What a Mustache Says About A Man’s Profession

  • SU
  • fb
By Sean Percival on April 6, 2009

A lot can be told by a man’s mustache, and it seems certain professions have their own. For some it can be a small handlebar, and for others it can be a bushy chevron. The bottom line however, is that the hair on a man’s upper lip can rightfully be understood as a window into his soul. The following is a list of the most notable mustaches, and noteworthy stereotypes from the industries that championed each ’stache:

Private Investigator

mustache1

source

This is the type of mustache you should sport when you love your job just as much as your cocaine. Something of an industry staple, most private dicks rock this look because it helps them to believe that, “hey, I’m almost a real detective.”

Baseball Player

JOHNSON SUSPENDED

source

In the greater part of the twentieth century, facial hair was discouraged in professional baseball. But by the early 1970s, the Kansas City/Oakland A’s had brought the look back with such notables as Joe Rudi, Reggie Jackson and of course, Rollie Fingers. Ever since, it is not uncommon for dominating players to rock a bit of lip hair, mostly pitchers.

Painter

dali

source

Lots of artistic people do eccentric things. One such example is Salvadore Dali, who made the look this look so famous, that it is now named after him. Also called a “spaghetti mustache”, the tips of this type of ‘stache can be used as brushes – in a pinch.

Dictator

mugabe

source

Although funny-man Charlie Chaplin wore this mustache during Hollywood’s silent era, it is perhaps most known as the mustache of choice among dictators. Most recently the ex-Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe, and more famously Adolf Hitler – who, incidentally is Mugabe’s hero – have donned this look. It is alternatively known as the toothbrush mustache.

Eccentric

gg

source

Quite frankly, a mustache that includes the middle of one’s upper lip being shaved is reserved for eccentric individuals. The most famous example of this was GG Allin, the super weird, shock rocker that loved to defecate on-stage. It takes an individual that is willing to go out of his way to look more weird, to pull this look off – it is essentially, not a mustache that can be grown half assedly.

Biker

hulk

source

This mustache says you ride a bike (preferably a Harley) and you are something of a free spirit. Most importantly, however, it says that you like to kick ass. While not a requirement for being a full-time biker, it is not recommended to grow this type of mustache unless you are well-versed in wielding bar stools in fights, and loose women.

Martial Arts Enthusiast

fu-manchu

source

The most important aspect of this mustache is that it is grown from the upper lip, in a downward direction. All parts of the face lower than the mouth are shaved. This is the distinction between this and the handlebar (above). With that mentioned, it is no surprise that his mustache is typically only worn by individuals with tons of dedication, the same type of dedication typically employed by martial arts experts.

Diplomat

BE053216

source

Although this mustache is fairly rare these days, it was at point the lip warmer du jour, mostly in Europe. When worn appropriately, it can be the perfect compliment to any diplomatic endeavor, and communicates to lesser men that the wearer is relatively important.

Porn Star

ron-jeremy

source

This mustache basically tells people, “…yeah, I’m here for the gang bang.” It is a perfect mustache for the porn industry, because male co-stars typically act as cops, plumbers, or other mustached professions before the coitus begins. It makes every bit of the acting, that much more believable.

Director

waters

source

The director mustache is similar to the eccentric mustache, but is reserved specifically for connoisseurs of film. One popular theory regarding this mustache stems from a story about Waters wanting to replicate the elegance and grace of Orson Welles’ early work through facial hair management.

The Anchorman

anchorman

source

The chevron mustache and its wearer are the personification of panache. What better way to conduct journalistic affairs than by letting this tasteful representation of manhood precede a dramatic presentation of facts? That’s right, there is no way.

Mechanic

walrus

source

The walrus mustache is popular among blue collar workers, primarily those that work in service and repair. Many of these gentlemen are self-employed, and this type of prideful mustache represents that there is no holding down the caliber of men that help build this country. It also helps to increase the wearer’s credibility when quoting prices to housewives for dishwasher repair. It communicates others that the mustached man might not know the ins and out of fine art trading, but he is probably an expert when it comes to his profession

Nascar Driver

dale

source

In parts of America, Nascar drivers are heroes. And the bottom line is, most heroes have mustaches. But if nothing else, a bushy upper lip accessory such as this is the perfect compliment to a flame retardant suit, ball cap and sunglasses. Basically it is what made Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt.

Police Officer

police

source

Many people do not know this, but most police departments have regulations limiting officers’ facial hair to mustaches only. Typically in an effort to standardize the appearance and avoid any strange soul patches or goatees. It has since become a symbol of following the rules, and not expressing oneself in a way that might offend other citizens.

Rock God

frank-zappa

source

Rock and roll legends are known to be rather strange at times, and express themselves in entirely unique ways. However, George Harrison, Ted Nugent and Frank Zappa have agreed that a bad ass push broom is the way to go. Zappa accessorized his by a square patch, and his relatives trademarked the look once he passed away.

