Mens Grooming

How to Handle Going Bald

Posted on by dansinnott

Man going bald in the mirror - image from Idle Man
When you have hair it’s easy to choose a hair style and try different things. What do you do if you’re someone who’s beginning to bald or is bald? First of all, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re going to look bad bald.

That’s the biggest misconception and we’re going to show you how to handle going bald. You’ll enjoy the many options you have that pairs with balding.

Bring Out the Accessories

Going bald boils down to having one less thing to work with in your overall style. You need to find something else to replace what’s missing. Accessories are the easiest and quickest option to make up for a lack of hair.

Glasses – this option can change your style a lot. Even if you don’t need a prescription glass you can use sunglasses and normal glasses just for their looks. It’s easy to get multiple pairs to match your appearance, make you look smart, or sporty glasses.

Hats – another easy option that you can match with many different styles. Pick yourself up a couple different types of hats for different occasions. Just stay away from the fedora, though, please no fedora.

Jewelry – this option isn’t as helpful as the others but does play a helping role. Usually, some light jewelry combined with a hat or glasses. The key is to make it a small additional touch and to not wear a lot of jewelry or something that stands out to much.

Facial Hair

One of the biggest things you can do for the greatest impact to pair with going bald is a beard. A beard will help you look great while going bald.

If you’re unsure what kind of beard will look good on you the best go to is your standard full beard. Give it 2 months of full growth and then trim it with a #3 hair clipper guard will usually give you a nice beard. There are many reasons to be bald with a beard and you must admit the facial hair looks great on other bald men you’ve seen.

Look at the celebrity examples out there. Plenty of examples of men with no hair and facial hair in the celebrity world.

Benefits to Being Bald

Man shaving head going bald in the mirror

Time and Money – Once shaving your head becomes routine you’ll no longer need to see a barber. Think of the amount of time and money you’ll save overall. Comparing the cost to shaving your head compared to trying to regrow hair through products or surgery it starts to not look so bad.

Women Like It – While going bald isn’t the best way to attract females you must admit they do love it. Women like men who are confident and being confident enough to embrace your baldness is attractive.

Masculine – When you’re bald you immediately gain this illusion of dominance. It just comes with the territory and you look more masculine. What guy wouldn’t want to appear even slightly more masculine without putting in much effort?

Before You Go!

I hope this article put a new spin on being bald for you. It’s really nothing to worry about and not something you should try to fight off. If you’ve been dealt the bald card with genetics embrace it.

Let us know what you thought about this article and maybe give some of your own tips for being bald below. Thanks for reading.

Author Bio: Wesley is the owner of iManscape.com. A site for men, beards, and manscaping. To see more from him, like this recent post on beard balm or beard oil, visit his website or like iManscape on Facebook.

How to maximize beard growth

Posted on by dansinnott

Man wearing a white tshirt with dark hair and a big beard

This goes down as the most asked beard question going (especially online): “How can I make my beard grow fuller, thicker and faster?”

Well, there’s some good news and bad news. The good news? You can influence the growth of your beard. The bad news? Probably not to the state you would like.

See, the bulk of your beard potential comes down to your age (certainly as you pass through your teenage years), your genetics (might be worth checking out ancestor’s pictures to see how you might fair up) as well as your testosterone levels (which also has an influence on you losing the hair sitting on your head).

So what are some of the things you can to help with growing a beard:

Nutrition

High Street gent - Healthy Food

Like you’ve heard time and time before.

Eating right and getting the nutrition your body (and consequently your beard) needs to stay healthy is a must for making sure your beard grows to its full potential. Follow a diet that’s based on making sure your beard gets exactly what it needs.

Many beardsman take it a step further and take beard supplements to make sure they get everything they need – if that’s a route you want to go down, make sure to fully commit to some research surrounding the product beforehand. Generally, the best route is to always get what you need from what you’re eating.

Exercise

High Street Gent - Maximize your beard

Again, not overly surprising.

From lifting weights to losing weight, both can impact on your testosterone levels that as we said above can influence the quality of your beard growth.

Exercising in general will help to improve the circulation of blood of that is carrying the
supplied nutrition (you just sorted out above) more efficiently to your hair follicles. Plus,
exercise is shown to reduce stress which prohibits and causes your hormone levels to suffer – in turn reducing your maximum beard growth potential.

