Gentlemen, it’s time us destroyed and debunked some commonly-held beliefs about men’s grooming.

Rumors have been around for decades, but we know that you can easily search the answers on the internet. Instead of reading pages after pages from the search engine, why don’t I list the top four common myths about male grooming to see if you have fallen for any of these popular grooming legends.

Myth #1: Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker and faster

This is WRONG. So wrong! This is one of most commonly thought belief by both men and women. Many people believe that the act of shaving the their hair means that it will come back thicker, fuller, darker, and faster than before. This is not true, at least think about it. The truth is that once the hair has left the body and entered the outside world, it is actually dead. Therefore, it cannot possibly be affected by anything that happens to it as it has no contact with the brain to cause any changes. So cutting the hair at the skin level during shaving or trimming the hair does not affect the color, texture or speed at which it grows.

Myth #2: Men inherit baldness from their mother’s side of the family

You must have heard it said: “Baldness? Look at your maternal grandfather” – or – “It’s your mother’s brother? If he’s bald, you’re screwed!”

We don’t know where this old wives tale came from but don’t worry; your mom’s side of the family doesn’t predict the future of your manly mane of hair. Hair thickness, colour and thinning are really all down to genetics and therefore can come from either parent’s side.

Myth #3: Shaving against the grain gives a closer shave

Seriously? If you want to damage hair follicles and cause the discomfort of razor burn, then be my guest, but the truth is that hair grows in all directions so go with the flow. In the neck region especially, hair sprouts in all directions so you could truly caught some damage if you go against the grain. So screw the myth, shave on and remember to moisturize afterwards!

Myth #4: Wearing hats a lot can cause hair loss

We’ve heard several version of this one. The lack of sunlight causes the hair to die (we now know that doesn’t matter). The friction rubs the hair off (even latex swim caps won’t do that). So don’t worry about this one, fellas…unless you turn it sideways. Then we need to have another talk about how that trend is long gone.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

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Visit my site at: Sglformen.com

Recently, the term ”anti-aging” has been printed onto everything from face wash to sunscreen and to, yes, shampoo and conditioner. Let’s think logically: Is it possible to slap the word “anti-aging” on the labeled package make you look younger? Can a product with the word “anti-aging” erase wrinkles, minimize saggy skin and fine lines? What about skin discoloration and all other changes that happen to your skin as you age?

Don’t get me wrong, there are millions of people who believe that a product has the word “anti-aging” slap on the package, then the product will work…..eventually. There is no cream will stop the natural process of aging, but it doesn’t mean you can not age gracefully. When a product claims to have anti-aging ingredients, the product is meant to protect you from free radicals.  These are unstable compounds that screw with your cell’s DNA and are found in things as pervasive as food, sunlight, and air as well as in more obvious vices like booze and tobacco. They’re also created by our own bodies when we’re stressed, don’t sleep well, and aren’t drinking enough water. In skincare terms, they make you dry, wrinkled, discolored, dull, and saggy — or, simply put, they make you age.

There’s two kinds of ingredients that can, at the very least, help slow that down. The first set is antioxidants, best among which are acai oil, green-tea extract, vitamin C, CoEnzyme Q-10, caffeine, and retinol (a form of vitamin A). The second kind of ingredients are plant-based acids like alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Which is best for you? A lot depends on your personal physiology and skin type, so here’s where we drop off and suggest chatting up your dermatologist. Until then, drink plenty of water.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

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Visit my site at: Sglformen.com

It is already April and summer is just around the corner. Many of us have decided to alternate our beards to suit the warmer weather. It is always practical to trim a few inches around the neckline to refresh your overall appearances. Generally, the best summer beard styles should always look more refined and sleeker. Your beard should be trimmed regularly, as if you take care of your lawn. Keeping these tips will keep you looking your best throughout the summer.

At SGLforMen’s site, I have always said that growing a beard will depend on your genetics and patience. It is often best to try different styles to see which works best for your facial structural. Just because one beard looks good or awful on someone else, it doesn’t mean you should not try it for yourself. Your beard is a great way to accessorize your style and is the epitome of masculinity.

