How To Tweeze Eyebrows

As a professional stylist, I've encountered hundreds of male clients who sported a "unibrow".  Based on my 13 years of professional experience, I've discovered two interesting facts: (1) Most men with a unibrow would like to take care of the problem, and (2) Many of these men are too self-conscious to have their brows waxed or tweezed in a salon.

If you're a man who secretly longs to have two eyebrows instead of one, here's a helpful article which will teach you the basics of tweezing so that you can take care of the problem discretely, in the comfort of your own home: How To Tweeze Eyebrows

How to Avoid Nicks and Cuts While Shaving

If you are tired of leaving your bathroom each morning with tiny toilet paper squares stuck to your face to repair the damage you have done while shaving, then this article is especially for you.  Nicks and cuts, much like taxes and women, are an often annoying inevitability of life.  This article might not help you get out of hot water with the IRS or your wife, but these tips will certainly help you "save face" while shaving.

1.  Pressure is everything.  Most of us apply too much pressure while shaving, probably out of habit from shaving with cheap disposable razors.  Most razors on the market, especially those with multiple blades, will only require a light touch while shaving.  By simply reducing pressure while shaving, you will reduce nicks and cuts.

2.  Never shave on dry skin.  Shaving on wet skin has many benefits.  The razor will glide over the skin easier, and the hair will be softer and easier to shave.  Even with the best shaving creams or gels, you will always want to make sure that your skin is wet.

3.  Don't shave against the grain.  Shaving in the direction that the hair grows will result in significantly less irritation and it will also prevent ingrown hairs.  Of course, your shave won't be as close, but this might be a small price to pay if you are prone to cutting or nicking yourself.

4.  Hold the skin taut while shaving.  With your free hand, pull the skin taut in the area you are shaving.  It will be much harder to cut yourself this way.

5.  Keep your razor clean.  Rinse your razor with hot water after every stroke.  If hair builds up between the blades of your razor, you will be far more likely to cut or nick yourself while shaving.  A clean razor equals a clean shave.

6.  Don't rush.  Most cuts occur when a man is in a hurry.  Just as driving a car around curves at a high speed will result in a crash, shaving around the curves of your face at a high rate of speed will result in a cut.

7.  Keep your skin moisturized.  If you have chronically dry skin, you will suffer from more nicks and cuts.  Men who keep their skin soft with lotion or moisturizing cream will suffer less from nicks and cuts because the razor will have a smoother surface to glide over.

These seven tips are guaranteed to reduce a wide variety of shaving mishaps, from nicks and cuts to razor burn, irritation, and ingrown hairs.

Shaving Tips: Why You Should Start With a Clean Face

A clean shave begins with a clean face.  If your face is not clean prior to shaving, you are leaving the door wide open for a variety of problems such as rashes, irritation, cuts, and nicks.  For a shaving razor to work effectively, it must be able to glide over the skin with a minimal amount of resistance.  Things such as dirt, dead skin cells, and residue from soap and other cleansers inhibit a razor's ability to glide over the skin.

When cleansing the face, avoid using products such as bar soap, hand soap, or body wash.  These products leave a thin layer of film on the skin which not only makes it harder to shave, but may also clog skin pores as well.  A smarter choice would be to use a product especially made for cleaning the face.  Facial cleansers are more mild, and they will not clog pores or leave residue behind.

If you have oily skin, it is a good idea to use a toner after using your facial cleanser.  A toner is an astringent liquid, usually containing alcohol or witch hazel, which dries excess oil and kills bacteria.  Apply a small amount of toner to a clean dry towel and gently wipe the face after you have used your facial cleanser.  A good toner will not only remove oil and unclog pores, but it will also keep your skin sanitized and germ-free.  Always use toner before shaving, however, since the alcohol content will cause stinging on irritated or broken skin.

Many men will also benefit from using an exfoliant once or twice per week.  An exfoliant is kind of like Ajax or Comet cleanser for your face; it scours away dead skin cells that are on the surface of the skin.  These dead cells make your skin appear dull, old, tired, and dry.  Removing these dead skin cells on a regular basis will instantly make you look healthier and younger (this is why your wife or girlfriend probably uses an exfoliant).  One important thing to remember is to never shave immediately after exfoliating because exfoliation will heighten your skin's sensitivity, which may result in increased redness or irritation from shaving.  Instead, exfoliate the night before if you like to shave in the morning.

These tips will not only result in a better shave with less irritation, but will also keep your skin looking its best.  