It might be even be worth getting into a routine of meditating daily to help deal with stress. Be you didn’t you think meditation would be on the cards for improving beard growth, did you?

Sleep

High Street Gent - Maximize your beard growth

Make sure you are getting enough Z’s.

A study conducted back in 1987 looked at the relation between sleep and beard growth. We don’t have to go into the details, however cutting back on your much needed sleep – harms the rate of your potential beard growth.
Aiming for around 7-8 hours a night should see you right.

Now other than radical treatments such as hormone therapy and facial hair transplants, all this will only get your beard so far (basically living a healthy lifestyle).

That said, it’s only half the equation. Since, that’s what can be internally, there are things you can do from an external standpoint too, that can help the beard appear fuller.

Mainly in the of goods specially formulated to help out your beard as well as an alternative styling products too.

Beard Oil

Now, if there’s any one beard product you want to be using, it’s beard oil. It’s a multi purpose styling agent that takes cares of helping to moisturise your beard, provide external nutrition and keeps the foundation of your beard (i.e your skin) fresh too.

Apply daily and you will be giving your beard the perfect habitat for a healthier (and in turn likely to be thicker beard). When you are using it though, apply it in a massaging motion – this can help to stimulate additional hair growth.

Brush

Particularly a boar bristle brush, as soon as your beard is long enough (around an inch or so) you will want to start regularly (about once a day) to brush through your beard.

This helps in quite a few ways: first it helps to separate the hairs so they don’t clump together (in turn making your beard look fuller), spreads sebum (the natural oil that resides on your face) to ensure your beard remains hydrated and well maintained (to avoid breakages and split ends from occurring).

Remember that, alternative styling product, it’s a little unorthodox but it’s worth a go. Try some hair clay on your beard.

Why hair clay?

Unlike the other hair styling products, this one tends contains a rather special ingredient.
Namely, bentonite clay. Not only does it help keep your hairs healthy – what it is particularly great at doing, is helping to add body to hair strands and makes your hair appear thicker.

Use it as a finisher and it will help to give you texture, create a matte effect and help to shape up your beard into place too. Tame down the flyways and bring it back into the bulk of your beard.

The Ultimate Guide to Shaver Options: Which Shaver is the Manliest?

Posted on by dansinnott

Man shaving face in the mirror with electric razor

You will spend about 45 days of your life shaving. That’s 1 092 hours or 65 520 minutes of dragging a blade across your face and watching your beard go down the drain. The latest trend of full beards have picked up quite a bit in the last while. But many men are still clean shaven, either because they don’t like hair sprouting from their face or their employer would frown upon the bushy look.

The Manliest Shaving Method

Since the creation of the first disposable razor and thereafter the electric shaver, lots of men have opted for the convenience of these fancy inventions. But lately men are realizing that it’s not all about buying the cheapest foam and throwaway razor blades.

A lot of men are rediscovering the pleasures of an old-school wet shave with a straight blade razor or safety razors. Add a bit of fancy soap and a cool shaving brush, and you’ve got your very own barbershop at home! The Economist has reported that sales of disposable razors are falling. This includes prominent brands such as Schick and Gillette.

After a while shaving might start feeling like a schlep, a daily chore you are obliged to do. But when you remember that it’s your manly privilege to make hair sprout from your chin, you’ll start looking at shaving a bit differently again. Your daily shaving routine can be a moment of self-indulgence each morning or evening. Take a moment out of your busy daily routine to deliberately slow down and take care of yourself.

There is just something about the traditional straight razor that makes you feel like a real man. They are also sometimes called a “cutthroat” razor, living on the edge of getting it right or slicing your throat open. When you’re done, admiring your clean cut face, it’s a great moment of satisfaction.

You could also opt for a safety razor, which is a little bit less dangerous. You can pop in a fresh blade every few weeks. Both straight and safety razors are much more environmentally-friendly. There’s no plastic involved. And both razor types will give you a closer shave than any electric shaver ever could.