Look at these top five best beards for men this summer:

1. The Moustache:

You may have realized that the Moustache has been coming back in a big way recently, and summer is no exception. If you decide not to take it all off, it is best to trim the underneath to champion this classic style. The Moustache hails back to the late 50’s, and is a masculine, strong style that will take you from the office to vacation with style. Accentuate your mouth with no more than one inch of sideways growth.

2. The Low Cut Beard:

This is one of my favorite beard styles for the summer. The Low Cut Beard is a great compromise that lets you wear your usual style, but without feeling grizzly and sticky. This low intensity beard retains the winter style, but has a lower hair density to let you feel more breezy. This is also a sharp, yet casual look, and works well for outdoorsy types. The tip is to learn how to fade the neckline correctly, to minimize the hairline and growth.

3. The Norris Scripper:

The Norris Scripper is an inverted ‘Hollywood’ style, where all the hair removed except from one focal, facial area. If you’re dabbling with beards, this can be a fun way to test the waters without worrying about growing out a full-size beard. It is similar to a Soul Patch, which is frowned upon (to the point of social shunning), but sharp enough to keep you swinging this summer. This is a great look for those with strong jawlines.

4. The Short Boxed Beard:

The Short Boxed beard is a flexible look, and retains the heavier layer at the bottom of the face, yet lightens the overall appearance. This is another great contender for compromising your beard in warmer weather, and won’t leave you feeling naked. Different styles can be worn around the beard or none at all, to give you your own unique look this summer. Make sure you connect the pieces with good fading.

5. The Dirty Shave:

If you’re blessed with free time this summer, the Dirty Shave can be a liberating experience that breaks the rules of shaving. You will need to keep this style in shape to avoid the Hobo look, but a quick smooth shave will rest weeks of causal beardedness that lets you feel free and away from the grips of daily life. You can also rock this style over the weekend without offending anyone.

SGLformen has compiled the essential articles on male grooming that teaches you how to style your facial hair and teach you to become a better groomed man.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

Follow me: @SGLforMen on Twitter | SGLforMen on Facebook 

Visit my site at: Sglformen.com

Recently, I received an email from one reader about maintaining the stubble look. He asked: “How do I get the stubble look if I let my facial hair grow? Do you have any do’s and don’ts?”

This is an excellent question to ask and I know many other readers would like to know it also. Stubble is the stuff you always need to shave off in the morning, right? Wrong. The most popular facial hairstyle that many women find sexy is a stubble. You probably have a good idea how to maintain the stubble look. Grow yours out a little, trim it, shave the edges to create a defined shape, and there you have it: an easy-to-wear, hugely attractive style that masters that delicate balancing act between clean-shaven camaraderie and bearded brotherhood. What about the rules of styling a stubble? Interested…you should continue reading this article.

Many women find a little scruff on a guy very sexy. On the other hand, if you don’t do it right, what you think might be sexy actually will make you look totally frumptastic (bad).

Rules for rocking stubble:

• Shave at night (your whole face). You will achieve some decent stubble in the morning if you shave at night. For example, if you want shave every five days, shaving at night will give you some time to recover and allow your hair to growth out.
• Don’t try to shape it. Many people will advise you to shave everything from your neck and below, this is also include your chin. I do not agree to this method. It is always best to grow out a full beard and then you can clean up the edges. Remember, in order to own a stubble, it should always look cool and sexy without trying too hard. Shaving everything from the neck down negates the entire stubble look.
• One exception to the no-shaping rule. If you have some stray hairs growing too high on your cheeks, you should get rid of them. If there are only a few, plucking them with tweezers is the best method for removal. If you have to shave them, do it very carefully and make sure it’s not noticeablethat you shaved.
• Watch the length. Stubble is not a full beard, make sure you shave (or trim) it regularly enough to keep up with the speed your hair grows.