How to Groom a Thick Beard

Grooming a thick beard will require different techniques than are needed for maintaining a simple mustache or a goatee.  A thick beard will require regular grooming around once per month in order to maintain the beard's shape and to keep the facial hair in optimal condition.  An ungroomed beard, on the other hand, will not only look sloppy and unkempt, but it will make the man wearing the beard appear older.

In order to groom a thick beard, you will need to invest in the right tools and products.  If you have a battery-powered mustache or beard trimmer, do yourself a favor and toss it out the window.  The motor will not be powerful enough to navigate through a beard that is coarse, thick, or wiry.  Get yourself a set of trimmers or haircutting clippers that have to be plugged into an electrical outlet.  Think of the wimpy battery-powered trimmer as a Toyota Prius.  You need something more like a Ford F-150.

Before trimming the beard, you will want to use a comb to make sure that the beard is combed free of tangles.  Use the largest size clipper guard to groom the beard, and work your way down to a smaller guard until you have found the size that gives you the desired length.  Once you have found the right sized guard, this is the one you should use once or twice a month in order to maintain the beard's shape and length.

If you have a steady hand, you can remove the guard from your trimmers or clippers and use the blade for edging.  Edging refers to shaving along the edges of the beard in order to give it a neater, cleaner appearance and outline.  You can use a variety of tools for edging, such as neck trimmers, clippers, or even a regular shaving razor.

The final step in beard grooming is maintaining the health and condition of the facial hair.  A beard should be cleaned regularly using a mild shampoo.  Ordinary soap will leave the beard feeling rough and coarse.  Some men also choose to use a conditioner on their beard as well, in order to soften the hair and to keep it looking shiny and healthy.

By following these simple grooming tips, you will be able to keep your beard looking its best.

Uneven Goatee? These Tips Are For You!

An uneven goatee on a man is much like a picture hanging unevenly on a wall.  The unevenness may be unnoticeable to those who are constantly in the presence of the object, but it will look just plain wrong to strangers.  Getting an even goatee can be a challenge because very few men, while shaving, stare directly straight into the mirror.  Most of us tilt or turn our heads when shaving, and this is the reason why it is tricky to get a goatee that is even and symmetrical.

How can a man be sure that his goatee is even?  The only reliable way is to use some sort of measuring device, such as a ruler or a tape measure.  Of course, very few men are picky enough about their facial hair to accurately measure the dimensions of their beards or goatees.  One quicker way to measure the evenness of a goatee is by using a straight, narrow object, such as a pencil, wooden popsicle stick, or even a piece of string.

With your straight object, along with an eyebrow pencil, look directly into the mirror.  Line up your straight object with the tip of your nose and then locate the exact center of your chin.  Using your eyebrow pencil, put a mark on your chin indicating this point.  Now that you have established the exact center of your chin, you can see if both sides are even.  If the left side of your goatee is, say, 1/16th of an inch wider than the right, shave 1/16th of an inch off from the right side.

You can also use a straight object to establish the width of your goatee.  Holding your straight object vertically, line up the object with the corner of the mouth, and then draw a mark on the chin.  Do this on the other side as well.  A goatee should be no wider than the corners of the mouth, or else it will make the face look excessively round.

Even if your goatee is perfectly even and symmetrical, it can appear uneven if the density of the facial hair is not consistent.  It is not unusual to have some areas of the chin where the hair grows in thicker and fuller than others.  This problem can easily be fixed by using an eyebrow pencil to pencil in sparse areas.

These tips will allow you to grow and maintain a goatee that is balanced an even, whether you are in the beginning stages of growing one, or whether you've had a goatee for years.

Beard Growing Tips

A man will never truly feel like a man until he has tried to grow a beard. Beards aren't for everyone; in fact, there are very few men who can pull off a beard and still manage to look stylish. But if you are contemplating growing a beard, there are a few important considerations that you should keep in mind.

First, you must decide if the bearded look is right for you. Regardless of your body type, a beard will make you look heavier and make your face look rounder. Quite frankly, a beard will make you look about fifteen pounds heavier. This is important to realize if you are very self-conscious. Another thing to remember is that until your beard has grown to a sufficient length, it will itch like crazy.

Still thinking about growing a beard? Well, there is more to it than to simply stop shaving. Be sure that you can even grow a beard in the first place. Many people who attempt to grow a beard will discover that there are some areas of the face where hair simply will not grow. This is a matter of genetics. Start your bead by growing a week's worth of stubble. Check closely in the mirror to make sure that the hair is coming in evenly. Once you have determined that there are no patches where hair won't grow, it is time to do some manscaping.

