The Modern Man's Guide To Grooming
How important is mere appearance to a man? Well, a man can't lie to himself - very important. A dermatologist takes a close look at the products and processes designed to make a man nice to be near to; and spell out the A-B-Cs of good grooming.
Is your bathroom mirror a location you approach with trepidation each morning for fear of the tale it will tell? Namely, that your appearance could do with a bit of sprucing up?
Well, stop worrying that pimple, and quit reflecting on that bald pate. If you really want to turn over a new look (and women don't have the monopoly on good looks!) there's nothing to stop you.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty:
HAIR
In dusty cities and other polluted areas, it is a good habit to wash your hair every day. "Daily washing does not ruin the hair," says Dermatologist. "In fact it is hygienic and makes the head less prone to infection."
Many men shy away from shampoos believing them to be exclusively a woman's beauty aid. But, basically, shampoo is for hair and hair has no gender. Shampoos produce lather better than soap and, because the surface tension is less, it makes it easier to clean the hair.
Conditioners break the disulphide bonds of the hair, thus making the hair more manageable and easier to groom. Today, shampoos are available with built-in conditioners, making them a convenient cosmetic aid.
No woman likes a man with a dandruff problem. Dandruff is one of the great put-offs. But, contrary to popular thinking, "dandruff is not a disease," informs Dermatologist. "It is an accentuated physiological problem. That is, the skin is shed regularly under normal circumstances and when the shedding is excessive it is called dandruff." Most so-called anti-dandruff shampoos available in the market only wash away the dead cells from the scalp. The exception is selenium sulphide, an ingredient that reduces the turnover or formation of cells, thus retarding, though not curing the problem. The best advice you could follow is to keep the scalp clean by daily washing.
A balding head - every man's Achilles heel! Quite a few 'losers' have turned to minoxidil as a hair restorer. While regular application of minoxidil does sprout fine hair on bald areas of the sclp, as soon as application is ceased, the hair begins to fall off again. Even more important, minoxidil affects the heart, and cardiac problems. Therefore it should be used only under a doctor's supervision.
Go for a haircut to your neighbourhood saloon and in most cases you will be given a head massage as a perk (sometimes you pay extra). Indeed, the massaging action does perk up blood circulation, but it is mistakenly assumed (and assured by hair-dressers) to also improve hair growth. "That is a myth," says Dermatologist, "for the growth and life of your hair are determined by your individual genetic pattern." So, enjoy the relaxing effects of the massage by all means, but don't expect miracles to sprout above your hairline.
FACE
Now for blood and tears, otherwise known as shaving. Your grandfather probably used soap, but today it is more fashionable to use shaving creams. There are the conventional ones which have to be lathered on with a brush, and there is also the spray variety which spreads foam at the press of a button. Essentially, however, "soap and water would do as well," argues Dermatologist. Like shaving creams, they simply fulfil the basic requirement of softening the hair for a better shave. top manscaping tools that a shaving cream has over soap is that it produces a thicker lather which does not drip or dry as quickly a s soap does.
Use a sharp-edged blade while shaving. A dull-edged blade can cause irritation because of the repeated friction on the skin. Stroke with the grain and wash the razor clean after a shave - a dirty razor can cause skin infections. "Fungus on the shaving areas of a man's face can almost always be traced back to an unclean razor," says Dermatologist.
Is your bathroom mirror a location you approach with trepidation each morning for fear of the tale it will tell? Namely, that your appearance could do with a bit of sprucing up?
Well, stop worrying that pimple, and quit reflecting on that bald pate. If you really want to turn over a new look (and women don't have the monopoly on good looks!) there's nothing to stop you.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty:
HAIR
In dusty cities and other polluted areas, it is a good habit to wash your hair every day. "Daily washing does not ruin the hair," says Dermatologist. "In fact it is hygienic and makes the head less prone to infection."
Many men shy away from shampoos believing them to be exclusively a woman's beauty aid. But, basically, shampoo is for hair and hair has no gender. Shampoos produce lather better than soap and, because the surface tension is less, it makes it easier to clean the hair.
Conditioners break the disulphide bonds of the hair, thus making the hair more manageable and easier to groom. Today, shampoos are available with built-in conditioners, making them a convenient cosmetic aid.
No woman likes a man with a dandruff problem. Dandruff is one of the great put-offs. But, contrary to popular thinking, "dandruff is not a disease," informs Dermatologist. "It is an accentuated physiological problem. That is, the skin is shed regularly under normal circumstances and when the shedding is excessive it is called dandruff." Most so-called anti-dandruff shampoos available in the market only wash away the dead cells from the scalp. The exception is selenium sulphide, an ingredient that reduces the turnover or formation of cells, thus retarding, though not curing the problem. The best advice you could follow is to keep the scalp clean by daily washing.
A balding head - every man's Achilles heel! Quite a few 'losers' have turned to minoxidil as a hair restorer. While regular application of minoxidil does sprout fine hair on bald areas of the sclp, as soon as application is ceased, the hair begins to fall off again. Even more important, minoxidil affects the heart, and cardiac problems. Therefore it should be used only under a doctor's supervision.
Go for a haircut to your neighbourhood saloon and in most cases you will be given a head massage as a perk (sometimes you pay extra). Indeed, the massaging action does perk up blood circulation, but it is mistakenly assumed (and assured by hair-dressers) to also improve hair growth. "That is a myth," says Dermatologist, "for the growth and life of your hair are determined by your individual genetic pattern." So, enjoy the relaxing effects of the massage by all means, but don't expect miracles to sprout above your hairline.
FACE
Now for blood and tears, otherwise known as shaving. Your grandfather probably used soap, but today it is more fashionable to use shaving creams. There are the conventional ones which have to be lathered on with a brush, and there is also the spray variety which spreads foam at the press of a button. Essentially, however, "soap and water would do as well," argues Dermatologist. Like shaving creams, they simply fulfil the basic requirement of softening the hair for a better shave. top manscaping tools that a shaving cream has over soap is that it produces a thicker lather which does not drip or dry as quickly a s soap does.
Use a sharp-edged blade while shaving. A dull-edged blade can cause irritation because of the repeated friction on the skin. Stroke with the grain and wash the razor clean after a shave - a dirty razor can cause skin infections. "Fungus on the shaving areas of a man's face can almost always be traced back to an unclean razor," says Dermatologist.
