At what stage of pubert does a mustache start to grow?
Executive summary
A visible mustache usually appears in the later phases of male puberty — commonly as dark, pigmented hairs at the corners of the upper lip once testosterone-driven facial hair maturation is underway — with population averages putting initial facial hair around age 14–15 but individual timing varies widely [1][2][3]. Clinical and pediatric sources frame mustache emergence as part of the late Tanner stages of male puberty; genetics, hormones and occasional medical conditions can shift timing earlier or later [4][5][1].
1. Where a mustache fits into the sequence of pubertal changes
Facial hair is considered a secondary sexual characteristic that generally appears after genital growth and pubic hair development; most clinical staging systems and patient guides place noticeable facial hair — including the first moustache hairs — toward the later Tanner stages when boys are finishing physical development [4][2].
2. Typical age and population averages
Several sources report similar averages: population studies and clinical reviews cite a mean age for onset of facial hair around 14–15 years (one review states a mean of 14.9 ± 1.5 years) and general references indicate many boys begin to see upper‑lip hair in mid‑adolescence [1][2][3].
3. The pattern of early mustache growth
The first sign of a “moustache” is often small, dark hairs at the corners of the upper lip that gradually extend to cover the central upper lip as puberty progresses; authors who study pubertal hair patterns describe this corner‑first appearance as a typical early manifestation of terminal facial hair [1][6].
4. Hormones, genetics and individual variation
Testosterone and its derivatives drive the transformation of fine vellus hairs into coarser, pigmented terminal hairs on the face, so timing and density depend on an individual’s hormonal response and genetic blueprint; dermatology and lifestyle commentary emphasize that genetics largely determines when and how full a mustache will become, and that facial hair can continue to thicken into the twenties [5][7][8].
5. When an early mustache is a red flag — and when it isn’t
While mid‑teens onset is typical, markedly early facial hair (precocious facial hair) can be a sign of excess androgens or rarer endocrine conditions such as nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which clinicians document presenting with premature moustache or pubic hair in some cases; conversely, late or sparse growth is usually normal and often genetic rather than pathological, but persistent concern merits pediatric evaluation [1][1][4].
6. Practical takeaways and limits of reporting
Expect a mustache to begin during the later stages of puberty, commonly around 14–15 years, appearing first at the upper‑lip corners and progressing as testosterone effects on hair follicles intensify; however, wide individual variation means many males will see earlier, later or very gradual development, and population averages do not predict any specific individual’s timeline [1][2][7]. The sources reviewed do not give a single unified “Tanner number” for mustache onset but do consistently place facial hair growth in the later pubertal stages and describe mean ages and typical patterns [4][1].