Manscaping is a popular term which applies to the grooming of facial hair. The first step of manscaping is to determine the border. In other words, you must determine how far under the chin you want your beard to grow, how wide you want the sideburns to be, and other shape-related considerations. Some people prefer a full beard where no edging is needed. Edging can be done with a razor or clippers, and is done in order to refine the shape of the beardline. Some people prefer narrow beards (a beard design commonly known as a "chinstrap") which will require regular edging.

Beard length is the final consideration. Some men prefer to trim their beards with scissors, while others prefer to use a set of clippers with an attachment. Most retail stores sell beard trimmers, which are essentially a small set of clippers with an adjustable attachment that will trim the beard to the desired length. Whether your goal is to have a long flowing beard or a close-cropped beard, it is always a good idea to trim it regularly. This will ensure an even length all the way around.

Caring for a beard is no different than caring for any other type of hair. A beard should be kept clean, and can be washed with a mild soap or shampoo. Some men even apply conditioner to their beards in order to keep the hair soft, since facial hair can be quite coarse and wiry.

5 Beauty Tips For Men

After spending over a decade working in the beauty industry, I have discovered that men are every bit as self-conscious as women, and sometimes even more so. Unfortunately, if you are a man, you have very few places to turn for beauty advice. While your wives or girlfriends may have the best of intentions, it is seldom wise to follow their advice since men have very distinct and unique grooming needs. Simply put, what works for a woman doesn't always work for a man. Here are a few beauty tips for men everywhere, as given by another man.

1. Moisturize. This is the single most important key to having good skin. As men, our very lifestyles can wreak havoc on our skin. Fast-food diets, smoky bar rooms, and exposure to sunlight can all cause premature aging. Why do you need to moisturize your face? The same reason why you pull out your old leather baseball glove once a year and oil it.

2. Sunscreen. By the time you notice the effects of UV damage to the skin, it is usually too late to do anything about it. Research suggests that the majority of the damage which occurs to our skin happens in our teens and 20's, even though the effects are not seen until we are in our 30's or 40's.

3. Eyebrows. The eyebrows are the frame of the face, and wild and bushy eyebrows will only detract from your other features. Eyebrow grooming is not difficult; simply go to the salon every 6-8 weeks and have them trimmed, tweezed, or waxed. Make sure that your stylist doesn't go overboard with the arching, as this can look feminine. You only want your brows maintained, not re-shaped.

4. Ears, nose, and neck. As a man ages, he will discover hair growing in places where hair has no business growing. Unfortunately, this usually happens right around the time when hair stops growing in the places you want it to. Just as old people migrate to Florida upon retirement, your hair will seem to migrate from your scalp to your ears, neck and nose as you get older. Ask your barber or stylist to check these areas and keep them hair-free. Do not be embarrassed to ask; they have been thoroughly trained in this area.

5. Hands and Nails. No woman wants to be touched by hands that are callused, with fingernails that are jagged and caked with dirt and car grease. There is nothing effeminate about getting manicures. After all, they are called manicures, not girlicures! In my salon, about 30% of our manicure clients are men, who come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Everyone from lawyers to mechanics to truck drivers get them, maybe you should too.

Shaving: What Not To Do

If attaining the perfect shave was easy, barbershops would have gone the way of horse-drawn buggies and rotary telephones. The fact that barbers spend several months learning the fine art of shaving is proof that it takes more than just a steady hand and some shaving cream to get the job done properly.

When shaving, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. The cardinal rule is to never shave against the grain, or in the opposite direction of the hair's natural growth. This rule is often overlooked since shaving against the grain will give you a closer shave, but it will also lead to irritation and ingrown hairs.

It is also important to pay close attention to the sharpness of your razor blades. At one time or another we have all tried to squeeze one more shave out of a disposable blade, and this decision often results in nicks and cuts. The life of your blade depends on the coarseness of your hair; those with baby-fine hair can get more shaves out of a single blade than someone with thick and wiry hair. If you have very coarse stubble, it is generally not a good idea to shave more than three times with the same razor. As a razor dulls, you will have to apply more pressure to shave, which will result in damaging the skin.

Do not fall for the gimmicks when choosing a razor. These days, they have razors with six blades and razors that vibrate, and razors with indicator strips that will tell you when it's time to change blades. Most of these products are over-priced and unnecessary. By learning how to shave properly, you will be able to get a good shave with even the cheapest of disposable blades.

If you have sensitive skin, it may be a wise idea to invest in a hot lather machine, which will heat up any regular can of shaving cream. Heat will soften the hair, thereby making it much easier for the razor to cut. Some people prefer to shave in the shower for the same reason; the steam generated by hot water will also soften the hair.

