There's nothing really new about men wearing makeup. As far back as the 4th millennium BC, Egyptian men used to wear cosmetics as protection against the severity of the sun and wind, and lined their eyes with a concoction made up from soot and lead to repel insects.
18th Century France was a leader in cosmetic techniques - a process that served as a symbol of rank and class. Then following the French Revolution, interest in makeup subsided much until after World War II, when mass marketing of cosmetics was aimed at women.
These days, men are showing renewed interest in both caring for and enhancing their facial features, and in the entertainment industry and the media, make up artists play an essential role in bringing out the best in those who appear in the public eye.
Appearances
Dressing for success has always been an important factor for some men, but although they may spend a great deal of money on clothes, hairstyles and going to the gym, they often overlook their facial appearance. This is not to say that men should suddenly start wearing lipstick, eye shadow or having facelifts, but simply make the best of their facial appearance.
Generally a man's skin is 15 percent oilier and thicker than a woman's skin, so needs a different approach with regard to products and procedures. Men are also subject to shaving on a regular basis, and so are prone to facial problems like red spots, and irritated skin patches.
Skincare
An increasing number of men are realising the benefits of basic skin care, and accordingly the cosmetic industry is manufacturing many more products to cope with this demand.
According to some reports, men are the beauty industry's new frontier, and many younger men already know the benefits of skin care and the use of anti-ageing products. Overall, there has been around a 50 percent increase in males buying high-end cosmetics, with some even going as far as sampling manicures, pedicures and facials!
In 1976 Clinique was the first to launch a men's line of fragrance-free products similar to the ones on offer to women. Others realised that the language needed to be different for men and instead of a 'concealer' it became 'concealing agent' and a moisturiser became a shaving cream or hydrator, lip gloss became lip balm. If the woman had a 'makeup bag,' then the man had a 'survival kit.'
Skin cancer (non melanoma) is particularly high in men, perhaps due to the fact that many work outdoors, so choosing a high SPF factor sunscreen will be important at certain times of the year.
Vitamin and mineral supplements
In both men and women, diet plays an important part in general health and some skin complaints can be due to lack of the right nutrients. From the diet point of view, your skin needs vitamins, proteins, minerals, fatty acids, trace elements and unrefined carbohydrates to keep it looking young and healthy.
You should eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. This will flush out the system and help detoxify the skin.
If you have a hectic lifestyle, then you may benefit from taking a dietary supplement.
These are best taken at mealtimes, but will depend on the manufacturer's instructions. However, you should not just start taking extra vitamins and minerals unless you know that your diet is particularly deficient. If in doubt you should consult your doctor.
Face care and shaving
Many products for men revolve around shaving moisturizers and skin protectors. Once, men would buy these only when they had a problem with dry or itchy skin. Now, more and more are using skin products on a daily basis, both before and after dry or wet shaving.
Electric shaving
As well as being quick and convenient, this type of shaving is suitable for most skin types, and requires no preparation. Using a system of foils, is considered a to be a much safer option than wet shaving, particularly for those with sensitive skin. As with wet shaving, you should first cleanse the face and neck.
After shave and skin care products
Available in different concentrations of alcohol and oil, the longer lasting fragrances usually contain more oil. Some aftershave aromas, therefore, will last longer than others, and will depend on the strength of oil and your skin type.
Your choice of after-shave fragrance will obviously be down to personal choice, as some are light and citrus-smelling whereas others have a heavier fragrance.
If you prefer, many creams and balms are available which contain less alcohol and more skin-friendly ingredients such as aloe vera and chamomile. These can be purchased in normal and sensitive variants.
Try not to use body lotion on your face. You need special facial moisturizers and protectors that are more delicate than the oilier body lotions. If you have spots, then your skin may need a specially-formulated deep pore cleanser or exfoliator that removes dirt, oil and bacteria.
These contain ingredients that moisturize and nourish the skin and clear dead surface cells. They are suitable for all skin types. Ideally, you should cleanse and moisturize your face in the morning before shaving and once before going to bed.
Teeth
Although heredity will play a part in our dental health, having good teeth is within the reach of most of us these days. Some, however, neglect the insidious processes of tooth decay and gum disease until it is too late.
From sixteen onwards, most teeth are lost through gum disease caused by accumulation of bacteria, (plaque) which if not removed within 24 hours, works its way down into the gums. If your gums bleed after brushing your teeth (gingivitis) you should see your dentist.
Taking care of our teeth, starts and ends with daily oral hygiene and regular checkups by the dentist. Fluoride is an essential part of any preventative regime, as it strengthens the teeth by making the enamel harder, and less likely to decay.
In children and young adults, the high amount of sweets, fizzy drinks and certain 'fast foods' can rapidly lead to tooth decay without regular oral hygiene.
Brushing
With so many toothbrushes on the market, how do we make a choice? Choose a nylon-bristled toothbrush that has flat, densely packed bristles as these can flex over the teeth and gums and cope with any irregularities.
Interspace brushes are also available which are specially designed to reach problem-areas of the mouth. You should replace your toothbrush as soon as the bristles wear out and at least every 3 months.
Cleaning your teeth at least once (but preferably twice a day) for around three minutes is recommended. Flossing in between teeth can also help you keep your teeth in good condition if carried out properly.
Electric toothbrushes have come down in price these days, and due to their oscillating action, are a particularly effective way of removing plaque and giving your teeth that 'back from the dentist' look.
Toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss
There are many toothpastes, gels and powders available, all of which will profess to keep your teeth gleaming white. Some of these are more expensive and claim to have specific formulations to whiten teeth Hollywood style! Some work better than others irrespective of price, so you should try them yourself before being convinced.
There are many effective mouthwashes available, some of which are clinically proven to reduce the formation of tartar. Used daily, they can reduce the build up of plaque up to 50% than by brushing alone. They also leave your mouth feeling clean and fresh.
Because normal brushing is unable to get between the crevices of your teeth, these are key areas for plaque buildup. The floss is designed to slide freely between your teeth and remove any deposits. It is available in waxed or non-waxed formulations.
Body care
Most shower gels or body bars, give a non-drying, fragrant lather with a faint scent. After showering, you might like to apply a lightly-scented all-over body moisturizer. This can combat the skin dryness particularly associated with winter. If you would rather have skin care without the scent, then there are many alternative creams, gels and soaps to choose from specifically made for men.
Personal freshness
Antiperspirants work by sitting on the skin's surface. As sweat is released, they dissolve into a gel-like substance that blocks the pores. There are two main kinds of antiperspirants: aluminium based or those made with zirconium salts.
Deodorants work differently to antiperspirants. They do not stop wetness but reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin and control any re-growth.
Both anti-perspirants and deodorants are available in:
Aerosol sprays - these are the most popular format and are an quick drying and non-sticky
Roll ons - these usually have a roller-ball top that dispenses a thick gel solution where needed
Sticks - these remain a small part of the sector and were first developed for the male market. They are compact and useful for travel and sport.
Gel and cream - these are relatively new innovations, and are available in a twist or click up base.
In the past, some formulations would leave white, powdery marks on clothing, but this has been addressed with most modern products. Although to some extent this depends on the skin type, staining can be minimized by not applying too much, and allowing the product time to dry before dressing.
Keeping your hair healthy
Most hair will respond favourably to a balanced, healthy diet. Wholegrain products, yeast extracts, eggs, liver, kidney are especially beneficial as all are high in vitamin B, which is thought to be crucial to hair health.
Healthy hair is synonomous with a healthy scalp. A dry and flaky scalp, however, need not be due to dandruff alone, and like other parts of the body, could be caused by overexposure to strong sunlight, a generalised dry skin condition, or residue from your shampoo or hair cream/gel.
Because hair loses around 20 per cent of its natural elasticity when wet, it is most vulnerable to over-vigorous activity during shampooing and drying. It is, therefore, not surprising that most people cause more damage to their hair during these times than by using the 'wrong' products.
Apart from prescribed treatment, selecting the right shampoo can be down to trial and error, rather than just a case of reading what it says on the label.
Good shampoos will clean hair quickly and effectively, and will be easy to apply and rinse out without causing any scalp irritation. However, do not be taken in by the lather that a shampoo produces, as some manufacturers add foaming agents just for commercial reasons.
Where possible, you should not rub vigorously, but allow your hair to dry naturally, with minimal help from a blow dryer, squeezing out excess water. Before using a blow dryer, your hair should be near three-quarters dry, and you should avoid holding or blowing on hair that is already dry. Also, do not let the scalp become too hot.
If you have mild dandruff, try using a 'frequent use for dry hair' shampoo rather than an ordinary anti-dandruff shampoo, as this will remove the flakes and protect and moisturize your scalp. More severe conditions may need stronger solutions.
You could check with your pharmacist if unsure. If your scalp becomes red and itchy, and you have flaky skin around your eyebrows, ears or nose, you may have a form of dermatitis and should see a doctor. You should avoid colouring your hair if you have any scalp condition.
Hair conditioning
Because shampooing hair produces a natural electrical charge which can cause individual hair strands to stick up, using a conditioner will help the hair to lie smoothly and make it easier to comb whilst wet.
If your hair is oily, first dampen it thoroughly, towel dry, then apply conditioner and leave for around a minute before combing out, rinsing and shampooing. Conditioners are designed to work between 30-60 seconds and are applied much the same as shampoos, by rubbing the hair with the palms, away from the scalp to encourage the cuticle to lie flat.
Hair colouring
Many men these days wish to colour over their grey hair. The many types of dyes available can be broken down to three main types: the simple wash-in rinses that last for just a few washes, the semi-permanent ones that last for around twenty washes and the permanent ones that do not fade.
Doing this successfully often depends on hair colour and how much grey needs to be covered. Most of these are made for the female market with just a few aimed specifically at men (i.e. have a man's face on the box instead of a woman's face). However, more and more products are being made for the modern male.
Meanwhile, there is nothing to say that men cannot use women's hair colouring products and indeed, many do!
Having your hair coloured at a hairdresser can be very good but expensive, and with so many dyes being designed for home use, doing it yourself can be a simple process if you follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Performing an allergy skin test is essential before proceeding, and can be done by the applying a small dab of the solution to an inner area of the forearm (or behind the ear) and leaving for 24 hours. If there is any inflammation or irritation of the skin, the dye should not be used.
Performing a pre-colour test to a few strands of hair is also recommended and should give you some idea of the tone. However, bear in mind that in covering your whole hair, the colour will be more intense.
Always buy a reputable product, and do not be unduly influenced by the picture on the packet. Permanent hair dyes should not to be used to dye beards, eyelashes or eyebrows.
Some specialist creams are available which claim to restore grey hair to its natural colour. These work by replicating the pigmentation process, with the colour gradually forming in a few days.
© allcures.com September 2002