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How you style your hair may say a lot about your sense of fashion and personality. There is an abundance of hair styling products on the market and each styling product forms distinct textures and styles for various hair types. Read on to discover the 4 major types of styling products and what they are best used for.

GEL
If you require strong hold or are looking to maintain a short, molded hairstyle with sleek shapes, then gel is for you. Apart from the regular gooey product, Gel is actually available as a spray as well. Spray gel is good for a quick, overall covering, but will provides less hold. Direct application of hair gel requires you to work it in evenly by hand, but provides a stronger hold. It can be used for styling techniques such as freezing, sculpting, molding, and scrunching. 

Make sure to avoid any gels or other hair products that contain alcohol because they will dry up and damage your hair. Cheap gels have a tendency to dry up the scalp and generate flaking.

Best for: Most hair types (virgin, waved, curled, relaxed, and textured).

Tip: Blow-dry if you want maximum hold or dry naturally for a shiny look. Avoid cheap gel.

Pro: Strong holds for your hair thru out the day, even with heavy winds!

Con: You’ll get your hands sticky if re-styling is needed throughout the day.

MOUSSE
Mousse (styling foam) is lighter in consistency than a gel.  Mousse works well for most hair types and can create a natural and easy to manipulate hairstyle. It helps shape, mold and hold your hair in place with a more natural look. If you have thinner hair or fine hair, it can boost up the volume. 

Mousse is much lighter than other styling products and some brands are created as a combination leave-in conditioner and styling product. 

Best for:  Fine, limp hair 

Tip: If you have dry hair, avoid mousse that contains alcohol. 

Pro: Mousse allows you to re-style your hair throughout the day without the stickiness factor.

Con: It might lack holding strength for those who need more grip.
 

POMADE / WAX
Pomade and wax are essential for your stylish, sculpted hairstyles. If it’s the “messy” look you’re after, look no more than pomade. It is a waxy-like substance that may feel greasy in the container and on the hands, but once worked into hair provides great sheen. You get superior hold and a natural look with added textures. However if too much is applied, it might give your hair a greasy look. Pomade and hair wax will not dry your hair out like some styling products do. 

Most pomade products provide a combination of conditioning, styling, shinning, and texture-enhancing ingredients.

Best for:  Short, dry hair

Tip: If you have dry hair, avoid mousse that contains alcohol. 

Pro: Only small quantities are needed for great texture.

Con:  Feels heavy and may take more than one shampoo to wash out.
 

HAIRSPRAY
Very popular in the 80s, Hairspray can be used as a styling or finishing product. The newer sprays are lightweight and flexible, allowing the user to get hold without stiffness.  It makes your hair look thicker and can add shine.  When sprayed on wet hair, you can style and mold your hair to your liking.

Most quality hairsprays include effective UV sunscreen protection, great if you spend lots of time outdoors.

Best for:  Finish already styled and dry hair for maximum hold

Tip:  Avoid hairsprays that smell too pungent.

Pro: Very easy to apply, no need to get your hands dirty.

Con:  Strong smell, and when too much is used it can give your hair a crunchy and dry texture. And need we say environment?

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What’s my skin type???
We all know we should take care of our skin and use a proper cleanser and moisturizer. But are you using the right product? Everyone has different skin types and we are here to help you figure out what type of skin you have. 

Normal Skin
Texture and appearance: small pores, even tone, moderately thick, smooth, and firm with excellent elasticity and moisture.
You can tell your skin is of ‘normal type’ if it’s never too oily or too dry. Zits are a rarity.

You are one lucky man if you have normal skin. Just stick with a daily cleanse-tone-moisturize routine for your face and you will live happily ever after…. Or, at least you’ll have nice and beautiful  skin.

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Oily Skin
Texture and appearance: medium to large pores,  thicker and firmer then normal skin.
If you have relatively thicker and firmer skin,  or if you can see your reflection in your reflection in the mirror, then you should choose products that are designed to cut your greasy emissions. People with oily skin are less sensitivity to chemicals, detergents, or perfumes. However, pores can sometime become clogged with a sebaceous material that causes blackheads, whiteheads, or blemishes.

 

Care:

• Try a glycolic facial cleanser, followed by astringent and an oil free face lotion, every morning after you shower.
• Avoid cheap mass-market soaps (harsh detergents).
• Scrub every other day.
• Mask at least once a week.
• Tone after exercise or when you’re sweaty. Use an astringent aftershave instead of a shave balm. Stay away from the all-over body moisturizers.

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Dry Skin
Texture and appearance: thin, dull, easily irritated, and rough to the touch
You have a ‘dry skin type’ if your skin always feels tight and you’re probably able to dust away a layer of flakes, any time you please. Winter is your enemy, isn’t it?
It’s easy to mistake dry skin symptoms or some mild forms of skin disease for truly dry skin.

Care:

• Take lukewarm baths or showers (instead of hot ones).
• Limit baths/showers to 5 to 10 minutes.
• Apply a moisturizer right after drying off from a shower or washing your hands.
• Use a moisturizing face wash, body soap.
• Use heavier creams or ointments during the winter months and lighter lotions in the summer.

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Sensitive Skin
Texture and appearance: might look normal / dry or oily. But easily get sting or itch.
You have ’sensitive skin’ if you have moderate to severe reactions to the sun, the wind, temperature extremes, cheaper shave creams, fragrances, perfumed soaps, alcohol-based deodorants — the list goes on. You burn very easily when out in the sun. Your skin always seems to sting or itch. Most of the time, you’re just damned uncomfortable.

