Men’s skincare has been an increasingly hot topic in recent years, yet a staggering number of men have yet to learn how to address their skin concerns. While men may not have, want, or even need a 12-step skincare routine, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take care of their skin. It’s time for a crash course on the proper tips and techniques to help protect your clients from winter dryness and mask-ne (acne caused by wearing a a cotton or fabric face mask).
Creating Good Habits
The good news is that it’s never too late to start healthy habits! Most men may not need to see a specialist for facials or skincare-related needs, but it’s not a bad idea as their trusted hairstylist or barber to get them talking about their skin. “I think that men were once not as sensible as they are now with their skin,” says Lily Braze, owner of Chez Le Barbier in Montreal. “Men were [less aware] but now with all the trends with skin products and haircuts, they’re more focused on looking great and we should help them.” “I think it’s important for men to have a good skincare routine because male skin is a bit thicker and rougher than women’s skin,” says Rob Rutledge, owner of Al’s Barber Shop in Brampton, Ont. “For concerns related to aging and keeping your skin healthy, it’s important to exfoliate the skin to remove dirt and oil buildup and I think men are starting to realize that.” Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-ne has been a big eye-opener for many, including men. Rutledge says that it and other forms of skin irritation are actually rooted in dryness. Over- drying an area of skin can cause pimples to surface, due to the buildup of dirt and oil, so using a good moisturizer and cleanser can do wonders.
Men’s Must-Haves
According to Rutledge, some men may think they can just use a bar of soap on their face and call it a day, but for most men, that’s far from the truth. “It won’t give you what the skin needs,” he says. “The products have to be specifically for your skin and have to be for the issue or area that needs addressing.” He suggests using an exfoliating cream, which helps loosen the skin to allow you to clean the pores. For bearded clients, Braze says a beard oil can help moisturize hair while protecting the skin underneath. “As the temperature changes, your skin gets dry and you can develop dandruff,” she says.
Skin vs. Hair: Why Should They Care?
Rutledge says that although men can typically be found investing in hair products before skincare items, he’s starting to see a change. “For the longest time it was the wife or girlfriend that would pick up a product for men to try, or men would just use whatever was in the shower or smelled good. But now, for the most part, men are buying for themselves, which is great. It’s a huge opening of the male market that wasn’t really there before,” he says. “By giving the proper knowledge to your clientele, they become very interested and it becomes a lot easier for them to talk about. They have blackheads and oily glands and they don’t know how to address those issues, so they need your help.”
FOR EVERYDAY SKIN PROTECTION, RUTLEDGE SUGGESTS USING A MOISTURIZING PRODUCT WITH SPF, SUCH AS AMERICAN CREW’S ALL-IN-ONE FACE BALM SPF 15.
Comments are closed.