Men’s grooming has evolved from being just a guilty pleasure to seriously taking note of the ingredients in products. As they’re having regular haircuts and specialised facials, let’s take a look at some innovative and effective treatments to consider.
Manscaping
Whether you prefer waxing, laser or just a good shave, there’s a bevy of options available to get you as smooth as you desire. Think hot-towel shaving services to achieve a silky mug while indulging in an old-school manner of getting rid of facial hair. Shaving at home is, of course, the quickest method of hair removal, but there’s always room to improve your shaving technique. Ensure fewer cuts or ingrown hairs by exfoliating with a gritty scrub and warm water beforehand. This will get rid of dry flakes and built-up product on the skin, while loosing ingrown hairs stuck below the skin’s surface, ensuring a more even texture for the razor to glide over.
If body hair is your concern, waxing is the way to go. It’s slightly more painful, but nothing you can’t handle, we’re sure. Don’t even bother trying it yourself, because you will chicken out – seek a professional instead. You can have literally any part of your body waxed, and beauty therapists have seen just about everything, so don’t stress it.
Facials
If you still think that facials are a ‘girls only’ activity filled with sweet-smelling lotions and cucumber slices on your eyes, it’s time to catch a wake-up. Face it, men suffer from the same skincare problems women do. Acne, hyper-pigmentation, scarring or conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis are all highly treatable with the help of, yes, facials. Chemical peels (including those with acids such as glycolic and salicylic) help to treat acne and uneven or dull skin texture by dramatically speeding up cell renewal, while LED light therapy helps to speed up healing. Micro-needling helps to reduce hyperpigmentation, scarring and wrinkles, and various topical treatments tackle anything from extreme dryness to the effects of a lifetime of sun damage. From gentle rejuvenation to complete cellular renewal, expect to see real results, cucumbers optional.
Hands & Feet
One of the first things women may notice on a man are their hands, and in summer, toes definitely get a sneak peek too. The state of your nails and cuticles says a lot about you, so don’t make the mistake of neglecting them. You don’t have to take the entire day off to tend to your digits, but work in a few extra moments each day to push back your cuticles and trim your nails if necessary (hands and feet). While you’re at it, massage a cuticle oil or thick moisturiser into the nail bed to boost blood flow and promote healthy growth. Getting a professional mani-pedi is nothing to be ashamed of either. Nail technicians can cut away cuticles and hangnails more precisely, without causing any infection or irritation, as well as trim and file nails to perfection.
Words: Leandri de Kock | Images: Courtsey