Thigh chafing is something most people will experience in summer, especially those who take part in intense activities such as running or cycling. 

Chafing occurs when repetitive motion and friction between the skin and clothing or other surfaces lead to irritation and inflammation, and boy does it hurt. Enter anti-chafe cream, a skin-saving product that helps by adding a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, reducing the amount of friction you feel.

Over the years I have tested out many chafe creams. Some have become faithful companions while others remain ignored at the back of a cupboard. And I want my fellow runners to avoid the torture of chafing too, so I’ve given my recommendations of the best chafe creams and one to avoid. While you’re here, why not check out our guide to taking care of your skin in the gym?

The Best Anti-Chafing Creams

While definitely on the pricier side, this chafe cream will see you through many a long run or hot day. I have used it many times and found that it lasts all day without needing to be topped up. It is both sweat- and water-resistant, so it’s able to withstand your most intense workouts. It is dispensed in a stick, similar to a roll-on deodorant.

This chafe cream is affordable and effective. It has a creamy texture and you rub it in like a moisturizer. I have used this on many long runs and hot days and have found it does not need to be topped up nor do you need to apply significant amounts to feel the benefit. It also contains moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil to help nourish your skin.

Another affordable option, the Lanacane gel comes in an ointment tube. When applied to the skin it feels similar to petroleum jelly and adds a thick layer of protection. Despite its texture, the gel does not leave any marks or stains on clothing and rubs into the skin nicely. Lanacane works perfectly for short to medium length activities, although for longer periods we’d recommend bringing it with you so you can top up. Thankfully, it’s pocket-sized so it’s easy to take along with you. 

You can’t go wrong with an old faithful like Vaseline. Both affordable and easy to find, this thick jelly adds a layer of protection to your skin to stop friction. While in my experience it’s not as good as some dedicated chafe creams for longer activities, it certainly does the job for shorter runs and comfort on hot days.

Anti-Chafing Creams To Avoid

Axletic Anti Chafing Cream

I really wanted to love this chafing cream. The price and quantity make it a pretty great product if you’re on a budget. However, that’s where the positives end for me. I tried this cream on both long runs and shorter treadmill runs and sadly with each I was left with chafed skin. During particularly sweaty sessions, the cream appeared to evaporate and what little effect there was disappeared completely. 

Although hitting the gym for a workout can be great for body and mind, your skin might not always reap the same benefits. All the sweat that builds up over your body can block pores, cause clothes to chafe against your skin and lead to spots, rashes and frustrating breakouts. It’s one of the few downsides to being a gym-goer. But there are ways to care for skin to keep it clear, smooth and glowing.

So, what exactly is happening to our skin as we exercise? Consultant dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh explains that when we exercise, blood rushes to the surface of the skin due to increased circulation and heat. This can trigger skin flares such as rosacea and heat rash.

“The excess of sweat can also cause sebum and external bacteria to pool in the skin pores and lead to break-outs, especially if mixed with cosmetics on the skin while exercising,” says Melegh. Sebum is an oily substance that is made by our sebaceous glands, located all over our body.

“After exercise, the skin quickly cools down and sweat dries on the surface of the skin, which can trigger itchy skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis,” Melegh adds.

It’s the high-intensity workouts such as HIIT, circuit training and Spinning that can cause the most problems with skin, according to Melegh. “These cause sudden raised temperatures due to the high-intensity exertion combined with an indoor environment. Often HIIT and circuit training workouts are partly done on exercise mats which can add to the sweat and bacteria build up. So, these types of high-intensity indoor workouts are most likely to trigger a skin flare and also cause the most amount of sweating in a short period.”

Ready to start making some changes to your gym-skin routine? Give these tips a try.

Remove Make-up Before Exercise 

You’ve probably heard it before, but Amish Patel, an esthetics practitioner and skincare expert at Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic, reiterates that it’s important to cleanse your face before the gym.

“Your body temperature rises as you exercise, and your skin needs to breathe as pores begin to open. If you have layers of make-up, bacteria and dirt on your face, this will affect your skin’s natural functioning, so cleanse your skin, apply a light serum and head to the gym make-up free.”

Clean Your Mat

“Yoga mats are a hive of bacteria,” says Dr Sophie Shotter, esthetic specialist and medical director of Illuminate Skin Clinic. “Even if you have your own, it’s still harboring a lot of dead skin cells and sweat.” Use a spray to clean off gym mats and equipment before and after use.

Wash Your Face Properly

Whether you’re straight in the shower after your workout or lingering in your kit for a while, it’s vital to clean your face.

“Exfoliation with a gentle exfoliant is the best way to clean the face after exercise as it quickly gets the build-up of sweat and oil out of the skin pores,” says Melegh.

She adds that a toner is a great way to get rid of traces of sweat and excess oil while balancing skin tone, which can often be blotchy after exercise.

“A toner also helps to close up open pores which may be more open due to increased heat and sweating.” 

There are also some spot-busting ingredients to look out for in your post-gym face wash, like salicylic acid, an ingredient shown by research to help with acne.

Protect Your Skin In Your Post-gym Shower 

If you’re hopping straight into the shower after your gym workout, that’s when skin may be highly sensitive due to the heat and exertion from your session.

“When showering after exercise it’s a good idea to avoid highly perfumed shower gels or washes as it’s the most likely time that you will get a skin reaction,” says Melegh. “If you want to smell nice after exercising, spray perfumes or body sprays on clothing after washing, not on post-workout skin.

“Skin may also have small areas of microdamage from chafing and rubbing during exercise making it even more vulnerable, so it’s important to use a product that is not only free from perfumes but is also moisturizing rather than stripping the skin of its natural oils.”

Your shampoo choice can also affect your skin. Melegh says that many shampoos contain harsh detergents. If you find that your skin is sensitive post-workout, try using a perfume and detergent-free shampoo.

Beat Bacne

“Back acne or ‘bacne’ is more common among gym-goers due to the combination of sweat build up and friction on the back area,” says Melegh.

“Bacne is caused by excess sebum during sweating as it reaches the skin’s surface, mixed with external dirt and bacteria plus friction from gym equipment and clothing.”

Try to limit the time you spend in your workout gear after exercising because bacteria can linger on skin. Sports bras, which sit tight against the skin, can be particularly irritating to skin.

When showering, look for ingredients in your cleanser such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which aren’t useful just for facial acne but acne anywhere on the body. Wash as normal, but let the lather from your cleanser sit on your back for a minute or two, rather than rinsing it off immediately.

You could also try exfoliating your back once a week with an exfoliating brush.

Stop The Chafe

Sudocrem is a staple product in many bathrooms and it’s great for helping with chafing. Apply a thin layer to areas where you experience friction such as inner thighs or under the armpits where your sports bra might rub.

Ingredients such as anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin soothe skin, while benzyl alcohol has local anesthetic properties that help to reduce discomfort.

Avoid Swim-skin Dryness

Shotter says that swimming in salted or chlorinated water can be very drying for the skin, and can be a trigger for those with dry skin conditions like eczema.

“Prior to swimming I would suggest using a lipid-rich barrier cream to help reduce how much impact the water has on your skin. Afterwards make sure you shower thoroughly and cleanse your face to remove any residue of chlorine or salt. Then apply hydrating products like a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum and a moisturizer.”

About Our Experts

If you’re sniffing out grooming gifts, your nose has led you to the right place. We’ve compiled this list of absolute winners, from a couple of our favourite fragrances to the best beard trimmer that we’ve unleashed on our artfully crafted stubble. There’s a sponge too, which sounds underwhelming, but it’s not just any sponge. It’s a super-sponge.

If you're trying to nail all your Christmas shopping at once be sure to check out our other Christmas gift guides – we can help you pick out gifts for runners, gifts for cyclists and fitness gifts for gym-goers. And for those who have everything, check out the best experience days that make great gifts.

Best Grooming Gifts And Gift Sets For Christmas 2022

More About Grooming 

• Say goodbye to dry skin by choosing one of the best men’s moisturisers
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• Refresh your mug with the best face scrubs for men
• Choose one of the best electric shavers to keep your face fuzz in order

As if juggling exercise, work, social plans and family life wasn’t enough, factoring in a hair wash as well can be challenging. While there’s no better feeling than clean hair, especially after a sweaty workout, the wash, dry and style process can take up a serious chunk of time.

This is where dry shampoo can help. It broadly works by soaking up excess sweat and oil from your scalp and hair, leaving you feeling fresher and your hair looking cleaner. Powdered dry shampoo burst on to the scene several years back and made a big impression, but shaking powder over your hair can get pretty messy so spray-on dry shampoo emerged to make waves on the beauty scene. There are now dry shampoos targeted at different hair colours, because no-one wants to walk around with strange-coloured patches in their hair.

Not sure which dry shampoo is for you? Here are our favourites for refreshing sweaty, post-gym hair.

This dry shampoo uses tapioca starch and kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and dirt from your hair. Your post-gym tresses will smell a whole lot fresher too, thanks to extracts of frangipani, lemon and cedar leaf. This shampoo’s key ingredient is Alpha Keratin 60ku, which helps to repair damaged hair so you’ll get a clean and some hair healing all in one.

Buy from SpaceNK | £15 for 51g

A nature-loving choice, with 99.5% of its ingredients coming from natural and organic sources, this spray is not an aerosol but instead uses a pump so you’re less likely to accidentally breathe in the particles. The serious-looking packaging may say “I got this from the pharmacy” but the product works well and isn’t messy in the slightest. It absorbs oil and grease without drying hair out or leaving a greasy shine. Plus, it contains over 100 washes, so it should last you a while.

Buy from Beauty Naturals | £12.95 for 15g

This one comes out very white when sprayed on dark hair, but it disappears fast once you start massaging it in and does feel like a more effective clean. The conditioning agents also refresh your scalp. One of the other benefits is that it’s free of parabens, sulphates, silicone and phthalates.

Buy from Living Proof | £13 for 83ml

Applying this is simple: pull out the nozzle, puff it at the roots and then jiggle the fine power through your hair. The product is made from microfine vegetable and mineral matter, which sounds odd – but it works! When we tested this after a gym workout, the level of grease visibly decreased and there was very little mess. It might be more expensive than other dry shampoos, but it does the job.

Buy from Hairstory | £39 for 38g

An expensive option but it delivers, and it doesn’t leave white residue at the roots of dark hair. This product also adds plenty of volume to your hair – especially useful when you’re rocking that limp, greasy look and you don’t have time for a full wash. It’s also vegan-friendly, it’s free from parabens and sulphates, and it contains firm favourites like shea butter, aloe vera, argan and sunflower seed extract.

Buy from SBS Hair | £19.50 for 200ml

The first thing you’ll notice with this product – aside from the raspberry scent – is that rather than a spray, it’s a loose powder which needs rubbing into roots and hair. It may take a couple of attempts to get the hang of it, but it’s worth cleaning up a few scenes of powdery disaster in the bathroom to master the technique. Moroccan clay and rice powder absorb grease, leaving your hair clean – plus it’s available in a blonde or brunette version, reducing the incidence of annoying white traces. The main ingredient that binds the grease and dirt is called rhassoul, a mineral-rich clay from the Moroccan Atlas mountains. Fancy! Oh, and the packaging is completely recyclable.

Buy from Foamie | £6 for 40g

Instead of a spray, this product is a foam and claims to offer a 60-second cleansing “wash” with no visible residue. Rubbing it into roots leaves hair looking wet, but it quickly dries and definitely removes that greasy, itchy feeling you get from unwashed hair. A word of advice: less is more when applying.

See related 

• The Best Women’s Gym Bags
• The Best Gym Bags For Men

Fudge products never disappoint and this one is no exception. It refreshes hair and the clean feeling lasts far longer than with many other dry shampoos. It also doesn’t leave much white residue and you don’t have to wait around for it to dry.

Buy from Fudge Professional | £13 for 200ml

The most glamorous-looking of the dry shampoos, with a gold bottle that looks great in your bathroom, handbag or gym bag. You get to hang on to it too because you can buy refill packets in cardboard sachets. The product itself was tested on a blow dry, and it certainly prolonged the style, cleaning roots and hair strands, whilst also leaving hair smelling lovely. It’s also available in a version for fair hair. Top tip from the brand: cold blow-dry this dry shampoo into your hair to distribute it evenly.

Buy from Tabitha James Kraan | £19 for 15g

The pioneering dry shampoo that many of us know and love, it has a fresh fragrance and leaves hair feeling restored and clean. Just be sure to jiggle the spray through your hair to avoid white patches.

Buy from Boots | £3.25 for 200ml (currently reduced to £2.17)

You don’t need to follow a full-on Patrick Bateman-style grooming ritual every morning to look after your skin. Dabbing on a little moisturiser after you shower, maybe more often when the weather is cold or when you have dry patches, will do the job for most people.

Which moisturiser you use will depend on your skin type. People with very dry skin need a rich moisturiser, while those with oily skin should use a lighter product that won’t block their pores. If you have sensitive skin you’ll also want to avoid products that use any chemicals or fragrances that irritate – sadly, the only reliable way to discover this is through trial and error. If you’re lucky to have skin with no clear type, then just go nuts and pick the moisturiser that pleases you most, whether that’s down to the scent, texture or price.

We’ve tested a wide range of moisturisers and that extensive research has yielded both silky-smooth skin and the following selection of our absolute favourites.

Frankincense and mandarin are two big, bold scents, and in combination they only become bolder, producing a sweet, spicy and festive mix that lingers on the skin in the best way. The lotion itself doesn’t linger, though, sinking in quickly so you’re not left feeling greasy, and it spreads easily so a little goes a long way.

This luxurious moisturiser is a little thicker than others, but still sinks into the skin quickly so you’re not left feeling uncomfortably slick after applying it. The scent is rich too, and the combination of the texture and smell leaves you in no doubt that your skin is going to be seriously hydrated after application. It might be a little too much for those who prefer a lighter lotion, but it’s a great pick for the winter months when your skin needs all the help it can get.

If you, like us, are excited to find out what other tasks a moisturiser can tackle beyond moisturising, then you, like us, are probably a bit disappointed that the second task is just moisturising after a shave. However, the product itself is not disappointing in any other way, offering a delightfully refreshing herby scent and a tingly feel that lingers on the skin in the best way.

The Black Reserve range at Jack Black is where you’ll find the company’s really fancy stuff, such as this excellent body lotion. The combo of cardamom and cedarwood is a winner on the scent front, especially since it’s supplemented by bergamot, lavender, coriander and patchouli notes – it’s a roll call of the best smells. The lotion is also light on the skin and absorbed quickly, despite containing shea butter and oils to lock in moisture.

Designed to keep your skin hydrated at overnight, this facial moisturiser for faces feels light on the skin and has a pleasant, slightly floral scent. The list of ingredients includes such exotics as kakadu plum and horopito, which sound to us like items from a Legend of Zelda game, something that only makes us rate the moisturiser more highly. No doubt these impressive ingredients are partly behind the high price of the cream, but on the morning after an application of the stuff we noticed the difference.

This is not just the best-smelling moisturiser on this list, it’s probably the best-smelling thing we’ve come across in our lives. Even better, the smell lingers on the skin after application, so you keep getting hints of that warming, spicy scent for hours. It’s the kind of scent that makes you pause when writing about it and go put more on, in fact. The lotion sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy feel on the face or body – and there’s also a fireside shower gel, if you want a double hit during your morning routine.

Bulldog’s moisturisers do a great job of hitting the sweet spot between budget skincare options and luxury lotions, offering great quality for under £10. They’re often found in big supermarkets too for extra convenience. The Original Moisturiser has the best scent, but the Protective Moisturiser carries a delightful bergamot-heavy fragrance and it’s a very handy option for the summer, boasting an SPF 15 rating without feeling thick and sticky like standard suncream does.

The key ingredients in this light moisturiser are hyaluronic acid and allantoin. The former is one of nature’s most hydrating molecules, according to Manual (Mother Nature did not respond to our request for comment), and the latter soothes and regenerates skin. It’s a winning combo on paper and in practice too – Mr Moisturiser rubs in easily and smells fantastic, and it’s designed for use on your face, body and hands.

This is a great everyday option for the budget-conscious. It’s priced very attractively in the first place, and it also has a pump dispenser that limits the chances of squirting too much on your hand so it’ll last longer. It hydrates so well that we found Brisk’s directions to apply twice a day overkill – once did the trick for us. It requires more rubbing in than other moisturisers we’ve tried, but it doesn’t leave an oily residue.

If you’re a man keen on avoiding any kind of scent with your moisturiser, either because you have sensitive skin or just hate the idea of your skin being slathered with something smelly, then this is a good bet. It’s odour-free, non-greasy and aims to hydrate sensitive skin without causing any irritation.

When the temperature falls, outdoor exercisers face an unpleasant choice: let your skin face the cold unprotected during your activities, or moisturise beforehand and risk excessive sweating due to the cream. This light moisturising spray provides a third way, offering protection from the elements without blocking pores or making your skin feel greasy. It has a subtle, refreshing scent and sinks in the second it hits your skin. While it might not be as richly moisturising as the other options on this list, it’s a great option for runners and cyclists venturing outside during winter.

The dark rum fragrance of this lotion might lead you to think you’ll walk around smelling like you’ve had a heavy night out, but you’d be wrong. The scent is subtle and it’s one of our favourites of all the moisturisers we tried, which is saying something. The lotion rubs in easily and doesn’t feel greasy at all.

Nivea Men Creme is good value and available at all supermarkets, making it a great pick for those who want to keep things simple. It takes a little time to sink in, but has a refreshing scent and it’s designed to be used on both the body and face.

Rubbing in a cooling moisturiser like this one on a sunny day or after a sweaty workout is one of life’s great pleasures, and this refreshing lotion is also great to use after shaving. It’s absorbed by the skin quickly, leaving a pleasant tingle in its wake.

