BEAUTY TREATS FOR BRAVER BOYS In an experience to rival the ‘Brazilian’, more men are now having everything waxed off ‘downstairs’. Figures are, perhaps unsurprisingly, unavailable, but a growing number of beauty salons are offering this intimate service. Make-up for men is becoming increasingly popular – guyliner and manscara, anyone? There’s even an under-eye concealer aimed specifically at the male market. It’s said to be popular with weary politicians.
Reckon a mirror is just for checking your blind spot? Think again – male grooming is hitting new heights
Women aren’t the only ones who worry about hitting 40 – a new survey by a skincare company reveals the big four-oh-dear is the age when men start to panic about spare tyres, sagging chests and wrinkles, too. ‘It’s the point at which we all start thinking we should look after ourselves more,’ says Healthy expert and life coach Liz Tucker (www.behappybehealthy.co.uk).
If just thinking about anti-wrinkle creams gives you frown lines, help is at hand. Just follow our easy guide to good grooming. We promise it’s less painful than a chest wax…
Skin savers
Sales of male grooming products have boomed in the UK and research analyst Mintel says the market is now worth £821 million. But why have blokes suddenly started taking an interest in their skin? ‘We’re looking after ourselves more in general: going to the gym and eating better,’ says Asim Akhtar, founder of men’s skincare range Kyoku for Men (www.kyokuformen.com). ‘It’s no longer seen as OK to be overweight or wear a badly fitting suit, and male skincare is part of that trend.’
The good news is that men age better than women, thanks to higher levels of natural oils in their skin. The bad news is that they put their face through trauma every day. ‘Because we shave, it is doubly important to look after our skin,’ says Akhtar. ‘The best way to do that is to exfoliate three or four times a week with a rough face scrub to help unblock pores. Then, after you’ve shaved, slather on a moisturiser that’s right for your skin type.’
As men age, levels of testosterone drop, so your skin won’t produce as much oil. ‘This makes it less resilient,’ warns Akhtar. ‘You’ll need a sunscreen to protect it and you should drink a lot more water than you used to – your skin is no longer supple enough to retain moisture, so you need to top it up regularly.’ What you eat can also have a big impact on your complexion. ‘If your diet is poor, it’ll show in your skin.’ Aim for foods with lots of vitamin E, which can help renew skin cells, such as green leafy vegetables, olive oil and wholegrains.
Finally, Akhtar recommends getting a professional shave every six weeks – ‘You’ll learn the correct technique and the whole routine with hot towels and a cut-throat razor is great fun!’
Hair raisers
Research by Datamonitor reveals that men now spend more than £278 million a year on haircare products – but is this a new phenomenon? ‘We’ve always been interested in our hair!’ insists trichologist Philip Kingsley (www.philipkingsley.com). ‘It’s just that now it’s OK for us to be seen to be taking more care.’
The most common problem men worry about as they get older is going bald. But Kingsley is reassuring: ‘A lot can be done to prevent hair thinning. If it’s genetic, there’s not much you can do to stop it altogether, but you can apply tonics to the scalp to help block the male hormones.’ A trichologist can help you if baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, does run in your family.
A healthy diet and lifestyle is vital for encouraging strong, healthy hair. ‘It’s made of protein, so make sure you’re getting enough in your diet,’ advises Kingsley. ‘And breakfast is the most important meal because the energy supply to the hair follicles is at its lowest in the morning.’ Aim for plenty of lean animal proteins, such as low-fat steak, chicken or fish. You could also ask your GP to test you for low ferritin levels. Ferritin is an iron-protein complex stored in the blood, and a lack can affect hair-protein production.
You need to look after your hair from the outside, too – and that doesn’t mean using your partner’s shampoos and conditioners. ‘Men have finer hair than women – about 10 per cent more hair per centimetre of scalp,’ says Kingsley. ‘To help it look thicker, use a body-building shampoo and conditioner. And wash your hair every day – it’s the most important thing you can do for a healthy-feeling, healthy-looking head of hair.’
No more moobs
Figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reveal that the number of men having chest reductions to get rid of their man boobs, or moobs, has dramatically increased. In 2003, just 22 men had breast-reduction surgery; in 2008, this rose to a whopping 323.
‘The parts of a man’s body that he worries about most are his arms and his chest, as these are the muscles that men compare with each other. But we’re now starting to develop more fatty tissue on our chests, owing to bad nutrition and lack of exercise,’ says Simon Waterson (www.simonwaterson.com), a celebrity strength and conditioning coach who is credited with creating Daniel Craig’s Bond physique. Craig recently turned 41, so age really is no excuse for pudgy pecs.
The first step to ditching your moobs is cutting out refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, and swapping fatty snacks like crisps for fresh fruit and veg. And take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to plug any gaps in your diet.
To help tone and shape your chest, Waterson recommends press-ups. ‘Do five sets every other day, but mix them up,’ he says. ‘Taking your hands wide will work the shoulder muscles more than the chest, whereas bringing the hands together will target the triceps.’
‘On the days you don’t do press-ups, do some fat-burning exercise, such as cycling, swimming or brisk walking, for 20 minutes. After eight weeks, you’ll definitely be more toned,’ says Waterson.
Eyes right
There’s no point maintaining your looks if you have to squint to admire them in the mirror, so taking care of your eyesight is hugely important. ‘Poor vision does not have to be an inevitable consequence of ageing,’ says Iain Anderson, chairman of the Eyecare Trust (www.eye-care.org.uk).
You can minimise your risk of suffering age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration (AMD) or glaucoma by making some subtle changes to your lifestyle. To help protect your eyes, eat a diet rich in eye-friendly nutrients. ‘Kiwi fruit, spinach and oranges are all good sources of vitamin C – a key antioxidant and vital for eliminating the free radicals that cause eye damage,’ says Anderson. ‘Vitamins B and E protect against cataracts, while omega-3 fish oils help maintain healthy blood vessels inside the eye. Eating just one portion of oily fish a week can reduce the risk of developing AMD by up to 40 per cent.’
Include some garlic, onions or shallots in your diet, too. Anderson says, ‘These are rich in sulphur, which is necessary for the production of glutathione, an important antioxidant required to help maintain healthy sight.’ Sadly, deep-fried onion rings probably don’t count!
Protecting your eyes in the sun is just as important as protecting your skin. Apart from helping prevent wrinkles, sunglasses can protect your eye health. ‘Unprotected exposure to the sun over a lifetime may increase your risk of developing AMD or cataracts, so they are much more than just a fashion statement,’ says Anderson. Make sure yours have the CE or BS EN 1836:2005 mark, which means they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Your eyes will thank you for it in the long run.
Words: Rosalind Ryan
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