You should NOT wear stubble if:

• Your facial hair does not grow in evenly. Patchy hair or a neck beard is never a good look, so just shave it clean.
• You have a chubby face. Lets not sugarcoat it…if you have a little pudge on your face, letting it get covered in stubble will most likely accentuate the problem.
• You have uneven skin tone. This problem is a bit subjective, but if your face looks patchy due to any skin conditions, adding extra contrast with facial hair may not help you out. You should ask your chick friends for an honest opinion.
• Your hair is a weird color. Lets be honest… some dudes have weird color facial hair. If this is you, the stubble look might not be for you. Typically, dark hair works best for the stubble look. As mentioned previously, skin tone also plays a role. So, getting an objective opinion from someone is a good idea.
• It doesn’t fit your style. Stubble isn’t meant for everyone. It sends a subtle, “I don’t need to bother shaving because I look good anyway” message. So, if you’re totally straight edge, wearing your khakis and dress shirt every day… this look might not be for you.

Well, are you? There are four different types of razors that all men should be aware off: straight, disposable, safety, and cartridge. These razors are not hard to distinguish from one another, but it is not a bad idea to get yourself familiarize the differences and techniques of using them. You may never know if you have been using a wrong razor for your entire life.

Straight Razor:

If you are the owner of a straight razor, I commend you for your courage. It is one of the classic razors that are well known and used before the 1900s. These straight razors can be expensive because you can’t buy them in store. So why do men use them? The answer is simple because it works. It works better than any other method /means of shaving with a hint of danger attached to it. The formation of a straight razor has a handmade craftsmanship that can easily be impressed depend on the taste of ones shaving preference. Using a straight razor gives me a tremendous feeling of self-accomplishment while achieving a buttery smooth shave. Remember, using a straight razor is not easy, but it will get easier if you are willing to invest your time to practice the art of using a straight razor.

Disposable Razor:

The answer is a pretty self-explanatory. Using a disposable razor can be cheap, but you can only use a disposable a few times before the blade becomes dulled. Depend on how often you shave each week, using a disposable razor can easily add up because the limited usages of the blade. When I am in a rush to pack my safety razor or have the time to use a straight razor, I tend to rely on the use of disposable razors for a short period of time. If you do not shave often or don’t have to shave, the use of a disposable shaver is probably a wise choice for any grooming preferences.

Safety Razor:

The safety razor is one of the easier razors to use and protect your skin from cuts and nicks. The formation of a safety razor tends to have a piece of plastic or other material between the blade and your face. Of course, using a safety razor tends to have an upside if safety is your main concern. The downside of using a safety razor is the time constraints that you have to invest in your shaving routine. If you don’t have a lot of practice using a safety razor, you might be in for a surprise as to how hard it is to obtain a buttery smooth shave. I love using my Merkury Safety Razor during the weekend because it allows me to practice my stroking techniques of using a safety razor.

Cartridge Razor:

The use of a cartridge razor may seem like you are getting a great value at first glance, but wait until your blade goes dull. Next thing you know that you are spending $25 on a replacement blade package for a razor that cost less than half of that price in the first place. Note to self, when the blade goes dull, but a new razor to cut down the cost of buying a replacement blade package. Having a cartridge razor is usually the best shave at the end of the day. In the long run, owning cartridge razors may cost you an arm and a leg than you expected.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

From toners to cleansers, pre-shave oil and shaving cream, men’s skin care can sometimes seem a bit complicated. If you are an avid reader, then you know that men’s skin care routine is not really troublesome. There are basic products that every guy need to have (moisturizer, cleanser, shaving products, etc…). On the other hand, there are products that men don’t know much of such as serums.

Definition of Serums

Serums are specialty skin care products formulated with smaller molecules so that they are better able to penetrate the skin, thereby delivering active ingredients deeper into the skin for more effectiveness.

Serums can treat and prevents aging, acne, skin brightening, hydration and etc… Usually, the use of serum should always be applied after cleansing or shaving your face and before moisturizing. For example, you should always use a hydrating serum if you have dry skin. It may not be necessary to apply a moisturizer afterward if you are using a hydrating serum. When in doubt, let the skin absorb the hydrating serum before applying any other products.