Selecting Your Gear

Shaving & Grooming from ManlyStuff.ie

The following are a few items that will make your straight or safety razor experience more pleasant. The razor, a scuttle and a brush. You can decide whether you want to use shaving soap or just stick with shaving cream from a can. And don’t forget the aftershave to keep the germs away after using an open blade on your face.

The scuttle is also called a “lather bowl”. It basically looks like a flat cup. This one is very important if you will be using soap, you can whip up a lather storm with your brush in it.

Next the shaving brush. Don’t go for the cheapest option you can find. Rather look for a badger or horsehair brush that will last you a lifetime if you look after it properly. You want a brush with a lot of hair packed close together to assist with the lathering process as well as applying the foam to your face.

The sharpening strop is important if you decide to use the straight blade razor. When do you need to sharpen the blade? When it starts pulling your hair out, instead of cutting it.

The debate of shaving soap vs. shaving cream is in the end a personal choice. But if you want to stick with the full-on traditional shaving experience, try investing in a good soap.

And then, selecting the actual razor. The following are a few options, including complete kits with all the gear you need to start experiencing the traditional shaving method.

BOG Shave Ready Straight Razor

A classic straight razor with modern appeal. This is a high quality razor that will offer you the best shave of your life! With the 4” stainless-steel blade you will be able to quickly tame your beard. The blade folds into the handle for convenient storage inside the tin carry case or safely in your bathroom cabinet. You also get a luxurious velvet bag to neatly fit into your suitcase when travelling.

Shop here.

Parker SRB Straight Edge Barber Razor

A professional grade stainless steel blade that is much stronger than cheaper aluminum. The snap/lock blade holder guarantees you insert the blades securely. Five Shark stainless steel half-blades are included with purchase. These are designed to fit in perfectly in straight edge razors. The end of the blade has a rounded tip to minimize cuts.

Shop here.

KingOfHearts™ Classic Barber Beard Shaver

Everything you need to start your traditional shaving experience! The shaver has a classic wooden handle with the straight 6″ stainless steel blade fitting tightly into it. This whole kit has a great vintage feel to it. The synthetic bristle brush will outlast your trial and error lathering attempts. The straight razor sharpening strap is made of split leather that will help you maintain an impeccably sharp razor at all times.

Shop here.

GBS 5 Piece Shaving Set

The set includes a stainless steel barber straight edge shaver and leather case, a badger-hair chrome brush and chrome stand and a chrome shave soap bowl. You also receive 25 free blades plus a GBS soap.  With this razor you can save money on expensive cartridge refills. The razor will not rust or tarnish. The stand is great for drying your brush properly after use.

Shop here.

Be a Man, Put a Naked Blade against Your Skin

Man shaving face in the mirror with electric razor

So, are you brave enough to switch to the traditional shaving method? Or are you too scared you might slice an artery and bleed out while trying to prove your manliness?
Once you’ve experienced the glorious feeling of an ultra-close shave, you won’t go back to any other method. In the beginning you might cut yourself a few times, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you will agree that using a straight edge razor is truly the manliest shaving method of them all.

This article was contributed by Andries from manomics/shaving. Manomics.com is a men’s lifestyle site that focuses on topics such as grooming, health and fitness.

4 tips to help you care for your beard

Posted on by dansinnott

Man in the bathroom caring for his beard with a razor and shaving foam

For men, who already have full beards, another thing that you should remember is to groom it. You have to keep your beard well-maintained if you want to look good with one. If you do not groom your beard, you will end up looking dirty and unkempt. So, if you already have a beard on your face, then you should follow these tips to ensure that it is groomed properly.

1. You can use a comb with scissors to trim your beard hair. Using the comb, you can run its teeth through your beard’s hair. This will detangle your beard, and also let you see which strands need cutting. You can use the comb to separate those long strands, to be able to cut it easier using a pair of scissors.

2. A beard trimmer is an absolute necessity if you plan to groom your beard by yourself. You should buy a good pair of beard trimmers to keep your beard nice and well-maintained. Using a beard trimmer is much easier than using a pair of scissors to cut your beard hair.

3. Wash your beard regularly. Oil and other body secretions can build up in your beard’s hair, and it is important to get rid of these. You should use specialized beard shampoo if you want to properly wash your beard. Using a beard growth cream is also great for your beard and work superb for revitalizing the connections and nutrients. If you do not regularly wash your beard using special shampoo, then your beard will look terrible and smell atrocious.

