase is the easy one. You may be a lucky would-be handlebar moustache wax wearer and already have some sort of goatee, a moustache or a full beard and moustache combo. If that is the case, skip to Phase Two. If you are converting your Movember growth to a manly handlebar, you have already gone through this and come out the other side with some growth. Here are some tips for this. Tip: 1. err on the side of not shaving hairs you may need later. 2. Use a natural coarse bristled brush to massage the skin and keep the skin on your lip healthy and free of dead skin and hairs that have bailed. 3. Start using your moustache wax to train the hairs to the sides and condition the hair underneath.

Phase Two: Itchy phase

This is when you will be tempted to trim at the lip line because it is itchy and starts to creep into your mouth. DON'T. You need these hairs later. The itchy phase is where most guys bail. Hang tight because this phase only lasts a couple weeks before the hairs are long enough to stay put when you comb them to the sides. Tips: 1. Use wax every day at this point. Use the least necessary to maintain the hold and protect your skin. 2. Use positive affirmations like "nothing worthwhile happens overnight" and then suck it up and stick it out to Phase Three.

Phase Three: Awesome phase

This is the big pay off. After around six to eight weeks you will have an adolescent handlebar moustache. The middle won't have grown all the way to the ends yet, but it will look like a fully fledged handlebar from a couple feet away. Buy the time you hit the three month mark--you are there! Congratulations! Tips: 1. Focus most of you wax in the tips since your nose is breathing out nearly 98 degrees and will soften the wax anyway. Since you are three months in, all of your hairs are growing alongside one another and so, if you get the tips waxed, the middle will largely take care of itself. Tips: 1. Focus on the tips. 2. Twist the tips gently toward your face not "out" since your head is sort of a sphere and you want the tips to hug your face, not point out like bull horns. 3. Help someone else by becoming a handlebar moustache mentor!