Great Stuff 12-09-07: Men’s hair care
December 6th, 2007, 5:13 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Sam Mittelsteadt
You know what guys don’t want to smell like? Honey. Vanilla. Blackberries, peaches, or any other fruit that could be described as being “juicy” or “luscious.” Roses, sweet peas, gardenias, plumeria — which I thought was a disease before I went to Hawaii — or other flowers. Even tea tree oil now connotes “dandruff shampoo.” So, what do they want to smell like? Nothing — or, as little as possible. These men’s grooming lines, which all fit the bill, can be found at (the newly renovated) Ulta stores.
The shampoo: GYM Grooming. The GYM Grooming line is nearly fragrance-free: Everything from shampoo to styling products just smells … clean. (“Clean” as in nearly neutral, not as in a fragrance that tries to mimic soapy smells.) And even that scent is designed to dissipate quickly. It’s like stealth grooming! What’s even better: The products perform up to expectations. Moisture Hydro Therapy shampoo ($15) leaves hair so soft, you could probably skip Recharge Intense Moisture conditioner ($18) once in a while.
When I was browsing the company’s Web site I thought I recognized one of the ab-alicious models as a local guy: Sure enough, it’s Scott Alan of the Ford/Robert Black Agency in Scottsdale. He’s featured in several scenes, including the one below for GYM Grooming’s shaving cream.
The conditioner: Korres Natural Products. I’ve loved Korres body butter for years but had never noticed the Greek company’s all-natural hair care products. Big mistake. Juniper and Olive Tree shampoo ($15) and Acacia Milk conditioner ($17.50) are perfect for normal to dry hair — even if you don’t leave them on the suggested two minutes each. And unlike the other two lines mentioned here, Korres was designed for both women and men to use.
The styling product: Redken for Men. I’m not a fan of most paste or putty stylers — they leave hair too stiff to the touch and kind of goopy. Pomades like Polish Up by Redken for Men ($13.95) usually have a hold strong enough to hold most styles — spikes, not so much, but sky-high hair is kind of played out, isn’t it? And Polish Up earns its name, with moisturizers to add shine as well as flexible hold and definition. To find the closest salon in your ZIP code, click on this link.