Even the best of us sometimes nick ourselves, or suffer from the occasional razor burn. I have discovered a very effective trick for battling post-shaving irritation. Immediately after shaving, I rub a stick of unscented deodorant on my skin. It is important to use the stick variety of deodorant for this, since aerosol deodorant will not have the same effect. Unscented deodorant will stop small nicks from bleeding, it will soothe the skin, and it will completely get rid of any redness or bumps on the skin.

Originally published by Marlin Bressi for Helium.com.  To read more of Marlin's articles, visit his homepage at http://www.helium.com/users/318715

Makeup for Men?

Why should women get to have all the fun? Sure, there are many men out there who would rather go shoe shopping with their wives or sit through a chick flick than to wear makeup, but for guys like me it's a brilliant idea.

My first encounter with makeup came during my high school days. I was the kind of guy who liked to stay out late on school nights, which often left me looking like Lon Chaney in the morning. One morning, I decided that I could use a little makeup in order to get rid of the dark circles under my eyes. Fishing around in the bathroom closet, I found some of my mother's concealer. Of course, I had no clue what I was doing at the time, but after a few days of playing around with the makeup I was able to come out of the bathroom looking half-decent. Before long, I had mastered the art of covering up various bruises, pimples, and blemishes. I even found a good use for my mother's brown eyebrow pencils; using them to pencil in the missing hairs of the bad-boy goatee I was trying to grow.

After I grew up and moved into my own place, I abandoned my morning makeup routine. As a man, I was much too embarrassed to go to the beauty aisle of the local supermarket in order to purchase makeup. But whenever I went shopping and found myself walking past the rows of concealers and foundations and eyeshadows, a hidden part of me secretly yearned for the day when some enterprising company would come out with a line of makeup geared specifically for men.

You see, the main reason why men do not purchase makeup is because of the embarrassment. No man wants to look into the puzzled face of a cashier as she scans his Maybelline Custom Face Perfector Cream Foundation (which provides both full or sheer coverage, depending on your taste). It is not a question of, "What will it take to get a man to wear makeup?" It is a question of, "What will it take to get guys to purchase makeup?" The answer is packaging. Stick a picture of a hockey player or a lumberjack on that compact of pressed powder and guys will buy it.

Maybe I represent a small percentage of men in my fascination for makeup; but then again, maybe this country is full of millions of guys just like me. Guys who don't plan on stocking up on lip gloss and mascara, but who nonetheless would like a little help looking a little more presentable in the morning.

Adventures in Mustache Growing

The absolute best part of being unemployed (and single) is that I have time to try out all different kinds of mustaches. Even though I may not have any money in my bank account, at least I can send my upper lip on a wild and crazy adventure it won't soon forget. And what an adventure it will be!

Of course, my immersion into the world of exotic mustache-growing has been met with trepidation by some of my friends, although I suspect this is simply a matter of jealousy. My friends, mostly women, are follicularly challenged in the upper lip area (except for Francesca, my Italian cousin). Some of these friends even went so far as to suggest that one of the reasons why I'm unemployed (and single) is because of my propensity toward growing outlandish mustaches.

I began my hairy adventure a little over a week ago, when I decided to stop shaving in order to see just what my loveable little follicles have been up to. I was pleasantly surprised by the lushness of my face sod, so I decided to begin my mustache madness adventure the same way one would begin any adventure; with a well-thought-out plan of action.

The first mustache style I settled on was the "Hulkster" (inspired by octogenarian pro wrestler Hulk Hogan). I decided to begin my journey with the Hulkster for several reasons. The Hulkster provides a foundation, a starting point if you will, to other more elaborate and outlandish mustaches. It's also a great way for a man to change his entire outlook on life. The Hulkster is a bold statement, breaking free from the confines of the upper lip and advancing downward to the chin. It is the rebel of mustaches, the preferred facial hair style of bikers and bar room brawlers, and within hours of sporting the Hulkster I began to feel like a rebel myself. I felt menacing, like a biker with rabies. My first public appearance with the Hulkster was at my local Walmart, where I found myself scowling fiercely (like a biker with rabies) at every fat woman in a motorized cart who happened to drive into the back of my legs. At one point I may have growled at one of them. I don't remember.

Since it's so easy to get carried away with the Hulkster, I decided that my next mustache style should be something a little more refined, so I selected the most grandiose of all mustaches, the handlebar. This is where I find myself at this very moment, waiting for my mustache to grow long enough so that the ends can be twirled upward. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for all of the wonderful adventures I can have with this particular mustache.