We were unimpressed with this moisturiser when we first put it on because it’s not so great at sinking in. Be prepared for smeared, white skin for a little while after application. However, it’s very much worth it because the cooling menthol tingle on your skin is a treat, especially after exercise or a day in the sun.

The fragrance sounds aggressively floral but in reality it’s very subtle, with a pleasant hint of lavender. The lotion itself is the most fluid we tried, which means it’s absorbed instantly, making it easy to apply to large patches of skin without excessive rubbing.

A more divisive scent this, with a fiery ginger fragrance that only fades a little over time. We like ginger, however, so it’s two thumbs up from us, especially as the zingy smell is somewhat invigorating. Tropic has marked this down as a face moisturiser, hence the diminutive 50ml tube – you’ll go through it in a week if you use it on your body as well.

Hopefully we don’t need to sell you on the merits of using shower gel, but we would like to sell you on the benefits of upgrading whatever body wash you are using right now to one of our picks below.

Sure, you can grab whatever’s discounted at your local supermarket and it will get you clean, but with the right gel you can enjoy a real experience every time you step in the shower. You don’t have to spend loads either – although there are some very pricy options below, we have options to suit all budgets.

“Mandarin, green tea and ginger equals reinvigorated skin that’s deeply cleansed” is the claim made with this body wash, and we cannot fault a word of it. Truthfully you can pop a little bit of ginger in almost anything and we’re going to be fans, but the combination with mandarin creates an especially excellent scent.

Buy from The Fellowship | £15 for 300ml

Invigorating is certainly the right word for this citrusy body and hair wash, with grapefruit and bergamot combining into a delightful herby scent that spices up a shower. It lathers up nicely if you’re using it to clean your hair too, so it doesn’t take too much to get a great wash, which is handy because otherwise the rather small 200ml bottle would empty in short order.

Buy from Neal’s Yard | £15.50 for 200ml

This new Irish brand has included magnesium and arnica in its all-natural formulation to “relieve sore muscles and joints”. It’s a bit hard to tell if it’s doing its job, but the peppermint is certainly invigorating and we stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed.

There are seven different oils in this body wash, which is specifically designed for sweaty athletes. Some of these oils might sound made up – kanuka oil is just a little too close to manuka oil to be real, surely? – but all of them are in there for a specific reason, whether it’s suppressing bacterial growth or providing a relaxing scent. The overall smell is distinctive: it reminded us of a mechanic’s workshop in truth, which is manly for sure but not necessarily to everyone’s taste. The body wash can be put to many other uses too, including as a shampoo, a conditioner and a shaving gel.

Buy from Vigour8 | £30.75 for for three 270ml bottles

The Eurosport Active Skin range contains a number of products specifically aimed at the sporty. What that means with regard to this hair and body wash is that there are ingredients designed to prise the most firmly embedded dirt and grit out of your skin. Ideal if you’ve been mountain biking down dusty trails all day. We found that the wash is still pretty gentle on your skin, so even after a deep clean it won’t dry you out too much.

Buy from Eurosport | £10 for 150ml

The standard range of washes and moisturisers from Jack Black contains some of our favourite products, so we were very pleased to find Black Reserve body wash stays true to form. There’s a lot going on with the smell of the stuff beyond the headline cardamom and cedarwood, but the overall effect is still fairly subtle and very pleasant, and the gel left our skin feeling fresh and not at all dry.

Buy from Jack Black | £11 for 88ml, £25 for 355ml, £48 for 975ml

This body wash is quite the multitasker: it can wash your hair, face and body and even lather up for a shave. It certainly does froth up a treat in the shower, and the sandalwood and neroli scent is just noticeable enough to be pleasant without becoming overpowering. Another plus point is the sizeable plunger. We love a good plunger. Who wants to hold and squeeze a bottle when you can just pump away? It also means you don’t squeeze too much of the stuff into your hand, because the way this gel foams up means you really don’t need a lot.

Buy from Triumph & Disaster | £28 for 500ml

As far as we know, there’s been no conclusive research into what the freshest scent known to humankind is, but we’re happy to go on record as saying it’s pine. And more specifically the towering pine forests of Scotland on a chilly morn. Do you want to be transported to those forests every time you shower by the incredible smell of this shower gel? Trust us when we say you do.

Buy from Noble Isle | £21 for 250ml

Mio has created a Workout Wonders range of grooming products to help invigorate your skin before and after training. This body wash is, naturally, designed to be used afterwards – unless you like to be really clean before you sweat. The gel contains eucalyptus for a refreshing scent and feel, and it creates a pleasant, cooling tingle on the skin that you can boost further by also using the Muscle Motivator gel from the range.

Buy from Mio | £19 for 200ml

The four-strong range of Bulldog shower gels all offer splendid aromas and we had a hard time picking our favourite, but although the Peppermint & Eucalyptus gets extra points for its refreshing sensation, we plumped for the citrusy, patchouli smell of the Original in the end. The gel feels like a luxury option for a fraction of the cost, especially as you get a sizeable 500ml bottle of the stuff, and we found that it didn’t dry out our skin at all.

Buy from Bulldog | £3 for 500ml

Four evocative scents are available here – redwood, shiso, stone and fig – of which redwood is the standout. Who wouldn’t want to smell like an awe-inspiringly massive tree, after all? The gel lathers up nicely but it’s best avoided if you have dry skin because it left our skin feeling a little, well, dry.

Buy from Harry’s | £5 for 250ml

Black pepper, ginger and vetiver are the key ingredients in this spicy, luxurious shower gel, and it’s an awesome combination, even if we had no idea what vetiver is. Google reveals it’s a fragrant perennial grass, a bit like your friend and mine lemongrass.

Buy from Molton Brown | £22 for 300ml

It’s a favourite of anyone used to hunting down £1 shower gel deals in the supermarket, but let’s not undersell the quality of this classic body wash. Your skin will tingle after using it and that’s just a great way to start the day.

Find retailers through Original Source | From £1 for 250ml at Tesco

See related 

• The Best Dry Shampoo To Throw In Your Gym Bag
• The Best Men’s Moisturisers Of 2021
• The Best Facial Cleansing Brushes

Another classic of the supermarket shelves, Dove’s body wash smells good, has a moisturising effect and offers great value. Our only problem with it is that it’s dashed tricky to get the final few squirts out of the bottom of the bottle owing to the unyielding nature of the plastic used.

Buy from Boots | £2 for 400ml

If ever there were a year to experiment with possibly ill-advised facial hair, 2020 was it. Britain’s men were given free rein to grow and style their beards within the safety of their home – you can always turn off video on a Zoom call, after all.

But with the prospect of lockdowns becoming a thing of the past in 2021, it’s time to consider how to get your facial hair back in order. If you’ve become quite attached to your fuzz, you’ll need a beard trimmer and we’ve spent the past few months testing the best to make sure you don’t end up buying a dud.

If you’re thinking “a trimmer’s a trimmer”, you’re both right and wrong. While there’s not much difference to the finish you can expect with any of the models we tried, the overall experience in getting there – from how long it takes to how much battery life it has to how the settings are altered – can be dramatically different between products.

After our main choices, we’ll tell you about a couple of samples we tested which didn’t quite reach the required level for a recommendation.

The Best Beard Trimmers

Battery length 100min | Cutting lengths 0.5-20mm | Gradients 39 | Extras Contour edging head, detail trimmer head, hair clipping adapters, Gillette Fusion 5 ProGlide razor, travel pouch

Our pick of the bunch is this excellent all-rounder which comes with plenty of extras. Rather than making buyers juggle dozens of different-length heads, the Braun Beard Trimmer 7 comes with just two, which combine with the built-in dial to allow for 39 different lengths from 0.5mm to 20mm. It feels good and makes light work of even a dense lockdown beard.

As with most beard trimmers, it does struggle a little with the edges of one’s face, but the extras push it over the edge. Not only does it come with a detail trimmer head for fine-tuning your look and a mini foil shaver for extra-close cutting, but the company throws in a free Gillette Fusion 5 ProGlide razor for good measure. Incredible value.

Buy from Braun | £74.99 (currently reduced to £49.99)

Battery length 300min | Cutting lengths 0.4-25mm | Extras Foil shaver, nine hair and beard combs, travel pouch

In truth, there’s very little to choose between our Braun pick above and the Remington T Series here. Both give an excellent finish, and the T Series actually has superior build quality, aesthetics, cutting length options and battery life. The travel pouch is spacious and stylish, too.

But it’s a close second for a couple of reasons. First, we spent a fair amount of time emptying it of trapped hair, which isn’t great if you’re in a hurry. Second, while beard lengths of 1.5 to 5mm are dealt with by the adjustable dial built into a single head, Remington includes an extra nine hair and beard combs ranging in size from 1.5mm to 25mm for different lengths. You might appreciate the flexibility in theory, but these quickly fill up that spacious carry case without really adding anything for most people.

Still, it’s worth checking whether Amazon’s ever-shifting prices mean this is substantially cheaper when you’re thinking of buying, because that could put its nose in front.

Buy from Remington | £79.99

Battery length 50min | Cutting lengths 0.5-30mm | Gradients 59 | Extras Travel pouch

The Panasonic ER-GB86 certainly won’t win any beauty contests. It’s bulky and, compared with the other beard trimmers we tried, frankly a bit ugly. It’s also light on extras and has a tendency to trap hair underneath the heads, too.

But it’s not without its strengths. It provides an excellent finish, for starters, and the three heads have 59 cutting lengths between them, easily and precisely set by the rotating dial embedded into the middle of the shaver. This clear read-out provides peace of mind that the length you want will be uniform across the shave, and the dial itself offers enough resistance that you can be sure it won’t slip to the wrong length while in use.

Buy from Boots | £99.99 (currently reduced to £79.99)

Battery length 120min | Cutting lengths 0.5-12mm | Gradients 23 | Extras Hard fabric case

It’s the svelte, lightweight design that justifies this trimmer’s place in the list. While it offers limited customisation compared with the others here, there’s no need for extra attachments: the 23 cutting lengths from 0.5 to 12mm all come from the built-in head.

Performance is generally good, even on the tricky edges of the face, though it does take a couple of passes for thicker beards. Its real achilles heel, though, is the unorthodox head design: the borders either side of the blade make it a little tough to judge what you’re aiming at when undertaking precision trims. But if you’re just after a good, no-fuss, lightweight beard trimmer, then this is an easy recommendation. Especially as it’s often available for under £40.

Buy from BaByliss | £80 (currently reduced to £53.33)

See related 

• How to Trim a Beard
• The Best Beard Oils
• The Best Electric Shavers To Keep Your Face Fuzz In Order
• The Best Shaving Subscriptions Of 2020

The Also Rans

The Wahl Aqua Blade Hair Trimmer has a lot going for it, including a very close shave and a quick charging feature that gives you three minutes’ use from 60 seconds spent by the plug socket. But it was guilty of some painful hair tugging, which none of the other samples had, making it a tough one to recommend – unless you actually like that kind of thing.

The Philips 9000 Prestige, on the other hand, didn’t put a foot wrong. In fact, it’s excellent, with incredible customisation letting you cut to one of 30 lengths from 0.4mm to 10mm with only one additional head. The problem is that it costs £120. By all means buy it if money is no object, but the performance gains are pretty marginal compared with its more affordable rivals. We were a hair’s breadth away from recommending it, but couldn’t shift the feeling that it doesn’t do enough to justify pushing the price into triple digits.

Shifting plaque, cleaning around the gum line and keeping cavities at bay are important elements in improving dental hygiene and an electric toothbrush can help with all of them. This is no flippant claim, either. A Cochrane Review, which gathers and assesses a wide range of scientific evidence around a topic, examined a range of studies in 2014 and found powered reduced both plaque and gingivitis (gum inflammation) over three months versus manual toothbrushes.

You can certainly keep your gnashers in good condition with a standard toothbrush, but many find electric toothbrushes to make it easier – particularly with two-minute timers making sure you’re not cutting your cleaning short. And there’s certainly plenty of new tech that attempts to help. That includes features such as rotating heads that focus on brushing one tooth at a time and sonic brushes that vibrate at high speeds and frequencies to buff the surface. We’ve rounded up a selection of the best buys to suit your budget and brushing style.

This toothbrush has artificial intelligence, includes the word “genius” in its name and costs £340 (though it’s currently reduced to £130 for an introductory offer). Those three things will make a lot of cynical people recoil (we did), but as soon as you stick it in your gob the Oral-B Genius X will win you over.

It has six different clean modes that take full advantage of the powerhouse brushing motors, but the truly remarkable feature is the way it recognises your brushing and lets you know if and how you’re doing it wrong. And you probably are, because according to Oral-B 80% of adults are missing at least one area of their mouth regularly.

The Oral-B Genius recognises how long you spend in each area of your mouth, and points out the spots that aren’t getting enough attention. It can do this live if you link it to the Oral-B app, which will guide you through your brushing session and assess how well you did afterwards with a brushing score. If you don’t want to take your phone into the bathroom everyday, it will track your brushing over time and deliver feedback periodically to help you up your dental hygiene game.

Buy on Amazon | £339.99 (currently reduced to £170)

Cheaper electric toothbrushes tend to look it. Not so with Ordo’s smart-looking Sonic+ – the rose gold looks especially stylish, but there are attractive charcoal grey and white/silver colourways too, and the wide base means it stands up on its own without any trouble. It’s got useful features too, like four modes including whiten and sensitive, and a silicone X in the middle of the head to gently polish your teeth. We were left with a feeling close to that of having seen a dental hygienist. The three-week battery life is impressive, too.

Another reason to go with Ordo is that it offers a subscription refill service for toothbrush heads, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash and interdental brushes. If you’re as guilty as us of not replacing your toothbrush head as often as is recommended, it’s a useful convenience and one less thing to think about.

Buy from Boots | £50

One downside of going electric is the possibility of your brush running out of juice halfway through a clean, leaving you with little option but to ineffectually rub the now static brush over the rest of your teeth. That fear is almost entirely banished with the Foreo Issa 2, which lasts 365 days on a single charge. So even if you have some extensive travel plans in mind once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, you’ll have no need to take the USB charger with you.

The soft silicone outer bristles are designed to massage your gums, while the polymer inner ones are more effective in removing plaque. There are 16 cleaning modes so you can select the perfect intensity for you.

Buy from Foreo | £149

Flossing is something that every dentist recommends doing daily, but it’s also a real faff. So try using a water flosser, which shoots a thin stream of water at your teeth to remove plaque and chunks of food left from dinner in a gentler (and frankly far more exciting) manner than old-school flossing string or tape. Do make sure you use the water flosser over the sink, though, and check your angles carefully otherwise you, like us, might end up with water spraying all over the bathroom when you first turn it on. The flosser comes with five different tips, including options that work especially well for people with braces or orthodontics.

The toothbrush in the set is no less impressive than the flosser, with three settings available – high, low and massage – and a month-long battery life. Combining both in one bundle will save you space and a power socket in your bathroom, and rid you of the irritation and waste involved in string or plastic-pick flossing forever.

Buy on Amazon | £129.99

If you’re wondering how an electric toothbrush can be described as “luxury”, it starts with the colour – this brush is not merely black but “black onyx” – and finishes with the astonishing £500 price (although you’ll rarely, if ever, actually have to pay more than half that in reality). Between the colour and price, there are unique and useful features.

The toothbrush contains a pressure sensor and will show a red or green light to tell you if you’re brushing too hard, while a timer on the colour display helps you stick it out for the full two minutes with each brush, if only for the smiley face that’s displayed if you do. There are seven brushing modes to choose from, including one for sensitive and another for super-sensitive teeth, plus a whitening option.

It’s the Oral B iO9’s brushing action that really sets it apart, even from other high-end picks. The vibrations are more subtle and friendly to your gums, but still effective in giving your teeth a good clean. The only downside is that the iO uses a different kind of head from most other Oral B brushes, and those heads are not cheap to replace at £15 for a pack of two.

Buy from Boots | £500 (currently reduced to £250)

See related 

• 8 Products To Use For Whiter Teeth
• How to Avoid Fillings and Stains: The Secrets of Dental Health

It might not look as sleek as some of our other picks but this bargain brush is lightweight, compact and comes with a handy snap-on lid so you can sling it in a wash bag to freshen up on the road. The battery life is impressive given the price (you’ll get 40 brushes out of a charge) and it runs quietly. There’s only one sonic speed setting and no rotation so it’s not as effective at shifting plaque as it could be, but it’s an affordable option for frequent travellers.

Buy on Amazon | £49.99 (currently reduced to £19.99)

The cheapest of Oral-B’s CrossAction models delivers the same 40,000 pulses and 8,000 oscillations per minute as the more expensive editions, and is compatible with the range’s 3D White, Sensitive, Precision and FlossAction heads. You won’t have as many brushing modes to pick from, but the daily clean and gum care settings should be sufficient, and the round brush heads do a great job of cleaning teeth and getting into the gaps. It feels sturdy and scores points for including a travel case.

Buy on Amazon | £79.99 (currently reduced to £33)

Dandruff is a chronic condition, which means that if you have it you will have to deal with it at times throughout your life. That’s the bad news. The good news is that treating it is pretty simple, and the treatment – anti-dandruff shampoo – is both easy to get your hands on and works quickly.

After making its name in the world of shaving products, grooming brand Harry’s has now turned its attention to anti-dandruff products, launching a range of shampoos, scalp creams and scrubs to help prevent and treat the condition.

We spoke to US-based dermatologist and Harry’s ambassador Dr Carlos A Charles about dandruff, what causes it and how best to go about treating it.

What is dandruff and what causes it?

Dandruff is a dry, itchy, red, flaky scalp. It’s very common. It’s a chronic condition, so it’s something that comes and goes. We see it in what dermatologists call sebaceous type people who produce a lot of oil. It’s caused by a whole host of factors – stress can really trigger it and certain people tend to have flare-ups at certain times of the year – which cause the scalp to produce excess oil. That excess oil sets up an environment where different yeasts go after this oil, or sebum, which produces inflammation in the scalp, which leads to the production of skin cells and flaking, redness and itching.