Care:

• Be very careful about the products you choose for your skin. Even with their fine botanical ingredients and hypoallergenic testing, some of our items have been known to provoke rare but intense reactions in a few of our more sensitive clients.
• Try a shaving gel instead of a cream one.
• Follow up with an aftershave balm that has a little sun protection.
• Bathe with a glycerin soap bar and avoid fragrances.
• If you see redness after an application of any of these products, discontinue their use at once.

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Combination Skin
Texture and appearance: all types of texture and appearance
Most ‘combination skin’ consists of an oily “T” zone (forehead, nose, and chin) with dry cheeks and eye areas. In some instances, guys exhibit an entire smorgasbord of skin conditions or, more unusual still, a dry “T” zone with normal cheeks and eye areas.

 

Care:

• Basically, treat each area according to what you have read above for other skin types.
• Mask your “T” zone two to four times a month, just to even things out.

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As summer humidity sets in, and the air’s moisture rises, men’s skin becomes oilier in general. Since men’s skin is 20 percent oilier than women’s and has significantly larger pores, men need to take special care of their skin during those hot and hazy months.  Just follow this regimen of 7 simple steps and stunning, healthy-looking skin can be yours all summer long.

1. Cleanse
In hotter weather, clogged pores always lead to blemishes. Its important to clear your skin by washing your face every day. Cleansing products should be all natural and chemical free. Never use deodorant soaps on your face. For cleanser reviews, look here.

2. Exfoliate
Get rid of dry, flaky, scaly skin & allow treatments to reach deep within the dermis. This is essential for flawless, glowing skin. A good scrub will remove dead cells and smooth the skin’s surface. When selecting a summertime scrub, look for products with Jojoba beads as these provide immediate results and won’t tear into or dig at the pores. 

3. Tone
Engaging in more outdoor activities during the summer is healthy and great fun, but environmental debris and pollutants can have a negative impact on your skin’s ability to remain elastic. Toning helps keep your face clear and firm, as well as cleaning out pores, balancing the skin, restoring the right pH value and prepares the skin for the rest of your regimen. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxyl acids work best to reduce pore size and help with ingrown hairs, which can be very painful in hotter climates.

4. Moisturize
Regular moisturizing prevents wrinkles and keeps skin firm and smooth. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and shaving. It is very important to hydrate the entire surface of your skin, especially the sensitive under-eye areas. This is one of the first places to show signs of aging, especially with the additional sun exposure, and should not be overlooked. An eye gel or serum that contains chamomile or Vitamin E will refreshes and nourishes the delicate skin beneath your eyes. Cut back on products with Vitamin A as they dry skin. Switch from lotions to creams for deeper replenishing. And remember: exfoliate before moisturizing.

5. Protect
Defend your skin by avoiding over exposure to the sun. 90 percent of premature aging of the skin is caused by overexposure to the sun. Failure to protect and care for your skin not only leads to wrinkling and aging but it increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Always apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.  And don’t forget to replenish your lips. Heal sun-damaged lips by applying balm several times per day, wax-based balms prevent sun damage while Vitamin E adds extra protection.

6. Hydrate
Drink half your weight in ounces of water as a bare minimum (eg. if you are 150 lbs make sure to drink at least 75 ounces per day as your baseline). However, if you exercise, sweat a lot or are a mouth breather, up your intake further.

7. Take Vitamins
Why? Daily multivitamins keep the body protected against sickness. During the change of seasons, a cold or flu keeps skin from getting that healthy glow.

A. BIOTHERM HOMME
Size: 5 oz.
Skin Type: Normal skin
Key Ingredients: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Cleansing Gel
Thoroughly cleanses and rids skin of impurities while respecting the skin’s surface. This is a great cleanser to use before shaving, softening both the skin and bristles. Skin feels clean and revitalized.

B. Johnston and Murphy Face Start USD 15
Size: 5 oz.
Skin Type: All
Key Ingredients: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)
Does its job. Basic and simple face cleanser at a reasonable price.

E. Urth Face Wash
Size: 8 oz.
Skin Type: Normal to Oily
Key Ingredients: White Tea Extract, Ginseng & Vitamins A, C, D & E
Great face wash for your oily/dry combo skin.  Mens Health Magazine awarded this as the winner in 2007 for the best wash. It lives up to all the hype. Although the product is non-foaming (which might need some getting used to), it works magic for your skin. Cleanses very well without over stripping or drying. It smells great and it lasts forever. Its a nice sized bottle for the money.

F. Anthony Logistics Algae Facial Cleanser
Size: 120ml
Skin Type: Normal to Dry 
Fragrance: None
Key Ingredients: Algae, Glycerin, Aloe Vera
This is a face cleanser with a great smell and unique texture. However, it might dry your skin if your skin type is already dry. We would recommend this on normal skin only.

G. Dermalogica Skin Purifying Wipes
Size: Travel Pack (20 wipes)
Skin Type: Normal/Oily
Key Ingredients: Triclosan & Balm Mint 
Put this by your bed. After a night of drinking, when you don’t want to wash, grab your wipes and go. Trust me, you won’t get that morning zit.

H. Molton Brown Papian Daily Facial
Size: 120ml
Skin Type: All
Key Ingredients: Papaya Extract, Lemon Extract, Medowfoam Oil 
Easily our favourite facial wash. Smells great and leaves your skin soft and clean! And more importantly, it doesn’t dry your skin.