Note to Self:

Generally, the best time to use a serum is at night. Your skin repairs itself as you sleep; using a serum boosts this action. Serums can also be used during the day, however. For example, using a serum that contains Vitamin C would be great under a moisturizer in the morning because this ingredient works to help ward off free radicals during the day. Free radicals are unstable organic molecules that seek to bond with other molecules to ‘steal’ their electrons, resulting in damage to the body that can cause aging and even illness.

Feel free to email me and comment below about a specific and ongoing skin care concern. Currently, I use an acne serum to prevent breakouts as the holiday approaches. Usually, it is necessary for me to switch between the anti-acne serum and a hydrating serum as the season changes. As the holiday approaches near us, what do you want to change your skin care routine? Think about that and consider the importance of using the right serum for your skin.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

Eyebrows may be pointless clusters of hair to some, but they are more important than you may think. Physically, having eyebrows can protect the eye from moisture and they also perform the psychological role of expressing emotion. It is a key focal point of the face. Each year, increasing numbers of men of all ages are trimming their bushy brows whether they want to do it or not. Eyebrows are the first thing women notice when they are looking at you. Shaping your eyebrows gives a much cleaner, smarter look to the face. Eyebrow trimming can be tricky for most people. One of my favorite tips for eyebrow trimming is not to overdo it. If you trim too much hair, then your brows will take a longer time to grow. Before you continue reading this article, keep that in mind.

1. Don’t trim too often. Maybe you only need to trim your brushy brows twice a month. If you have bushy brows, use a sharp and small pair of scissors to cut and trim them. Always take precaution when you trim your brows. Don’t try to trim the brows too short over a period of time. Rather than going crazy to remove some of the bushiness, decide where you want to trim the brows.

2. Decide where you want to trim. Let say you have a unibrow, you should remove unwanted hair from the middle first. If you want to trim your brows from the middle, make sure the beginning of each brow lines up with the outer side of the ball of your nose on each side. Never estimate where you are going to trim. Make sure to use a pencil to measure where your brows line up. Remember to avoid removing too much hair from the arches. It is necessary to tidy up of your bushiness brows. Removing too much hair from the arches can make you end up having feminine-looking brows. Always to remove hairs from the top of the brows, but don’t overdo it. Depend on your own preference, where you want to remove your hair is totally up to you.

3. Picking the right set of weapons. When it comes to trim my brows, I always use a good pair of tweezers. Having the right set of tweezers is similar to own your favorite toolset. Imagine if you have a saw blade that is dull. Obviously, you will have to work twice as much harder to get the job done, RIGHT? The same is true for using tweezers. Depend on your preferences; choose the right pair of tweezers can cut down the time you have to spend time in front of the bathroom mirror.

4. Washing your face with warm water. By washing your face with your favorite facial cleanser, it helps to relax the skin. When your skin is relaxed, the hair follicles can be removed easily. Remember to pat your face dry before you begin.

5. Hold your skin taut, firmly grasp the hair in the tweezers and pull quickly and firmly. Remove a few hairs, then stand back and take a look. Continue to do this throughout the process until you are happy with the result.

6. Too lazy to do it? Why not get your brows trim by the professional! Women always do it, so why should we not too? If you decide to wax your brows, remember to do lots of homework before you do it at home. Instead, you should make an appointment to one of your favorite salons to get your brows wax by the professionals.

Once you start to groom your brows, you’ll probably want to repeat the process every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how fast your brows grow. It really does help to clean up your appearance, as long as you don’t go too far.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

These days, we want to choose the best shaving set based on our facial styles. There are so many different facial styles to choose from. From having a beard or mustache to sporting a goatee or “chin mail”, we all want to update our styles every two to three months. Therefore, having the right shaving set is next to a male ritual in the grooming regimen. Picking the perfect shaving set is not simple as you think. The practicality of using the right shaving set allows you to minimize the time standing in the bathroom’s mirror. Considered all of these factors before you choose the best shaving set.

