The Ultimate Guide to Growing a Goatee Mustache

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Barber Jacob Joseph shares how to style a goatee mustache

Co-authored by Jacob Joseph and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 22, 2026 Fact Checked

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• What is a goatee mustache?
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• Growing a Goatee Mustache
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• Different Styles
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• Maintenance
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• More Facial Hair Styles
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• Video

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The goatee mustache is a mustache accompanying a goatee beard. It’s typically a disconnected goatee, but it comes in a variety of styles, and it's a highly sought-after look, especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. In this article, we explain how to grow a goatee with a mustache. We also dive into the different goatee mustache styles, maintenance, and more, with the help of professional barbers and a facial hair specialist. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the goatee mustache!

Goatee Mustache at a Glance

Barber Jacob Joseph says a goatee mustache can either be connected to or disconnected from your beard. It’s usually paired with a full goatee, which is a beard with hair only on the chin. However, there are a variety of goatee mustache and beard combinations, ranging from neat to messy.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

What is a goatee mustache?

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1. 
   A goatee mustache sits above a goatee (a beard with hair only on the chin). Rather than always connecting for a full circle, the goatee mustache often separates the goatee and the mustache into two distinct looks, both of which draw attention in their own ways. The mustache is typically pencil-thin, but this varies based on the style. The goatee always sits on the tip of the chin, at least, with some styles going as high as the bottom lip.

   • Most of the time, there’s also a small patch of hair below the center of the bottom lip.
   • The sides are also typically shaved, but some styles opt for a stubble.
   • This style is particularly common among the members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. It’s a fairly low-maintenance style.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Jacob Joseph is a professional barber and the owner of The Barber Lounge in Turlock, CA. He has over 700K followers across his social media accounts, where he posts educational content about beard and hair grooming.

   Woody Lovell is a professional barber and the founder of The Barbershop Club, a gentleman’s barbershop-as-social club. He has over 20 years of experience in the male grooming industry.

   Timmy Yanchun is a professional barber and the co-founder of Svelte Barbershop + Essentials in Los Angeles. He’s been featured in publications like GQ, Men’s Fitness, and Hypebeast.

   Marlon Rivas is a facial hair specialist and the owner of MGX Professional Men’s Grooming in San Francisco. He has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Grow a Goatee Mustache

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   Figure out the style you want to go for. When it comes to goatees, figuring out the style you want will save you a lot of time and energy when it’s time to cut it, says professional barber Woody Lovell. Joseph says goatees can either be connected, meaning the mustache touches the beard, or disconnected, where there’s a space between the mustache and beard.

   • If you’re unsure of which style to go for, look up photos of celebrities and models with goatee mustaches and see which one you like the most. You can also consult friends or loved ones about which style they think would look best.
   • “You need to have a clear image of what it is you want your goatee to look like, because there are goatees that connect and there’s goatees that don’t,” agrees Lovell.
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   Grow out your facial hair, then wash and condition it. Grow out a beard so you have enough facial hair to work with on your chin and above your lip. Then, professional barber Timmy Yanchun says to “Prepare your mustache before you trim it.” He suggests you wash it with beard shampoo, condition it to soften the hairs, and comb it really well.
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   Use a beard trimmer to carve the goatee. If you don’t have a beard trimmer, a regular razor works fine as long as you apply shaving cream. Use your shaving tool to shave the sides down, starting from the top and working your way down until all of the excess hair is gone. As you’re shaving, carve out distinct lines closer to your lips and chin to give yourself a goatee. Leave the hair underneath your bottom lip and on your chin untouched.

   • Shave the beard up from your neck, as well, stopping at the bottom tip of your chin.
   • Joseph recommends keeping part of your triangular soul patch when you're shaping your goatee.
   • You can “either round [the goatee] on the chin area or keep it squared,” adds Joseph. He recommends keeping the bottom about a fingers-width, or ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm), below your jawline.
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   Shave your mustache down from the top. Depending on the style you want to go for, you may want to shave less or more of your mustache. Either way, you’ll need to groom it before separating it, so grab a straight razor and get to business. Start from the top of your mustache and shave it down to your desired length. Make sure to keep your shaves straight and precise for a clean look.

   • There are plenty of different types of mustaches to choose from, but the goatee mustache combo typically features a pencil mustache.
   • Lovell suggests using a small, sharp razor to create sharp lines.
   • Make sure your nose hairs aren’t connecting to your mustache when you shave it.
   • As you’re shaving your mustache, make sure to trim any hairs going over your lip.
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   Use a straight razor to define the goatee and separate the mustache if you wish. Once you’ve cut down the edges of your beard and cleaned up your mustache, apply shaving cream to the goatee, grab a straight razor, and carefully separate the mustache, starting at the edge of your lip and working your way down to just below your bottom lip (or lower, depending on the style you’re going for). You don’t have to separate the mustache, but it’s a popular choice for this style.

