The Handlebar Club Forum

As I've said elsewhere I'm new to the handlebar world. Over the past month or so the 'stache has gradually reached the length where I could put a bit or curl to it, I've been experimenting with various waxes and had tolerable results. However a part of my motivation for growing a handlebar is that one of the only surviving photos of my maternal grandfather was taken in about 1900 when he was around 30 and in it he is sporting a handlebar. He died in the early 19 thirties. My family being a group of packrats I have come across what must be his silver handled moustache curling iron and I'm looking for guidance in its use.

Beyond being very careful with it once it's heated what else can fellows tell me? Would it have originally been heated on a stove, over a lamp or....? How long should it be heated? (I can imagine if allowed to get toohot there is a danger of burning off the ends) Once I heat it and get things curled, how long do I keep it in place? How long should a heat generated curl last?

Thanks for your assistance. I'll post some pictures once I get it cleaned etc.

Tom

First and foremost, welcome to the Forum.

I don't have any experience with the curling iron but I know someone who does and he'll be along in the morning - he's fast asleep in West Yorkshire at the moment.

What I can tell you is this: if it scorches or turns a piece of paper brown, it's too hot for your whiskers.

Well, I don't use a curling iron - antique or modern - but you may find this link interesting:

http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/faqs.shtml#curler

Welcome, btw!

I'd love to see pictures of it, and if possible the photo of your grandfather!

I almost always use a curling iron when giving my 'tache curls. Mine is electric, but besides that actual use wouldn't be much different. I wax the ends out straight, clamp the end in the iron, then twist as far as I can without touching my face (which still happens anyway, ouch!) I hold it for about a 20 count in this position. I also move the iron closer to the base and turn to curl the shorter hairs that don't reach the tips but are still in the ends. The curl lasts all day and combs through well. I've tried it without wax, but it didn't work for me. That may be a technique problem on my part, only experimentation will tell.

Heating shouldn't be a problem, just hold it near a hot stove. The difference is, yours will burn the ends off if you're not careful. Even on high mine doesn't get hot enough. Have a piece of paper to test it on, if the paper browns it's too hot. It should be about too hot to handle.

One important thing with regards to heat and the moustache is the need to keep it healthy. Heating like that can damage the hairs, so make sure you use a strong conditioner on it at least a few times a week. I use 'Retread' from a company called Lush, which is avaliable in the States. It's not cheap, but a pot of it lasted me a whole year and it works like nothing else.

does the "retread" soften things a bit? my whiskers have always been very wirey and the "stache seems to be getting more so as it gets longer. I've been using some leftover regular hair conditioner that I have inthe house...most of the hair care products went in the trash when the hair went down the drain.

I can attest to the benefits of LUSH Retread assisting to making the whiskers more pliable. Also, a heat protective spray or serum may be used to protect against repeated use of heat - curling iron or, in my case, blow-dryer.

Gave the curling iron a shot this morning and I'm impressed with how well itworked.
My thoughts at this point;

I need another month or so of growth for it to be real effective
It will take some experimentation to figure out how long to hold it in place and I need to count thesame on both sides or risk uneven tighness of the curl.
Heated it over the gas flame on the kitchen stove and it was still hot enough when I got to the bathroom - gee maybe I need a mirror over thestove?
The paper test is important to judge the temp of the iron.

The grandfather who this descended from died in the early 1930's - when my Momwas just a child - I now feel a closeness to him that is unique. I'll post some pictures later.

I will hazard a guess that this would work well with a hair dryer though not sure gluestick would work - it may stick to the barrel.

I've recently discovered that holding for less time is better than holding for a very long time. I keep experimenting with technique to figure out just the best method.

I've never used gluestick, but I suspect it would be a bad idea with a heated iron. Likewise, I recommend against using a water-based wax. I've tried it, and the water just evaporates right off making the wax less effective. Use a beeswax-based wax.

As promised a picture of the curling iron (match box for scale) and its original owner. It's believed the picture was taken around 1900 when he was about 30. Nice 'stache Gramps!

Luckily I have the original, half life- size print and it does not have the damage on it that this copy does.

After a good cleaning, the iron is in almost perfect condition. The sterling handle is not dented and the silver plate iron itself has no apparent rust. Spring on the curler works well and the pearl button is still in place on its handle.

Excellent! I think I have found a new device to covet.

I have looked on Ebay ... there are several listed and the prices appear to run in the 10 to 25 USD range. Only the handle is sterling (and from what I see those are almost always hollow or plaster filled -otherwise they would transmit heat), the shaft and what I will refer to as the clamp are plate so they're not extremely pricey.

Charles Brown of Waterford, CT could be Nick D's great grandfather...

David