Scrubs, toners, moisturisers — even fairness creams — are no longer products that only women use.
"We all know looking good increases self-confidence," says Richard Guliker, art director, Balmain Hair. "Also it gives a message of success, both in business and in private life. Lastly, we shouldn't forget it is appealing to others."
All about poise
Lindsay Nadeau, director at Amrita Spa in Raffles Hotel, Dubai, agrees with Guliker. "Men who dress well and are well-groomed stand out," she says. At the same time, you don't need to be labelled metrosexual just because you take care of yourself. It's more a reflection of how you carry yourself as a person, professionally and casually."
According to Guliker, David Beckham is one of the first who steered men towards this trend. Nadeau, however, feels taking care of oneself is an education for men. "Most men believe facials and manicures are feminine. However, once they get it done, they continue to come back. In a sense, letting them experiment with the luxury behind a facial and how great their skin looks afterwards is an education for them."
With the advent of the metrosexual, not only has the pressure to look "cool" increased on men, it has also given birth to a range of products to take him there. Just as women, men too want to look and feel younger. For most, ageing starts in their twenties. The skin begins to slowly dry and lose elasticity because the fat beneath the skin starts diminishing. The biggest culprit in this is said to be the Sun. Too much sun not only makes the skin look older but can also cause skin diseases, including cancer. Another major cause can be smoking. Smoking decreases the blood flow to the skin, causing it to look droopy and wrinkly. That is why facials and massages are recommended for both men and women from their mid- to their late twenties.
"Men have not been excluded from the gene pool of no wrinkles," Nadeau says. "Yes, their skin is slightly thicker and oilier but they still age as women do. They need to start facials by their late twenties and be sure to keep a homecare regimen of cleansing, toning, scrubbing and moisturising. However, many men are shy to visit a spa and end up buying pharmacy products which may prove more harmful than helpful to the skin."
Keep those nails clean
Body care is just as important as taking care of the face. Not only does one need to keep oneself clean — and smelling clean — one's hands and feet, and nails need looking after too. "Men need manicures and pedicures for the same reason women do," Nadeau says. "It is important to keep the nails clean and fungus-free — many men are guilty of this, especially on their feet. Cutting the cuticles on a regular basis helps the nail beds stay healthy and prevents hang nails or ingrown nails. We walk on our feet all day — the least we can do is give them some TLC."
Looking after hair, body and head is another important factor in the overall look. "What you need is to find a style that suits your face and dress," says Rony Afif, of Harmony Salon in Dubai. "If you have facial hair, it should be trimmed. This gives the impression of polish. As for treating your hair well, you need to use a good-quality shampoo, which preferably contains keratin and not sodium and which will provide all vitamins and condition it. Avoid blow-drying."
Just as women, men tend to make mistakes. Guliker feels men are "more scared than women to combine and be colourful" when creating an overall look. "You don't always need to be in a suit to look good. Use the jacket from during the day and combine it with a pair of baggy jeans for the evening and you'd look just as good. Men wear a jacket slightly fitted around the waist and a fresh white shirt underneath, combined with a club tie and Bermuda shorts in camel, which is a cool summer colour. These days it is very trendy for men to carry bags as well, even businessmen. It is as important for a man to accessorise as it is for women."
Smelling good
Everyone sweats but what is important is to make an impression, not to sweat so much and keep it from leading to body odour. It is not really the sweat that makes us smell bad but the bacteria that forms in the sweat.
To keep this smell neutral, you can choose a deodorant or an antiperspirant. A deodorant neutralises the smell and has an antiseptic effect on the bacteria. Deodorants do not interfere with sweating and that is a good thing. On the other hand, antiperspirants actually clog or block the pores, so they won't sweat.
During the summer, when it is really hot, it is advisable to trim your underarm hair to reduce odour.
Another way to smell good is using cologne. But be careful. Choose a fragrance that will give a pleasant scent and not suffocate others around you. With the number of choices available, this can be a daunting task. Preferably, choose a light citrusy or a marine one for the day and maybe a slightly heavier green or floral for the evening. There are various ways to wear perfume. Either layer it using complementary skincare products and fragrances or apply it at strategic points.
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Your hair may be dead but your scalp is alive. You need to take care of that if you wish to maintain that mane. A thorough head massage, such as the Indian champi, increases the blood flow in the scalp, stimulating hair growth. A clean head will avoid breakage. But be sure to use simple cleaning products. Excessive cleaning can be just as damaging as less cleaning. Dandruff is just one small problem that can be caused if proper care is not taken.
Hair colouring has grown popular with men in the past few years. But dyes can cause allergic reactions as well. A patch test is always advisable before applying colour. Hair colour can make you look younger but may carry health risks.
Keep small clippers, a nose-hair trimmer or tweezers around to clip away any hair hanging out of your nose.
Manscaping is a personal choice. It's definitely a cleaner option to shave that face fuzz, shave or wax the underarms and groin. It will make you feel good, if not healthier.
Male essentials
What a man definitely needs:
- A suit: Preferably in a dark colour, navy blue or grey.
- A white dress shirt: For that formal look during the day or night. Suits everyone.
- Blue blazer: Ah, the traditional old school look. Just when you need to look trendy without putting in too much effort.
- Black shoes and belt: A neutral colour that combines well with all colours and occasions.
- Denims: Black and blue for both the casual and smart-casual looks.
- Casual shirt: Or a T-shirt. You don't want to arrive at a brunch or beach party togged in a suit.
- Briefcase: Or a man bag. It gives the impression you are serious and organised in your work.
- A watch: Invest in a good watch that suits your lifestyle and taste. It also gives the impression you like being punctual.
What a man does not need:
- To wear socks with sandals: Sandals are for the beach and definitely not to be worn with socks.
- To show off designer labels: Cheesy and pretentious to throw names.
- To wear shiny clothes: Leave those for the performers on stage.
- To wear un-ironed or unfitting clothes: Looking sloppy is not good for you.
- To carry backpacks to work: Invest in a briefcase or a man bag. It'll cost you almost the same as a backpack. If you need to carry gym clothes, get a nice-looking gym bag.
- To wear white socks to work: Reserve them for the gym.
