The mustache has been making a comeback in many Hollywood movies, as well as on social networks. Photo: AFP
Sometimes seen as a symbol of power, protest, despotism or even eccentricity, the moustache has never really been a unanimous facial hair choice, even becoming outdated over the years.
But then along came the latest Hollywood blockbusters – more powerful even than hipsters – to turn the "stache" into the hottest must-have look.
Moustaches might bring to mind Salvador Dalí, Charlie Chaplin, Hercule Poirot, Tom Selleck or Freddie Mercury.
Whether real or fictional, these people have all rocked a moustache in one way or another.
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This physical characteristic has crossed the ages, from Antiquity to the hippie movement – not without mockery and criticism – but has in recent years been viewed as the height of tackiness.
Only hipsters, or almost, seemed to embrace this thin strip of hair covering their upper lip, preferably worn without a beard – that's cheating.
However, the tables could be set to turn very soon, if the latest hit movies coming out of Hollywood are anything to go by.
Inspiration from Miles Teller and Chris Evans
Who said that the moustache was passe? While it makes a comeback every year in November for a good cause, raising awareness about men's diseases as part of Movember, it is a movement in style that's bringing it back to the forefront today.
Who would have believed it? Not us.
But there's no denying that Miles Teller and Chris Evans – the charismatic stars of two of this summer's major blockbusters – have clearly contributed to putting the moustache back in the spotlight, in a retro-chic version that's already creating a following.
Respectively released in May and July 2022, the films Top Gun: Maverick and The Gray Man did not have much in common, except for a marked taste for the moustache.
And it is precisely this – together with the actors' performances, of course – that started a buzz on social networks.
In no time at all, men were rushing to their scissors and clippers, carefully trimming hair and fuzz to give themselves the famous chevron moustache seen on many celebrities of the 1980s.
This may be hard to believe when it comes to Millennials and Xennials, but it's certainly true for Gen-Z, the main demographic embracing the return of the moustache.
A real trend
On TikTok, there are now dozens of moustache-related hashtags.
The most popular are #mustache with nearly 3 billion views, #mustachepower with nearly 18 million views, or #mustachestyle with nearly 17 million views.
All of this shows a definite craze for this facial hair feature, and especially for the impact it can have on a look. And if the two feature films mentioned above have a role to play in the emergence of this trend, they aren't the only ones bringing the mustache back in vogue.
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Less conspicuous, a moustache was nevertheless present on the upper lip of the actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Bullet Train, released at the end of the summer.
And the moustache also seems to have found favour with Owen Wilson, who chose not to get rid of his after the release of the film Secret Headquarters, in which he plays a moustachioed superhero.
One thing's for sure, whether you like it or not, you'll have to get used to seeing moustaches for a few more months (at least).
In The Greatest Beer Run Ever, slated for release at the end of September, Zac Efron will also take to the screen with the traditional chevron-style moustache – a true ode to the '80s and the decade's decidedly inimitable style. – AFP Relaxnews
