The walrus mustache is one of the wildest, bushiest forms of facial hair that a person can sport. It’s not for everyone, though. It requires patience and persistence to grow a full-fledged walrus mustache.
But if you have what it takes, you will be rewarded with a truly magnificent piece of facial hair.
In this article, we will be looking deeper into what a walrus mustache is, who has successfully sported one of their own over the years, and how you can grow your own.
So, let’s get into it.
What Is A Walrus Mustache?
The Walrus Mustache, named for its resemblance to real walrus whiskers, should be bushy, rugged, and hanging over the top lip of the possessor.
It is, essentially, a beard that is formed on the top lip rather than around the chin and the jaw.
It’s not a mustache that you can grow on your face like a regular one; it has to be grown in a special way. The mustache must be allowed to grow naturally and then trimmed into shape.
It’s also important to let it grow out long enough to hang down past your mouth.
Six Famous Walrus Mustaches Over The Decades
The walrus mustache has been popular since, at least the late 1890s. This particular mustache style has popularly been sported in western movies alongside several other facial hair styles.
Numerous famous men have worn them throughout history, some of which are known first and foremost for their rugged facial hair.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) – otherwise known by his pen name, Mark Twain – was an American author, humorist, satirist, and lecturer.
Twain is arguably most known for his novels, such as Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and his satirical essays, including A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
Twain’s mustache was described as being ‘a great, big, black thing’ and was said to be ‘as full as a turkey gobbler’s.’
Twain grew this mustache so large that it covered a large portion of his face and became one of his signature characteristics.
He began growing this mustache when he was about 30 years old and continued to grow it for the remainder of his life.
At one point, he claimed that he could only shave once per week due to the amount of time it took him to grow his mustache back again. Twain grew this mustache for almost 40 years and died with it intact.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) was an influential German philosopher, poet, critic, philologist, historian, and cultural figure. He is considered by many as one of the most significant philosophers of modern times.
Nietzsche had a very strong sense of self-identity, and he often used his intellectual prowess to express himself through his writings. In 1885, he wrote: “I am what I do.”
Nietzsche wore a walrus mustache from approximately 1880 until his death in 1900. This mustache was quite thick and heavy and was made up of many strands of hair.
He grew this mustache with the help of a barber, who would cut off the hairs above his upper lip.
He did this every day, and kept doing it even after he stopped shaving. His mustache eventually became so large that he needed to wear a false bottom to keep it in place.
He wore this mustache for the rest of his life and died with it still attached.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (1858-1919), affectionately known as Teddy, was the 26th President of the United States. He was also a writer, a naturalist, and a historian.
Roosevelt was first known for his work in politics and was elected president twice. He was America’s youngest president at 42 years of age and served two terms between 1901 and 1909.
He is also one of the four faces carved into Mount Rushmore.
During his presidency, Roosevelt was known for his courage, leadership, and determination. He was also known for having a prominent mustache, which he grew to resemble a walrus.
His mustache was a defining characteristic of his personality and was always present on his face. It was described as “very long” and “heavy.”
The mustache reached its peak size around 1910 and remained there until he died in 1919.
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon (1940-1980) was one of the founding members of The Beatles, as well as being known for his solo music and being a peace activist.
Lennon, along with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, formed The Beatles in 1960.
They were hugely successful during their lifetime and are regarded as one of the greatest bands in history. He became famous for his incredible songwriting style and for his lyrics.
Lennon was renowned for his eccentric fashion, including his distinctive facial hairstyles, and was seen sporting a full walrus mustache during the release of The Beatles’ 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
This mustache was extremely bushy and covered half of his mouth. Lennon grew this mustache during the late 1960s but shaved it off after a year or so.
When he died in 1980, he was clean-shaven. However, the legacy of Lennon’s walrus mustache lives on today and can be found on various tributes to him.
Sam Elliott
Samuel Pack Elliott (1944-) is an actor best known for his roles in Gettysburg, The Big Lebowski, and The Quick and the Dead.
Over the years, Elliott has been nominated for several awards, including two Golden Globes, two Emmys, and an Oscar.
Elliott is also known for his unique facial hair, specifically his walrus mustache. He has worn this mustache throughout most of his career and has, arguably, become better known for his choice of facial hair over his acting credentials.
He once stated that he did not understand why people were so intrigued by his mustache. However, he has continued to sport this style and has even grown it out in recent years.
Even in his late 70s, Elliott’s walrus mustache remains intact and looks better than ever.
Nick Offerman
Nicholas David Offerman (1970-) is an actor, producer, and comedian, most popularly known for his role in Parks and Recreation.
Offerman was nominated for numerous awards during his run on the show and is still mainly recognized as his character, Ron Swanson, to this day.
While he has proven himself to be an outstanding actor and comic over the years, he is still primarily recognized for his facial hair. His mustache is very large and covers almost all of his upper lip.
Offerman has sported a mustache throughout his acting career, although it was not always as big and iconic as we know it to be nowadays.
Since his days on Parks and Recreation, he has been known for his signature look, which includes his full walrus mustache.
BONUS: Ned Flanders
Last on our list, we are looking at one of the most famous cartoon mustaches of all time: the one that belongs to Mr. Ned Flanders.
Since The Simpsons first aired in 1989, Flanders has been one of the main recurring characters, appearing as the Simpsons’ next-door neighbor.
Flanders is well-known for his trademark mustache, which consists of a long, thick line running down from his nose, covering his upper lip, and ending just above his chin.
This mustache has remained unchanged since its debut. It is also widely regarded as one of the greatest television mustaches of all time and has become vastly iconic since his first appearance on the cartoon in the late 1980s.
How To Grow Your Own Walrus Mustache
Walrus mustaches are fairly easy to grow, provided you can grow a large amount of facial hair.
You don’t need any special equipment or skills to do it: all you have to do is let it grow out over time.
The hardest part may be resisting the urge to trim your beard every now and then. It is very important that you allow it to grow without cutting or trimming it, as this will give it its bushy, wild appearance.
If you want to try growing a walrus mustache yourself, here are some tips:
Comb the mustache every so often to ensure that it stays tangle free. You should also make sure that it doesn’t get too dry, as this could lead to split ends and other issues.
Make sure you wash your face regularly with soap and water. Doing this will remove dirt and oil buildup, as particularly thick facial hair can collect bacteria and debris very quickly.
Only trim the mustache once it reaches your desired length. If you cut it before it’s grown enough, you’ll end up with a patchy mess instead of a full walrus mustache. It isn’t too difficult to grow a walrus mustache. You will, however, need a little patience to allow it to grow out fully. Once you’ve finished growing it, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of having such a unique facial feature.
Final Thoughts
The walrus mustache is a classic look that was first seen in the 1890s. Since then, it has become a symbol of strength and masculinity.
We hope you enjoyed learning about these famous walrus mustaches.
With a little patience and perseverance, perhaps one day you will sport a mustache that will rival the likes of Sam Elliott, Teddy Roosevelt, and even Ned Flanders.
My name is Doug, and I've been growing a beard on and off for many years now.
I've not had a perfect journey on the road to growing a beard. I've spent more time than I want to admit learning about growing a beard. I'm not one of those blessed with perfect beard-growing genes. So, I've encountered many frustrating and challenging obstacles along the way.
I hope some of my mistakes and victories along the way will help you on your journey to your perfect beard. Of course, reach out if I can help and share this content with your friends that are beginning or struggling on their journey as well.
Beards are becoming increasingly popular and fashionable. This is because they help men feel more confident and look better than ever before. Contents show 1…
