Ram Singh Chauhan of India is the proud owner of the world’s longest moustache, officially recorded by Guinness World Records as 4.29m (14ft) long. But what is the secret of his success? Here he offers five tips.

1.Start growing early – as soon as you can. Chauhan, now 54, started growing his moustache in 1970 – facial hair grows fastest in one’s youth, he says. “As you grow old your hormones grow weak, so the speed slows down.”

And, of course, he has never cut it, “apart from trimming around the lip area”.

Steve Parsons of the British-based Handlebar Club seconds this advice, as a young man’s facial hair is more durable than that of an elderly man. “As moustache hair goes white it starts to become more brittle and is more likely break off,” says Parsons.

2.Groom it well. Chauhan spends an hour every day cleaning and combing his moustache. “I massage it and oil it regularly and I wash it every 10 days which takes a long time,” he says. “My wife helps me.” He uses a coconut-based hair oil.

Parsons, who himself sports an elaborate handlebar moustache, recommends leave-in conditioner as an antidote for troublesome split ends. “You can also use pomades or beeswax but that requires a good wash to get it out. Our advice? Dip it in beer on a regular basis,” he says.

Rod Littlewood, vice-president of the World Beard and Moustache Association, says it’s best for the moustachioed to avoid eating some food in public. “Candy floss is a horror!”

3.Get your family on side. Chauhan’s wife Asha says they used to fight over his moustache in the early years. “He used to take a long time to get ready, to wash and also people used to stare at him,” she says. She didn’t feel comfortable. But later, as he started getting recognition for his long moustache, she started to like it and to respect his commitment. Now, she says, the moustache is like a part of the family and she shares his pride in it.

Parsons, meanwhile, admits that his wife is not the greatest fan of his lip furniture, but he has a good riposte: “I always say kissing a man without a moustache is like drinking champagne without the bubbles.”

Over to Dano on this one……