   • After separating the stache, use the razor to define the lines of the goatee.
   • Joseph says that a lot of people choose disconnected styles because hair doesn’t usually grow very thick at the corners of the lips, where the beard and mustache would connect.
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Section 3 of 5:

Goatee Mustache Styles

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   The Tony Stark Named after the Marvel superhero, Iron Man (famously played by Robert Downey, Jr.), the Tony Stark goatee mustache is recognizable for its thin goatee and for its beard that grows out into a smooth, defined strip on the jawline. The thicker mustache and sleek, thin goatee stand out with this style, uniquely complementing one another and making for an eye-catching look.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard as normal.
     • Shave the sides of the beard, but don’t touch the jawline.
     • Disconnect the mustache and cut off the hair below it, stopping at the jawline and leaving a 0.25 in (0.64 cm)-thick strip of hair below the center of your mouth.
     • Shave away the hair on the bottom of your chin, but keep the hair on the jawline.
     • Use a razor to line up the hair left on the jawline, as well as your mustache and the strip of hair below your mouth.
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   The Soul Patch A soul patch goatee mustache has all of the same elements of a regular goatee mustache—a pencil-thin mustache and a goatee that only takes up a small portion of the bottom of the chin—with the added bonus of a strip of hair going from the goatee to the bottom lip, which is referred to as the soul patch.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow your beard out.
     • Shave your goatee like normal.
     • Disconnect the mustache from the goatee by shaving the connecting hair from the bottom lip to slightly above the chin tip, but keep a patch of hair just below the lip.
     • Use a straight razor to line up your mustache and soul patch, keeping about 0.5 in (1.27 cm) of the patch.
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   The V-Shape The V-Shape is similar to an actual goatee, with the only difference being the disconnection between the mustache and goatee. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can disconnect it at the edge of the mouth or below the bottom lip. The defining factor is the goatee, which grows out into a sharp tip resembling the letter V.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard like normal, leaving roughly a quarter inch (0.635 cm) of hair hanging from your chin.
     • Shave the sides completely, then use a razor to trim the top of the mustache into a straight line.
     • Disconnect the mustache at the edge of the bottom lip and trim away an inch (2.54 cm) of hair between the sides of the goatee and the patch under the center of your lips.
     • Use beard wax to bring your goatee out into a V-shaped point at the center of your chin.
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   The Pierce Brosnan The Pierce Brosnan goatee mustache is one of the more unique ones on our list. It is characterized by a puff of hair on the chin, a small patch of hair that bridges the rest of the goatee to the bottom lip, and a thick, shapely handlebar mustache. The mustache really steals the show, taking up about 2 inches (5.08 cm) of space past the edges of the lips.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a thick beard.
     • Shave the sides of your beard, leaving 2 in (5.08 cm) of your mustache hanging past the edge of your lips.
     • Use a razor to clean up the top of your mustache.
     • Use a razor to shave your goatee into a circle, then shave about 1.5 in (3.81 cm) of hair between the bottom of the mustache and the goatee.
     • Keep a small patch of hair below the center of your bottom lip that bridges to your goatee.
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   The Robert Pattinson The Robert Pattinson goatee mustache is characterized by its strong goatee and soft mustache, with Pattinson opting for a five o’clock shadow on the mustache and the sides. This makes for a look that draws attention towards the bottom half of the face, while also helping naturally shape faces with sharp jawlines.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard like normal.
     • Shave the sides and mustache down into a stubble, ending the mustache about half an inch (1.27 centimeters) away from the edges of your lips.
     • Keep the hair on your chin thick and use a beard trimmer to cut a 1-inch (2.54 centimeters) gap between your bottom lip and the top of the goatee.
     • As you cut the hair below your bottom lip, leave a small patch that connects to the middle, as well as sharp edges towards the side of your goatee.
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   The Jeremy Renner Jeremy Renner has an extremely subtle goatee mustache, with the hair trimmed low. The mustache is slightly thicker than a pencil mustache in terms of width, but it isn’t as full. It stops at the edge of the lips, as does the goatee (just on the tip of the chin instead of the bottom lip). A small portion of hair is kept just below the center of the bottom lip, but it doesn’t connect to the chin hair.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard like normal.
     • Shave the sides completely, stopping at the edges of your lips. Slightly shave the rest of your beard so that it’s low, but stubble remains.
     • Trim your mustache from the top down, creating a 1-inch (2.54 centimeters) gap between your nose and the top of your mustache.
     • Cut the hair below your bottom lip, leaving a patch directly below the center of your lip and another patch of hair the same width as the mustache on your chin.
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   The Collin Farrell The Collin Farrell is a subtle goatee mustache that’s characterized by its inverted, lightly haired look. The hair from the mustache comes down from a peak at the nose, growing outward into an inverted V shape and ending at the edge of the lips. The goatee is especially subtle, with a patch of hair sitting just below the bottom lip and another patch sitting on the tip of the chin.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard like normal and shave it into a goatee.
     • Trim your mustache, starting from your nose and working your way down diagonally on each side, stopping at the edge of your lips.
     • Shave the portion of hair underneath the top lip so that all of the hair below your bottom lip, except for a small patch directly underneath, is removed.
     • Keep a small patch of hair on your chin that lines up with your mustache, then shave away any extra hair on the sides.
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   The Viggo Mortensen The Viggo Mortensen Goatee Mustache is characterized by its thick look and clear separation of stache and beard. The mustache is thick, reaching over the sides and top of the lip. The goatee is also thick, but ends just at the edges of the lips, helping draw attention to the mustache above.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a thick beard.
     • Shave the sides completely, stopping about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) away from the edge of your lips.
     • Slightly trim the top of your mustache so it’s not connected to your nose hairs.
     • Use a razor or beard trimmer to trim the section of hair below your mustache and outside of the edges of your lips.
     • Keep the hair directly underneath your lip to your chin to define the goatee.
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   The David Beckham The David Beckham Goatee Mustache is characterized by its pointed edges and curves. The mustache takes on a handlebar shape, curling out at the edges and pointing towards the jaw. The goatee starts at the bottom of the lip, with a small strip working its way down to the chin. At the chin, it curves out into a light beard stubble, making for a unique look that matches the curved mustache above.

