Here Comes the Grooming!

Don’t worry, no one’s getting married- it’s only been a couple of dates- but I would like to bring up something important and possibly long since forgotten in this pre-apocalyptic future: Male grooming.

Male grooming used to exist in every home in America, but these days it appears as if that number has decreased dramatically. We’ve become a society dominated by “casual.” From job interviews in jeans to tank-tops in French restaurants.

Here are some simple, straight-forward tips for guys that will make your special lady swoon.

Part 1 - Clean cut vs. stylishly disheveled

While it’s nice that popular culture is accepting of guys being a little messy, a little scruffy, if that is a risk you are willing to take, have at it. But clean cut and well groomed is ALWAYS impressive and you can’t go wrong.

Even if you’ve had your hair long for years, change is good, variety is exciting and in fact, you may find something that you didn’t know you liked. (Example: girls talking to you).

Part 2 – Save those pennies

A little more money for a haircut goes a long way and I speak from significant experience. I used to think there was no reason, as a guy, to get a haircut anywhere but Supercuts because I didn’t need to spend more than 12 bucks on a cut. That’s before Hawleywood’s Barber shop(gentleman only) opened up down the street from me. I didn’t know what to expect or how much it was going to be, but I brought about $70 bracing for the worst.

The cut took about an hour(!), cost $20(with a $10 tip), and I’ve never looked back.

Here’s the thing: You don’t take your ’56 Ford Mustang to a Honda performance garage to get the oil changed. As a male, why are you taking your hair to such a generic place as Supercuts? There’s no reason not to go to the guys that are only cutting men’s hair. Specialize!

Part 3 – Inspirational Imagery

If you’re tired of getting an OK haircut, one that’s not quite almost kind of what you wanted then you need to take matters into your own hands, and I don’t mean the clippers.

Do your research: figure out what you want and where you can find a good example of the style. Magazines, movies, books, the internet, anywhere.

The next time you go to get that “kind of almost” haircut, bring a picture. You’re going to get what you want and the barber’s going to give you what you want. Both are happy.

Part 4 – Gloop

Here is another place that I used to be a cranky, ol’ curmudgeon. I HATED goo in my hair. The only thing I hated more was the innocuous way it’s referred to as “product.” Which made it sound like soylent green or something sinister that they couldn’t refer to with a more specific noun.

While I still don’t prefer “goo” in my hair, I’d like to make it very clear: THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

If you’re the kind of guy that can’t imagine putting anything in your hair, even if you want a little more “hold” or a bit more spike, trust me, there are a gajillion other people that feel the same way and one of those people has invented something for you.

There are two hair products that I’ve found to be unexpectedly amazing.

1.) Sea Spray – From a company called Bumble Bumble, this is essentially salt water you can spritz on your hair. It creates that “I was ripping up some waves this morning” look. It’s water based and it washes right out, it doesn’t smell or feel weird, and it’s a little more natural (in name and in compound) than blue jelly called “LA Stylez.”

2.) LayRite – Created by male barbers for the discerning greasy hotrodder. When I got my cut at Hawleywood’s they didn’t even ask if I wanted anything in my hair, they just did it. After they gave me a sweet comb-job, Cesar explained it’s the only stuff they sell there, it’s water based wax and washes right out. When I left, my hair felt like an armadillo (and looked great), but I couldn’t imagine it was going to “wash right out.” I was never more wrong or amazed in my life. I got in the shower at the end of the day and it was just…gone. I didn’t have to really shampoo any more than normal.

So those are two options you might want to look into if you’ve always questioned the use of product.

Part 5 – The Legendary Hot Towel Shave

There’s a great scene in the movie “Rounders” where Ed Norton and Matt Damon have been playing poker all over New York for 20 hours straight to win money so they can pay John Malkovich, an ex-KGB agent. Matt Damon is exhausted and Ed Norton says, “I’ve got just the thing you need.” And they go get a hot towel shave.

I didn’t know people still got shaves at barbershops, but when I saw the Hot Towel Shave advertised at Hawleywood’s, I couldn’t resist.

Afterwards, I called Lady Date Maven and said the experience was “transcendent,” without a tone of sarcasm in my voice.

Gents, if you’ve never gotten a hot towel shave, you’re missing out on an amazing experience. It’s worth the money to get the closest, most relaxing shave of your entire life.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: I want to make it clear that this may not be for everyone. When they slap that aftershave on, it stings like a motherfucker, so if you’re lucky to have a barber that warns you about this, it’s worth the experience. Not to mention, when you’re stubble starts growing back, the next 48 hours may be the itchiest of your life. It’s up to you to decide if this makes it all worth it.)

Part 6 – Don’t be a dip, leave a nice tip

Tip your barber. They’ll be more inclined not to kill you next time.

Part 7 – Pro-Choice

In the end, this is all up to you: The barber shop you choose to patronize, the cut you want, and the style you do yourself everyday. If you don’t care about these things than you’re really just paying for an awkward conversation.

Here are my recs for barbershops across LA and Orange County.

Rudy’s Barbershop
www.RudysBarbershop.com
Five locations in Los Angeles
Hollywood/Standard hotel – 8300 W. Sunset blvd. (323) 650-5669
Silverlake – 4451 W. Sunset Blvd. (323) 661-6535
Melrose – 8019 Melrose Ave. (323) 653-6078
Downtown Standard – 550 S. Flower St. (213) 439-3058 (call first)
Santa Monica – 3101 Main St. (310)450-2930

Hawleywood’s Barbershop
www.hawleywoods.com
Long Beach – 2234 4th St. (562) 434-5405
Costa Mesa – 545 West 18th St. #C (949) 631-COMB
(call for hours and appointments)

Floyd’s
www.Floydsbarbershop.com
Hollywood – 7300 Melrose Ave. (323) 965-7600
Santa Monica – 11431 Santa Monica Blvd. (310) 231-7200
(new locations coming to Hermosa Beach and Studio City)

The Barbershop Club
6907 Melrose Ave.
(323) 939-4319
Go here if you’ve got an awards dinner to go to.
Bring lots of cash.
Famous clientele.