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle if you want a good beard. This means eating right and getting enough sleep. Your body’s health can affect how your beard looks.

It is extremely important that you follow these beard care tips. If you do not maintain your beard, it will have the opposite effect. Instead of making you look mature and attractive, an unkempt beard will put many people off.

 

This article is a guest post by Dylan Lobo at Wild West Beards.

Winter Grüuming Tips for Men

Posted on by dansinnott

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Winter is well and truly upon us and whilst the majority will have swapped short sleeve tees for jumpers, and denim jackets for parkas, just how many of us have actually thought about the changes we should be making to our grooming routines? The good news is that just a few small changes can make all the difference.

Below are the top tips you can put into place straight away to protect yourself from the elements this winter – tried and tested with the subscription service from Grüum.

Taking care of your skin is the single most important thing you can do for your appearance. Sure, a sense of style helps, but the best clothing in the world can’t cover up unsightly bumps and blemishes. Even if you think you’re a skin care expert — and chances are you’re not — this refresher course from the basic to the advanced will remind you of what you should be including in your skin care regime.

As a man, your skin is unique and using female or unisex products just won’t cut it. The reason for the differences is due to testosterone. The biggest differences are: your skin is 25% thicker than a woman’s, primarily due to having higher collagen density than a woman, providing a stronger structural base for the skin. This means less creasing and folding of the skin, also known as wrinkles.

This is also a big reason why men’s faces hold up better over time, if taken care of.

Exfoliating Face Wash

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Twenty years ago, it was a miracle if men’s grooming including anything more than washing the face with a bar of soap. Unfortunately, using a simple soap is about as bad as doing nothing at all: It can leave your skin taut and thirsty. Instead, use a cleanser that strikes a delicate balance between tough and tender. Look no further that Grüum…for a naturally fresh fragrance gel face wash that’s suitable for all skin types that is strong enough to cut through those overactive male sebaceous glands yet gentle enough to be used every day. This gel smells good, not too potent for first thing in the morning, but leaves your face feeling fresh.

For example: Grüum‘s gentle everyday cleanser gives a real deep clean, without stripping the skin. Designed to work with all skin types, you can count on kóri to help you look your best. A combination of Witch hazel, Aloe Vera, Orange and Eucalyptus work in harmony to combat dryness, soothe the skin, whilst keeping oil at bay. Sounds like a win to us.

No artificial colours or synthetic fragrances. EDTA free.

Face Tonic

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A face tonic is just the opening act for facial cleansing. Men’s skin is naturally thicker than women’s, with larger pores that roll out the red carpet for nasty debris. No one likes to look at bumps and blackheads, and scrubbing will help smooth your complexion for a clearer, cleaner appearance it can often be left looking shiny! No one wants shiny. It also softens the skin as a first step toward a less gruesome shaving experience. With Grüum the combination in the little bottle means you don’t have to scrub away, scratching your skin, it softly cleanses with a cracking scent too.

After using for a few weeks, it feels natural and clean, it also washes away simply leaving you feeling fresh.

For Example: It takes just a second to add gösta to your skincare routine, and the benefits clearly outweigh the effort. Do you ever find your face looking shiny throughout the day? Does your skin feel irritated after shaving? Or perhaps you’re having some trouble with blackheads and breakouts? These common (and very annoying) problems can easily be improved with the facial tonic.

Grüum believe in the goodness of nature, so they’ve loaded their facial toner with honest, natural ingredients. Soothing Chamomile, Rosemary Oil, and Aloe Vera give the skin some real TLC, whilst Witch Hazel works to kill bacteria and refresh your complexion.

No artificial colours or synthetic fragrances. EDTA free.

Moisturiser

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Even the mildest facial cleansers can leave your skin feeling just plain parched. And don’t think you can cheat the system by using one fortified with a laundry list of special moisturising agents. The truth is that every guy, even those with oily skin, needs to replenish the moisture content of their skin. Something as routine as showering or washing your face with hot water can open pores and allow valuable water to escape. A moisturiser like Grüum is light and breathy, minutes after putting it on it felt as though nothing was there, it wasn’t oily, thick or gloopy, it was a pleasure to use.