   • How to Get the Look:
     • Grow a beard like normal.
     • Shave the sides into a stubble and leave lots of hair for the handlebar mustache.
     • Trim the top and bottom ends of the mustache into a handlebar.
     • Use a straight razor to carve the facial hair below your lips into a strip that curves outward at the chin.
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Maintain a Goatee Mustache

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1. 1
   Wash and condition your goatee mustache and beard regularly. Regularly washing and conditioning your goatee mustache with shampoo and conditioner keeps your hair healthy and clean, as it helps wash away trapped dirt or grime. Make sure you’re washing and conditioning your goatee mustache at least 2-3 times a week (or more if your lifestyle calls for it).

   • For instance, if you work on an oil rig or another place where you get dirty and regularly get dirt and grime in your goatee mustache, you’ll want to wash it whenever you get home from work.
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   Regularly trim to stave off overgrowth. Whenever you notice any new growth on your mustache, facial hair specialist Marlon Rivas says to “maintain the mustache line above the lip so it’s not growing into your mouth or growing over your lip.” Look for any stubble or overgrowth on the goatee as well. If you spot any, trim it with a razor to give your goatee mustache a more groomed appearance.
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   Don’t be afraid to work with your barber to keep the cut fresh. To keep your goatee mustache maintained, Yanchun suggests you “go to a barber, get it trimmed, and ask the barber what style works for your face shape.” By working with your barber to keep your goatee mustache clean, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re looking fresh and sharp.

   • Even if you’ve already decided on your goatee mustache style, asking the barber which style goes best with your face shape helps you know what looks good on you, and gives you good insight if you ever want to switch things up.
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Section 5 of 5:

More Facial Hair Styles

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1. 1
   Chevron Mustache The chevron mustache is a thick mustache that goes over the top lip in a wide, inverted V shape. It ends just past the edge of the mouth and is sharply lined up all around. The philtrum (the part of the face between the mouth and nose) is cleanly shaven to prevent the nose hairs from connecting to the mustache.
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   Horseshoe Mustache A horseshoe mustache is a thick, fluffy mustache that grows over the edges of the mouth in the shape of a horseshoe. The sides typically hang, with some reaching all the way down to the chin. The base of the mustache also tends to take up the entire strip above the top lip. This style is especially popular among bikers and was worn by the late WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan.
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   Circle Beard A circle beard is a beard that connects the mustache and chin hair at the sides of the lips. It takes on a more circular look than a goatee, with the edges being slightly rounded and the hair around the mouth going as far as to form a circle. However, it does help show off the jawline, the same as a goatee.
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   Balbo Beard A Balbo beard is a beard with a disconnected mustache and no sideburns. The hair works its way across the jawline and towards the ears for a clean, full look. This style helps accentuate the angles of the face to give the wearer a more masculine look. Some iterations fade into a stubble at the side burns to connect the hair to the beard a bit more.
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