In the world of fragrances, things can get pretty confusing with all the brand names we see while scanning store shelves: eau de parfum, eau de toilette, cologne, even eau de cologne. But are these just fancy French variations of the same thing or are they distinct products? For once and for all, we want to set the record straight, and clarify what each one of these terms means. In fact, the different names correspond to fragrance concentration levels. In each…
Category: Advice for Men
How Our Ancestors Did It: Shaving Through History
The dawn of shaving is shrouded in mystery: no one quite knows its exact beginning, and its cultural meaning ebbs and flows with time and location. We do know, however, that the shaving ritual is long-standing, appearing in the far reaches of human history. In prehistoric cave paintings, men are depicted with shorn facial hair, using seashells to tweeze away beards one cuticle at a time, and shearing with shark teeth or roughhewn flint knives. While it’s easy to imagine…
Are Straight Razor Shaves Legal in North America?
Many modern men have a perennial attraction to the old-fashioned barbershop experience, and one of the touchstones of barbershop quality has always been the straight razor shave. Though extravagant in today’s shaving world, it is part and parcel with the old men’s tradition, and many still go in search of it. Barbers who provide straight shaves are less commonplace today, but the tradition is still very much alive. Only licensed barbers are permitted to give customers straight shaves, and every…
Fitting a Square Soap into a Round Bowl: How to Fit Your Shaving Soap into Your Shaving Bowl
In a traditional wet shaving routine, you have a razor, a brush, a soap, and a bowl—all pretty simple. But what happens when the soap doesn’t fit the bowl? This can derail your morning shave in one of two ways: Either your soap is too big for the bowl, or your soap is too small for the bowl. Let’s go over the solution to both potential problems. In any situation, the first step is to take preventative measures: Invest in…
What A Girl Wants (In a Man): A Lady’s Perspective On Gentlemen
What are those elusive qualities that women seek in men? Listening around, you’re sure to hear opposite opinions from lady to lady. How we wish that the confusion would end there: preferred fashions go in and out of style in the blink of an eye, interests waver, and interpersonal dynamics complicate everything. Sometimes, she simply needs some good old warm-up time to come to appreciate your unique allure. But what are the timeless fundamentals that women look for in men?…
6 Steps for Business-Ready Hands
Don’t Man-Handle Your Man Hands You’re at the checkout in the grocery store, and the clerk at the cash glances down, her face suddenly in horror: she has seen your hands, and their image is burned on to her retinas. You thought no one would notice such a small detail, such an insignificant sign of your neglected hygiene. I’m afraid it’s time to re-evaluate, my friend: Small details are wherein lies the truth. Here are some steps you can take…
5 Essential Accessories for the Guy in Your MFA
He’s only two re-writes away from finishing the great American novel. You’ve probably heard of him, he’s a 20-something in Brooklyn? Wears a funny hat? He was in your MFA. And sure, he’s got a great taste in literature and has become something of a fashion icon for those of us in the hipster camp. But a lot of us are left wondering: how does he do what he does? It can’t be easy, working on his writing day-in-and-day-out. What…
5 Steps for Maintaining your Shaving Brush
For a lot of people, the shaving brush is an integral part of their shaving experience. Its ability to hold water, produce lather, and caress the face can make or break the shave. There’s a good reason why many of our customers eventually work their way up to expensive, silver tip badger brushes – there’s a difference to be had in the material of the brush and its handle. But how do we make sure our shaving brushes are kept…
Scissors skills you need to trim your beard
Scissors skills you need to trim your beard Trimming your beard with scissors isn’t easy – it takes time and patience to master the art. You need the right tools, and given the hard to reach areas around the moustache and under the chin, a steady hand as well. You may make mistakes along the way, that happens to the best beardsmen, but like anything, over time and with practice, you’ll become a scissor master and enjoy the most accurate…
5 steps to Growing the Perfect Beard (For Beginners)
Men grow beards, always have, always will. Some appear to do it with effortless ease, while for others it may be more of a struggle. Some men are blessed with super beard growing genes, while others struggle with patchy beards or other beard growing issues. However, regardless of your ability to grow a beard, if you’ve decided it’s time to attempt your first, here are the five steps you should follow to give it the best chance possible of reaching…
What to do if you’ve got a patchy beard
For those of you who desperately want a thick beard, but can only muster a patchy beard instead, confidence can sometimes be eroded. The inevitable “what do I do next?” questions start swirling in your minds, and confusion sets in. Do you just suck it up and go clean-shaven, even though it’s neither wanted or suits you, or do you put up with patches in your beard? While there are no guaranteed ways to instantly turn your patchy beard into…
How to get rid of beard itch
Ask any man why they gave up growing a beard and almost every one of them will give you the same answer – beard itch. Never mind the awesome beard that’s awaiting them, they just couldn’t stand the irritation for those few uncomfortable days. If you’ve grown a beard before, you’ll understand what it’s like for someone new to get through it. However, you’ll also understand that the rewards are well worth the momentary period of discomfort. WHY DO BEARDS…