How to Groom a Fu Manchu Mustache

The 'fu manchu' mustache is popular all over the world, from the east to the west. The fu manchu was originally named after a fictional Chinese character, a villain in a series of books by an Englishman named Rohmer. Over the decades, the fu manchu found its way into popular use in America among bikers, road workers and roadies, to name a few. Grooming the fu manchu is not too hard, it just takes a little care on a daily (or weekly) basis.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Shave around the fu manchu as often as possible. This helps define the area of the mustache.

2. Use a mustache trimmer evenly on all of the areas of your fu manchu to get a smooth look.

3. Wax the ends. In pictures of the fictional diabolical Fu Manchu, the mustache has long, thin, tapered ends, almost like horns. You can get this look by using any brand of mustache wax to bind the hairs together, but you'll have to grow your mustache pretty long. This look is not commonly seen in the west, but may appeal to hobbyists.

4. Use beads, twine, or other materials. You can get interesting variations of the fu manchu by adding accessories when the sides of the mustache get long enough. Beads or other small accessories can provide direction to the ends of the mustache so that they hang down instead of sprouting out in bristly clumps from your chin.

5. Don't be afraid to start over. For the shorter 'American' fu manchu look, you can get the mustache in form in just a few weeks. If you're not happy with the way it grew out, shave it off and start again.