This whole process was pretty simple in and out the shower too, so it won’t add time to your routine, even though they’re few products.

When it comes to choosing the right moisturiser, make sure that you avoid certain chemicals, sulphates and parabens as they are amongst the main causes of skin problems. Also, to get the best results our of your moisturising sessions, it’s important to have a simple grooming routine consisting of cleansing, toning and finally hydration with a moisturiser. These simple steps are crucial during winter considering that your skin is more likely to be exposed to the elements.

For Example: kåre daily moisturiser is the essential finishing touch to your skincare routine. Cleansing your face with a gentle face wash (kori does the job very well) creates the ideal base to allow moisturiser to penetrate the skin and lock in that goodness.

Packed with the natural goodness of Chamomile, Rosemary Oil, and Green Tea extract, kåre is kind to sensitive skin and great at soothing post-shave irritation.

No artificial colours or synthetic fragrances. EDTA free.

Look after the whiskers

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If you’re still backing the beard trend then it’s important to consider how to look after the whiskers this winter. Keep things simple by making it a two-step process.

1) Use a beard shampoo when you shower, this will clean the beard hair thoroughly and keep it healthy.

2) Use a beard oil after washing.

Beard oils help to reduce beard dandruff (it’s a thing) and also moisturise the beard hairs and skin below.

In addition

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Shaving is notorious for upsetting your skin, particularly if it’s sensitive. The natural formulation of danne shave gel works to keep your skin happy. Soothing Aloe Vera helps to combat post-shave irritation, whilst Witch Hazel keeps bacteria at bay.

However, one that smells amazing is often a clear winner in our eyes! Like this…

For Example: danne is the perfect sidekick for any style of shave, it’s the robin to your razor. Use as a clear gel for precision and visibility, or lather up to create a gentle foam. Forget harsh artificial fragrances, danne is au natural, with Orange and Eucalyptus for a fresh subtle scent.

Looking better for less

Grüum works in several very easy steps, so you can achieve the and receive the right products for YOU.

  1. Tell them about you: Take our 3-step survey about your face and style.
  2. Build your kit: They’ll hand pick a selection of products perfect for you.
  3. We deliver to your door: They’ll send your kit direct to your home or work.
  4. Enjoy the benefits: See the difference in the mirror and in your wallet.

Another added bonus is that you never have to feel trapped with a subscription service! With Grüum you’re never tied in. The flexible approach means you can change, pause or cancel your kit at any time. Simple.

If you’re looking to treat yourself or the man in your life, we’d whole heatedly recommend Grüum as not only a great gift, but also something that’s great for the face! The simplistic design and easy-hold shavers are a classy touch on the regular ‘bic’.

To browse and shop the full Grüum range, please click here.

Spice up your Beard Care Regime

Posted on by dansinnott

ManCave Natural Grooming have released 3 new Beard Care products into the regime, bringing the range total up to 13 products.

With the introduction of these new products we also see ManCave breaking into the Beard Care sector, a new area of the men’s grooming market for the brand. The ManCave Beard Care range features a Beard Wash, Beard Control and the all-important Beard Oil, with premium ingredients including Argan & Hemp Oil, Vitamin E, Bergamot, Mandarin & Shea Butter.

After the previous success of premium fragrances such as Cedarwood and Lemon & Oak, ManCave have also developed an additional scent exclusively for the new beard collection. BlackSpice is a fresh and woody spice fragrance including natural hints of Black Pepper, Bergamot, Cardamom, Ginger & Patchouli.

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Beard Header

Winter means skin brutality, especially for your face. And it’s winter now, so it’s worth knowing how to take care of that moneymaker of yours and of course your face fuzz. And no, there’s absolutely nothing unmanly about making sure you have cracking skin. But, that doesn’t mean you should adopt your girlfriend’s daily 10-step anti-aging, herbal-infused, citrus-scented, green-masked facial cleaning ritual.

It’s really much simpler than that.

After all, imagine that you are about to approach a pretty girl at a bar / lounge / club. You’re well dressed, confident and ready to charm. But one small problem, you just stepped inside and the tolls of the cold, windy day have cracked your lips, made your cheeks red and irritable, and your nose blotchy and dry. Not a good look, no matter how smooth you are. So don’t handicap that charming personality of yours by not taking care of your style and your skin. From the dimple in your tie to the pimple on your face, remember that your entire appearance is sending a message.