Is it more common in people who have dry skin and suffer from conditions like eczema?

It’s not really linked to eczema and dry skin, it’s something we often see as a one-off. Someone’s skin can be great but they have dandruff.

How can you prevent it?

Prevention is always the best way to go. The Harry’s product line has a couple of things to help in this regard. The scalp cream is emollient and soothing and keeps the dryness in check, and the scalp scrub that you can use once a week can help exfoliate the scalp and promote scalp health. It’s preventative in that respect.

How can you treat it?

The tried-and-tested zinc pyrithione, an ingredient in shampoos, acts like an anti-fungal treatment for dandruff. The Harry’s line also has natural ingredients like jujube bark extract, which acts as an anti-inflammatory. The different products have a different range of strengths too, for mild or intense dandruff.

See related 

• What Men Can Do About Hair Loss
• The Best Dry Shampoo To Throw In Your Gym Bag

How can you tell how bad your dandruff is?

Mild can be something like a few flakes in your hair a few hours after washing it, or a little bit of redness. Then in the middle you have more flakes and you’re itching, in which case you need something to go after the cause of the dandruff – zinc pyrithione goes after the organisms that cause the dandruff. Then the intense stuff – I’ve seen guys who come in and their hair is full of flakes, they feel like they need to wash it a few times a day. That’s when you need the heavier guns, the extra-strength anti-dandruff shampoo.

How long does it take to go away with treatment?

Within the first week of using them you should see a significant improvement, but I want to emphasise that dandruff is all about maintenance. Symptoms are going to go away quickly, but you need to make sure you continue to use the products on a regular basis.

If anti-dandruff shampoo doesn’t work should people see a dermatologist?

There are other conditions like psoriasis that mimic dandruff, where the lesions on the scalp may not go away with these topical products. So if you’re using these things but you’re still uncomfortable, or maybe you’re even having some bleeding, it might be time to have a professional take a look.

While a stroll through the trendier part of your town might make you believe that shaving is a thing of the past, most men still opt for a clean shave each day. Some view this as a chore to be endured, while others relish the me time. But whatever your view on shaving is, no-one enjoys going to the supermarket to pick up supplies.

That’s because razors are expensive, and, at times, impossible to comprehend thanks to the space-age technologies that are seemingly inserted into every blade. Then there’s the time and emotional cost of actually going to a shop to consider. No, no, no, no, no. There must be a better way.

There is. Shaving subscription boxes are here to save the day. Sign up online, then sit back and relax. All the necessary shaving gear you need will be arriving at regular intervals and it will probably cost you less than buying it in a shop. At least in the emotional sense.

Here are the best shaving subscriptions to consider, in alphabetical order.

Bearded Colonel

There are two design elements on the Bearded Colonel’s heads that promise to minimise irritation. The first is a roller on the leading edge of the head so more shaving cream gets to the blades, acting as a lubricant. The second is wider spacing of the blades so they don’t get clogged up. There are two tiers to Beard Colonel membership. The standard one costs £10 to start and then £10 a delivery thereafter, and for that you get your handle and four five-blade heads in each delivery. The VIP tier nets you a fancier stainless steel handle and a tin to store it in alongside the blades, but this is currently invitation-only so you have to contact the Colonel himself (or an intern manning the inbox) to ask for a spot.

Subscribe to Bearded Colonel

Blade Box

Aside from the cheapest option from Dollar Shave Club, Blade Box offers the best-value shaving subscription we’ve come across. Subscribe to the three-blade razor service and it’ll set you back just £4.49 a month, and if you simply must have five blades on your razors, that subscription is still only £7.49 a month. You can change the frequency of your deliveries to four, six or eight weeks, depending on how often you shave, and naturally the handle comes free with your first order. Both the three- and five-razor blade heads feature a vitamin E and aloe lubricating strip to minimise skin irritation and, while lacking some of the marketing bluster that accompanies a lot of the blades on this list, they’ll get the job done in terms of a close shave.

Subscribe to Blade Box

Cornerstone

If you want Cornerstone to take care of pretty much every part of your grooming routine, it can do so, because alongside razors and blades it’ll deliver shampoos, soaps, hair loss treatments, toothpaste and even condoms to a schedule you set. We’re going to focus on the shaving stuff here though. You can get six five-blade cartridges plus a handle with free engraving for £14; subsequent deliveries cost £14 too and can be spaced one, two or three months apart. The head has a trimmer blade and an aloe vera strip, but its neatest trick is that it will stand on its wide, flat base.

Subscribe to Cornerstone

Dollar Shave Club

This shaving subscription service has proved wildly popular in the US and has now made its way to good old Blighty, where the currency in its title makes no sense at all. It’s not as straightforward as the branding suggests – it took a bit of digging around on the website, but we unearthed a dirt-cheap option.

Dollar Shave Club offers a starter pack for £5, which includes DSC’s “executive” razor handle, a pack of four six-blade cartridges and a travel-size tube of shaving butter. Thereafter, you have the option of getting four- or six-blade razor top-ups for £6 or £8 (both work on the executive handle), but you’re locking yourself into the more premium cartridges. If you want the cheapest possible plan, though, swerve the starter set and go for the two-blade “humble twin”: you’ll pay just £3 a month for five cartridges, with the handle included free in the first delivery.

If you happen to be a big spender, DSC is keen to sell you more. If you add in any extra grooming products from DSC’s seriously extensive range, you – sound the upselling klaxon – get a bigger discount applied to all of your purchases.

Subscribe to Dollar Shave Club

Gillette Shave Club

No doubt keen to see off the competition from all these upstart blade vendors, the grandaddy of shaving goods has got in on this newfangled subscription malarkey. After a slow start it seems Gillette now means business, offering a starter kit that includes a handle, one cartridge, travel-size shaving foam and a travel case for the head for just the £3.95 cost of delivery. You can choose between three razors in that kit too – the Fusion5 ProGlide, the SkinGuard or the Fusion5. Once you’re up and running you can also set the frequency of refill deliveries, with each package of four new heads priced between £10 and £11.50.

Subscribe to Gillette Shave Club

See related

• The Best Shaving Creams
• Quick Tips To Sharpen Up Facial Hair – Whatever Your Style
• Carmelo Guastella’s Shaving Tips

Harry’s

Harry’s makes everything you need to enjoy a top-quality shave and is keen as mustard to send it to your door at a frequency of your choice. A trial set of razor, shaving gel and a blade cover costs just £3.95 (pictured above), and from then on you pick what you want – cartridges and gel, or just cartridges – and when you want it. Getting your blade heads and gel from Harry’s will set you back £19 per delivery, while just getting eight heads costs £14.

Subscribe to Harrys

The Personal Barber

These guys have zero time for your four/five/13-blade razors – they reckon you only need one sharp blade to enjoy an excellent, irritation-free shave. TPB will send you that blade in safety-razor form along with a fancy shaving brush and soap or cream in your first box, which also includes step-by-step instructions for the perfect shave. Then your next box keeps things fresh by including different shaving creams and pre- and post-shave products. The wet shave subscription box, complete with blades and mystery items, costs £24.95 every six or 12 weeks.

Subscribe to The Personal Barber

Whether you want stylish stubble or totally smooth skin, you’ll find a high-quality electric shaver can help. But as soon as you start looking into buying one you’ll discover that shavers vary wildly in price. To help you invest your money wisely, here’s our pick of the best electric shavers available – and scroll further down to find our guide to choosing the right shaver for you.

See related

• The Best Hair Clippers Of 2020
• The Best Beard Trimmers To Keep Your Face Fur In Check
• The Best Shaving Subscriptions Of 2020

The Best Electric Shavers 2020

Not only can you rinse this shaver clean under the tap, you can also take it into the shower with you. It has three blades: a trimmer and a foil blade either side of it, one of which is retractable to let the trimmer do its work unhindered around your neckline. There’s also a pop-up trimmer on the back for sorting out your sideburns.

The battery takes an hour to charge and will deliver 45 minutes of shaving, but if you’re in a hurry, it will go from flat to usable in the space of five minutes. It first entered the market at £150, but these days you’ll find it for under £70 – an excellent asking price for a mid-range shaver with additional trimmers and a travel pouch.

The OneBlade has the look of a traditional non-electric razor, but that doesn’t mean it will only give you a clean shave – it comes with stubble combs that will do an equally good job of trimming your beard. The shaver’s blades oscillate 200 times a second, which guarantees a swift and comfortable shave. If you have sensitive skin and are prone to stubble rash, put this one at the top of your list.

The QP2520’s NiMH battery takes a full eight hours to charge, which isn’t great, but our main issue with this model is that while the sub-£40 asking price is attractive, the blades have a four-month lifespan and cost £11 a pop, so you’ll be spending a lot more in the long term. But for those with high-maintenance skin, this can’t be beaten.

Not a morning person? Us neither, so we can recommend this showerproof shaver as a way to save precious minutes in the AM. And, being the not-morning person you are, you’ll be familiar with forgetting to charge it, so you’ll be delighted that plugging it in for five minutes will give you that all-important five minutes of use. 

It’s also a good choice for those who are a tad clumsy, thanks to the ruggedised, shock-proof body that Wahl markets – cautiously – as “practically indestructible”. It doesn’t shave quite as close as the very best foil shavers, but it makes short work of stray hairs and the stubble that always seems to loiter under the jawline.

We’re also impressed by the Lifeproof’s lithium-ion batteries, which last for an impressive 90 minutes on an hour’s charge. There are no extra frills, but it’s built to last and will get the job done.

If you’re prepared to spend more than £100, you’ll want an electric shaver that delivers a lot. Enter Panasonic’s ES-LV95-S. 

It has four foil blades surrounding a comb blade to tackle longer hairs, a shaving sensor that toggles between hard and soft cutting depending on the heaviness of the beard, arced blades, a flexible head, and a “sonic vibration” system that uses the included oil to clean the blades. You also get what’s essentially a sterilising bath for the razor that cleans it while charging.

It’s like an electric razor built for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his late bodybuilding period – there’s just something so ’80s about it. The head is bloody huge, and it’s got a liquid blue crystal display to let you know how long you’ve been shaving and the percentage of battery left. It made short work of our stubble, and left nothing remaining in those hard-to-reach nose and chin areas. The sonic vibration feature is easy to use and should keep the blades in good nick. The cleaning station is a little chunky – but ultimately, we’re calling the ES-LV65 the pick of the bunch.

Yes, £240 is a lot to spend, but think how many disposables it will save you buying – while you get the benefit of an absurdly high-tech shaver. The ES-LV9Q boasts a five-blade cutting system that cuts at an unbelievable 70,000 actions per minute, as well as a pivoting head that moves in alignment with the various planes of your face, while its sensor checks your bead density to give the heads more firepower when required. Ultimately, the shave it gives you is close, smooth and flawless.

You can use it wet (we’d hope so, at this price) and once you’re done, you can pop the shaver upside down in its cleaning station. That involves a rather noisy 80 minutes as the fan sets to work – but if you’re happy doing the cleaning yourself, you can buy the standalone shaver for a less costly £170.

How To Pick The Perfect Electric Shaver

Lots of electric shavers are waterproof, so you can take them into the shower with you or use them with shaving foam or gel – a good approach if you do have sensitive skin. Do pay attention to the small print tough: there’s a difference between waterproof and water-resistant. 

Look out for a quick-charge function, which will provide a dead shaver with enough power for one shave at very short notice (ie you can jump in the shower and it will be ready when you’re out).

What type of shaver is right for me?

That depends on the thickness and general unruliness of your beard growth, and how often you need – and indeed want – to shave. If you’re a particularly hairy guy, or if you’re happy only shaving every few days, a rotary blade shaver is your best choice. High-quality rotary blades cut effortless through thick and tangled hairs with no trouble.

Foil shavers, by contrast, work best on those with relatively light growth, and those who like a clean daily shave. These shavers are softer on your skin, and they also tend to give a closer shave. Better still, they often last longer without a recharge.

Which shaver brands are best?

Names to look out for as a hallmark of quality are Braun and Philips above all else, while Remington, Panasonic and Wahl are also highly respected manufacturers.

How are electric shavers powered?

You’ll find shavers that are mains-powered, battery-powered and rechargeable. Most electric shavers these days fall into the final category, and it’s not hard to see why: they’re easy to charge frequently at home, and good ones will stay charged for a few days if you’re away. There are other shavers that operate both cordlessly and from the mains, which means you needn’t despair if it’s run out of charge.

We’d steer you away from battery-powered shavers, to save you spending needless cash on batteries (you can buy rechargeable ones, but using a battery charger feels a bit too 20th-century). 

Hair Clippers ExplainedThe Best Hair Clippers To Buy 2020

As barbershops across the UK remain closed for business, many of us find ourselves in dire need of a haircut. And while lots of us would never consider cutting our hair at home, desperate times call for desperate measures. Time to invest in a set of hair clippers.

If you’re concerned that you – or your nervous assistant – might make a pig’s ear of the job and leave you looking terrifyingly shorn, just turn to YouTube. There, you'll find a wealth of videos that will show you how to trim your hair to perfection.

However, you might find it harder than you thought to choose a pair of clippers. There’s a wide array to pick from, with some costing as little as under £10 and products from big names such as Oster and BaByliss coming in at over £100. So here’s our guide to choosing the perfect pair of clippers, followed by our selection of the best products available right now.

Do you need to trim not just your hair but your beard and other particulars too? This nine-in-one grooming kit from Braun should have all your needs covered, which is why we've included it in our selection of the best hair clippers. The fact it's been given a 32% discount at JD Williams is an added bonus. Scroll further down for more details on this handy product.

Buy at JD Williams | £46.99 (was £69.99)

Hair Clippers Explained

How much will it cost?

Most hair clippers cost less than £50, which is definitely a fair sum for dealing with something as visible as your hair – and you’ll save the money you’d have spent at the barber’s within two or three cuts. Many in this price bracket perform to an impressively high level. That being said, if you ask a barber how much they invested in their clippers, it will probably be over £100. You certainly won’t use yours as often as a pro would, but a top-of-the-range product will be ultra-reliable and still save you money in the long run. We’ve included one professional-grade clipper in our round-up below to give you all the options.

Mains-powered vs. cordless

There’s a school of thought that maintains mains-powered clippers will always deliver an extra level of power in comparison with cordless models. But good cordless clippers use top-quality batteries that provide full power right until they run dry, so you’re not left with the dull whirr of a dying set of clipper blades chewing at your hair. Cordless clippers are certainly the more convenient option – they’re lighter and can be used anywhere – and that means they’re typically more expensive than mains-powered products. In making our selections we’ve taken into account the lifespan of the battery-powered clippers.

Clipper grades

Grades describe the length to which the clipper cuts your hair. Grade 1 is roughly 0.3mm; grade 8 is 25mm. Most clippers come with a range of combs to give you the full grade 1-8 spectrum and many include asymmetrical tapering combs that can cut the hair around your ears.

Aesthetics

If you want a set of clippers that looks as good as your finished haircut, manufacturers like Oster and Wahl offer vintage-style products that look like they’re straight out of the rock n’ roll era while also delivering impressive and reliable performance.

See related

• The Best Beard Trimmers To Keep Your Face Fur In Check

The Best Hair Clippers To Buy 2020

If you want to spend as little as possible on your hair clippers - probably because you'll be the first in line when your barbers re-opens - then take a look at this entry-level set from Wahl. Despite being priced barely in the double figures, this is a piece of kit from a reputable brand, so while features are limited, they'll still have that pedigree. It cuts from grades 1 to 6 (that's 0.8mm to 19mm) and comes with a cleaning brush, scissors, oil, comb and blade guard. The ideal budget hair clipper.

Buy on Argos | £10.99

You might be doubling your expenditure on the Wahl Home Cut - but this hair clipper kit from Babyliss is still very much affordable. And between the two kits, we'd push for this one. As you would imagine from an industry-leading brand, this kit offers a range of attachments, and cuts grades 1 through 8 (3-25mm). Sixteen hours of charge will get you 40 minutes of power, so you needn't rush through your first domestic haircut. That said, if the clipper does run out of juice, it can also be connected to the mains.

Buy at Argos | £22.99

Chances are it's not just your barnet that's getting unruly - there might be, ahem, other bits of you that could benefit from a trim. This styling kit from Braun should have you covered: its various attachments will trim between 0.5 and 21mm, each designed for a different part of your body. We particularly like the beard attachment - it features a sensor that automatically detects the thickness of your whiskers and adapts duly. Perfect if you're keen for a total overhaul.

Buy at JD Williams  | £46.99 (was £69.99)

The price leaps up into the triple figures with this high-end clipper set from Oster - but with it comes quality and durability. This is a set of clippers for those who like to keep their super-sharp by cutting it on a regular basis. The steel blades will trim your hair to between 0.5mm and 2.4mm in length, and although it's corded, the wire's 3m length should be enough to prevent you for tripping up. After all, slipping is the last thing you want while you're in the middle of a haircut.

Buy at Sally Beauty | £130

When considering hair removal, many prefer the quick fix of shaving or the relative ease of professional waxing. But those who discover epilation often find it’s impossible to go back.

In its most basic terms, epilation is the removal of hair at the root using a device with dozens of tiny tweezers, which rotate to catch shorter and finer hairs than waxing does. Epilators can be used at home, are available for use in wet or dry conditions and, once you’ve made one upfront purchase, soon become more cost-effective than other methods.

But the real advantage of epilation its effects last as long as waxing (three to four weeks on average) without the associated costs or inconvenience of booking and attending sessions at the salon. Although some find it can be uncomfortable at first, epilation becomes easier and less painful with repeated use.

Many of the best epilators come with attachments that exfoliate the skin while they work, as well as a light that allows you to see what you’re doing clearly. As you might expect, the more you spend the more comfortable the experience is likely to be, so take your general sensitivity into consideration when choosing your epilator.

