5 men's grooming products you never knew you needed – but which you’ll be grateful you discovered.
Lee Kynaston sheds a light on some overlooked men's grooming products that are worth adding to your list of essentials.
Oct 18, 2022
Grooming Guru Lee Kynaston is one of the UK’s best-known and most knowledgeable male beauty experts, with over 20 years experience of writing about men's skincare, haircare and fragrance. An award-winning journalist and former magazine editor, his work has appeared in newspapers and magazines and on websites across the world and as an in-demand consultant he has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. He currently writes for the likes of GQ, Mr. Porter and The Independent – as well as for Humanery.
Face wash, face scrub and moisturiser might be the holy trinity of grooming gear but look beyond the usual suspects and you’ll find a treasure trove of useful products you never even realised were essentials. Here are five definitely worth having in your grooming arsenal by Lee Kynaston (The Grooming Guru).
1. Scalp Scrub
What is it?
Like face scrubs, scalp scrubs gently exfoliate the skin on your bonce, helping remove grease, grime, dead cells and product build-up, to ensure the scalp is in the best of health – and the healthier the scalp the healthier the hair that sprouts from it.
Why you need it?
Scalp scrubs are a great way to ensure that scalp skin is in the best condition possible, ensuring hair grows unhindered. Easy to incorporate into your grooming routine (just gently massage one into your scalp once or twice a week after shampooing and rinse off with water) they’re also great for bald guys whose scalp need to looks good as their face. With a study published by The Institute of Trichology showing that scalp health has a direct effect on hair health, they may also be one of the best tools you have if your hair is thinning, helping to ensure your crowning glory stays that way.
Top recommendation for Scalp scrub
2. Body hair removal applicator
What is it?
A handy, extendable device that allows you to apply hair removal cream to the bits of your body you can’t reach with your own hands.
Why you need it?
Body hair removal is a cinch with the help of a hair removal or ‘depilatory’ cream but there are some bits – namely your back and shoulder blades – that are almost impossible to reach with your own hands. An expandable applicator allows you to do just that, not only assisting with the application of the cream but with the removal of hair too, sparing you the embarrassment of asking for a pair of helping hands.
It’s not just great for applying hair removal cream though – you can also use it to apply everything from pore-cleansing clay masks to exfoliating scrubs and zit-busting creams if you suffer from a spotty back. Think of it as a spa therapist in foldable form.
Top recommendation for Body hair removal applicator
3. Shaving stand
What is it?
The grooming equivalent of a chef’s knife holder, shaving stands are weighted pieces of grooming kit designed to store your shaving brush and razor safely and, in doing so, prolong their life.
Why you need it?
Shaving brushes are one of the best ways to whip up a decent lather and improve your shave but they need to be stored brush side down after use to allow water to drain away, ensuring their bristles don’t become waterlogged. If you opt for a brush with a wooden handle they also prevent that wood from rotting and harbouring bacteria.
Your razor can be stored upright or upside down on the stand as long as its blades are in the air; toss a razor onto a surface after using and you risk damaging the blades – not to mention your face when you use it next.
Top recommendation for Shaving stand
4. Foot peel
What is it?
A specially blended foot mask designed to help remove hard, dead skin from the soles, heels and sides of your feet.
Why you need it?
They say you can always judge a man by his shoes but the same goes for the feet inside those shoes. Hours spent tearing a round a football pitch, ill-fitting shoes and general wear-and-tear cause calluses to build up and skin on the heels becomes rough and cracked. If left, this dead skin can become soggy, making it a perfect home for bacteria and fungal spores.
A foot peel helps remove this dead skin, leaving feet feeling smooth and looking healthy. The results aren’t instant – in the case of Barber Pro’s best-selling Foot Peel you slip into the specially designed socks, leave them on for 90 minutes and the skin begins to peel several days later – but you won’t have more fun using a product.
Top recommendation for Foot peel
5. Alum block
What is it?
A solid block of potassium alum that’s a barbershop staple because of its ability to instantly heal nicks and cuts and soothe razor burn.
Why you need it?
The humble alum block has been a shaving essential for almost as long as man first discovered shaving. Used since ancient Egyptian times, alum acts as a natural antiseptic and astringent, calming irritation, reducing redness and helping close pores. It also acts as a styptic, almost instantly stopping bleeding if you accidentally nick yourself whilst shaving and can even be used to dry out spots.
Inexpensive, long lasting and easy you use (you simply dampen it with water and apply to skin), it's considered a bit old-fashioned these days but don’t let that put you off – it’s actually one of the most useful pieces of shaving kit you’ll ever own. Certainly beats plastering your face with little bits of damp loo paper to prevent bleeding anyway.
Top recommendation for Alum block
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