Male Grooming Guide

Not the most interesting question ever posed, but an article in the Sunday Times reminded me about the huge cost of buying into “shaving systems” endorsed by a string of no-doubt costly celebrities.

The article found a pack of 4 Gillette Fusion blades to be among the items found in supermarkets with the highest markup - 125%. With the big three - Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s - all selling at exactly the same price: £7.96. Nearly £2 per blade! I’ll stick with my 25 pence safety razor blades thank you very much!

Source:  Supermarkets in probe over top brand mark-ups - The Sunday Times

A long term study by the department of social medicine at the University of Bristol found men who don’t shave every day are 70 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than daily shavers and enjoy less sex.

The research, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology,  examined the link between shaving, coronary heart disease and stroke in 2,438 middle-aged Welsh men.

Over the course of the 20-year study, there were 835 deaths, the researchers reported. In all, 45% of the men who shaved less than daily died, compared with 31% of those who shaved at least daily.

Many of the excess deaths were due to higher rates of smoking and the poorer lifestyles of men who did not shave daily, but the scientists said this did not explain their substantially raised risk of strokes.

“The association between infrequent shaving and death is probably due to underlying smoking and social factors, but a small hormonal effect may also exist,” said Ebrahim. The association with stroke did not fall away after discounting lifestyle factors and remained unexplained, he said.

Whether you’re new to double edge shaving or have been tempted to invest in a classic adjustable razor there are a number to choose from. All have the facility to adjust the blade angle / blade exposure to provide a gentle or aggressive shave dependant on your beard and skin type.

One popular razor, although no longer in production, is the vintage Gillette Fatboy. Produced until the late seventies, early models benefitted from an all-metal construction and give a consistent shave. The Gillette adjustable range also includes the Slim and Toggle and are all regarded as giving a mild shave with a narrow range of adjustment. They can usually be found on eBay.

The modern day Merkur Progress is razor currently in production by Merkur Solingen. Made in Germany, the Progress is the entry level adjustable razor. Similar in size and construction to Merkur’s fixed head razors such as the HD, the Progress is a two piece design with a wide range of adjustment. It’s important to realise that the adjustment scales are not standardised, so the feel of setting “1″ will vary from razor to razor.

Arguably the most popular adjustable razor in recent times is the Merkur Futur. Most often found with a modern brushed finish this razor has a modern design and cetainly stands out. With six levels of adjustment the Futur caters for most shavers needs and has a great feel to it.

The Merkur Vision is a huge beast of a razor. As Merkur’s flagship double edge razor, the Vision 2000 features a butterfly opening for simple blade replacement in addition to six adjustable settings. The Vision has an impressive heft to it but can be a little bulky for tight areas such as under the nose.

It might suprise you to learn how many brands the big cosmetics manufacturers own. Knowing who owns who, you can sometimes find products at a lower price that have benefited from expensive research found in high-end products.

L’Oréal

As the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company L’Oréal have around 30 different brands. Male grooming brands owned by L’Oréal include:

• L’Oréal Men Expert
• Biotherm
• Kiehl’s
• The Body Shop
• Diesel Perfumes
• Giorgio Armani Parfums
• Redken

Procter & Gamble

• Dolce&Gabbana colognes
• Gillette
• Gucci colognes
• Head & Shoulders
• Hugo Boss colognes
• Nicky Clarke hair products
• Old Spice
• Pantene
• Wella

Estée Lauder

• Aramis
• Aveda
• Clinique
• Lab Series
• Tom Ford Beauty

Shiseido

• Beauté Prestige International

John Vartos

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Issey Miyake

• Shiseido also owned ZIRH International. In September 2007, Shiseido sold ZIRH back to an investment group owned by Brian Robinson, the former president of ZIRH.

If you thought waiting for your wife or girlfriend to get ready was bad, research has shown us men are taking an increasing amount of time.

Research by male grooming company, Bulldog, found that men now typically take 28 minutes to groom themselves - an increase of 30 per cent in the past five years.

Men from the North of England spend the most time showering, shaving and styling their hair, with six in 10 taking more than 30 minutes. More than a third of men in the South take 30 minutes just ahead of Scots men, followed by 27 per cent of Welshmen.

The quickest men at getting ready for a night out are in the Midlands, with only 22 per cent spending more than half an hour sprucing themselves up.

20 per cent of men surveyed said they thought the extra time in the bathroom would give them a better chance with the opposite sex.

Co-founder Simon Duffy said: “While some men don’t bother spending that much time getting ready for a night out, others are catching up with the time their women take.

“Soaring sales of male grooming products prove modern-day men take more time with their appearance.”

Yesterday i received a wonderful package. Inside I found a 150g tub of Taylor’s Almond Shaving Cream. Whether you use the usual high street shaving fodder, or already use what could be termed gourmet shaving creams - Taylor’s is always a treat.

It goes without saying that a Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream produces an rich, thick, sumptuous shaving lather, so all that is left to choose is the scent. Taylor’s Almond is a great way to start the day. The scent is made up of almonds, macaroons and cherries and, quite frankly, if I were to go any where near this shaving cream hungry I’d eat it!

