Michael, a 30-year-old strategic planner, tells us about the relationship he has with his mustache and how he takes care of it.
"I've been sporting a mustache since I was 19, which I'm sure comes from my passion for John Waters' films. Around the age of 23, I messed up and had to shave my entire face. To tell you the truth, I barely recognized myself! I looked so young and had forgotten how thin my upper lip was. Today, it would be really strange to see myself without a mustache. It's actually become my trademark. People generally don't pay much attention to it, except to say that it suits me well, or to laughingly say that I look like the video game character Mario, given my Italian origins.
In terms of upkeep, I wash my mustache with my regular shampoo every other day. I use a small trimmer so that it doesn't extend over my lips, and also trim the hair on my cheeks. Every now and then, I like to nourish my mustache with a good hair conditioner. The only reason I would shave off my mustache today would be if I messed up again.
In my job, where I analyze future trends, questions about ‘masculinity’ are increasingly being raised, and this also includes beards and mustaches, which are becoming extremely fashionable, especially on social media. I believe that the pandemic gave many people both the desire and opportunity to change their looks, hairstyles, hair color, and facial hair… to make an impression, discuss light-hearted subjects, and have fun playing with one's appearance. Even if everyone started growing a mustache tomorrow, I wouldn't mind, because I don’t wear one to stand out. It's just an integral part of who I am."