After seeing the price, you’d be correct to assume that the Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa epilator is the big noise in hair removal. This cordless epilator does everything you’d want it to when spending over £100. It works wet or dry, and comes with a shaver head that’s designed for more sensitive areas as well as a trimmer cap, a deep massage pad and four exfoliating body brushes that help prevent ingrown hairs. In other words, it’s several devices in one and is the natural choice for anyone whose skin tends to need extra TLC. And don’t let the various attachments put you off – this is very much suitable for beginners.

Buy on Amazon | £125.99

There are no fancy bells and whistles included with the Remington EP7010, but it does a good job at a much lower price than its competitors. The device promises to remove hairs as short as 0.5mm with its 40 tweezers, and the shape of the cap ensures you can get at hairs even at slightly awkward angles. It has two speed options, while the removable cap makes it easy to clean. For the money, this can’t really be beaten.

Buy on Amazon | £26.98

If you’re new to epilation and worried about the pain and discomfort involved, then the Philips Satinelle Advanced could be the one for you. The ceramic discs gently remove even fine hair and it also comes with a body massager, an exfoliator and other useful attachments, while the smart light makes it easier to see what you’re doing. Even the handle is thinner, making it more comfortable to hold for longer periods.

Buy on Amazon | £92.06

See related

• The Best Dry Shampoo To Throw In Your Gym Bag
• The Best Facial Cleansing Brushes
• The Best Fake Tan For Looking Sunkissed Without The UV Damage
• Best Teeth-Whitening Kits: Get A Brighter Smile At Home

Your face is the first thing the world sees, so when it comes to hair removal you want the most effective solution possible. That’s where the Braun FaceSpa Pro – the first facial epilator, cleanser and skin-toning device – comes in. Plucking eyebrows, upper lip and chin hair with traditional tweezers can be time-consuming and a facial epilator makes the whole process much more efficient, while the facial cleansing brush and micro-vibration toning head ensure the key areas remain blemish-free.

Buy on Amazon | £71.57

While more expensive epilators have a wet and dry function, you shouldn’t feel obligated to pay a premium for this feature – dry epilators can work just as well, as proven by the Braun Silk-épil 5 Power. The device comes with a high-frequency massage system built in, which lessens any pain associated with the process, as well as massage rollers and a cooling glove in the box to help soothe your skin after hair removal.

Buy on Amazon | £48.23

Most epilators have 40 pairs of tweezers but the Panasonic ES-ED96 Wet and Dry ups the ante with 48. What’s more, it treats the hair removal process as a chance to pamper yourself rather than a necessary evil – it can be used with foams, lotions or in the bath depending on your preference. For facial epilation, the head’s fine bristles and sonic vibrations help clean the face without irritating the skin, and the variety of attachments make the device a real one-stop shop for hair removal.

Buy on Amazon | £82.08

It is good to be clean. We’re sure we don’t have to persuade you of that. But even if you wash your face daily and after exercise, we’d wager that you’d be surprised by how much cleaner you’ll feel if you use a face scrub from time to time. They help to shift dead skin cells and other gunk that builds up, leaving your skin looking and feeling fresher.

But with such an abundance of choice nowadays, which one should you choose? To help in that regard we’ve been tirelessly testing face scrubs to help you make a decision.

Just starting with this exfoliating lark? Then this scrub’s refreshing texture combined with a pleasant but unobtrusive fragrance will break you in gently. The mix of moisturiser, olive stone and ginger makes for a creamy consistency, and it leaves your face feeling cleansed and awake – like being roused from your sleep by a gentle hand on the shoulder rather than a bracing slap round the chops.

Buy on Amazon | £9.99 for 100ml

The only people permitted to speak of silky-smooth skin are Green People people. That’s because this shea butter and bamboo-enriched face scrub really grabs on to the dirt and dead skin on your face – and the cherry on top is the, er, cherry powder and grapefruit extract that gives this scrub its scent. Also, Green People is registered with the Vegan Society so you can be assured this scrub is suitable for vegans.

Buy from Green People | £13.50 for 100ml

If you want a serious scrub that leaves your face soft and glowing, this is the one for you. The black rice and essential oils get deep into your skin to cleanse your pores thoroughly. So much so, in fact, that the blurb advises you to use it no more than two to three times a week.

Buy from Black Leopard | £13.72 for 100ml

The apricot oil and walnut powder had us questioning whether this was a fruity snack or a face scrub. Thankfully our survival instinct kicked in and we didn’t eat it – and it did the job when it came to cleaning our face. The brightening formula is also kind enough on the skin to warrant daily use, which is handy because you’ll certainly want to fill your nostrils with this fragrant face grub as often as you can.

Buy on Amazon | £6.91 for 113g

Fresh – that’s how you’ll feel after using Harry’s gently exfoliating face wash. That’s because the essential oils of eucalyptus and mint leave you feeling awake and energised, and the volcanic rock buffs your face to make it feel smoother than ever. What’s more, the balance of ingredients makes it suitable for daily use. This is an awesome face scrub to start your day with – just brace yourself the first time you try it. It’s minty.

Buy from Harry’s | £6 for 150ml

See related

• The Best Men’s Moisturisers Of 2021
• Refresh Your Grooming Routine
• The Best Shaving Subscriptions Of 2020

Charcoal has become known as something of a wonder substance of late, being employed to reduce your acidity levels one moment and whiten your teeth the next. Here it’s put to work picking up dirt and cleansing your skin, and it’s noticeable how deep a clean the charcoal provides. However, what’s particularly impressive about this scrub is that it doesn’t feel as harsh as the others that cleansed to the same degree.

Buy from Oriflame | £18 for 125ml

The second charcoal face scrub on our list enlivens the face with its powerful formula. It dislodges the grime and dirt on your face in a way that feels enjoyably effective, and the inclusion of calendula oil serves to restore the skin’s water balance. While we can’t be sure that the calendula oil is responsible for the feeling of rejuvenation, we do know this face scrub left our face feeling impressively fresh. At this price, it’s also a steal, plus Procoal claims to be cruelty-free which is something we can all – vegans or otherwise – get down with.

Buy on Amazon | £9.99 for 100ml

Many face scrubs will tear up dirt and dead skin like a gardener tears up weeds, but if you’re concerned that will leave your face a bit barren, try this scrub for sensitive skin types. It will work to subtly bring back the life to your skin while gently cleansing the pores. The scent is enjoyable but not overpowering, and the creamy texture is agreeable. It’s a little more expensive than most face scrubs, but it achieves what it sets out to do.

Buy from Space NK | £30 for 118ml

The perfect fragrance for adventurous men with lofty ambitions, this self-assured scent was inspired by the mountain range.

Buy from John Lewis | £215 for 100ml

Like you, this scent is modern, deep and charismatic. The blend of lively citrus notes and mellow amber and cedarwood is a winner.

Buy on Amazon | £63.50 for 100ml (currently reduced to £37.95)

Kings is new a ethical brand on a mission to raise awareness around male mental health. This exotic fragrance is a confident way to announce its arrival.

Buy from Kings | £39.99 for 50ml

Prestige fragrances and quality tailoring are a natural fit, and the new collaboration between perfumer Jo Malone and bespoke tailor Huntsman Savile Row is a particularly appealing partnership. The four-strong fragrance set is Jo Malone’s first men’s collaboration and the selection of a partner with heritage to deliver contemporary scents results in a collection of timeless classics. The line-up includes a seductive amber and patchouli, a lively assam and grapefruit, a spicy birch and black pepper and an enigmatic whisky and cedarwood.

Buy from Jo Malone | £120 for 100ml

This scent captures the revitalising energy of the southwest coast of France, with a manly base and citrusy top notes.

Buy from Czech & Speake | £125 for 100ml

Aimed at the man who likes to have fun, this vibrant new scent has a playful, beguiling side thanks to notes of lavender and patchouli.

Buy from Amazon | £44.50 for 50ml

This fragrance isn’t for shy and retiring types. It’s bold, alluring and sexy, thanks to a combination of Asian and fiery notes.

Buy from Amazon | £57.80 for 100ml

Crafted for “the modern man who goes against the grain”, this powerful scent has a spicy heart and a woody base.

Buy from John Lewis | £265 for 100ml

This complex scent, one of a range of three, celebrates the idea of hidden treasure. It’s worth seeking out.

Buy from Amazon | £140 for 100ml (currently reduced to £98.75)

Blended to evoke a drive along ocean cliffs, this is made with a classy combo of vodka citron and guaiac wood.

Buy from Harvey Nicols | £110 for 100ml

A five-strong range celebrating the best of man. Our pick is the tobacco-infused Strength.

Buy from John Lewis | £195 for 50ml

This is a serious fragrance full of alluring scents such as raw root vetiver, leathery Indian Cypriol and Atlas cedarwood.

Buy from John Lewis | £285 for 50ml

Inspired by the power of water, this is a fresh and masculine scent that features amber and black salt.

Buy from John Lewis | £66.50 for 100ml

This new warm and spicy fragrance from Boss will make you feel like you can charm the whole room in an instant.

Buy from Boots | £69 for 100ml

Dunhill has taken a gamble with a dice-shaped bottle, but the lively top notes and woody base make it a winner.

Buy from Harrods | £79 for 135ml

This honeyed scent does an exquisite job of combining vibrant top notes with a classy woody base.

Buy from John Lewis | £93.50 for 80ml

How To Choose The Right Scent

A fragrance speaks volumes of the wearer, hence the need to pick one that suits. The market is vast and contains something for everyone, but these eight will have something for most requirements. And to help you find the right type of fragrance for you, we’ve split them up by where you might want to wear them. Browse the categories and choose the one that suits your nose…

Woody Fragrances

These dark fragrances are good for evening wear and work well during the winter. Plus, if you’re sipping mulled wine and lurking beneath mistletoe, you’ll need a strong scent to overcome the smell “noise” all around you.

Spicy Fragrances

If you’re an extrovert and want to be noticed, herby and spicy smells are the ones for you. They work for nights out, but might be too strong for daily office wear – save it for when you’re supposed to be being “charming” and “sexy” in a “disco”.

Fresh Fragrances

Spring and summer fit fresh, green scents with herbaceous notes and if you’re feeling fruity, some flowery embellishment. Wear in the day, but make sure you don’t overdo it, unless you want to go to work smelling like a garden centre.

Citrus Fragrances

Citrus works great for an everyday work situation – orange, grapefruit, lemon – it all works together to perk you up, and won’t be too overpowering for your colleagues. They’re a great pick-me-up for the morning, and post-workout, too.

Fine Hair

“The biggest mistake when styling fine hair is using too much product,” says celebrity hair stylist Michael Douglas.

What to do

“Go for a lightweight gel and let it dry into the hair. You want to avoid the hair binding together because when it’s wet, the scalp shows through,” Douglas says. “Use a paste because anything greasy, like a wax, will be see-through. Go with a fringe – if you blow-dry it back it’ll look transparent. Avoid cutting your hair too short or you’ll be able to see your scalp. Contemporary hair styles are good for fine hair.”

Curly Hair

This type of hair can go wrong easily and leave you looking like a 1970s footballer. “Curly hair is tricky for men because you’ve got to treat it like a woman would,” says Douglas.

What to do

“Mousse is definitely the best product for curly hair,” says Douglas. “Get a golf ball-sized dollop and really scrunch it in. It expands and gives the hair body, which is good because curly hair can go a bit flat. Don’t comb or brush it because then the strands of hair will all go in different directions and it’ll look frizzy. Leave it to dry naturally, and use a bit of wax to rough it up so it doesn’t look too neat.”

Dry Hair

“If your hair is dry it wants some oil, so use a good wax or serum,” says Douglas. The good news is that there are plenty of products out there that can help.

What to do

“You need a moisture-rich product, so wax is good,” says Douglas. “Heat makes wax go soft but the harder it is in the tin, the stronger the hold. Strong-hold wax is better for short hair. Warm it up, either by rubbing it in your hands or using a hairdryer. Once applied, leave it. The wax will then go hard and hold in place.”

See related

• How To Style Your Hair Like A Pro Barber
• The Best Men’s Hair Products

Thick hair

“Men might think they want thick hair but it’s a nightmare to style,” says Douglas. “It’s easy to make fine hair look thick but it’s very tricky to do it the other way round.”

What to do

“Blow-dry lightweight styling gel into your hair and finish with some putty, which is like a wax, but you can use more of it without it going greasy. That’s important because thick hair means you need to use more product. You need a good conditioner because thick hair needs moisture, otherwise it can look bushy. A hairdresser can thin it out with thinning scissors, which makes it easier to style.”

What are the main causes of male hair loss?

The most common cause is androgenic alopecia. This is an inherited genetic condition, also known as male pattern hair loss, and it gets worse with age. Another form of hair loss, which tends not to be permanent, is alopecia areata, which is spot hair loss in specific areas. Telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair loss that occurs when the normal hair growth cycle is interrupted and is seen in all age ranges.

Can lifestyle factors contribute to hair loss?

They can have a huge impact. Telogen effluvium can be caused by stress, or low iron and vitamin levels. Alopecia areata, although genetic, can be exacerbated by stress and recreational drug use. If you have long hair and use a tight band or clip, that can place undue traction on the hair follicles and contribute to hair loss. To slow the rate of loss, reduce stress and don’t overuse products such as wax and gel. Diet can also have a great impact. Ensure you are not deficient in vitamins, particularly biotin.

What advances in treatment have you seen recently?

One new non-surgical treatment is platelet-rich fibrin. This involves injecting all the beneficial parts of growth factors from your plasma and red blood cells into your hair to stimulate growth and prevent further hair loss. This is an upgrade on previous treatments which were termed platelet-rich plasma – don’t confuse the two, because the results we are achieving with fibrin are phenomenal in comparison. Studies are now showing that platelet-rich fibrin not only thickens existing hair, it actually grows new hair on the scalp.

What’s on the horizon for hair loss treatment?

The hot topic is hair cloning. We are certainly close now. Currently in hair transplant surgery there is a limit to the amount of hair one can transplant. With hair cloning we will not need to worry about this. When it does arrive there will still be a need for surgery but patients will finally not be limited in their expectations.

For more on Dr Munir Somji visit drmedispa.com

See related

• Four Hair-Strengthening Shampoos

Style Tips To Hide Hair Loss

Style out these common hair horrors with tips from Nanogen ambassador and top hair stylist Matthew Curtis.

The Problem: Thinning Hair

Do keep hair short and textured “This will create more depth and help prevent too much scalp from showing. Opt for styling products with a matt finish, rather than wet-look gels, because they will add bulk to the hair for a fuller appearance.”

Don’t grow your hair too long “This will have the effect of pulling hair flat and give it a limp and lifeless appearance. Depending on the style in which you wear your hair, longer lengths can also evoke the look of a combover, which both ages you and draws attention to thin patches.”

The Problem: Bald Patch

Do go shorter all over “This will lessen the contrast between a bald crown and the thicker hair that grows around it. Once your hair is cut neatly in this way, you can use certain styling products to add more depth and texture at the crown, such as Nanogen Keratin Thickening Hair Fibres which are made from 100% natural keratin, the same protein our hair is made from.”

Don’t wait too long between haircuts “Longer hair will emphasise the appearance of a bald patch. A uniform length all over will keep things looking their best, so avoid styles that combine longer and shorter hair.”

The Problem: Receding Hair

Do book in for regular cuts “The tendency is to sweep hair to the side as it grows out, which can draw attention to a receding hairline. Get into the habit of booking your next hair appointment when paying after a haircut. Again, avoid the floppy look – matt, stiff styling products will help keep hair structured and where it should be around your face.”

Don’t go for super-short styles “This can really highlight a receding hairline. A regular length is best for receding hair.”

“Product is normally formed of hold factor and finish,” says Men’s Fitness’s resident hair stylist Anthony Mayes, Hanz De Fuko ambassador and barbering director at The Refinery London. “By finish, I mean anything from very shiny to very matte and dusty. Within each category there are different levels of hold. There are so many options out there now. There are matte clays. There’s a matte paste that I use that’s almost a bit gooey in the hands. But then I’ve also got a matte clay that almost feels like a wax. If the product is watery or gooey, that tells you that there’s a lot of water in it and you can guess what that’s going to be like. Whereas if you use a paste or something that you almost have to melt in your hands, then you can anticipate the finish and the look it is going to give you.” Here’s your expert guide to hair product mastery.

Pomades And Gels

“If you want a high shine you’re looking at pomades and gels and that is ideal for a swept-back look, maybe for a black tie event. High shine doesn’t always mean a lot of hold but they are often linked. Pomades tend to be quite light –it’s a bit like you have an ointment in your hair. You can re-comb it and it will still stay quite slick. A gel can sometimes form in a very hard shape.”

Stylng tip: “The gel is going to be worked quite a bit,” says Mayes. “First you’d use your hands but then you might use a comb. If you’re combing it through then you’ll make sure it isn’t clumpy. If you want something tight and close to the head, use a fine tooth. If you want something with more of a bounce to it, use a wide-tooth comb. This works with long hair or slicked-back styles.”

A world away from the cheap goo you used as a teenager. This non-shiny gel contains essential oils to nourish your hair. £20, buy on kiehls.co.uk

Paste And Gums

“If you want something more creative but with a shine element then you’d use a paste, cream or gum. They tend to be a little more forgiving in terms of their hold factor. Most of them provide medium hold but they give a bit of a glossy finish to the hair.”

Styling tip: “With pastes, you rub the product into your palm then use your fingertips with a raking motion through your hair to apply it in the direction of your style. My tell-tale sign that you have too much product is that you’ll be able to see it in your hands. The exception is products that go white when you rub them into your hands – they tend to be pastes. Most good-quality products dissolve into your palms and then you get the desired look when you run your hands through your hair.”