The Essentials:

Shaving Brush

Shaving brushes are essential when it comes to any male shaving set. Having a good shaving brush can dictate your ability to be neatness and cleanliness, while maintaining that perfect close shave you always want to achieve. When it comes to pick the best shaving brush, size does matter. Other important factors to consider are quality-made craftsmanship, dimension of the brush, as well as allergen concerns.

When it comes to your purchasing decision, price is almost always imperative. Most of the shaving sets that are currently in the department stores usually include several items such as a mug, shaving soap, safety razor, and of course the shaving brush. Depend on the price tags for these sets, the value of the shaving brush can be dictated by its bristle type. Prices can be easily ranging from a synthetic bristle values at 5 dollars to a whopping cost of 100 dollars hand-make Edwin Jagger Ebony Super Badger Shave Brush. With the other values come into play, deciding how much you want to pay for the entire shaving set as well as the additional accessories will be your decision maker.

Safety Razor

Using the shaving soap should adhere to the user’s skin needs. Men usually have different skin types that require a variety of shaving creams and razors. Some men who experience sensitivity after shaving want to use the multi-blade form to minimize the common rashes and bumps. One of my favorite safety razors is the Merkur Futur Safety Razor.

Shaving Mug

Having the right shaving brush and a safety razor are the essentials for men’s grooming. What about the shaving mug? Unless it is 24K of gold plated or platinum, I would not worry on the price of the shaving mug. Depending how often you shave, it is best to get the right shaving mug that you can easily travel with. For example, a business man should get a shaving mug that can easily fit in small areas of the suitcase without worrying that the mug can break/shatter.

Traveling Ability

On a final note, your shaving set should easily fit in nifty areas when you are traveling. Usually most shaving sets are compacted to be fit anywhere. Yes, I mean anywhere in your house and your suitcase. Remember, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for the best shaving set in the market. If you done your research, then getting that perfect shaving set should not cost you an arm and a leg.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

Do you know your skin type? Knowing this question can easily determines which skin care products are best for your skin.

Before you can answer this question, there is a difference between skin type and skin concern. You can have sensitive or even oily skin whilst still experiencing dry or dehydrated. Your skin type is based on how oil/dry your skin is and in which areas.

There are four main skin types that usually defined as very oily, very dry, and combination of dry and oily. Various marketing techniques and jargons always use these terminologies to advertise skin care products for millions of people. Before you open your wallet and make an impulse decision, you can find out your skin by continue reading this article.

Step One: LOOK

Look yourself in the mirror and see how your skin looks. Do you see certain areas where they look shiny? If you can see them, your skin is definitely producing excess of oil. If your skin looks dull and minus the shine, then your skin is prone to dryness. It’s very common to see both these symptoms on your skin in different areas. As for myself, I am one of millions people who experiences dryer cheeks and a shinier forehead, nose and chin (T-Zone).

Step Two: ASK

Before you can dive into step two, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
1. How does my face feel after I’ve washed it? If your skin feels fine without any tightness, then your skin is normal.
2. Why do I always need to apply moisturizer three to four times a day? If your skin feels the need of hydration, then you are experiencing dry skin symptoms
3. How does my face feel throughout the day? Why does my skin feel so greasy at the end of the day? If you answer yes to the second question, then you have oily skin.

Step Three: TOUCH

Once you have answered yourself the questions, you will need to do physical skin test that allows you to examine your skin type.
You will be using all 5 fingers for this experiment. Before you start touching your face, make sure to wash and dry your hands.

