The modern man’s guide to grooming
How important is the appearance of the mother for a man? Well, a man can’t lie to himself, very important. A dermatologist takes a close look at products and processes designed to make a man enjoyable to be around; and spell the AB-Cs of good grooming.
Is your bathroom mirror a place you uneasily approach every morning for fear of the story it will tell? I mean, what could her looks do with a little sprucing up?
Well, stop worrying about that pimple and stop thinking about that bald spot. If you really want to change your look (and women don’t have a monopoly on good looks!) there’s nothing stopping you.
Let’s get to the heart of the matter:
HATE
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 the dermatologist. “In fact, it is hygienic and makes the head less prone to infection.”
Many men shy away from shampoos believing that they are exclusively a beauty aid for women. But basically, shampoo is for hair, and hair is genderless. Shampoos produce more foam than soap and, as the surface tension is lower, they make it easier to clean the hair.
Conditioners break down the disulfide bonds in hair, making it more manageable and easier to style. Today, shampoos are available with conditioners built in, making them a convenient cosmetic aid.
No woman likes a man with a dandruff problem. Dandruff is one of the big discouragers. But contrary to popular thought, “dandruff is not a disease,” advises the dermatologist. “It is an accentuated physiological problem. That is, the skin sheds regularly under normal circumstances and when the shed is excessive it is called dandruff”. Most of the so-called anti-dandruff shampoos available in the market only remove dead cells from the scalp. The exception is selenium sulfide, an ingredient that reduces cell turnover or formation, thus slowing, but not curing, the problem. The best advice you can follow is to keep your scalp clean by washing it daily.
A bald head – the Achilles heel of all men! 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 scalp, as soon as the application is stopped, the hair begins to fall out again. Even more importantly, minoxidil affects the heart and heart problems. Therefore, it should be used only under the supervision of a doctor.
Go get a haircut at your neighborhood saloon, and in most cases, they’ll give you a head massage as a bonus (sometimes you pay extra). In fact, the massaging action stimulates blood circulation, but it is wrongly assumed (and hairdressers claim) that it also improves hair growth. “That’s a myth,” says the dermatologist, “because the growth and life of your hair is determined by your individual genetic pattern.” So, enjoy the relaxing effects of massage by all means, but don’t expect miracles to spring up above your hairline.
FACE
Now, blood and tears, also known as shaving. Your grandfather probably used soap, but nowadays it is more fashionable to use shaving creams. There are the conventional ones that have to be lathered with a brush, and there is also the spray variety that spreads foam with the push of a button. Essentially, though, “soap and water would work too,” argues the dermatologist. Like shaving creams, they simply fulfill the basic requirement of softening the hair for a better shave. The only advantage shaving cream has over soap is that it produces a thicker lather that doesn’t run or dry as quickly as soap.
Use a sharp blade while shaving. A dull blade can cause irritation due to repeated friction on the skin. Pat down with the grain and wash the razor clean after shaving: a dirty razor can cause skin infections. “Fungus on the shaving areas of a man’s face can almost always be traced back to a dirty razor,” says the dermatologist.
Aftershave lotions are big business. They are advertised as a lifestyle. But the main ingredient in all of them is a high concentration of ethyl alcohol. The only differences between one and the other lie in the percentage of ethyl alcohol and in the additives used (cologne, lime, musk, etc.). Aftershaves are recommended because ethyl alcohol fulfills two functions. It is antibacterial, which means that it destroys germs and bacteria on the surface of the skin. Second, it is astringent, which means that if you cut yourself (a fairly common occurrence during shaving), the aftershave will cause the serum to coagulate in the cut areas. This seals the wound, making it impervious to external infection. Finally, an aftershave lotion and when you smell good, you feel good too.
When it comes to skin care, more and more men are opting for facials and related treatments these days. They steam, massage and even whiten their faces in beauty salons. Steaming improves blood circulation due to the heat, but more importantly, it helps soften the plugs (black and white heads), making them easier to remove. Please note that bleaching cannot change the color of the skin because the pigmentation is much deeper. Bleaches only lighten the melanin in the dead layer of skin that sheds within 7 to 14 days when a new layer forms.
A facial massage, performed by expert hands, helps to stimulate and tone those muscles that are not exercised in daily life. But while the massaging action can be beneficial, oils and creams used as lubricants can form residue on the skin’s surface and clog pores. “I have had many cases where used oils become comedogenic (causing blackheads) and acneogenic (causing acne) after facials.” Therefore, if the skin reacts negatively to a massage, it is better to avoid it.
AXIAL, HANDS AND FEET
The human body has two sets of sweat pads. The apocrine glands, which are found in the armpits and in the genital area, are the ones that give off the smell. The secretion they exude reacts on the surface of the skin, releasing what we know as body odour. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the area clean and dry as much as possible. Since hair provides a retention site for sweat, the problem can be greatly reduced by shaving underarm hair.
The other set of sweat pads are the eccrine pads, which are found all over the surface of the skin. Its main function is to control body temperature. When the temperature rises, sweat serves to cool the surface of the body. Eccrine acorns do not produce an odor, but if the skin areas are allowed to remain moist, fungus may appear.
There are men who do not suffer from sweaty feet! A good hygiene habit is to wash and dry your feet when you take off your shoes.. In hot and humid countries, cotton socks are a better option than nylon ones. Cotton absorbs sweat, leaving feet dry.
Again, due to sweat, the shoes remain damp. Most men wear only one pair of shoes for everyday use. Often the interval between when a man takes off his shoes and puts them back on is not long enough to allow the leather of the shoes to dry. This moisture can lead to fungal infections on the feet. You may never have thought of this before, but it can be a good idea to have at least two pairs of shoes to wear every other day.
Keds shoes and sneakers are popular footwear today, but the PVC/rubber soles, as well as the other material used in these shoes, generally retain heat. Hence the feet tend to remain moist. If you sweat a lot, put cotton pads between your toes. The cotton will absorb sweat and by keeping your toes apart, it will reduce friction between them.
Torn or dirty tights on fingers and toes are an ugly sight. Get regular manicures to keep your nails trim and clean.
Lastly, take care of your style! Your lifestyle, that is. Unsightly bags or puffy eyes can be the result of too much partying or too little sleep. Alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs can also be to blame.
Pamper yourself, but in the right way. And it will show in the way you look. You will enjoy looking at yourself face to face in the bathroom mirror! And others will enjoy an encounter with you.