When it comes to your beard care regime, you need to be sure not only are the products good for your beard, but they’re great for your skin.

I’ve blogged about my firm favourite when it comes to grooming ManCave before, it’s great. Versatile. Worthwhile. Proven. And, a little goes a long way.

We’ve been using the new and hot ‘black spice’ range from manCave for around 2 weeks now- they definitely deliver on its promise of providing quality, masculine bathroom products for men at a price that few can argue with. We strongly recommend checking out the full range on their website to find all the ingredients and product details so you can buy with peace-of-mind. You can also check their reviews on Boots and see hundreds of other UK customer lauding their quality and fragrance. Thanks to ManCave we have changed from cavemen to gentlemen in one trip to the bathroom…

For our previous articles on ManCave, please see ‘Climb out the ManCave during Winter‘.

How to achieve the perfect home shave…

Posted on by dansinnott

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For many years the traditional wet shave has been an acceptable means of pampering for men all over the globe, and with barbering’s popularity boosted by current fashion trends, chaps are desperately searching for ways to re-enact this luxury in the comfort of their own homes.

Luckily, premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has provided High Street Journal with its top tips for achieving the perfect home shave.

Put simply, the perfect home shave can be broken down in to three steps: preparation, the shave, and skin protection.

Preparation:

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Hot towels are used in barbershops to soften the follicles of your facial hair, producing a shave with less razor resistance and irritation. At home, this can be achieved by taking a hot shower and shaving with warm water. Removing impurities and build ups of dirt that cling to the skin and facial hair with a mild face scrub will also help to produce a smoother shave overall. Pre-shave oil should also be used to moisturise your face and beard prior to applying a shaving cream. This provides a crucial layer of lubrication to help protect your skin from cuts during your shave.

The shave:

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Combining a shaving brush with a rich, luxurious shaving cream will allow you to reach the same levels of relaxation that are achieved in your local barber’s chair. An almond-sized dollop of The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream will whip up a fantastic lather when added to a little water. Spreading this across your jawline with a shaving brush will help to exfoliate the skin while lifting stubborn hairs in preparation for your first pass.

A quality razor with a sharp blade is essential when in the pursuit of a fine shave, whether it’s a double-edge safety razor, a straight razor, or a modern cartridge razor. For the closest finish, start your first pass by shaving in the direction of your hair’s natural growth, then shave across the grain, and finally against it. With every change of direction it’s important to re-lather. If your skin is a tad sensitive, then a three-pass shave may not be for you, so avoid shaving against the grain.

Protection:

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Always start by rinsing your face with cold water to help close the skin’s pores and remove any excess shaving cream.

Hopefully you’ll finish your shave cut-free. But if not, then seek the help of an alum block. Alum blocks are designed to help seal cuts and are a great first step in protecting your skin post-shave. Nothing looks more ridiculous than wads of toilet paper clinging to your face, and an alum block will certainly remove this embarrassment. But be warned, they sting a little upon application.

Finish your manly pampering session by applying a high quality post-shave balm to help reduce irritation and redness in between shaves. When selecting a post-shave balm, always look for ingredients that possess a ‘cooling’ effect such as Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, or even Prickly Pear!

Has Bluebeard sought revenge?

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We must admit we’re not ones for usual embracing the wet shave, but when The Bluebeards Revenge got in touch with the offer of testing out one of their shaving sets, naturally, we was only too happy to oblige.

The Bluebeards Revenge describe themselves as “the ultimate shaving experience for real men”. As a real man (as opposed to those pretend ones), we jumped at the suggestion of trying out the ‘Scimitar’ Razor Kit, which is basically a cut-throat razor.

The Bluebeard’s Revenge is aimed at men with facial hair that grows at a rate of knots. With its ‘Bum Fluff Brigade’ and ‘Not for girls!’ slogans, some naysayers may consider it to be a little immature, but as a fan of tongue-in-cheek humour, I’m rather fond of The Bluebeards Revenge.