• Index Finger: Take your index finger and swipe across the forehead. Ask yourself this question, “What does it feels like?”. If you can feel the oiliness on your index finger, then you should be able to click your fingers together and feel a wet slick. If your skin is experiencing dryness, then you should feel no wetness and the skin should pull/drag underneath your finger. Also, you might also feel roughness and flakiness after the index finger experience. If you feel elevated by little bumps, then your skin might be experiencing the feeling of congestion. This also commonly known as blocked pores. Blocked pores are a sign of dead skin cells that are blocking your pores. By trapping your pores with dirt and oil, you might be trapped with blackheads and/or spots.
•  Middle Finger: Pull this down your nose and chin. Again, look for the same description as above.
•  Ring Finger: Pull this up the cheek, we’re still checking for the same category.
•  Pinkie Finger: Slide this under the eye area and gently checking for that all-important oiliness/dryness.
•  Finally, use the side of your thumb on the palm side and lift your cheek up. By looking in the mirror, you easily examine your skin texture to see if you skin is experiencing dehydration.

Step Four: CONCLUDE

• If your skin feels dry as well as dehydration, then your skin is likely experiencing Very Dry.
• If you find that you have one or more areas that are dry as well as the other areas feel normal, or possible even a little oily, then you’re likely to be Combination of Dry and Oil.
• If you have one or more areas that are normal plus the other areas feel too oily, then you are experiencing oily/combination skin.
• Finally if you’re oily all over, then you’re Very Oily.

Remember, you can still have any of these skin types while being dehydrated. Also, dryness normally denotes as lacking of oil, whereas dehydration is lacking of water. It is easy to make your skin to produce excess oil. Unfortunately, it is not easy to keep your skin hydrates if you have dry skin.
Hopefully, this guide will help you determine your skin type as well as skin concern. If you are still not certain about your skin type, you can visit a skin care store or counter at your local mall where you can easily ask trained experts. Remember, finding your skin type is not rocket science. Before buying any new skin care products, make sure to check if your skin can use them.

♔ SGLforMen ♔

Have you ever wondered how on earth people can easily grow a beard, but for you, it takes years to achieve the same results. It may seem easy to answer, but have you ever done it before? It is more than using your favorite razor while waiting for your facial hair to grow. Basically, in order for you to build a well-structured beard, it is going to take works and tons of patients.

Why Grow a Beard?
Let be honest that some people look better with a beard. Whether you inherited a weak jawline from your mom or your face shape is perfectly rugged from your dad, the only way to truly find out if a beard is a good look for you is to try one out. The idea of growing a beard is to provide warmth during the winter months. As the fall arrives, some men are planning to grow that perfect “winter beards”. When spring starts to bloom in the first three months of the year, men are shaving their beards to prepare for the warm summer months. On the other hand, there are some men who have their beards. Growing a beard does not have to be for the winter months. It can be for any occasions from weddings to birthdays.

Stop Shaving
This is a crucial step for growing a beard. It is so obvious that there is more to “not shaving” than simply bypassing your morning shaves. Give your beard sometime to grow because it is likely that your skin will become irrigated and itchy. Be assured that in time, your skin will adjust and the itching will go away. In order to minimize the itching process during the adjustment period, you should use a moisturizing shampoo in the shower. During the growing process, apply your facial moisturizers to reduce the irritation and itchiness. You’re your beard has finally grown into the desirable length, using a facial moisturizer can cause your skin to appear oily.

Good Beard Design
Don’t change your physical appearance without a plan. Make a plan on whether you want a long and rugged beard or a short and neatly trimmed one. There are other options such as goatees and soul patches. Depend on your styles, choose the right design can complement on any occasions. To learn more about facial hair 101, check out my post: Facial Hair Types 101. As your facial hair grows, invest in a good pair of trimmers and use them often. Good grooming is one of the essential steps to become a modern gent. It is possible to outsource the work of caring your beard to a professional and talented barber. Your local barber can help you maintain your beard while giving you tips on how to obtain the look that you always wanted. Some men find that caring for a beard each day is far easier than shaving. As long as you enjoy your beard and take good care of it, you’ll be rewarded with the look you’ve always wanted. So there you have it a guide to growing a beard. Next time, ask yourself this question: “Have I grown one?” Tell me about your experience.

♔ SGLforMen ♔