The handlebar mustache, a style which I like to call the "Rollie Fingers" (inspired by the Hall of Fame pitcher who brought back the handlebar 'stache after a century of obscurity), evokes more fantastic imagery than any other style of facial hair. The handlebar is the preferred mustache of interesting men: magicians, 19th century strongmen, and silent movie villains who tie damsels to railroad tracks. It is a dramatic and theatrical mustache, even though it emanates a certain bygone gentility (much like the Colonel Sanders goatee, which is really nothing more than a less-defined handlebar mustache with a disconnected chin puff). Some would even say that the Rollie Fingers is the undisputed King of All Mustaches.

From the handlebar, I plan on taking my mustache on a law enforcement adventure with an American classic, the "Copstache". Yes, I'm aware that common sense would dictate that my journey should go from the Rollie Fingers to the Colonel Sanders to the Walrus (a.k.a. the "Brimley" or the "Hyneman"), but I suspect it's only a matter of time before I re-enter the workforce and like most vacations, you have to squeeze in as much adventure as you can in the shortest amount of time possible.

The Copstache will also allow me to transition to one of history's most notorious mustaches, the Hitler. By shaving an inch or so from each side, I can go from peace-keeper to brutal dictator. It is unfortunate that this style, commonly known as the "Postage Stamp", has fallen out of favor since WWII. In pre-war times, the Postage Stamp was the preferred mustache of funnymen, like Charlie Chaplin and Oliver Hardy. The great cartoonist Max Fleischer even had one. I don't expect to have much success with the Hitler, because most modern attempts at a Postage Stamp revival have failed miserably. Michael Jordan sported one for a Hanes commercial in 2010, which caused much hullabaloo (although it probably didn't do much to boost underwear sales). One of the few remaining Postage Stamp aficionados is Robert Mugabe, who (like Hitler) is also a crazy dictator.

The final mustache of my foray into follicular farming is the venerable pencil mustache, or the "John Waters". The pencil mustache earned its name because it is thin and narrow, giving the impression that it has been drawn across the upper lip with a pencil. I love the pencil mustache because there is an inherent creepiness to it, evoking the spirit of folks like Vincent Price, Gomez Addams, and (to a lesser extent) Little Richard. The John Waters brings to mind a bygone era, a nostalgic meandering which takes the wearer to smoke-filled jazz clubs and mambo dance halls.

I intend to end my mustache adventure after sporting the pencil mustache, at which time I will return to my normal clean-shaven self. But until that day comes I intend to enjoy life by living vicariously through my upper lip. Who knows, maybe I'll become unemployed once again at some point in the future, which will give me an opportunity to explore the wonderful world of sideburns.

Winter Scalp Care Tips

Many people are well aware of the benefits of protecting their skin during the harsh months of winter, but few people give much thought to protecting the scalp, which is arguably the most delicate skin on the human body. Why is winter scalp care so important? Just as a house needs a strong foundation, healthy hair requires a healthy foundation. The scalp is the hair's foundation, since it contains the follicles, blood vessels, and sebaceous glands that are responsible for healthy hair. 

Here are five tips that will help ensure proper scalp care throughout the winter.

1. Proper hydration is essential. Many skin care experts will agree that most conditions, including dry scalp, can be greatly improved by keeping the body hydrated. Drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily can help prevent most skin and scalp conditions stemming from dehydration.


2. Decrease shampooing frequency. Frequent shampooing can strip away the oil which is produced by the sebaceous glands in the scalp. This oil is necessary to protect the scalp from moisture loss. Just as a lip balm creates a barrier between the lips and the elements, sebum (the oil secreted by the scalp) creates a protective barrier between the scalp and the elements. Shampooing 2-3 times per week is frequent enough to keep hair clean, without stripping the scalp's precious oils.

3. Keep it covered. Wearing a hat will protect the delicate scalp from the ravages of the winter wind. The wind, not the temperature, is the main culprit when it comes to dry scalp. Cold winds have a chapping effect on the skin, and this includes the scalp.

4. Use alcohol-free styling products. Since the scalp is drier during the winter, the worst thing someone with a flaky dry scalp can do is to use styling products with a high alcohol content. Alcohol will dry out the skin and dry up the scalp's oils.

5. Massage your scalp. Gently massaging the scalp will stimulate blood flow, which will improve the condition of the scalp and hair. Decreased blood flow in the scalp will result in itching, flaking, and a host of other problems. A healthy scalp should be slightly pink in color. If your scalp is white, this is usually an indication of poor blood flow.

These five tips will keep the scalp healthy year round, but are especially important during the dry and harsh months of winter.

Originally published by Marlin Bressi on the Yahoo Contributor Network