This is a really subtle product, which allows you to be very precise with your styles while keeping them natural looking. £22, buy on sachajuan.com

Putty And Mud

“These tend to give a matte finish and have a stronger hold. Most people would use these on shorter hair because matte finishes are usually associated with texture. However, people are starting to wear matte finishes on longer hair now.”

One of the best hair stylers we’ve used. It gives your hair character without making it look like you’ve used lots of product. £16, buy on mankind.co.uk

See related 

• The Best Men’s Hairstyles Of 2018
• Four Hair-Strengthening Shampoos

Powder And Dry Shampoo

“These can be used for all lengths. Dry shampoo eradicates grease in the hair, which is a benefit in itself but also means it can be used as a styling product to give your hair texture and volume. It’s good for finer hair types where you don’t want to be running your hands through it or getting too much separation. Powders can expand in the hair to add volume too. But be careful because if you use too much then your hair can look too matte and you can get a build-up of white particles.”

Styling tips: “There are a couple of ways of using a powder. I prepare by dusting it into my hands first because that gives me control over how much I’m using. Once it’s in my palm I gently pat my hands together, without losing the product, then I skim over the hair. If you’ve got thick hair and you really want to get it into the roots, then you’d use your fingertips. If you’re working over more of a sleek surface and you want something more styled, you’d just use your palm.

“Normally dry shampoo comes in a spray form, so hold it at arm’s length from your head and ‘mist’ it on. Don’t get too close because it can actually become a bit wet – it’s a bit like spraying deodorant. Also, never touch your hair as soon as you’ve sprayed it on. Give it at least 30 seconds to set and start to work.”

Add texture and the appearance of extra volume to your style without leaving a sticky residue, using this simple-to-apply powder. £5.99, buy on boots.co.uk

What does your grooming routine consist of?

I wish there was more of one! Moisturising is a good idea, and I’m not anti-exfoliating. I always wet shave and let it grow out. A lot of guys buzz it now but I like that feeling of having it scraped off with a blade. And I like the sting of Mont Blanc Legend. The thing I’ve enjoyed in the last few years is going to a traditional Turkish barber for a wet shave.

Do you feel under pressure to look great all the time?

No. I’m not on social media but if my career was on Instagram – and the industry is going in that direction – I can imagine that pressure would be tough. I know in advance that I have to look a certain way in two weeks’ time so I can get my shit together. But if you’re having to do that daily then, yeah, the pressure would be huge.

What does looking good mean to you?

I like to have a signature look. I’m wearing a suit now but I’m also wearing skater shoes. You can feel pressured to look a certain way but I think it’s about being authentic and not leaving your real self behind.

How do you stay in shape?

I smash myself to bits. My routine? Break yourself over two or three days training hard, usually mountain biking – that’s my big obsession. Then get a day of rest in. The training theory I was taught was about overload. You’re damaging your muscles and then in that day off repair takes place and you come back stronger.

Anything else in the training mix?

We did the Mont Blanc Legend fragrance launch in Chamonix, the winter sports resort in the Swiss Alps, which was great because I’ve spent half my life in Chamonix. I finished an apprenticeship in a factory in east London when I was 18 and thought, “I’m not doing this” so I went out there and did a lot of climbing.

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• Carmelo Guastella’s Shaving Tips
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Do you still climb?

The thing I pursue more now is ski touring. Some routes include ski mountaineering, but since having kids the whole rock climbing thing has naturally petered out. Some people are more dedicated but I was looking for an excuse to stop!

Who were your climbing heroes?

Kurt Diemberger, an Austrian climber who wrote a book called The Endless Knot. And the British climber Doug Scott. I worry about saying who my heroes are in case they read that I’m saying they are my heroes and they think, “Who’s that prick?” But they are heroes. They’re incredible.

Mont Blanc Legend Night is a classic and self-assured masculine scent, with peppery top notes and a strong base of vetiver and patchouli wood. £67 for 100ml, montblanc.com

For the past couple of years, working out what to ask for when you get your hair cut hasn’t been particularly difficult. You just do what everyone else does. Short back and sides, swept over on top. The only decision was whether or not you wanted to look like a footballer (“fade from zero to four, please”) and how high you wanted to go with your quiff.

But now that look faces the chop, judging by the catwalk cuts seen at the recent Men’s London Fashion Week. Mens Fitness’s resident barber Anthony Mayes is here to help you navigate these new stylistic waters.

“One thing I noticed was the number of different styles we saw at the shows,” says Mayes. “You saw shows in previous years where everyone would walk out looking quite uniform, whereas now the models all have very different looks. We’ve identified three key trends but there are still a lot of styles that sit in between these ones. So be playful with what you’ve got and experiment a little.

“I think the ‘neatly styled’ look is moving out and we’re seeing more of a street culture. People are following other people, everyone gets inspired by different things, and as a result there are a lot of different looks out there.

“As a stylist, I like to work with different looks. I don’t just want to work on one trend and give everyone the same look. I’ve done a lot of side partings, fades and quiffs recently and, as good as they look, it’s refreshing that people are now wanting something different.”

Mayes has selected three key hair trends that will ensure you’re ahead of the hair game next time you visit your barber.

Buzz cut

As seen at Blood Brother (pictured), Alex Mullins, Tonsure, D.GNAK

The look A buzz cut can vary in length. It doesn’t necessarily mean going down to a grade one all over.

Who it suits Not everyone is going to suit a buzz cut or a crew cut. Normally round, rather than square, head shapes suit the style because the hair is cut primarily in one length all over the head, and a symmetrical face is good. You can get away with going shorter if you have darker hair – blond hair tends to look shorter than dark hair even if it is the same length. If you’ve got dark hair you can get away with a grade one or two, but if you have light hair you may want to stick with three or four.

Stylist’s tip There are ways you can adapt the look. If your head is too round then you can go slightly shorter on the sides to give it a tapered, tailored finish. You often see a lot of strong edges and definite lines but I like to loosen it up a bit by tapering it on the edges to give it more of a finished look, as opposed to buzzing it around and squaring it off at the edges, which can look a bit harsh. Of course it comes down to personal preference but personally, I like a softer look.

Fringes

As seen at Craig Green, Ben Sherman, Lou Dalton (pictured)

The look The trend is for shorter, textured, broken-up fringes, quite directional as well. Most fringes tend to be pushed to the side for a softer look, but there are variations: you see some guys with sweeping, below-the-eyebrow fringes, although that’s a bit more high-maintenance.

Who it suits You can adapt a fringe to suit almost anyone. Recently everyone’s been wearing their hair swept back with a parting so it’s a nice change.

Stylist’s tip It’ll change the way your face shape looks, closing the face in a bit and making your forehead look smaller. If you’re in doubt, or you’re used to wearing your hair off your face, then keeping the fringe on the longer side is definitely a better option – if it’s long you can always sweep it out of the way (or even trim it). Things you can’t change, like swirls and widow’s peaks and cowlicks, can be anywhere along the front hairline but they don’t mean you can’t have a fringe. That said, certain fringes will be difficult to achieve – you’ll probably have to keep it either really long or really short.

Long hair

As seen at Blood Brother, Alex Mullins, Ben Sherman, Xander Zhou, Tonsure (pictured)

The look There are many variations – partings, fringes, below or above shoulder length –but what we’re seeing on the catwalk is often shoulder length, sort of rock star hair. It’s versatile, and you can wear it in many different ways – sleek, textured, layered, not layered – and then there are up styles, such as in a bun or a Samurai or a topknot.

Who it suits If your hair is very thick then it’ll normally grow out before it grows down, which can make it tricky to get a stylish long-haired look. If you have finer hair, steer away from layering it because you’re taking weight away from the bottom of the hair and that can make it quite wispy on the ends. Medium hair thickness is probably the easiest to manage.

Stylist’s tip If you’re growing hair from short to long, there are going to be periods where you’re not really sure where you are with it! When you’re growing it, don’t try to style your hair as if it is long before you’ve got properly long hair. Some try to squeeze it into a little bun at the back when there’s only about an inch of hair. Don’t.

Anthony Mayes is barbering director at the Refinery Mayfair and an ambassador for Hanz de Fuko. anthonymayeslondon.com

See related

• How To Get A Great Hairstyle
• How To Style Your Hair Like A Pro Barber
• The Best Men’s Hair Products

Ruffians Barber Shop’s Best Men’s Hairstyles Of The Year

We also asked Ruffians Barber Shop to detail the looks you should be asking for – as seen on Celebrityland’s leading men – as you plonk yourself in the salon chair, because it’s easier to ask for a Bruno Mars than a disconnected wide mohawk with a tapered nape. Read on, find your favourite and bump “get my hair sorted” up – and then off – that to-do list.

Nick Jonas

What is it and who does it suit? It’s a suede or crop cut that suits hair of medium to thick density, and it’s a convenient style for men who find that their hair verges on the uncontrollable. It’s great for square or heart-shaped faces.

How do I style it? On towel-dried hair, work in a small amount of styling paste and use either a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to give it direction. Air drying it will keep in the texture.

Bruno Mars

What is it and who does it suit? This style, a disconnected wide mohawk with a tapered nape, works with a range of face shapes from heart to square, but it works especially well for those with smaller foreheads because it elongates the face. With this look, the contrast created by disconnection may be enough without having a fade. You could choose to have the shortest part at a grade two to keep a strong outline.

How do I style it? Use a low hairdryer setting and swap between directing your hair with your fingers and using a vent or medium round brush to smooth out the fringe. Use a creamy finishing product to hold the style in place and moisturise the hair.

Liam Hemsworth

What is it and who does it suit? It’s a textured graduation cut, suiting hair that has a slight wave or straight texture, and a lighter colour on the mid-length and ends.

How do I style it? Blast dry with a hairdryer on a low setting – if the flow is too high it can straighten the hair out too much – and then work in a little rough matte clay all over, starting at the crown and working your way to the perimeter.

Cillian Murphy

What is it and who does it suit? The high disconnected cut is a style that will stay with us for a good while yet. It’s a good choice for those with a squarer face shape and hair with medium to thick density.

How do I style it? Rub in a little pomade on towel-dried hair and dry in to give a more unwashed look. Finish with some dust to give a drier and messier texture.

Christian Bale

What is it and who does it suit? The long square layers seen on Bale brings out of the texture of wavy hair and is great on rounder faces.

How do I style it? Blow-drying this style to a good standard needs a little practice (and a round brush. If you have a special occasion you may want the help of a professional, but at home you can use a blow dryer and your hands to smooth it out as much as possible. At the very least, you will achieve a more “beachy” hair look.

Usher

What is it and who does it suit? This shorter version of the wide mohawk has tapered/faded sides with a strong outline. By keeping a little length through the middle at the back to the nape, you create more smoothness in the silhouette. The sharp, razored-in hairline adds definition.

How do I style it? Less is more. Use some heat protection product and a dryer on a low setting, and use your fingers to shape in to place. Finish with a creamier, moisturising product to style and protect.

Michiel Huisman

What is it and who does it suit? It’s medium-length graduation and it’s great for fine to medium-density hair with a wavy texture.

How do I style it? Simply work in a little leave-in conditioner or some sort of curl cream and comb it into the direction you would like it to sit with a wide-tooth comb. Then finish by using your fingers as a comb to loosen the wave, and air-dry.

Brooklyn Beckham

What is it and who does it suit? This graduated or Prince Charming cut has an air of ’90s Hugh Grant. The width of the cut suits narrower faces and is a smart pick for medium-density hair with a slight wave.

How do I style it? Depending on the hair, this can be blow-dried with a vent brush, scooping the hair up to encourage volume – or if the hair is naturally smoother, you may get away with using just your fingers. Finish with styling paste.

Dev Patel

What is it and who does it suit? This mid-length graduated cut suits narrower faces as it adds width and is fantastic on hair with a slight wave as it will help keep it in place. An important thing to remember when working with mid-length hair is, when washing, use a tiny amount of conditioner on the mid-length and ends only. Too much conditioner on the scalp may lead to over-nourishment and cause the hair to become greasy and floppy.

How do I style it? Styling depends on the amount of wave, but always use a little heat protection on the mid-length and ends, and use a dryer at a low setting. Sometimes it's nice to keep a little moisture in the hair as you’ll get a touch more texture if it finishes drying naturally. Finish with a light curl cream but, again, avoid product on the scalp.

Zac Efron

What is it and who does it suit? Short back and sides with texture. What makes this cut is the shorter hair towards the front hairline to create texture. A cut like this looks great on a squarer face and most densities from fine to thick because you can vary how much hair is chipped out.

How do I style it? Blow-dry with your fingers and then run some straightening irons through it before working in some rough matte clay.

Bradley Cooper

What is it and who does it suit? This medium-graduated cut has been requested more and more at Ruffians. The classic shape suits square to wider faces because the hair peeking out behind frames the face. It works well on medium-density hair with a slight wave.

How do I style it? Depending on the hair texture, you may get away with blast-drying and using your fingers to lift off the scalp to encourage volume, or use a vent brush for a more polished finish. Use styling paste on th

“If you want to get your hair looking salon quality there should be three stages,” says Mayes. “The first is cleanse and condition, the second is style and the third is finish.

“For the first stage, use both shampoo and conditioner to clean your hair and get rid of old product. Styling means prepping the hair for when you come to dry it and on most hair types, styling is crucial. If someone has short to mid-length hair, I’ll work a gel or a serum in to help control it, or if it’s longer I might use something like a leave-in conditioner. When you dry a gel into wet hair you don’t get that sticky, cracked look that a gel normally gives you because you’re working it into the layers of the hair. That will give you 80% of your style before you move on to the finish.

“When you use a wax you’re not using it to style or lift up the front of your hair – you’re using it to finish the look. People often use the finish product to compensate for not doing the correct styling. If you wash your hair quickly, don’t condition it, pre-style it or blow-dry it but then use a load of wax to get a David Beckham-type look, it’s not going to work.”

See related

• The Best Men’s Hair Products
• How To Get A Great Hairstyle
• The Best Men’s Hairstyles Of 2018

Use Mayes’s three-step approach, and the extra tips below, to ensure that your hair turns heads.

1. Use a hairdryer

“It doesn’t have to be expensive but it does need a nozzle on it so you can use it as a styling tool. Using the flow of the air, with the nozzle to direct it in the way that you want it to go, that will set it in place. I’d recommend using a bit of cold air, once you’ve got the desired look, just to loosen the hair up a bit.”

2. Don’t keep using more product

“If your barber has recommended a product after haircut and it’s working well, when your hair gets longer you should still use the same amount of product. Less product will give your hair a softer finish, which is how hair should look when it is longer.”

3. Reach for the hairspray

“It helps you to lock in your style. Some guys still have this alpha male attitude that they won’t use hairspray, but all the people they aspire to look like probably do use spray! Don’t go mad. Less is more.”

Anthony Mayes is barbering director at the Refinery Mayfair and an ambassador for Hanz de Fuko. Visit anthonymayeslondon.com

Watch How To Style Your Hair

We visited Ruffians Barbers in Covent Garden to find out how to do three quick and simple styles that can easily be recreated at home. Watch and learn.

1. Wash away

A lot of people think washing your hair every day is bad for it, but that’s not true – as long as you use a professional-quality shampoo (ones sold in salons). That’s important because they don’t tend to contain parabens or other ingredients that can cause dryness. You can also use a scalp toner to look after your scalp health.

RECOMMENDED: Four Hair-Strengthening Shampoos

2. Good condition

Conditioning is a good thing because it smooths and softens the hair and takes care of the hair cuticle. However, people with finer hair types can find that some conditioners are a little too heavy because they act like a sealant. If that’s the case, you don’t have to use a conditioner every time you wash it.

3. Tone up

If your scalp is dry or itchy, it’s usually because your hair product is too harsh – and that’s another good reason to consider using a toner. It might seem contradictory but scalp dryness might actually be what’s making your hair greasy, because a dry scalp releases more sebum, which can be hard to control.

4. Keep your cool

Hair is stronger than you think, but if you’re drying your hair aggressively it will come out, especially if you have fine hair. Excessive heat and tension is bad for hair, so if you’re using a strong brush and high heat you’ll damage your hair. Using a hairdryer every day is fine but don’t use it on the hottest settings.

5. Keep it natural

A lot of brands, such as Hanz de Fuko and Balman, are bringing out products which contain plant extracts, argon oil, jojoba butters – even waxes have some natural ingredients in them that nourish the hair. So use the best-quality products you can, and also consider restorative products such as leave-in conditioners.

Anthony Mayes is barbering director at the Refinery Mayfair and an ambassador for Hanz de Fuko. anthonymayeslondon.com

When your skin is dry and dehydrated, it’s tempting to slather on a thick layer of cream, but you could be harming your skin and wasting your money. "On average, your skin can only absorb up to 60% of what you use on it," says Hilery Dorrian, co-founder of Barefoot Botanicals. The excess is likely to sit on your skin, clog up your pores, affect your skin’s functions and cause breakouts.

Face

"Dehydrated skin will obviously absorb more moisture," says Dorrian. "Oily skin will still absorb product, but slightly less as the skin is not as thirsty." A heavy moisturiser can lead to blockages and cause your skin to over-produce oil. Rub a pea-sized amount of cream into your palms to warm it up before applying. This helps it spread and absorb easily into your skin. Exfoliation rids your skin of excess oils and dead skin cell buildup so that more moisture can be absorbed. Applying moisturiser to damp skin will make it go further and maximise absorption.

Eyes

The skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of your face, and has fewer oil glands, so will absorb more moisture that’s applied to it. "Use a grain of rice size amount of eye cream, and apply gently, using your ring finger in a dabbing motion," says Dorrian. It’s important not to rub or tug the delicate skin around your eyes as this can contribute to premature ageing.

Body

Hop out of the bath and apply your body moisturiser within three minutes of towel drying to ensure maximum hydration. "Aim to leave no residue behind – rub in every last bit," says Dorrian. "Start with a 50p-size amount per limb and apply more as you need to." For a smooth finish, apply rich body butter to your legs after shaving and exfoliating.