Reader Comments

  1. JEREMY April 6, 2009 - 8:06 pm

    wow very interesting sort of like profiling people

  2. Jack April 7, 2009 - 9:47 am

    i think i’m currently rocking the detective look – a good look? i might need a second opinion.

  3. Peter April 7, 2009 - 9:54 am

    Well, its official.. I’m a Porn Star.

  4. john April 7, 2009 - 10:10 am

    “And the bottom line is, most heroes have mustaches”..LOL

  5. steve April 7, 2009 - 10:11 am

    So…the NASCAR mustache and the Porn Star are essentially the same thing huh? America, Fuck Yeah!

  6. jesse April 7, 2009 - 10:23 am

    Thats a good list! The only thing I would change is Director…He looks like he’s rockin’ the Pedophile mustache lol

  7. Zappacolyte April 7, 2009 - 11:28 am

    I’m gonna get my Zappa on, then flip it up and rock the Mugabe

  8. xtina April 7, 2009 - 11:31 am

    Big fan of the Private Eye look. That or the Mechanic. Good for… oh never mind.

  9. HotBeans April 7, 2009 - 11:32 am

    Great list! Check out my Mustache Hall of Fame I put together. (you can click on my username to get there!)

  10. HotBeans April 7, 2009 - 11:33 am

    Sorry… here’s the link: http://hotbeans.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/mustache-hall-of-fame/

  11. John Davis April 7, 2009 - 12:32 pm

    The Biker stash looks cool!

    RT
    http://www.anon-tools.cz.tc

  12. IAmConfidence April 7, 2009 - 12:48 pm

    What happened to the mustached philosopher types?

    Nietzsche has a seriously hardcore mustache ;)

  13. Nayajhen April 7, 2009 - 1:08 pm

    I believe i’m the diplomat.. Which perfectly suits me. But, what you left out here sir is the Monk look. with a long beard and a long mustache. A face full of hair… Left out the eastern styles did we now?

  14. tim April 7, 2009 - 2:19 pm

    What about the 70/80’s pro hockey palyer???

  15. gary April 7, 2009 - 3:18 pm

    You missed a major niche in the mustached world. Hockey players.

  16. nice try April 7, 2009 - 4:20 pm

    Hopefully you only spent 10min making this list because it is nowhere near complete.

    not approved…. at all

  17. Magnus April 7, 2009 - 8:26 pm

    Dude, all you did was find mustachioed people and name their jobs. There aren’t many photgraphed men with mustaches. This list is so lazy; you’re explaining mustached men’s TV jobs. This is a list of the 70’s-80’s. Asshole, this list is good, but the purpose behind it sucks; it really sucks.

  18. Chumanfu April 7, 2009 - 8:36 pm

    Love the list. The best thing about mustaches is that the categories for them are so fluid. God’s little man-personalization product. If that diversity leads a bunch of tards to complain about said list, you know what they growin. Nothin.

    Know why cops and firemen grow their staches like they do? It’s for their oxygen/gas masks. Full facial hair would make it so they couldn’t seal, which means they still get the “A” for effort.

  19. SliceMcdice April 8, 2009 - 3:20 am

    what you have listed as the Biker isn’t a handlebar mustache like most people think, it’s called a horseshoe…the Diplomat would be a better example of a handlebar

    http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/MustacheStyles.aspx

  20. Franco April 8, 2009 - 2:21 pm

    I’m rocking a combination of dictator and rock god.

  21. Yakuza April 16, 2009 - 6:41 am

    you don’t have the goatee or commonly knownpanty dropper mustache…..

  22. Dave April 20, 2009 - 3:19 am

    I’d just like to add two more famous examples of the walrus ’stache who are mechanics: Jamie Hyneman [0] and Dick Strawbridge [1] [2]. Best of all, the whole Strawbridge family on Scrapheap challenge sporting identical mustaches [3].

    This ’stache really does seem to fit the stereotype.

    [0] http://mythbustersresults.com/jamie-hyneman-photos
    [1] http://www.dickstrawbridge.com/gallery.php?action=selected&item=craftytricks3.jpg&id=6
    [2] http://www.dickstrawbridge.com/gallery.php?action=selected&item=upcoming2.jpg&id=19
    [3] http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/scrapheap2000/8teams.html#bros

  23. darkinian May 2, 2009 - 10:59 am

    There is a featured video on FunnyorDie right now where a Mustache fights a Goatee….pretty funny:

    http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/d8a2a54dba/mustache-vs-goatee

  24. bryan June 13, 2009 - 11:01 pm

    hah awesome watch this link for mustache madness!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmjZG33khP4

  25. tony July 4, 2009 - 6:27 pm

    you have to check out http://pornstarmustache.com

  26. SUCKS July 5, 2009 - 10:20 am

    This list sucks.

  27. Alyssa July 12, 2009 - 4:53 am

    I have to say, the Rock God one is awesome…

Share and Enjoy:

  • bodytext
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Furl
  • StumbleUpon
  • TwitThis
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • Reddit
  • Technorati