Men's Fashion Bible

In our previous edition, we had discussed that the perpetual lockdown had thrown many challenges at us, and managing the hair locks on our own was the hardest. But today, as life is returning to the new normal, salons have significantly raised the bar for grooming and skincare to meet the needs of the modern man. From regular styling for beards to manicures to facials and hair consultations, men’s salons are offering a wide range of treatments and therapies to rival those of their feminine counterparts. In view of the above, we have brought you certain tips from the entire grooming circus, considering that very little is known about the men's side of the grooming universe.

Manicure

No, it has nothing to do with women. No, it is not “pansy” like stuff. Also don’t forget to take care of your hands and nails. Dirty and dry hands will never add anything to your image but well-groomed hands and nails can certainly add to your overall appearance: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! After each and every wash, moisturize your hands. Carry moisturizer with you. Smooth the nail with a file to even out the edges. Use a metal nail file to shape to a slightly rounded shape and squared off at the edges. Stop using your nails as tools. Nails are soft and they can be easily damaged when used to open a hard lid or to scratch paper. Push the cuticles down.If anything, it will save you the trouble of intestinal infections. So don’t let the stereotypes tell you otherwise.

Read FHM India in the digital libraryEvery issue, every shoot, on TCG Media.

Man-scaping

Body hair is a changing debate and fashion now. Smooth and sleek or au naturel? This is the question. Lots of men prefer body shaving for no body hair, but that isn't all down to how it looks. The days have gone by where it was just women taking a razor to their unwanted leg or armpit hair. Much more men are picking up the razor nowadays to shave body hair and for a variety of reasons, including personal hygiene and an increased feeling of cleanliness, ableness to smell better and avoid unpleasant body odour.

Tan-contouring

Uneven tan lines on the skin is the most natural thing to happen, considering most men tend to avoid sunscreen. Tan contouring consists of a process that evens out the tan on the skin, especially on the face. So, hear it clear, Gentlemen! The best way to fake a tan is to ensure that your beard is trimmed, or any shaving to the face is carried out. Ideally this should be done 24 hours prior to tan application, however if your beard grows quickly shaving before is still ok but the skin may feel a tad sensitive. Don't moisturise your face, but ensure stubble, hairline, body hair, beard, and skin are all dry. This will reduce streak-age. Rather than a lotion, prefer a tanning solution in either a spray or mousse formula for guys as this gives a more even coverage because it can be applied through body hair far more easily.

Facial: Hell yes! A lot of men contemplate going to a salon and getting a facial. And, if you think it's a girlie thing, think again. For starters, there's nothing sexier than a man who cares about grooming. Second, we expose our skin to pollution every single day, and it doesn't take much for dirt to settle on the skin, resulting in blackheads and worse still, pimples. Third, whether you'd like to admit it or not, your appearance says a lot about you. And before you roll your eyes and decide to weed out those blackheads yourself, it's time to make an appointment with a specialist and get your best face on.

But apart from the above, men should take care of only the basic personal upkeep that can make him look and feel the most confident. Taking care of your skin is the single least most important thing you can do for your appearance. The regular CTM routine, including cleansing, toning and moisturising, is just as important for men in order to sanitize and eliminate the dead skin cells.

Moreover, just because you’re a man that doesn’t mean you get lax about hair maintenance. The hair care routine for men is the same as it is for women. Take time out once or twice a week to trim protruding nose and ear hair. Trim your eyebrows if they are big and bushy. Shaving creates a well groomed appearance.

In addition, eat well, stay hydrated, and exercise daily. What you eat and drink can drastically affect the way you look. Working out will keep you in physical shape and will improve your overall appearance. Never leave home without applying sunscreen or a moisturizer that contains SPF of 30 or higher.

Lastly, no matter how often you clean your teeth, they can become stained from drinking tea, coffee, smoking, and eating certain foods. It’s essential to brush and floss regularly, and pay close attention to gums. Brushing all alone does not flush out germs completely. You require a good quality mouthwash which is able to clean the germs in the mouth and takes care of the oral cavity.

From the September 2020 issue of FHM India.