Lips

Are you addicted to lip balm? Over-application prevents the skin on your lips from producing its own oils. "Too much greasy product can also lead to small spots appearing around the lip area," warns Dorrian. "If you’re using a good quality, natural balm, a smaller than pea size amount is enough," she says.

Hair

"It depends on how much hair you have, but a blob of shampoo the size of a 10p piece should be sufficient," says Dorrian. "Too much conditioner, on your roots can lead to greasy and limp hair so only apply to your dry ends." If your roots are heavy with product, you’ll struggle to style your hair and your blow dry won’t last.

This article first appeared in Women’s Fitness

They say that your eyes are the windows to your soul, so if that’s true – I have a very shabby pair of curtains! My brow hairs are awful. They grow in different directions, and grow amazingly quickly, which has led me to over-plucking them and getting slightly tweezer happy!

So when I heard, of the new treatment HD Brows, a seven-step treatment, developed by the Nouveau Beauty Group, to leave with you the best brows for your face I thought I would give it a go – according to all my wedding magazines, shaping and tidying your brows can change and alter the shape of your face.

The 7 steps are as follows.

1. Consultation

This helped me and my stylist, Jane to determine which brow shape would best suit my face, what colour my brows should be and the usual filling in of a form with all my basic details and allergies.

2. Tinting

If you have thin, or over plucked brows like me, you don’t need to worry because the consultant will tint your brows to match your hair or natural colour. Jane chose a dark brown colour, to match my hair. The dye was left on throughout the whole procedure and I was advised to leave it on for a further 24-hours to help it develop further.

3. Waxing

I’ve had my brows waxed before, so knew there wasn’t much to worry about here - I find waxing around the eye area is relatively pain free. Jane used a specially created wax to ensure that it doesn’t pull or hurt the skin, which was used to create the arch and start the whole shaping procedure.

4. Trimming

My brows were then combed through and trimmed to make sure they were tame and of the same length. 
A bit like a haircut for my brows!

5. Threading

Using very fine cotton, Jane then threaded just above my brow to blend the hairs in naturally to the rest of your face. 
If you haven’t had this before, it’s a weird sensation. It doesn’t hurt but makes a funny noise and is slightly uncomfortable.

6. Tweezing

This was the most eye-watering part of the process in my opinion, but because Jane had waxed and threaded already, there wasn’t much left to pluck out, just the odd hair here and there. My eyes watered, but I wasn’t crying, honestly!

7. Aftercare

Jane then ran through how to care for my new brows and filled in any sparse areas with the HD brow kit. She also gave my some HD Brows Grow Baby Grow, which should help to nourish weak hair follicles and speed up hair growth on the areas I have over-plucked. She then finished off with a sprinkle of mineral make-up to take down the redness, so I could go back to work without people noticing I had had my brows beautified. There is nothing worse than walking around with bright red eyebrows from the waxing and threading. It definitely did the job and covered it well.

The whole treatment took just 30-minutes and should last a good six to eight weeks. Having perfect brows completely enhanced my facial features and made any makeup look ten times better. I love having a tidy eyebrow arch and will be definitely be going back for a top up.

This article first appeared in Women’s Fitness

Your bathroom cabinet is probably stacked with ointments, creams and elixirs that you haven’t used since 2009, so the idea of adding to your collection may seem like a terrible idea – but if you’re a man with a beard, you’ll want to find a bit of space for one of these.

RECOMMENDED: Men’s Grooming Gifts and Gift Sets For Christmas 2016

Beard oils are essentially conditioners for your facial hair, using range of botanicals to keep your beard healthy, flake-free, strong, hydrated and smelling great. Just warm a drop or two in your palms and apply after your shower to take your facial fur to the next level.

The days of a wispy, stringy, greasy little chinstrap will be gone, replaced by a new dawn as rays of sunshine emanate from your luscious new Spartan jaw bush.

RECOMMENDED:How To Trim a Beard

We tested ten of the best oils to see which can help you achieve peak beard.

Key ingredients: Aloe vera, coconut, sweet almond, camelina (it’s not a little camel, we checked) and green tea

First impressions: Properly check-the-receipt cheap, this one. Gloriously cheap. Or maybe suspiciously cheap? Nah, we’re going gloriously. Probably saved a wedge by not bothering with a Dr Frankenstein’s lab-style squeezy dropper thing to pull the elixir out of the bottle.

Face test: Madness on the nose. Absolute head-scratching madness. Quite how it went from smelling like a primary school tuck shop in the bottle but magically transformed to a healthy and posh high-street apothecary scent on our face, we just can’t work out. Witchcraft aside, does our beard feel less flaky? Yes. Does it feel way softer? Absolutely. Are we flummoxed by how reasonably priced this little doozy is? YES. We demand answers. £5.50, buy on bulldogskincare.com

Key ingredients: Sweet almond, avocado and jojoba

First impressions: Aside from the alienating statement that this one’s “for grizzly beards” (that means grey, lads, and that's one problem we don't have just yet), this is saying all the right things: natural oils, fast absorbing, ultra-light. Unfragranced too, which is real iiinteresting.

Face test: No fake news here, chaps – pure truth bombs, start to finish. No smell to report. And we’re into that, especially if you like to spritz on your eau de toilette in the AM. Rubbed in rapidly, too. And was real light to touch. Didn’t think we’d like this after all the "grizzly" shenanigans, but we do. All is forgiven. £6.99, buy on Waitrose.com

Key ingredients: Argan, apricot, something called crambe seed, lemon and tea tree

First impressions: We’re 11. Mum’s got our head over the bathroom basin. She’s on a head lice-killing spree, massacring the little ratbags with gallons and gallons of tea tree oil. One whiff of this super-cleansing beauty and you’ll be right back there too. With your mum, not ours. Get your own mum.

Face test: We really like this one. A proper 7am wake-up call: super fresh, just the right amount of greasiness to cling to our beard without it leaving our skin feeling uncomfortably lubey, and totally organic too. Guilt-free follicular greatness! Until you see that spicy price tag and feel your wallet recoil in horror from deep in your pocket. £35, buy on ruffians.co.uk

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond, argan, marula, avocado and jojoba. Welcome to the big time, boys

First impressions: Of course we want to have the same signature scent as a man named Percy Nobleman. He’s definitely got a 12-bedroom house in the Lake District decked out with portraits of his forefathers and a beautiful golden retriever called Iris or Windsor or something else posh as hell. He definitely has at least three corduroy suits. We like this guy. Oh, and you get a free little pin badge inside the box too. Aw, thanks Percy!

Face test: The smell is a grower, by which we mean it gets better and better through the day. It’s far more subtle that the others too – ideal for anyone not wanting to overdo their expensive pre-date splash of aftershave. It is a little on the greasy side, but we probably used about ten times too much by mistake – one little squirt from the big 100ml pump-top bottle went for miles. You won’t need to buy another one of these in a hurry. Around £20, buy on Amazon.

Key ingredients: Orange and ginger

First impressions:It came in a fancy steel box with a “face rag”, but no instructions on how to use said rag. We’re currently using it as a coaster.

Face test:The tasty scent really woke us up in the morning, what with all that ginger rushing off our ’tache and up our nose. It rubbed in a treat too, with no greasy residue. The biggest drawback is that you’ll need a steady hand to pour out just a few drops – a tall order at 7am. £20, buy on Wiggle.

Key ingredients: Tons of wood, pepper and citrus

First impressions: Packaged into a tube with not one but three products – a “famous” beard elixir, another (clearly less famous) beard elixir, and a moisturising butter.

Face test: The elixirs get brownie points for their screw-top pipettes, making it simple to extract only the required few drops. Scents are subtler than the others, but that’s no bad thing – they still smell grade-A manly. Still, we’re not sure of the need for two beard oils – the less famous one is only marginally fresher than its buddy. Oh, and the butter does not taste nice on toast. £25, buy on asos.

Key ingredients: Christmas! It’s got Christmas in it! Either that, or a lot of cinnamon.

First impressions: Look at it! It’s tiny! It’s actually smaller than our little finger! Even so, we’re getting a big hug of wintry spice. One for the colder months, for sure.

Face test: Remember those little red Atomic FireBall sweets you used to break your teeth on as a kid? That was the last time we had such a comforting hit of cinnamon around our face. £8, buy on asos.

Key ingredients: Kalahari melon oil, whatever that is

First impressions: Not our favourite smell of this lot, due mainly in part to the fact that we can’t quite put our finger on the slight sweetness that’s going up our schnoz. It makes up for that with its push-top dispenser. If all these bottles had one, our bathroom sink would be a whole lot cleaner right now.

Face test: The silkiest one of them all. This one doesn’t wake you up as such, but gently cradles you into full morning consciousness. £19.50, buy on lookfantastic.com

Key ingredients: Cedarwood is the star striker here

First impressions: The name Cuban Blend conjures images of open-collar shirts, warm winds and super chilled evenings on the beach. Fortunately, we get that from the smell, too.

Face test: The scent gets stronger as soon as you rub it into your skin, which is a welcome surprise. This is what Tom Selleck’s moustache must smell like. Around £9, buy on Amazon.

Key ingredients: You’ve got your jojobas, your olives and your bergamots

First impressions: It’s the Giant Haystacks of the crowd. The André the Giant, even. It’s massive. The smell is more like a shower gel than the others, though, and perhaps lacks that masculine musk we’ve come to expect from beard oils now that we’re such connoisseurs.

Face test: This one’s a shaving gel and beard oil combo, and as such it took a lot longer to rub into our skin. It’s worth it if you want your beard to smell super-fresh and clean rather than manly and rugged. £26.32, iconproducts.com

Bring A Photo

“You might think it looks vain to bring a photo of what you’re looking to achieve, but it’s helpful,” says artistic barber and male grooming expert Carmelo Guastella. “The barber can tell you if you’re able to achieve that look or what you need to do to achieve it. You may already have the length and it’s just about styling. Also, you have to realise that the hair in the picture has been blow-dried, it has mousse in it and other products and maybe someone spent 20 minutes styling it and that’s why it looks that way.”

Ask For Advice

“A lot of guys say to me, ‘My hair doesn’t do what I want it to’ and I ask them, ‘Do you use any products?’ and often the answer is no. Or they use a product but they’re not using a hair dryer so it’s not going to achieve the look they want. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, especially if you want a change. If you’re happy with the reply, go for it. And a good barber should always tell you what they’re doing when they style your hair after the cut.”

RECOMMENDED: New Men’s Hair Products

Choose The Right Barber

“When choosing a barber, you can find out about their work through their social media feeds. You can also follow trends. Three years ago every guy had short back and sides but at the moment you see longer hair on top, which I predicted. I also think it is going to move more towards a longer, messier 70s look next. So look for barbers who’ve shown they are on top of trends.”

RECOMMENDED: The Best Men’s Hairstyles Of 2017

Don’t Fear Change

“A lot of men have the same haircut for 40 years. You don’t have to! I advise people not to always have the same style – grow it long, cut it short, change it. And trust the barber when they tell you what the best product is to use, and give you tips about how to use them. Hairdryers aren’t just for girls, and a mousse or paste – something that’s not too oily – is always useful.”

Have Patience

“Sometimes good hair doesn’t happen in one day. You may see the final result in four or five haircuts, especially if you’re growing it out. A good barber will make the client understand what they are doing.”

Clean Shaven

Styling tip: “One mistake guys make is to just slap the cream or gel on their face rather than really working it in to soften the hair.”

Key product: “Use a good shaving oil and a shaving brush. Most guys don’t use them but they always do in barber shops because they’re effective – they lift and soften the hair, and the brush reaches where the skin touches the hair and helps give you a closer shave.”

Designer Stubble

Styling tip: “Always shave your cheeks, without going too low, and also the lower neck. It makes it look like you look after yourself without trying too hard. I’m not a fan of the hard line on the jaw because it looks too manicured.”

Key product: “You still need a moisturiser. If you don’t use one then your skin will get dry, dehydrated and sensitive. A regular moisturiser will do the job.”

Full Beard

Styling tip: “A lot of guys assume they know how to look after their beards but that’s the same as thinking you can cut your own hair. If you decide to grow a beard make sure you get advice from a barber on how to look after it because every face shape is different.”

RECOMMENDED: How To Trim A Beard

Key product: “Beard oil won’t work miracles because the hair is thick and dense, unlike the hair on your head. Use a conditioner to soften the hair.”

RECOMMENDED: The Best Beard Trimmers

carmeloguastella.com

Rating :

5

BEST IN TEST

This fresh-smelling product comes in a squeezable, rubber-bottomed container, making it the world's first hair wax and stress ball in one. It's supposed to have a strong hold rating but it feels more subtle than that, leaving your hair looking casually styled with a matt finish.

Price : 

£12.30 for 100ml

Available from Cheapsmells.com

Rating :

2

A brown, doughy wax that smells a bit like chocolate and caramel, which isn't great unless you want people remarking that you honk of melted Mars bars. You don't need much of it to be able to style your hair. It's a matt product but feels and looks a little bit oily.

Price 

£4.99 for 100ml

Available from Lifeandlooks.com

Rating :

4

This thick wax practically bullies your hair into staying exactly where you want it. The compromise you make for having every strand in place is, well, looking like you've deliberately got every strand in place. It's highly effective but not suitable if you're going for a natural feel.

Price 

£1.89 for 200ml

Available from Asda

Rating :

3

The big sell with this product is that it's as easy to apply as a gel but has the holding properties of a wax. Fine, but does anyone really struggle with applying wax? Whether you do or not, you'll find that this gentle product gives you a relaxed, if slightly greasy, look.

Price :

£3.49 for 74ml

Available from Boots

Nanogen Thickening Hair Treatment Shampoo

If you want to make your muscles stronger, you need to take in amino acids. So it’s no surprise that the inclusion of the same muscle-building compounds in this shampoo will have a similarly positive effect on your hair, because they’ll help prevent follicle shrinkage and loss of hair anchoring. It also contains aloe and chamomile to soothe your scalp. £7.95 for 240ml, buy on nanogen.co.uk

Baxter of California Daily Protein Shampoo

DHT is a male hormone that’s been found to be detrimental to hair growth. Baxter’s shampoo is formulated to remove it, along with other toxins and pollutants, as well as delivering a dose of proteins and nutrients to enrich, strengthen and keep your mane magnificent. All that and a lovely minty smell too. £18 for 300ml, buy on mankind.co.uk

Nioxin System 2 Cleanser

If your hair’s thinning or even just naturally fine, Nioxin’s daily cleansing system can help. It uses amino acids to make your locks stronger and more voluminous, while removing oils and other debris that can clog up follicles and stop nutrients getting to your scalp – plus white tea extract and peppermint to leave your hair shiny and refreshed. £11.50 for 300ml, buy on justmylook.co.uk

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Although Nizoral is designed primarily to treat and prevent dandruff and its symptoms such as a flaky, itchy scalp, it’s also an effective weapon in the fight against hair loss. The reason? Ketoconazole, an antifungal agent that evidence has shown also boosts hair growth. Leave it in for three to five minutes to do its thing, and don’t use it too frequently. £6.39 for 60ml, buy on boots.com

RECOMMENDED: The Best Men’s Hairstyles Of 2017

Trumper’s has over 100 years of shaving experience and it’s all there in this pot of classic glycerine-based soft cream. Use a shaving brush in the palm of your hand to generate a rich lather that gives a smooth, comfortable shave. There are nine GFT fragrances but the coconut scent is a real winner – plus it’s ideal for dry skin. £17, buy on trumpers.com

Left to right: Malin+Goetz Vitamin E Shaving Cream, Murad Cleansing Shave, Shiseido Shaving Cream

Even though it feels thin when you apply it, this is an excellent hydrating shaving cream with vitamin E and amino acids that effectively prepare all skin types for a smooth, non-irritating shave. Because it’s light, it won’t clog your razor and it rinses clean without residue. The cream feels soothing and cooling on your skin, thanks to a combination of chamomile, allantoin and menthol, while the vitamin E – along with squalane, shea butter, glycerin and sodium PCA – keeps your face moisturised. £18, buy on malinandgoetz.co.uk

Ideal for anyone who’s left with red, bumpy skin after shaving or suffers with shaving irritation in general. Its patented antioxidant-rich formula is both cleansing and exfoliating for an enhanced razor glide, while Murad’s beard-softening complex makes the whole process smoother. Your skin should be nourished, hydrated and nick-free afterwards. £25, buy on johnlewis.com

RECOMMENDED: The Best Exfoliating Face Washes For Men

From the Tokyo-based company that’s been looking after Japanese complexions since 1872 comes a rich cream that adheres closely to the skin and softens your beard hairs from their roots – the perfect preparation for an easier, gentler shave, no matter how long you let your face fuzz grow. It helps prevent razor burn and rinses off easily too. £22, buy on houseoffraser.co.uk

Chris Beastall is the co-founder of Niven & Joshua and editor of Ape To Gentleman

As a gender, the stubborn old male has historically been a tad reticent when it comes to grooming and “beauty” treatments. For years, a quick shave, a liberal spritz of Sex Panther and a wad of hair product pretty much met the needs. But eventually spring came, and men warmed to the concept of taking a little more care in their appearance. Then, in search of grooming greatness, some of the bolder individuals headed off to explore truly uncharted territory – treatments for women. Here are five expert processes that are slowly gaining traction with men – and for good reason, too.

