Basic Grooming

Men’s Grooming Back to Basics

By Amber Flynn @expertgroomingadvice 

Get Your SWAG Back

Spring is here so it's time to put your best foot forward by                                                          shedding those winter layers and reclaiming you.

Investing a little time and money into your look is no longer considered vain or a "woman's thing". Men that put thought and effort into their appearance come across as confident, successful and sexy  Don't be fooled, even the men that seem to always look casually cool have put in effort to do so.So where do you start? With the basics. Before thinking about hair styles or fashion trends there     are basic grooming tips that all men should consider.

Cutting, trimming and shaving

Regularly scheduled haircuts should be priority. Period.

Find a barber who knows their stuff and become a regular. Not only will this make for great cuts, but an ongoing relationship with a barber can go a long way towards getting a cut in an emergency situation. Easy rule of thumb, if your friends or significant other have noticed you need a cut, you're already past due. Try being proactive, not reactive. Book your next appointment before you leave the shop from your current appointment. Depending on your hair type, style and growth rate your next cut should be between one and six weeks. I know that is a big discrepancy but a good barber will help you determine when you should come in for your next cut. This applies to hair on your head and facial 

hair.

Now let's discuss some other areas that need attention.

Eye brows, Ears and Nose   

                                                                                                                                                               Eye brows, You should have two of them. Most barbers will offer to help you with this, let them. Trimming and separating your eyebrows is easier for your barber than for you. Don't worry trimming is NOT the same as arching. 

Ear hair,  lets just say eww together. Again most barbers have got you covered here as well. If they don't normally do it or forgot, just ask.       

                                                                                                                                                            Nose hair, unless you have a really old school barber you're probably on your own. Try and trim or tweeze them at least once every two weeks but look out for any strays in between. 

 Armpits                                                                                                                                             This should not be up for debate. If you look like you 

have a troll in a headlock, trim that stuff. I'm not saying it needs to be completely shaved, which is acceptable for some people but can be very itchy and no one wants to be scratching their underarms all day.

Chest, back and groin                                                                                                                                                                                   These areas are a little more personal so discretion is up to you. It is important to note however that if you are going to shave these areas you will need to do it fairly often to avoid the itch factor, an issue that typically happens as the hair grows back, not to mention if there is something that feels worse than a hairy back, it is a prickly hairy back. Depilatories (hair removal creams) are also an 

option. Dissolving  the hair at the root means slower regrowth. But the process is a little more 

involved and would require enlisting some help for the hard to reach areas.Another factor with these 

creams is the possibility of chemical burns if left on too long. So at attention to the directions. For men that are truly brave, waxing is also an option. Keeping in mind that ingrown hairs happen so to help alleviate the problem it is important to exfoliate (remove dead skin) and moisturize  (use lotion).

Keep your nails short and clean. 

I shouldn't need to explain why long dirty fingernails are not a good look.  If your budget or schedule permits, try a monthly manicure/pedicure to have someone take care of this for you. I recommend letting them buff your nails as a way to keep the healthy shine without looking too “fancy” .Since nails grow at different rates there is no set time frame for it when to cut,  however when it is time to trim your nails, water is your best friend. Nails absorb water and as they do they soften. This is the perfect time to attack them with the clippers. Finger and toe nails become more flexible, making it less likely that you will crack or cut too low on the nail which tends to happen when the nail is stiff and dry.

Wash that Mug                                                                                                                                  Cleanse your face on a regular basis with a facial soap.Most body soaps are too strong for the face. You need to invest in a cleanser that is just for the face. No, it’s not okay to use hand soap for your face. It’s called HAND soap for a reason! Most soaps have harsh ingredients that can harm your face and actually cause you to break out. A great cleanser goes a long way. You will see a dramatic difference in the skin after one use.

Pucker up Buttercup                                                                                                                   

 Lips can suffer all year round as the sun dries them out and the cold weather can cause them to chap. My recommendation for kissable lips? Use a lip balm regularly. But use sparingly as you don’t want 

to look like you’re wearing lip gloss.

Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?                                                                                            No excuses! Obviously not everyone has perfect teeth. But that doesn't mean that you should be out here making people yield like they're at a traffic light every time you smile.  There are plenty of over the counter teeth whiteners available that are safe and effective. Brightening up your smile can take more than five years off your look. Also brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day might keep the dentist away but it can help you to get a little closer to that special person you've had your eye on.

And last but not least,

HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE

it's great for you skin, hair, nails and your waistline.

Coming next…

Products...  what they do and my best recommendations 

      

Five essentials for maintaining a great beard

With so many beard products to choose from these days it's easy to lose focus on the essentials. So let's take it back to basics and focus on the five key elements to a great beard. 

    I'm hoping this guide will convince the men who are still on the fence to take the leap, and for the ones that are feeling a bit overwhelmed to keep going. Beards a a great way to change up your entire look and if you take care of it properly, it's a change for the better.

    All of your hair, facial or otherwise is effected by what you eat and drink. Better nutrition leads to better growth. Lucy for you there is a vitamin that you can add to your daily routine. Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, helps to strengthen and thicken hair leading to better growth.

    Now let's talk hydration. Keeping your skin and beard moisturized is key to a soft touchable, by other people, beard. My favorite product for this is simple coconut oil. The virgin coconut oil found right in your local grocery store. The natural coconut oil will absorb into both your skin and beard keeping it soft with the added bonus of being anti-microbial and anti-fungal. 

    So your beard is growing in but starting to look a bit unruly and the ends are scraggly. It's time to take a trip to the barbershop. If you have a barber you trust, great! If not start looking online for a barber that has proven experiance with beards. If not you can save yourself some money by visiting a ten dollar, quantity is better than quality, barbershop. Ending up with a shadow beard, which unless it has an emaculate line up, is really no beard at a all. It's worth the time to find a grooming expert.

    Now your beard is looking pretty damn good. Let's keep it that way. Combing and or brushing your beard is essential to keeping it smooth and tangle free. For shorter or straighter hair a brush alone works best. It keeps small tangles out and works to stimulate the skin and pull natural oil out to the ends of your beard. Stick with a natural bristle beard brush like boar hair. Combing is best for longer, corse and curly beards. It will also pull the tangles out, keeping your beard free of hair that has fallen out (this is normal) or broken ends. Using a natural wooden comb with wide teeth is best. Again not only keeping your beard tangle free but by pulling the natural oils from your skin to the much drier ends of your beard.

    Alright my last and final recommendation is almost completely up to you. Beard oil or beard balm. My advise is this, the more unruly your beard the more hold you will need from a product. Beard balms tend to be heavier with more hold than beard oils. Balms tend to work best on shorter, thicker, curly and beards that are grey or going grey. Beard oils thinner and work great on longer thinner beards. The oil is easily distributed from face to ends of beards. Giving a nice hydrated look. So what's left to you? The best part, choosing your favorite sent. With so many different scents out there it's hard to know without smelling them all what will be your favorite. I suggest trying out what's at your barbershop first. After that try a beard oil club. For a very low price you can try different oils every month until you find your sent.

   But what do the ladies like? Coming soon - Grooming product scents that women have fallen in love with.