We’re all aware of the growing numbers of “formulated-for-men” products hitting the shelves so I wanted to take a look at a product I’d not seen on the high-street, Men-U Healthy Facial Wash.

Men-U produce a full range of men’s grooming products that you might have seen in your barbers based around ultra concentrate bottles.

Men-U Healthy Facial Wash is a face wash for men that boasts up to 265 washes from just 100ml. A nice touch with the packaging is that it is supplied in a pump format. Not only does the pump dispense the correct amount but it is lockable with a simple twist which makes it ideal for travelling with. But is it worth taking?
Having made my face damp, I dispensed a full shot (Men-U suggest 1/2 to 1 pump press) of the face wash into my hand, gave my hands a rub together and started massaging the Healthy Facial Wash over my face. The smell is quite unique, but in a refreshing way - it contains tea tree oil, witch hazel and aloe vera to name a few ingredients. Unlike many products the Healthy Facial Wash doesn’t create a thick lather, just a white paste so you at least see where you’ve been. Men-U say that the low levels of lather is intended to deliver ingredients where they are needed rather than froth up and have half of it fall in the basin.

In Men-U’s suggested shaving regimen their face wash follows shaving, whereas it is normally the other way around. The reason, perhaps, being that the qualities of the Facial Wash lend themselves to post shave - tea tree oil helps prevent spots and shaving rash thanks to it’s natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Witch hazel has soothing, healing and astringent properties and the moisturisers can get to work and soften the skin.

So would I use this again? Yes i would and compared to the raft of male grooming products out there Men-U Healthy Facial Wash is very reasonably priced. For £7.45 not only do you get a refreshing face wash each morning, but up to 265 washes to boot! I shall certainly look forward to trying some further products from the Men-U range.

Everything from face washes to moisturisers contain a range of ingredients, from friendly sounding natural extracts to evil sounding chemicals. We take a look at some of the common ingredients found in men’s grooming products so you know what to look for, or what to avoid if you’re after a specific result.

Aloe Vera

A plant extract which heals irritation, reduces inflamation and promotes new skin growth. The sap of Aloe Vera has a pH level nearly identical to human skin, and therefore well suited to dry and sensitive skin types. Often found in moisturisers, shaving creams, facial washes, sunscreens and shampoos.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

Often a combination of glycolic acid (from sugar cane), lactic acid (from milk) and citric acids (from citrus fruits) or malic acid (from applesand pears). The acids can help reduce fine lines, age spots, blackheads, dry skin patches and oil. AHAs improve the overall look and feel of the skin by helping to remove dead skin cells and encouraging the growth of healthy, new skin cells. Often found in cleansing products.

Avocado Oil

Avacaodo oil is a natural moisturiser derived from the pulp of avacados. Found in some moisturisers.

Caffeine Extracts

Caffeine stimulates circulation which can reduce puffiness in areas such as the eyes. Found in some eye creams.

Citric Acid

A natural extract derived from citrus fruits, it is a widely accepted organic acid used as a preservative and a pH control agent. Citric acid is said to have antioxidant and toning properties.

Cocamide

Fatty acids obtained from coconut oil. Cocamide DEA or cocamide diethanolamine is used as a foaming agent in bath products.

Ginkgo

An extract from the Maidenhair Tree with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Glycerin

A sugar alcohol that is often used to provide a smooth shave, helping the razor glide across the skin.

Grape Seed Extract

An anti-oxidant containing Proanthocyanidins which are believed to block the deterioration of blood vessels, reducing inflammation and helping to oxygenate red blood cells, which carry nutrients to your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

A major component of skin, Hyaluronan maybe used in products such as skin creams to lock in moisture and improve smoothness.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is chemically very similar to human sebum found in skin care and hair care products as a natural moisturiser.

Lemon Oil

Refreshes and rejuvenates the skin and helps to restore the skin’s natural pH level.

Propylparaben

Manufactured synthetically in cosmetics, it is a preservative often found in water-based products including creams, lotions, shampoos and bath products.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

A detergent foaming product found in soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc. Can cause drying of the skin therefore people with sensitive skin may wish to avoid it.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is an antioxidant, helping to prevent wrinkles, resist infection and keep our skin youthful.

Vitamin C

A natural antioxidant, improving capillary health and increasing collagen production.

Vitamin E

An anti-oxidant that can help to slow the ageing process.

Wintergreen Oil / Salicylic Acid

An antiseptic and antibacterial agent that works as a topical anesthetic to decrease itching and redness.

Witch Hazel

Taken from the leaves of the Witch Hazel plant, it is an anti-inflammatory astringent used in acne products and other skin care products.

• Most men shave daily, which can damage or remove up to 2 layers of skin.
• Men have larger sebaceous glands causing oilier skin compared to women.
• Men’s skin is prone to infection after shaving, including shaving rash.
• Men sweat more than women.
• Men tend to have finer hair and up to 10% more scalp hairs than women.
• Men have shorter hairstyles and use more styling products.