RECOMMENDED: Men’s Grooming Tech

Face Peels

The white face-mask with eye-cucumber is an image that the words “beauty treatment” summon instantly, and an experience many men are now seeking. A peel can come in many different guises, including “fruity” peels, which use fruits like mango, blueberry or pomegranate. They’re mixed with acids and enzymes, then painted onto the skin, left for up to 10 minutes, and finally washed off. Afterwards, your skin is left refreshed and blemishes will disappear – you’ll see a small result straight away, but the real difference will show about a week later. It’s great for those with acne, scarring or just on a quest for skin perfection. The effects supposedly last six months, too, which means you don’t have to shell out on a regular basis. And whatever Hollywood says, the results are the same with or without a towel turban. From £95, aestheticslab.co.uk

Facial cleansing brushes

These electronic gadgets are a great way of exfoliating and keeping the skin healthy and soft, by removing dry and dead skin. It’s not solely the remit of the girls though, and it’s possible to obtain electric brushes specifically designed for those with stubble. A minute of buzzing is all that’s needed, and the brush head is very slight so it won’t irritate your skin. When you’re done, your facial hair will feel softer and cleaner, and the skin underneath will be nicely refreshed. You can use it in the shower, or before bed, and it comes with a pre-shave head, too, to prepare yourself for the traumatic pastime of shaving. If you have sensitive skin, this will do the same job as a face scrub, but better, and without the abrasion. Remington FC2000 Recharge Facial Cleansing Brush, £79.99, buy on boots.com

The Menpen

Concealer is an essential part of the make-up arsenal of women, who have known since time began that if your skin is prone to unsightly spots or blemishes (stop picking at them), then a quick dab of concealer is just what’s needed to cover everything up. Pick the shade that suits your skin tone, and it’ll smooth out your skin, making it look clean and vibrant. Most come in a form much like a lipstick – simply twist the bottom, and dab a bit on your skin before delicately rubbing it in with a finger. If you’re worried about your extreme masculinity being called into question, then you can always grab one from Men Pen, which has the word “men” on it, so everyone will know you’re still hard. £13.95, themenpen.com

Below The Belt Grooming

As they are discussed in hushed circles (stop eavesdropping, weirdo) you may not be aware of feminine sprays. It’s lovely and considerate of the female sex to want to keep their private areas fresh, but what of the boorish and inconsiderate male oaf? To prevent yourself becoming one, there are a number of downstairs grooming products at your disposal. Below The Belt Grooming offers a “waterless shower”, which is a quick-fix spruce-up for down there – perfect for when you can’t shower, like when you’re going straight out after work, or you haven’t paid your water bill. It also sells a cream which, once applied, will dry to a fine talc-like powder, and keep you dry throughout the day. Waterless Shower, £6.95, Fresh And Dry Balls, £6.95, btbgrooming.co.uk

Pedicures

The male manicure isn’t too new or unusual – men have been taking care of their nails for a while now. Their feet, however, are still quite often grotesque slabs of gnarly and crusty despair – many flip-flop and sandal wearers happily parade their ignorance of just how essential their need for a pedicure is. Most female-focused “pedis” include clearing out your cuticles, shaping your nails, exfoliating the skin, buffing the nails, scrubbing away dry, hard or callused skin on the sole and heel, and moisturising – you might even get a foot massage, too. A male pedicure differs slightly, in that less fragrance is used, the nails are shaped slightly differently to women’s, and no varnish is applied afterwards. If you’re heading off on holiday, ask yourself this: will my feet impress or appal my travel companions? From £31, genco-uk.com

But let’s not go crazy…

Four new treatments that can probably remain “optional” for now

GoateeSaver

If your goal is to arrange your facial hair in a “Lineker”, this incredibly weird contraption – which provides a template around which to shave – adds a worrying amount of Bane into the mix. Weird. £12.99, buy on amazon.co.uk

RECOMMENDED: How to Trim a Beard

Weener Kleener

Showering at least once a day means your private areas should already be clean enough, so there’s no need for this specially created soap ring to do the business. One size fits all, supposedly… £6.29, buy on amazon.co.uk

Otostick Cosmetic Ear Correctors

If you’re a tad conscious of the amount your ears stick out; firstly, don’t be, and secondly, definitely don’t use these. They’re “silicone prostheses” that stick the back of your ear to your head – from the front, they’re invisible; from the back, they’re massively not. £15.99, zurego.com, buy on amazon.co.uk

Man-groomer Back Hair Shaver

Back hair isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so if you want to remove it, your best bet is to wax it. This shaver, with giant “easy-to-use” handle, allows you to do it yourself, presumably turning your back into a vandalised, divot-filled golf course in the process. £48.50, buy on amazon.co.uk

Beards are absolutely everywhere. Footballers, movie stars, politicians, CEOs and your own chin are increasingly likely to be sporting one. Growing this facial hair is a doddle, presuming you’re over 16, but taming it? A much more complicated affair.

Coach called on the grooming experts at The Bluebeards Revenge to provide beardy mankind with the knowledge to trim with confidence.

Necessities: A mirror (preferably multi-angle), a towel, shampoo, cut-throat shavette, shampoo, scissors or clippers

Niceties: Conditioner, mustache wax, beard oil

Step 1: Clean it

It’s amazing how many men wash the hair on the heads but don’t give the same attention to their chins. A beard should always be kept clean but especially so before a trim. Use a small amount of shampoo, and consider using a conditioner, then towel dry for a softer and more manageable beard.

Step 2: Comb it

Gently comb your beard from ear to chin going with the grain of your growth. Don’t be tempted to fluff it up yet, no matter how much you might want to. This will lead to an uneven trim and ultimately result in you looking about as sharp as a pair of kid’s scissors.

Step 3: Clip it or snip it

With clippers, err on the side of caution or you could end up whipping off months of hard work. Start with the longest attachment first, and if this leaves it too long move down to the next length of guard. Using smooth movements and consistent pressure, start at your ear and work the trimmer down towards your chin.

If scissors are your weapon of choice, pair them with a good-quality moustache and beard comb to ensure an even trim. Use the comb to gather your beard before gently cutting any hairs sitting outside the teeth.

Step 4: Trim it

Trimming the moustache can be a little tricky, but it’s easier if you only use scissors. Again, use your comb to maintain an even length and trim any hair that falls onto your lips. Avoid any styles that suggest a past career in adult movies or bring to mind 20th=century dictators.

Step 5: Refine it

Now’s the time to decide if you want sharp lines or a more natural-looking fade. For a strong, neat-looking finish you’ll require a shavette (a cut-throat razor with a disposable blade). Lather your face as you would for a standard wet shave, and with your fingernail map the shave area in the foam, drawing a line to mark out the shape of your beard.

Keeping the blade at a 30-35° angle to the skin, aim to use as few strokes as possible. For first-timers this can be tricky – not to say a tad dangerous – so it’s best consult a detailed cut-throat tutorial.

For anyone who doesn’t fancy something that looks like a furry face strap, you’ll need to master the fade. The simplest way to do this is using clippers on a No2 setting for all hair underneath the chin, finishing a finger’s width above your Adam’s apple, and completely shaving any stubble below this line. If you really want to use scissors, you’ll need patience and a video tutorial.

Step 6: Finish it

Beard oil is often, and wrongly, overlooked. Using a few drops after a trim has two key benefits: preventing dry flaky skin and making people much more likely to kiss you and for longer (it softens prickly hairs). Finally, rub a smidgen of wax into your ’tache for a neater, altogether sexier look.

RECOMMENDED: The Best Beard Oils

Dental Care

Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected

A lot of people aren’t cleaning their teeth properly. You should be brushing for at least two minutes, but due to the tedious nature of scrubbing your pegs, and the more enticing prospect of getting into bed to watch Netflix, that time is often more like 50 seconds. Cleaning-coverage is an even greater problem, but this smart toothbrush will make sure you’re doing the job thoroughly.

It does this by mapping your mouth using sensors, and relaying your brushing habits to an app in real-time using Bluetooth (if you’re away from your phone, the brush will sync your data to the phone app later), which shows you where you’re going wrong. It displays a 3D image of your lovely pie-hole and lets you know which areas you’re neglecting. The app will then give you tips on how to improve, or instruct you to go back and try again – it’s a strict business, is teeth. Price £TBA. Available in the UK from September, philips.co.uk

Oral-B Pro 6500 SmartSeries

What happens when oral hygiene and tech start dating? Your toothbrush has its own app. Oral-B has upped the competition with the new SmartSeries, which claims to strip 100% more plaque than a regular toothbrush. Bluetooth helps you track results and customise your brushing, all while providing some light entertainment. It’s probably the only toothbrush that could single-handedly put your dentist out of a job. From £112.49, oralb.co.uk, buy on boots.com

Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro

Bid farewell to floss stings and old-school dental care routines. The AirFloss Pro uses air and micro-droplet technology to jet-blast mouthwash (or any liquid of your choosing) between your teeth. The nozzle acts as a guide and helps to target teeth at the front and back of your mouth, removing plaque build-up as well as food debris from those hard-to-reach spots you may have missed brushing. £100, philips.co.uk, buy on Amazon

RECOMMENDE: 8 Products To Use For Whiter Teeth

Razors

Skarp Laser Razor

The Skarp Laser Razor first found fame on the Kickstarter website, where the Skarp founders raised $4 million from over 25,000 potential buyers. Then Kickstarter pulled the plug on the initial prototype. Following this little setback, Skarp relaunched the project and although it hasn’t reached the heights of the original total, this time it’s managed to raise over $440,000. Although the Skarp looks like a traditional razor, it’s actually powered by small lasers and promises to give the closest shave possible without irritating or damaging the skin. £196.79, indiegogo.com

Braun CoolTec CT2S-W

Most shavers allow heat to build up in the head, which can often lead to redness, burning and irritation. The Braun CoolTec shaver is one of the first of its kind to use “active cooling technology” with an aluminium cooling bar integrated into its design. The blades capture hair growing in different directions, it’s waterproof to a depth of 5m and it only needs a five-minute charge to get to work. £200, braun.com, buy on Amazon

RECOMMENDED: 6 Electric Shavers to Tackle Your Beard

Hair Care

Hairmax Ultima 12 Lasercomb

Few men welcome the idea of going bald with open arms, especially when the bald patch becomes trickier to disguise. But help is at hand: whether you’re facing hereditary hair loss, alopecia or stress-related balding, there is a way to save what you have left. The LaserComb uses something called laser phototherapy, which gently stimulates the hair follicles and promotes new growth. £338.50, hairmax.com, buy on Amazon

No! No! Hair Pro 5

You no longer need to subject yourself to excruciating treatments in uppity salons. This No! No! gadget removes coarse hair using pulsed thermicon technology, which claims to remove hair instantly and provide lasting results – painlessly. Up the heat, glide the gizmo over the offending area and watch the hairs retreat. £205.25, mynono.co.uk, buy on harrods.com

BaByliss Pro Italia Brava Dryer

A hair dryer with as much horsepower as a Ferrari? Well, almost. Not only does this Italia Brava look the part, its Ferrari-designed motor lasts up to ten times longer than most dryers’, providing a claimed 10,000 hours of use as it dries your hair at record speed. Short styles can be set in seconds with the “cool shot” feature, while its light weight allows easy portability and low noise means you can blow your hair out at ungodly hours. £120, babylisspro.co.uk, buy on Amazon

Wahl Lithium 9818-800Y Stainless Steel Grooming Station

Don’t have a specific reason for buying a grooming device? The Wahl 4 in 1 Grooming Station, with its four cutting heads, is for you. Lithium-ion tech provides more power and a better battery life compared to other NiMH-powered tools, so it cuts rigid hair easily. This grooming station is one for all your manscaping needs, keeping your eyebrows, nose and ear hair in check. £64.99, wahlglobal.com, buy on Amazon

RECOMMENDED: How To Style Your Hair Like A Pro Barber

Skin Care

Foreo Luna for Men

Silicone bristles are what separate the Foreo brand from other cleansing tools – that and the fact each product looks like something out of Star Trek. The cleansing brush gently opens pores, sheds dead cells and tackles a build-up of dirt and oil, making it less likely your skin will go to war with itself. The waterproof gadget boasts up to eight speeds and 450 uses from a full charge. £149, foreo.com, buy on boots.com

StriVectinLabs Facial Toner

As you age, you may notice things start to droop and lines begin to form. StriVectin’s Facial Toner stimulates nerves surrounding the facial muscles by transmitting electrotherapy technology. Without the use of a single needle or a drop of harsh chemicals, it aims to restore muscle mass in the face, as well as tone, lift skin and preserve your boyish good looks. £185, buy on harveynichols.com

Geneu DNA Skin Serum

Professor Christofer Toumazou is the inventor of medical breakthroughs like the artificial pancreas and hearing implants, but he’s now turned his hand to a greater cause – skin care. The two main genetic factors that cause skin to wrinkle, blotch and sag are an imbalance of antioxidant and collagen levels, so the serums are developed according to your DNA and lifestyle habits. From £260 (for DNA test and serums), geneu.com

Simplehuman 20cm Sensor Mirror

Some may find the thought of ogling yourself in this mirror slightly disturbing, but this little guy can perform a number of clever tricks, including 10x magnification, automatically lighting up as your face approaches, and a “tru-lux” LED light system that simulates natural sunlight to reveal the true colour-correct reflection of your face. £149.99, simplehuman.com, buy on Amazon

RECOMMENDED: 6 Essential Products to Save Your Face This Winter

Er, Air Care?

Dyson Humidifier

Dominating the British fan and vacuum industry wasn’t enough for Dyson – it had to find new ways to move air around. The humidifier hails from a “new” (Japan might have done it first) wave of tech released by the groundbreaking British brand. Praised for its multi-purpose use, this gadget claims to combat health problems from allergies to eczema. Low humidity can cause wrinkles, puffiness and reduced skin elasticity. £500, dyson.com, buy on Amazon

RECOMMENDED: 7 Best Apps for Stylish Men

This competition is now closed

Such has been the success of groovy clothes brand Ted Baker’s incursion into the sphere of men’s haircraft, that the company is opening yet another Grooming Room at Lancaster Place on 10th March, just off the Strand in central London.

The new store – there are now ten – reflects the colourful character of the Ted Baker brand, as well as taking inspiration from the stars of screens large and small. The bespoke interior of the new store harks back to the history of broadcasting, with wallpaper designs showing TV sets from the 1940s to the ’90s, and a prop wall stacked with old TV sets, autocues and set design models.

A large sculpture inspired by the humble TV aerial is the glowing hero icon of the new store, making this an intriguing venue for a haircut, shave and face massage from one of Ted’s master barbers.

Coach is inviting 20 readers to experience one of Ted’s luxury grooming techniques. The winners will receive a voucher to be redeemed only at the new Ted’s Grooming Room on Lancaster Place for one of the following treatments:

1. Cut A Long Story Short (haircut)
2. Tommy N Turkish (beard shave/trim)
3. Brow Thread

Simply answer the question below in order to be entered. (Closing date 15th March. All prizes must be redeemed by 31st March. They cannot be rolled over or exchanged for gift vouchers.)

Mr. Mandrogynous

Who?

A complete contrast to the old stereotype of macho heterosexual guys, you hit the gym daily to look as good, if not better, than your smooth-skinned man-boy idol Christiano Ronaldo.

Grooming Routine

Groomed to absolute perfection, you treat yourself to regular spray tans to keep bronzed and buffed. Magic Mike is your favourite film and you’re no stranger to manscaping. You carry around hot wax kits and razors to stay as bald as a baby’s bum 24/7.

Example Celebrity: Taylor Lautner

Notorious for his smooth, chiseled torso, big-screen hero Lautner embodies the super-sculpted chassis of the super-groomed Mr. Mandrogynous.

Mainstream mo-man

Who?

Sort of a hipster, but not really – your facial hair is a source of deep pride. Inspired by Movember (though you’ll never admit that’s what made you realise you look good with top lip decoration), you’ve set yourself a personal project to re-revolutionise the moustache while claiming you invented the whole concept of facial hair.

Grooming Routine

You’re your own leader, and follower. So whatever everyone else is doing, you aren’t (except for…ahem…Movember). To feed into your personal style you use an electric shaver for a clean shave every few days, while keeping your prized tache in place.

Example Celebrity: Shia LaBeouf

Lebouf makes dark and edgy easy on the eye, while taking the tache to the masses. When he’s not making a prick of himself by sitting in an empty room under the pretence of art and turning up at film premieres with a paper bag on his head, that is.

Metro-dude

Who?

Re-inventing geek-chic (because that’s already far too mainstream), you’re proving that it’s possible to look smart, and be smart… and not be a dickhead, all at the same time… hopefully. You’re most likely to be found deep in conversation about digital re-invention and revolutionary technology, while checking yourself out in the reflection of your best mate’s non-prescription glasses. 

Grooming Routine

Always on top of the latest gadgets, you use a shaver such as the Braun CoolTec, which cools your skin as it glides over it to reduce irritation. How does it work? You have no idea, but will spend hours pondering it loudly over a prohibitively expensive craft beer.

Celebrity: Richard Ayoade 

Sharply dressed to perfection, Ayoade’s infamous Channel 4 News interview showed that geeks can be funny, edgy, and make Krishnan Guru-Murthy look he like he dresses in the dark. 

The Remantic

Who?

You’re suave, sophisticated and stylish. You’re the re-born romantic who sets your own trend in the city on a wage that allows you to live the lifestyle you’ve always aspired to. Custom-made suits? Fancy sports cars? You’ve got it all.

Grooming Routine

No workout is too tough, or eating regime too expensive, you’ll go above and beyond to prove you’re the best. You use the most expensive razor, cream, brush – whatever – if it’s overpriced, you’ve got it.

Celebrity: George Clooney

The man every woman dreams of, the man every middle-aged balding fattie actively despises. Celebrated on more than one occasion as the ‘sexiest man alive’ Clooney proves that it’s not only great wines that get better with age.

The Lumbersexual

Who?

A macho man who wants to nothing more than to live in a cabin in the woods – your beard is peaking. You’re not in any league but your own and pride yourself on maintaining the strategically scruffy look.

Grooming Routine

A quick rub of your hair and comb of your beard is your routine to attain that effortlessly messy look. Or hours in front of the mirror with a plethora of products depending on the air humidity that morning. When it comes to maintaining that face rug of yours, a quick high-grade trim is all you need to make sure you look more Shoreditch than Mr. Twit. 

