Beauty Care for the Modern Man
The days when a man would be ridiculed for proper grooming are fast becoming scarce – thankfully. And while some men aren’t exactly comfortable in a salon setting, yet, the trend is building. Even those who won’t yet set foot in the salon are looking for ways to improve their grooming habits. The trouble is, many men aren’t exactly sure where to start.
We’re here to help. The first thing people see when they meet someone, usually, is the face. In today's world, being well-groomed and well-maintained has become very important for men, just as it is for women. So here are a few tips for men that can help you maintain and even enhance your looks:
Facial skin care is something many men do not bother with, not knowing that it is indeed very important. Men have 15% more oilier skin than women do, which can lead to them developing skin disorders like acne, blemishes, etc. Proper skin care can help deal with the natural tendencies and problems of male skin.
Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face on a daily basis. Men with very oily skin should use a soap-free cleanser and a face gel, instead of a moisturizer. A moisturizer that contains clay properties can also be used.
Use a facial scrub at least twice a week, to exfoliate the dead skin cells, and prevent blackheads and white heads. You can follow it up with a homemade face pack consisting of yogurt, honey and oatmeal to nourish and moisturize the skin.
Always use a sun protection lotion or a sunscreen when moving about in the sun, to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays.
Before shaving, wash your face with a soap-free face wash, wet the beard with a hot, wet towel and let it soak well for a minute or two. Apply the shaving cream in equal proportions and use one that contains vitamin E or aloe vera, as it would be less harsh on your skin.
While shaving, rinse your blade using cold water to prevent razor burn and skin irritation. After shaving, use an after-shave toner and follow it up with some moisturizer.
Once a month treat yourself to a full facial. You can use an over the counter peel-off mask to clear your pores and refresh your skin. This will rid you of unwanted black heads, clogged skin pores and help to prevent pimples. Do not hesitate to get an occasional salon facial.
Care for the Hair
Most men will visit a salon (or at least the barber shop) for a regular haircut. But there are other hair issues that they often ignore, even when brought up by their professional stylists. Whether it’s because they are concerned over the image associated with salon services, or they genuinely don’t see the issues as serious, many men won’t take advantage of simple solutions to common difficulties.
The most common hair problems that men face are hair loss, gray hair and dandruff. These are three different problems that have different causes and therefore different solutions. Hair loss is mainly genetic, often hereditary. However, it’s always important to do your best for the hair you have. So keep the scalp clean and conditioned to keep the hair healthy and encourage it to stick around.
Dandruff is generally caused by a common fungus that we all have, and when it grows out of control, dandruff is the result. There are appropriate hair care products that will help to control this fungus and will help rid your scalp of flakes and itch.
Gray hair is genetic and will happen as dictated by your genetic code. Stress and other factors can influence this but for the most part, it’s a simple matter of aging. The secret is to learn to deal with it gracefully. Whether that means accepting the grays as they come, or covering them up with hair color. Just remember that you want the results to look natural, and even if your hair was jet black when you were 15, having it jet black at 50 won’t look natural.
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The most important aspect of hair care is caring for the scalp. For this, always use a mild shampoo, followed by a moisturizing conditioner. You can also use a hair serum to maintain the texture of hair. Wash your hair when it becomes soiled or oily, and moisturize it daily. Some advocate at least three times a week massaging your hair and scalp with oil that contains vitamin E. Leave the oil on for a few hours before you wash it off. If you do this, you will need to shampoo your hair frequently to prevent an overabundance of oil.
For extra shine, or if you have oily hair, rinse your hair and scalp with cool water after shampooing and conditioning.
Avoid roughing up the hair when towel drying. Press the hair between layers of toweling, or squeeze the excess water out. When possible, wrap your hair in a towel turban-fashion to allow the moisture to be wicked away, and allow your hair to air dry naturally the remainder of the drying time.
Avoid the use of at-home hair straighteners and other hair products that can damage your hair. For chemical services, consult a professional. The same applies when trying to tackle gray hair. Let your stylist help you select the right color to cover your gray without making you look artificial.
Care for the Hands and Feet
Hand and nail care is something that even many women tend to ignore, and so for men to completely ignore it is no big surprise. However, proper hand and foot care can be that little something extra that you’ll be really glad you did.
Moisturize your hands and fingers daily post having a bath. Keep your hands and the area between the fingers clean. Scrub your feet regularly and keep the area between the toes clean and dry. Use a foot care lotion at night before bed to keep your feet healthy and to avoid dry feet.
Do not bite your fingernails, instead trim them on a regular basis and file them appropriately to avoid brittle nails. The same is more than true of your toenails. Getting an occasional manicure and pedicure at a salon is just fine.
You can also use a pumice stone or foot file to get rid of thick dead skin on the heels and ankles.
If you are going to be wearing socks all day, make sure you use a deodorizing foot spray or talcum powder to avoid stinky feet, due to the sweating of the feet. Also, keep your shoes clean and make sure they’re fully dry before you wear them.
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