Let’s Hear it for the Boy!

05Oct09

and maybe he don’t dress fine
but i don’t really mind
‘cuz every time he pulls me near
I just wanna cheer -Deniece Williams

I have a friend who owns “veteren” underwear. When he was a small town high school football star, his mom bought him Fruit of the Looms in bulk. They were his lucky skivvies, and when they become threadbare, he retired them to a “rag” drawer. My friend hasn’t tossed out a pair of tighty whities in 16 years. You might call him a Stubborn Minimalist, a guy who once used one detergent (in his case, Lava soap) for everything: personal, household, automotive… But a few Christmases ago, I presented said friend with a heavenly smelling bottle of cologne: The Art of Shaving Eau de Toilette in Sandalwood $70. Suddenly, Mr. Minimalist had two products! He enjoyed the ritual of putting on his new signature scent in the mornings or before a date. He ventured into a local apothecary on his own one day, and walked out with a bagful of Art of Shaving products. He has since become one of the better-groomed, and nicer-smelling fellas in my life.

Whether you’re like my friend Mr. M, or a fussy ablution authority, the following suggestions aim to inspire an effortless regimen.

In the Shower
Most of the guys I know have a bar of soap, and a bottle of shampoo in their showers. I know a few who keep their toothbrushes and toothpaste in there, and fewer still who shave in the shower (great idea, though). Bar of soap I like a big, triple-milled, scrubby soap like this sage scented bar from Pre de Provence $5.69. Local Austin readers can find it at Central Market. These soaps are oversized, super-exfoliating, and smell absolutely delicious. There’s no washcloth needed, as the scrubby bits should be rubbed directly into your skin. If you’re a $.99 bar soap guy, consider that this dense French bar will last you 6-8 weeks with daily use. Some nice liquid alternatives are Kiehl’s Liquid Body Cleansers $15.50, if you like a variety of scents, 365 Everyday Value Shower Gel in Citrus Grapefruit $2.99, or Dr. Bronner’s Magical Soap in Peppermint $5.99, which cleans everything from the hair on your head, to your dog/car/floors/teeth! Shampoo My hands-down, undefeated favorite shampoo for guys is Kevin Murphy Luxury Wash about $25, available at Sabia. Please don’t balk at the price tag gentlemen, this cedar-smelling bottle of lathery yumminess will last ages. You only need about a dime-sized amount for short hair, a nickel-sized for longer hair. Also, if your hair is in good condition and “virgin” (not chemically processed), you can skip the conditioner. If your scalp is oily, however, or if you fight flakes, you’ll want a more theraputic product like Aveda Scalp Benefits shampoo $13, which soothes itching with softening babassu nut oil.
Toothbrush & Toothpaste I have three favorite toothpastes. If you have sensitive teeth or are whitening your teeth with bleaching trays or whitestrips (by the way, Boys, do this), try Sensodyne IsoActive $7.99 to minimize tooth pain. For a saccharine-free, daily-use toothpaste, you can’t beat Tom’s of Main Peppermint paste $4.99, and I love the unique flavor and stylish packaging of Marvis Aquatic Mint toothpaste $10.50, also available at Sabia. While choosing a toothbrush is a very personal thing, my friend and future dentist Suzanne will tell you to buy one with ultra soft bristles. Follow your brushing with an alchohol-free mouthrinse, as the ones with alcohol can cause dry mouth (= bad breath). I like Crest ProHealth Enamel Shield.
Shaving While, I’m no expert on face-shaving, I have picked up a few tips around the dermatology office. For one thing, if your facial hair is curly, or you are prone to ingrown hairs, do not use multi-blade razors. The closer you shave kinky hair, the more likely it is to spring back below the surface of your skin and curl back in on itself. Embrace that manly scruff, I suppose! I also highly suggest starting your shave routine with a pre-treatment like The Art of Shaving Pre Shave Oil $11. Massage this into a dry face, and follow with shave cream or a frothy shave soap. If you prefer fewer products, try AESOP Moroccan Neroli Shaving Oil $32.50 instead. You’ll get a much closer, smoother shave with an oil than you will with a supermarket foam, and these products smell so good! A final tip: install a fogless shaving mirror in your shower. The shower’s steam will soften your beard, you’ll have ample rinsing water, and you might also save time.

Final Steps, or what I like to call the Fluff ‘n Fold
Once out of the shower, many guys make the two biggest grooming mistakes of all: too much cologne, and too much hair product! Start out by lightly moisturizing your skin with an oil free product containing SPF. This step will keep you looking younger by smoothing fine lines, and filtering out harmful UV rays. I love Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 $26.50. Scent I’d like to suggest cologne (eau de toilette) over aftershave, for two reasons: the scent is lighter, and the alcohol in traditional aftershaves is murder on your skin. Once you are dressed, mist one to two sprays of your scent into the air about one foot above your head. As the mist falls, stand under it. Now put the bottle down and step away until after your next shower. I promise, fellas, that’s all you will need. You’ll smell subtly sexy and clean, not desperate. My current favorite men’s colognes are YSL L’Homme $55, and Givenchy Play $71, but I’m also partial to the aforementioned Art of Shaving Sandalwood, and Kiehl’s Original Musk $38.50. Hair Styling For casual, tousled hair with a little bit of texture and shine, towel or blowdry your hair first to get all of the water out. Next, take a tiny dab of styling cream like Kevin Murphy Easy Rider $25, available at Sabia, and emulsify it in your palms (rub the product together until it looks clear and glossy). Now rake the warmed product through your hair and finger style, adding more product if necessary. Special Jon Gosselin Advisory: Absolutely do not apply gel of any kind to wet hair, and air-dry.

Perhaps the nicest result of thoughtful grooming is the way even two or three products layer to create an inexorable scent that’s thoroughly tempting. Finish up by chucking that 5 year old bottle of AXE, balling up those veteran underpants and drying off your mirror, so you can take a look at your handsome self.

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Tags: 365 Everyday, Aesop, Art of Shaving, Aveda, AXE, Crest, Dr. Bronner's, Elta MD, grooming, hairstyling, Jon Gosselin, Kevin Murphy, Kiehl's Musk, Marvis, men, Pre de Provence, ritual, Sabia, scent, Sensodyne IsoActive, shaving, skin care, Tom's of Maine, underwear