Bacon Dental Hygiene Products

Along with my taste in bourbon, my love of bacon is an attribute many men find endearing. I really love bacon. However, even I am hesitant to purchase bacon flavored toothpicks or bacon flavored dental floss. Hmmm...perhaps they would be good as a gag gift or stocking stuffer.

Images from perpetualkid.com

Every man should wear cologne

My very first boyfriend wore a cologne from Abercrombie and Fitch and Old Spice deodorant. To this day, when I smell either one I think of him. My husband wears Acqua Di Gio Cologne for Men by Giorgio Armani and before we got married he used the same laundry detergent for years. When we were dating I used to get upset when his mother would do the laundry because he smelled different. All humans associate scent strongly with feelings and memories. Do you want your significant other to remember you as smelling of sweat or cologne, because trust me he/she will always remember what you smell like.

Image from directfragrances.net.au

Waxing, is it worth it?

Body Hair. In America women are expected to remove all signs of hair from their bodies, save their heads and their arms. Traditionally, men have not had to worry about hair removal, but that appears to be changing. Most young male actors these days seem to have cut, hairless chests and abdomens. I can pretty much guarantee you that those boys wax or have the hair lasered off. Do women expect you to be similarly hairless? It probably depends on the woman, the area of the country that you live in and your physique. Here are a few general guidelines for male hair removal:

• Leg, arm and armpit hair should be left alone, unless you are an elite athlete who shaves for sport. Women who prefer hairless legs and arms are the exception, not the rule.
  
• Chest hair preference definitely varies amongst the general population, with some women preferring hairy and others preferring hairless. You are generally safe leaving it alone. If you are in great shape, a hairless chest will accent all of you hard work, but if you have a beer belly it is pretty pointless to remove the hair from your chest.
• It is usually a good idea to remove back hair, unfortunately you have to rely on someone else to effectively remove all of it. Waxing and laser are probably your best options. Most women will not make that big a deal out of back hair, but they will appreciate the extra effort, especially if you are going to the beach.
  
• Beards and mustaches are a matter of personal preference, most women do not find "chin straps," "soul patches" and patchy beards appealing.
• Anything covered by a pair of boxers is your own business, but a trim now and then is never a bad idea. Shaving/waxing is unnecessary, not to mention cruelly painful.
  

Here are your hair removal options:

• Shaving...this is the easiest option because you have all the equipment necessary and use it on a daily basis.
  
• Hair removing cream (like Nair) is smelly and I've found varies in it's efficiency.
  
• At home waxing or sugaring is not recommended, unless carried out by an experienced individual.
  
• Salon waxing is the most efficient form of hair removal. Don't be embarrassed, you probably know many girls who strip nude and get Brazilians...your hairy back is not the most unpleasant thing the woman at the salon has had to wax that day. Don't forget to tip your waxer.
  
• Laser and electrolysis are expensive and time intensive. The results are not guaranteed, but should be very long term. These procedures are considered medical procedures, tipping is not required, but is always appreciated.
  

Image from bbc.co.uk

Most men should not wear hair gel

With very few exceptions, men should not wear hair gel, because very few men are able to use gel with the light touch it requires. If used with restraint, hair gel can be a useful product. Hugh Grant almost achieves the proper look, but really hair gel should not be visible at all. Too much product yields a wet, crunchy look that is very unattractive.

Sylvester Stalone is a prime example of why this look is just plain wrong. Long or thinning hair almost very looks good with gel in it. To be honest most women would think all four of these movie stars were a bit greasy and over gelled in real life. There is nothing attractive about shellacked helmet head hair. You can't run your hands through it, it can't look wind swept, and it reminds most women of 90s boy bands...avoid this look.

Images on flickr

Product Review: Origins Fire Fighter

Back in the days when we were dating I purchased Origins Fire Fighter for my husband. Call it an attempt at metrosexualization, call it attempt at making shaving less painful so that he would do it more often...whatever! It worked! The lotion is a wonderful soothing aftershave developed for the man with sensitive skin. It works wonders at preventing razor burn and at providing a little extra moisture to abused, sensitive skin. Origins has recently improved the product by adding an ingredient that causes your whiskers to grow back slower, leading to less shaving and happier skin. As soon as my husband has finished his current bottle of the old formula of Fire Fighter we are definitely investing in the new formulation!

Image from Origins

Product Review: Lush Coalface

Lush is a British handmade cosmetics company that is quickly building a following in the United States. Their coalface soap is an excellent product for oily and acne prone skin. The soap is a distinctive black color because one of it's main ingredients is charcoal, a natural astringent and antibiotic. The charcoal also acts as a very mild exfoliant, giving the soap a slightly grainy texture. Unlike many other lush products, this soap has a very subtle smell (licorice) that does not linger on the skin. Interestingly, this product is also vegan. As Lush hand cuts their soap in the store, it is possible to obtain a small sample size bar to give the product a test run before really committing to it.

I recommend Coalface for the man with oily skin looking for an face cleanser that doesn't leave behind much of a scent. As an added bonus, this soap will look at home in your shower, on the edge of your sink and at your gym.

Image from lush.com