As novices when it comes to wet shaving, we must admit the products have been easy on our skin and a pleasure to use. If you’re a first time wet-shaver, with quite coarse facial hair, you’ll have no nicks, cuts and definitely won’t need an eye patch after use.

On this occasion, luckily, we’ll have to say Bluebeard hasn’t sought revenge, but he has provided us with a smooth chin and a great kit for shaving. It’s definitely worth a look!

Visit www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk to stock up on a full range of manly grooming product and read more expert tips.

The Gentleman’s Grooming Show 2016

Posted on by dansinnott

When it comes to male grooming habits, there’s definitely been a shift in attitude over the years. Gone are the days when guys would just roll out of bed, hop into the shower, and be out the door in 5 minutes. Now, they rock a skin care routine that would probably give the average female a run for her money.

With 52% of male consumers considering their appearance to be either important or very important, the male grooming market is rapidly evolving, with cosmetic sales predicted to reach a staggering £121 million by 2018. Brands have recognised the growing market and the need for male-specific products that allow customers to feel comfortable in the beauty aisle. Despite male grooming being socially accepted, it’s still important for it to be considered a masculine activity, (something companies must remember if they want their products to fly off the shelf).

Well we may have the answer….

The Gentleman’s Grooming Show 2016 is an event celebrating the modern man and male grooming – showcasing the industry’s very best products and services on offer, and hope to guide, inspire and educate you, the modern day gentleman.

“Do you like to look good? Feel good? Smell good?”

Then come along to London’s Tobacco Dock for The Gentleman’s Grooming Show on Saturday 3rd December 2016. You’ll get a complimentary glass of whiskey, and some key advice on how to keep yourself well-groomed all through 2017.

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On the day

The Gentleman’s Grooming Show will showcase some of the best brands and companies in the men’s grooming and lifestyle world. If you are a modern day gentleman and like to look good, feel good and smell good then you wont want to miss out.

A chance to meet the expert teams behind some of the best men’s grooming & lifestyle brands in the world, giving you a great opportunity to gain some key advice and a chance to purchase the products. Treat yourself or pick up some Christmas gifts for loved ones.

Talks & Demos: Pop over to the main stage and enjoy talks and demonstrations from industry leading figures and celebrities including Charles Fencott, Josh Lamonaca and Richard E Grant! Details of our final stage line up will be announced shortly.

Tickets for the Gentleman’s Grooming Show 2016 are now on sale.

Order yours using the link below or call +44 (0)207 267 4843 to speak to a member of the Gentleman’s Grooming Show team.

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High Street Gent will be there on the day, to meet and report on all the goings on over the past year and what we have to look forward to in the male grooming world in 2017. You can expect a raft of articles from us post-event, in the hope we can help you remain looking fly.

The ‘Secret’ to Smelling Great…

Posted on by dansinnott

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Aftershave is a great tool for polishing your look and making you smell fresh, clean and totally irresistible. So if you find one that works and smells great, why would you want to give it up for something else? There’s no rule that says you can’t wear the same cologne day-in and day-out for the rest of your life. But there are definitely some advantages to changing up your signature scent from time to time.

Take a cue from Mother Nature and consider changing your aftershave when the seasons change. When you reach for those wool sweaters in the back of your closet you might also want to reach for a different bottle of cologne than you wore all summer. That’s because heat (body heat and environmental heat) intensifies the scent of aftershave, while cool weather tends to make it fade. That means you should stick to lighter scents in the summer and seek out stronger scents in the winter. Plus, some scents just smell like a particular season — a woody, wintry smell isn’t quite suited to hanging out at a summer picnic, so you should exchange your cologne accordingly.

If changing smells a few times a year isn’t enough, you might also want to consider wearing more than one type of aftershave every day. Think about it — that musky aroma that gets you attention when you go out late at night might not be the best smell for office status meetings or the morning shift at the restaurant. What we’re saying is this: Wear a cologne that suits the occasion, even if that means you have to change it up during the day. The simple rule to follow is that daytime scents should be light (especially if you work around other people) while stronger, bolder scents can be tried out after hours.

All of the aforementioned is  being made easier, with a spritz of help from the Secret Scent Box…

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Recognising the struggles of finding a new aftershave, Secret Scent Box have created a monthly subscription box with 3 designer fragrances for you to try in the comfort of your own home.

