Posted on 02/07/10, filed under Mankind Grooming Editor | Written by: Lee - Mankind Grooming Editor
Of all the grooming ‘issues’ I get asked about the subject of baldness is probably surrounded by the most myths. I’ve lost count of the times someone has asked me whether standing upside down can stimulate hair growth (it doesn’t) or whether bald men are more virile (sadly not, and I say that as someone who’s not quite as thick on top as he once was).
And just to clarify the situation here are a few more myths dispelled (or not in some cases)…
Stress can cause hair loss.
True. Your barnet is a barometer for your health so stressful events like divorce, redundancy or the sight of yet another Katie Price documentary can often cause the body to shed hair.
Shaving hair makes it grow back thicker.
False. Hair might appear thicker when it starts to grow because its ends will be blunt, but shaving can’t increase the number of hair-producing follicles on your scalp.
Over-use of styling products can cause baldness.
False. Has a fondness for hairspray and hair gel left big hair s icons like Simon Le Bon, Rod Stewart or the Cure’s Robert Smith bald?
There’s little you can do to make fine or thinning hair look thicker
On the contrary. Getting the right hair cut, using the right styling products and choosing right shampoo can all help fine or thinning hair appear thicker. Blow-drying will instantly give it more lift and volume, styling hair with lighter, dryer products like gels, sprays, mousses prevents it from lying flat and getting a short, textured haircut can make it look thicker too.
Ponytails look great on balding men.
Come on, do you really need me to answer this?
Lee, Mankind Grooming Ed
Posted on 22/06/10, filed under Mankind Grooming Editor | Written by: Lee - Mankind Grooming Editor
Protecting your skin from sun damage might be crucial in the summer but no more crucial than protecting your eyes. A good-quality pair of sunglasses won’t just protect your rep, they’ll help protect your retinas too. Personally, I like a Ray Ban aviator as you see but the important thing is to go for a pair that offer proper protection. For starters, avoid those market-stall jobbies that are often inferior and don’t meet proper standards. They might look good and be cheap as chips but what price eye health?
It’s crucial to protect your eyes with a good quality pair of sunglasses since sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye, causing long-term damage to our eyesight. Look for good quality dark glasses and check they carry the “CE” Mark and British Standard BS EN 1836:1997, which ensures that the sunglasses offer a safe level of UV protection.
Then make sure you wear them! With increasing awareness of the risk of skin cancer, most of us wouldn’t dream of going outside on a sunny day without proper sunscreen protection. Yet we often forget to protect our eyes. In fact, according to one survey by The College of Optometrists around one in seven of us never wear sunglasses at all. But if you’re blue or green eyed they’re especially essential as people with light coloured eyes are most at risk from sun damage.
What’s more, sunglasses are one of the simplest ways to prevent wrinkles caused by squinting (especially if you opt for wraparounds) so make sure you invest in a good pair, up to the correct safety standards and keep some at work or in the car glove compartment so they’re always at hand.
Lee, Mankind Grooming Ed
Posted on 14/06/10, filed under Mankind Grooming Editor | Written by: Lee - Mankind Grooming Editor
According to the met office we’re in for a ‘BBQ summer’. So just in case, by any remote chance, they’re actually right, here are few simple strategies for staying cool, calm and collected.
1. Steer clear of synthetics. Man-made fibres don’t allow the skin to breathe so wear loose fitting cotton clothes instead. Or opt for fabrics which ‘wick’ moisture away from the skin to keep it cool. Equmen’s T-shirts and vests do this, ensuring skin stays cool and comfortable.
2. Wear white. Black clothing absorbs every wavelength of visible light making it (and hence you) warm. White clothing, on the other hand, reflects light keeping you cooler for longer.
3. Get trimming! The bacteria that cause body odour thrive on body hair and by trimming with a product like The Philips Body Groom System it back you’ll feel cooler, smell fresher and look better too!
4. Invest in a summer fragrance. Lighter and fresher than regular fragrances, summer scents are specially formulated to work in warm weather. Those that contain citrus notes are especially good because they literally ‘zing’ off the skin making it feel cool. Miller Harris’s zesty Citron Citron is a great example.
5. Stay hydrated. The human body is 75% water and dehydration doesn’t just affect your muscles and joints, it affects the brain too which is why we often end up irritable and headachey in hot weather. To avoid these problems, stay hydrated by drinking the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day.
6. Cut back on caffeine. Caffeine increases sweat production so swap tea, coffee and cola for cooling water or fruit juice instead.
7. Factor up. Not only does sunburn increase your risk of developing skin cancer it also reduces the skin’s ability to release excess heat making you hotter too so always apply a sunscreen if you’re heading out into the sun.
Lee, Mankind Grooming Ed