Celebrity: Ricki Hall

The only model whose beard is possibly just as famous, if not more famous than his actual face, Hall is the epitome of scruffiness with a purpose, capturing a timeless, yet supremely poncy, style.

The ‘What the hell are you banging on about? I have nothing in common with and have never even met anyone who even slightly fits those descriptions’ man

Who?

Average joe.

Grooming Routine

Whatever your girlfriend tells you, or whatever you imagine your preferred girlfriend would like. Or boyfriend. No discrimination here.

Celebrity: That guy off the telly who was in some stuff. You can’t remember his name but he seemed like a nice bloke!

Yeah, that guy.

This piece was compiled in co-ordination with the grooming experts from male shaving brand Braun. 

It’s a rainy Friday morning and I’ve just arrived at a hotel in central London to be briefed before undertaking a citywide manhunt-style challenge. Britain’s most experienced tracking and survival expert Perry McGee – a man who trains the police and armed forces in the skills to track down fugitives – meets me. Moments after exchanging pleasantries Perry runs his hands down my legs, across my back and along my arms. We haven’t just really hit it off. Perry’s frisking me for any items that I could use to help me complete my challenge. As Perry takes my phone and wallet he explains that he would normally take my shoelaces too, but thankfully health and safety rules work in my favour meaning I’m not allowed to be de-laced.

As well as training military and police types, Perry also runs the National Tracking School, which teaches tracking and survival skills to civilians. ‘These are the types of skills necessary for being stuck behind enemy lines, but they are also useful for civilians from all walks of life,’ says Perry. ‘They teach you to be more aware of your surroundings and to use your initiative, which are useful qualities in all sorts of everyday situations.’

Today’s challenge is inspired by a new Discovery TV show called Manhunt, which sees former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert attempt to evade the world’s most elite tracking units in different environments around the world. My task isn’t quite as hardcore, but still follows the same basic premise. From my hotel starting point I need to gather clues from five checkpoints in central London (The City, London Bridge, Regent’s Park, Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park). The catch, or should I say catches? I’m not allowed to use GPS or public transport, can’t speak to any members of the public and, most importantly, I can’t be seen by the team of trackers who are after me.

With backgrounds ranging from animal tracking in Zimbabwe to Special Forces training, the guys who’ll spend the day hunting me look like they mean business. Luckily, the game isn’t over if I’m seen and I won’t be bundled into the back of a van or anything like that, but points will be docked every time I’m spotted and seeing as I’m competing against another journalist, pride is definitely at stake.

Seeking advice from Perry he talks about the importance of not leaving any ‘sign’ as I traverse my environment. In a jungle this means not leaving trails of damaged plants and disturbed mud, while footprints, litter and a jumpy disposition are key giveaways in urban surroundings. He also talks about ‘the rules of stealth,’ which are all about disguising your shape, size, movement and noise.

Trying to process all this information and think about how I can put Perry’s tips into action I’m ushered out onto the street. The tracking team are scattered around various spots between my starting point and first checkpoint in The City. I assume someone will be watching me from the second I leave so decide the best option is to bolt for the nearest alleyway from the word go. Thank goodness I still have my laces.

Read part two of Max's Manhunt challenge here.

Manhunt is on Discovery Channel on Thursdays at 9pm. Click here to read our interview with the star of Manhunt, Joel Lambert.

A new study by male grooming brand Braun reveals over 70 per cent of men admit to trimming their body hair, with almost a third taking over 20 minutes to get the job done. Why the fuss to be fuzz free? 41 per cent say a good trim boosts their confidence while almost a quarter admit it’s a labour of love to please their other half.

Moreover, 66 per cent of men view body and facial hair as the new sartorial accessory. With the laudable amount of care and precision going into this integral part of the male grooming routine. Here are the top styles dominating the male grooming landscape as found in Braun’s survey. Welcome to the world of manscaping.

1 The tree

The typical version of the tree involves shaping a moderate amount of hair on the upper chest with a small trail leading down to the stomach. Most popular among the younger guys, this evergreen approach to manscaping allows men to proudly display a standard growth of hair all year round.

2 The top heavy

These manscaping heroes rock a well-trimmed mat of hair on the top half of their chest but keep the stomach area smooth. As seen on Keith Lemon and Robbie Williams this look is popular across the board and sported by men of all ages.

3 The rug

This look epitomises ‘daddy cool’ with celebrity supporters including Tom Selleck and The Hoff. Fans of this style tend to be 25 years and over, with a chest full of hair to be proud of, keeping the look defined with a quick trim over the summer.

4 The snail

This notable male landscape is popular with younger men who want to keep any hair above the belly button at bay, with a small trail of hair across the stomach.

5 The woolly jumper

Not for the faint at heart, these hirsute gentlemen channel their inner-cavemen externally in a style most popular with guys over the age of 31. To keep this look under control trim the hair to a suitable length on a regular basis.

Hat hair

‘When the winter winds are biting, most men reach for a hat to protect their head and ears,’ says Douglas. ‘However, the man-made materials often used for hats creates friction static on the hair, which can be tough to get rid of once you’re indoors. Man-made fibres are also less breathable, making your scalp hot and sweaty - the perfect breeding ground for the fungus Malassezia, which is the main cause of dandruff. To avoid hat hair and overheating the scalp, stick to natural fibres such as wool.’

Dry scalp

‘During the winter months, our skin takes a battering from the contrast between the cold outside air and the dry warmth of central heating. Most of us know it’s essential to keep skin moisturised and protected throughout the winter months, but few realise scalps are no different. Avoid a dry, flaky scalp by keeping it moisturised using a shampoo such as head&shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1, part of the new Fresh and Clean range.’

Windswept hair

'On blustery days, steer clear of gel as once dry it’ll hold that crazy windswept look in place. Using a wax-based product such as Shockwaves styling wax makes hair much more malleable, for longer. It’s also a good idea to blow-dry your hair into the style you want before leaving the house because it’ll keep its shape much better.’

Wet hair

'Your mum always said it and she was right - never leave the house with wet hair, especially in cold weather. Although it’s nothing to do with catching your death of cold: blow-drying your hair thoroughly before leaving ensures your style stays put for longer.’

For more details about the head&shoulders Fresh and Clean range, visit their website.
 
For more style and grooming tips from industry experts, get Men's Fitness. Subscribe now and we'll give you five issues for £5

In this video Head & Shoulders and Shockwaves senior stylist Michael Douglas explains how to get the best from your hair and a variety of top products.
 
For more expert grooming advice, subscribe to the magazine, we’ll give you five issues for £5.

Rating :

4

Hair and music don’t always go well together. Think of Limahl, the 80s pop singer who looked like he used an albino hedgehog for a hat. Or shrill act Jedward and their ‘comedy’ quiffs sculpted to a height that inversely corresponds to their musical significance. Shockwaves, on the other hand, has formed a strong alliance with the music scene, and this thick white gel will give you a backstage pass to the land of cool haircuts. It smells of shampoo and sugar and lets you sculpt your locks into styles that look effortless.

Price :

£1.77 for 150ml

Available from lloydspharmacy.com

Rating :

4

MF is usually against gym preening. We prefer you to get on with your workout. But we’ll make allowances for this product, which is aimed at sporty types and has sweat- and water-resistant technology that keeps your hair in check while you exercise. The makers also claim it lasts for up to 48 hours, but we hope that you’ll have a shower and re-style rather than put that to the test.

Price :

£3.36 for 150ml

Available from superdrug.com

Rating :

3

It’s not often that grooming products have macho names but The Fixer is an exception. With a moniker that would suit an East End gangster this gloopy gel (which sounds like it should associate with a pomade called The Enforcer) will give you long-lasting hold. With a whiff of lavender-infused cocktails it doesn’t smell particularly villainous, but that’s probably a good thing.

Price :

£1.48 for 150ml

Available from andrewbarton.tv

Rating :

4

If you are a control freak but would rather not give that away by looking as if you’ve tipped a bucket of grease over your head, style your hair with this clear high-hold gel. Strong gels are often very obvious but not Capital Force, which allows you to be precise with your style while keeping a natural look, and smells sweet and citrusy.

Price 

£12.70 for 150ml

Available from lookfantastic.com

Who needs wax?
Only use it if you’re thick – of hair, that is. ‘Use a wax if your hair is thick and no longer than 5cm in length,’ says celebrity stylist Michael Douglas. ‘Very fine hair can look greasy and if the hair is too long then the wax can look heavy.’
 
Are all waxes the same?
The very thought! There’s a difference and it’s pretty straightforward. ‘You can tell if a wax will provide a strong hold by feeling how hard it is in the tub,’ says Douglas. ‘The harder the wax the better the hold.’
 
How much should I use?
Smearing half a tub over your head is the mark of a rank amateur. ‘Scoop out an amount the size of a 2p coin and rub into your hands,’ says Douglas. ‘The friction will cause the wax to soften so you can apply it easily. Then the wax cools and hardens to add texture and great hold.’
 
What styles work well with wax?
It’s a versatile old product is wax. ‘It’s great for “bed head” and “modern mod” styles, as well as scrunching into curly hair to decrease the frizz factor,’ says Douglas.

What if I want to re-style?
If you want to change your look midway through the day, don’t reach for the wax pot. Instead, work with what’s already on your head. ‘The best way to re-style is to heat the wax while it’s in the hair,’ says Douglas. ‘So, a quick blast with a hairdryer or even a rub with your hands will do, then re-style and leave it to cool.’
 
How do you get a natural look?
Don’t try to do too much, basically. ‘You really need the right haircut to make sure you're getting the right style,’ says Douglas. ‘With the right haircut your hair should be styled in no time.’ So, if you want to create a particular style, make sure your hair looks vaguely like your desired outcome before you start applying product.

For more expert grooming advice, subscribe to the magazine. We'll give you five issues for £5. If you're allergic to paper, you can download a digital version of MF here.

LONG-TERM PREP
 
Facialise
If you've got a few days before New Year's Eve, now is the time to act if you want to look your best. ‘Brighten up your skin by giving yourself a home facial once a week,’ says Deborah Gayle from top London male grooming salon The Refinery. You might think it sounds girly but we’re sure that the extra female attention you get will make up for that. Here’s what you do:
- Steam
‘Get a bowl of hot water and add a couple of drops of essential oil to it,’ says Gayle. ‘Put your face over it with a towel over your head. Stay there for ten minutes.’
- Exfoliate
‘The steam will help to open up your pores and bring debris to the surface. Use an exfoliator to scrub away the debris.’
- Mask
‘Apply a face mask and leave it on for five or ten minutes. Rinse it off with warm water, then pat your skin dry and apply a good moisturiser.’
 
Shape your brows
‘A lot of men have heavy, shaggy eyebrows so you may want to think about doing some eyebrow shaping,’ says Gayle. Women do it because it makes them look younger and you’ll find that it will open up your face and give shape to the eye area. It’s a traditional barber’s skill available from The Refinery. It costs £19 and takes 15 minutes.

LAST-MINUTE TRICKS
 
Ice your eyes
‘You can refresh your eyes by rubbing an ice cube around the eye area,’ says Gayle. ‘That will reduce any puffiness.’
 
Smell simple
‘If you’re wearing more than one product with a scent, stick to ones with similar smells. Conflicting smells, especially when there are a lot of them, can be a bit overpowering.’
 
Wash your hands
‘Women look at men’s hands and nails. If you don’t take care of the bits of you that are on show, what does that say about what the rest of you will be like?’

For reviews of the latest grooming products, subscribe to Men's Fitness magazine. We'll give you five issues for just £5.

The World Cup version of Gillette's classy fusion razor, which has five blades on the front and one on the back, has a St George cross on the handle. It'll give you a smooth, comfortable shave and ensure that at least one thing sporting an England flag will perform with precision and reliability this summer.

Price :

£19.93 for six

Available from natcol.com

As part of its role as the official supplier to the England team, Nivea has released this travel pack. The line-up includes a shaving gel at the back, a shower gel and deodorant out wide and post-shave balm and toothbrush up front.

Price :

£6.50

Available from Nivea

The giant sportswear brand is contributing more than the balls and some team strips this year. It has released an entire special edition South Africa Pure Game grooming range, including a shower gel, deodorants and this zesty eau de toilette. If it were a country, though, it would probably get knocked out in the last eight by a classier rival.

Price :

£4.99 for 50ml

Available from concordextra.com

Imagine if a World Cup deodorant actually captured the smells of the competition, say Rooney's post-hat trick sweat, Maradona's hair gel and Budweiser (one of the sponsors). It would stink but it would certainly win originality points from us. This one smells vaguely fruity and offers 48-hour heat-activated protection to keep you dry and fresh-smelling when you get worked up, eg during an England penalty shoot out. Please, no.

Price :

£2.49 for 250ml

Available from Boots

Rating 

4

Despite its gluey texture this fresh-smelling balm is absorbed surprisingly quickly, and sees off razor-inflicted soreness just as fast. You can really feel it tightening pores and skin on the jawline, which makes it particularly good for oilier skin types.

Check the Gillette website for more information.

Rating :

4

The sanitised swimming pool scent might seem a bit overpowering at first, but the light balm sinks quickly into the skin and minimises post-shave irritation. It also leaves your face feeling smoother and looking shine-free.

Go to the L'Oréal website for more information.

Price :

£5.99 for 100ml

Rating :

5

This is absorbed almost immediately and won’t leave a greasy film on your face. It perks up your skin by smoothing out texture and relieving redness. The screw-top isn’t particularly convenient, but the stuff inside is like a posh spa massage in a bottle.

Visit the Nivea website for more information.

Rating :

3

This has a greasy texture and a slightly medicinal smell despite its ‘fragrance-free’ tag. It sinks in and soothes any inflamed patches effectively, while the thicker consistency makes it a good choice for people with dry skin.

Go to the Simple website to find out more.

Price :

£3.99 for 100ml

Make a mess of shaving and you could end up with a face as mangled as an undead extra’s from a George Romero zombie flick. But not if you follow these simple tips from American Crew's International All-Star Educator Ian Harold.

Open your pores

‘It's important to give your face a thorough clean with warm water before you start. Not only does it wash away dirt but it’ll open up your pores and soften stubble, decreasing their resistance to a razor.’

Shave with the grain

‘Use a sharp razor and shave in the direction of hair growth. This will reduce your chances of getting ingrown hairs.’

Close your pores

‘Using cold water after shaving will close your pores so dirt can’t get into them and cause spots or blemishes.

Dry your face

‘Resist the urge to rub your face dry with a towel, instead pat it dry to avoid the risk of irritation.’

Soothe your mug

‘Avoid using face products that contain a lot of alcohol post-shave because they can cause your face to swell. Instead, use a light skin moisturiser to calm irritation and hydrate your face.’
 
For more information on the new American Crew shave collection or to buy online, check out the American Crew Shop

Razor and brush, shaving tips

American Crew Shaving

Not a particularly macho option. Pump the slender tapered bottle and you only get a tiny dollop of rather oily gloop. It does, however, have a pleasant ferny whiff and leaves your skin feeling smooth.

Price £54.50 for 30ml

debenhams.com

The subtle choice. The fragrance-free cream will leave your skin feeling fresh and is quickly absorbed so you’re barely aware of having put anything on your face.

Price £32 for 50ml

hqhair.com

This has a fresh, if soapy, smell and has a calming effect on the skin. It isn’t too greasy and deserves something more impressive than its plastic packaging.

Price £26 for 50ml

mankind.co.uk

It feels like a face wash but is absorbed quickly, giving your skin a tingly feeling and making it feel less rough. Use it after shaving to help reduce razor burn.
   

Price £9.11 for 50ml

loreal.co.uk

Cutting your hair at home

• 'An easy way to make your cut look refreshed is to give your neck hair a trim. This will tidy-up the overall cut and make the hair at the back of your head fall more smoothly.'
• 'Sideburns can be easily trimmed at home. A weekly tidy-up will keep your hairstyle looking fresher between salon visits.'
• 'If you need to trim your hair make sure you point cut rather than cutting in straight lines. This will help give the cut a loose and grown-out look and allow for a few mishaps. Cutting in a straight line will only lead to a disaster.'
• 'If you have thick hair, it’s easier than you think to take the weight out of it. Simply twist the hair and point cut into it. This will create natural layers and movement.'

Getting a cheaper cut at the salon

• Find out if your regular salon runs in-house training. Salons will normally train their staff on their quietest days, Monday and Tuesday. You can get a free ‘model haircut’ by a trainee who will be closely supervised by one of the experienced staff, ensuring you are happy with the final cut. The only down side is that these cuts normally take twice as long.'
• 'Junior Stylists who have just started on the salon floor will offer discounted rates. They work regular hours including weekends.'
• 'Don’t be afraid of asking for advice, a stylist should be open to showing you how to create different looks and providing tips on maintaining your hair. Whilst you are in the salon chair, fire questions at your stylist and get the most out of your time with them.'
• 'If you pay more for your haircut it will generally last longer so it's better to go for a more expensive cut less frequently.'

Serious hydration and a blend of primrose oil and chamomile make this a soothing, if slightly girly-smelling, option for people with parched skin.

Price :

£9.95 for 50ml

barefoot-botanicals.com

A manly tang and a reassuring bulldog stencilled on the bottle disguise a surprisingly sensitive product that offers plenty of moisture for your money.

Price :

£5.99 for 100ml

meetthebulldog.com

If you’ve got ‘combination’ skin – dry in places but oily in others – this should do the trick. It’s a bit pricy, though, and smells like a field.

Price :

£25 for 50ml

renskincare.com

Great smell, man-size bottle, excellent feel, stupid name. This hydrating, non-greasy moisturiser is a favourite, even if we don’t want to ask for it in the shops.

Price :

£25 for 100ml

cowshedonline.com