Each Secret Scent Box contains 3 x 3ml bottles. Each bottle holds 35-40 sprays which give a total of around 100-120 sprays. So across the 3 bottles, if you use 4 sprays per day you have enough perfume to last 30 days !

The size of these spray bottles are perfect: large enough to allow you to make a fully-formed decision about whether you want to buy the full size, and small enough to easily pop in your handbag or pocket for smelling good on the go!

With Secret Scent Box, there are no excuses in mixing up your aftershave regularly.

With some help, we can tell you that aftershaves have a very distinct, very singular smell and it’s all in how they’re formulated. In fact, that’s the main difference between colognes and perfumes: perfumes are typically a blend of three layers of scents, while colognes just have one. This means they’re less complex, and a change in how they’re formulated can be really noticeable. Reformulated? That’s right. Sometimes the cologne maker will substitute some of the ingredients in your favorite fragrance for other ingredients, and it can make the amazing scent you love not so amazing anymore. When that happens, it might be time to find a new smell.

Are the people around you so used to your “signature scent” that they don’t notice how incredible it smells anymore? Even though aftershave should be applied lightly, it’s still meant to be noticed. If you (and others) don’t find your usual aftershave as interesting as you used to, maybe it’s time to try something new.

The Secret Scent Box is priced at £15, which is a lot better than paying £80 for a scent bought on a whim that you realise you don’t like very much when you’re back at home!

If you would like to save money on your first box, enter the discount code HSG15 at the checkout to receive 15% off.

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Additional Information:
Secret Scent Box gives you access to new fragrances to use throughout the month, helping you discover the true smell of each fragrance, how they change throughout the day, how long they last and how much you need to apply. Fragrances smell different on everybody’s skin (due to pH levels) so be sure to test on your own skin and not only your hair and clothes. For just £15 a month it costs just a fraction of the price of buying full size bottles.
Each month you will receive 1 men’s Secret Scent Box containing:
  • 3 x 3ml travel friendly fragrance sprays (9ml in total)
  • Enough fragrance to last 30 days (Ideal for approx. 4 sprays a day)
  • Designer and brand name fragrances
  • At least one new designer or brand name fragrance
  • Delivered in letterbox friendly packaging (no need to be home to receive)
  • FREE delivery to anywhere in the UK!
Subscriptions auto-renew each month. Cancel your subscription anytime.

 

5 ways to make a great first impression

Posted on by dansinnott

Business Team Partnership Greeting Handshake Concept

We all may think that we’ve nailed first impressions. We’ve sold ourselves in interviews, have been a success at networking events and were legends when we fronted that pitch. But research has found that a first impression is made within the first seven seconds of meeting someone. So have you really made a good first impression? Try doing these things next time you meet someone.

1. Think about your appearance 

You want to make sure that you are portraying the best possible image of yourself. So think beforehand about your outfit from head to toe and prepare yourself well ahead of time. Consider your hair, what you’re wearing and accessories like handbags and necklaces. By looking your best, you will feel your best and more confident, which will leave a better first impression. Fo some inspiration check out our article on ‘how to rock at a job interview.’

2. Body language 

You could say that your body language actually says more about you than anything that comes out of your mouth as it really does speak volumes. When you meet someone, a firm handshake is a must as well as being stood tall and showing authority. To make a lasting impression though, smile and use eye contact. 

3. Start the conversation

By starting the conversation, you appear confident and interested in that person. If you don’t know much about them, simply engage in a bit of small talk to get going, or just ask them how their day has been. This will create ease between the two of you and you can get off on the right foot. Alternatively, do your research beforehand and ask them something about their company.

4. Be on time

Seems like an obvious one, but it’s by far the most important. Nobody appreciates having their time wasted, especially if it’s for no good reason. If you are late, even by just a few minutes, you have made a bad first impression as you’re not showing commitment to them. Allow yourself enough time!

5. Ask questions

In order to make a good first impression that will last, ask the other person questions about themselves. You will seem interested in them and you might find that you have a lot in common. By not asking questions, you can appear self-obsessed or boring.

This article first appeared in the ‘business bytes’ section of thebusinessdesk.com – East Midlands.