I was at the Ohio Renaissance Fair yesterday (pics may follow sometime today), so I am just now picking up the thread.

A lot depends on how your beard grows. Mine has a wicked curl to it, so I have to use a fair amount of wax to keep it in check. I use the Clubman wax (neutral) that comes in a tube.

When I first started growing it, the shorter hairs did not want to cooperate, so I occasionally supplemented the wax with some very sticky hair product called "Spike It Hair Cement." Also, in the early stages of growing it, I usually could only groom it in loops, rather than straight out.

I couldn't say for certain how long it took, because one day I noticed that my moustache had gotten just a little too long, so I just went with it. It was probably a couple of months before I began trimming the ends back with any regularity.

A friend of mine uses a theatrical eyebrow and beard wax that closely resembles Chapstick but is a little firmer and less oily. First he sets it with a blow dryer and brush, then applies the wax with soft toothbrush to the ends. Using his fingers to shape the curl, he uses the blow dryer again to set the wax. The result is a very soft, pliable, and splendid moustache.


Notice that he trims the hair over his lip, where I do not.

You may also want to peruse the Handlebar Club FAQ for more advice.

I'd say you probably need to be patient with it. As it grows, you'll figure out what looks good and works best for you.

Good luck,
Rex.