​This Is Us is a tearjerker, almost entirely because Milo Ventimiglia’s hair just looks that damn good. (A roster of great actors helps, too.) We put Ventimiglia front and center on our November cover a bit cleaned up by comparison to his small-screen persona—but no less rakish.

Wondering how you can replicate his long locks for yourself? We got some pointers from Justin Virgil Gramelspacher, master barber at Blind Barber in New York City. (You can find him at the East Village and Moxy Times Square locations.) Here’s what Gramelspacher taught us about Ventimiglia’s hair, and, as an added bonus, about his equally renowned mustache, too.

The Kind of Hair You Need

You need to have moderately curly, wavy, or straight hair if you want to replicate this style (though the result will vary from one guy to the next), Gramelspacher says.

“It’ll need to be cut and styled based on your individual texture and density,” he says.

If you’re receding at all, don’t shy away from the look, either: He says that Ventimiglia’s cut works well on both a full or receded hairline.

What Kind of Regimen Does it Require?

You need to get yourself in a barber’s chair every 6-8 weeks in order to properly texturize the hair and reduce any bulk, Gramelspacher says. That seems counterproductive, but if you don’t clean it up as it grows, then you’ll suffer through a year of growth (and awkward hairstyles) until you reach the promised land.

He advises shampooing three times a week—no more, no less—before bed if it gets too dried out after a wash. (“This allows some of your natural oils to return overnight and your hair will be easier to tame in the morning.“)

Always follow a shampoo with conditioner to restore nutrients and softness to your hair after a drying wash. We’re fans of Blind Barber’s shampoo and conditioner.

How to Do You Style It?
“Long hair has to move but you still want it to hold a shape,” Gramelspacher says.
That means you want to avoid sticky or greasy hair products with high hold.

“For a low-commitment approach, comb sea salt spray (Verb Products Sea Spray) or clean-hold gel (Kiehl’s Grooming Solutions Clean Hold Styling Gel) through towel dried hair to set the shape, and let it air dry. Once the hair has dried, run your hands through it repeatedly to break up the stiff bonds that form. Don’t worry, the product will still be there, doing its job invisibly. Follow up with styling cream (V76 Grooming Cream Ultralight Hold) to give weight, nourishment, and separation to the hair.”

If you have thin or thinning hair, you should consider using a blow dryer (after the gel or salt spray, but before the styling cream). Gramelspacher says this is an effective way to increase density and volume.

And if you have curly hair: “Work a generous amount of anti-frizz cream (Living Proof NourishingStyling Cream) through towel-dried hair, and blow dry to activate and relax the curl for a wavier look.”

How to Transition This Cleaned-up Look Into a Grittier Style (like Ventimiglia’s character on This Is Us)

This style is kind of the longest it can be before things look a little too gritty. That being said, you can still grow it longer, but it’s advised that you continue seeing your stylist every 2 months to texturize the hair and clean up the ends—even if you want to look a little less refined. (Again, the goal isn’t to feel awkward during growth.)

Mustache maintenance is pretty DIY.
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“Use an electric trimmer with a number 1 or 2 guard and rake downward, with the grain, along the mustache,” Gramelspacher says. “Repeat until the bulk is even and smooth to the face. Remove the guard and use the bare blade to trim any stray hairs that extend from the bulk along the lip line.”

In this case, less is more.
How to Grow and Maintain a Mustache

This article appeared on Men's Journal

​Growing a beard for winter will make your winter much better. Your mug rug offers protection from wind burn, UV rays, and frigid temperatures. It can even save your life.

But therein lies the paradox – while a beard is a pleasant companion when it’s cold and blistery, winter is also the most trying season on your beard. Low humidity and harsh elements dry out your hair, causing it to become brittle.

Winter is when you want to step up your beard care game. This calls for vigilant moisturizing and a couple changes to your daily routine that will optimize moisture retention.

Say no to hot water
We get it – it’s downright frigid outside, and there’s nothing like a hot shower to make you forget about it all. While a hot shower may feel good, hot water is Enemy No. 1 for your beard. Hot water strips hair and skin of natural oils (that would otherwise be moisturizing your hair and skin). This causes dry, brittle hair and itchy skin.

Instead, turn the water temperature down and take a cool shower whenever possible. Cool water seals cuticles to keep your beard moisturized and protected.

Shampoo less
You still need to keep your beard clean during the winter (especially with all those food and booze-filled holiday parties), but tone it down in the shampoo department. Cut back how often you shampoo to two times a week. Continue rinsing your face and beard daily, though, to remove superficial buildup.

When you do shampoo, avoid the following:

• Sulfates – Foaming agents that dehydrate and irritate skin. Zeus Beard Shampoo is sulfate-free and contains Dragon’s Blood Extract and Green Tea Extract to calm inflammation.
• Silicones – Minerals that help smooth and straighten hair, as well as it give it shine. While that may sound desirable, silicones build up on your beard, acting as a sealant. This means conditioners won’t be able to penetrate and your hair will dehydrate, resulting in a brittle, frizzy beard.
  • Note: There are some water-soluble silicones that rinse out with water. These are okay to use. Look for: Dimethicone Copolyol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, and Lauryl Methicone Copolyol.

Moisturize more

Conditioner
Conditioner should be your mainstay when the weather is crisp and cold. You should be using it on days even when you’re not using beard shampoo. Aim to condition your beard 3 – 4 times a week.

Beard oil
Right after your shower, take advantage of your still-moist skin by applying a few drops of beard oil. For a fresh but not overpowering scent, try Zeus Verbena Lime Beard Oil. For brothers with sensitive skin, we recommend our Zeus Unscented Beard Oil, which is fragrance-free.
Depending on how dry your beard is, you can apply beard oil in the morning, reapply once during the day, and again at night. Test out the frequency to see what works for you.

Beard balm
Beard balm should come after the beard oil step. It’ll add an extra dose of moisture to your beard and skin, while sealing that moisture in with beeswax. In addition, beard balm can be used to lightly shape your beard and moustache, so you’ll look put together no matter how blistery the winds.

Do not skip the brushing/combing
Brushing your beard has a multitude of benefits. It keeps your beard clean, tidy, and in good form. It distributes beard oil evenly through your beard (goodbye, winter dryness). And did we mention it also stimulates circulation, promoting healthy beard growth?

Score bonus points with a humidifier
Combat the dryness of the air – and consequently, of your beard – with a humidifier, which will keep your beard, skin, and significant other happy.

Take a spa day
…Or just hop into your gym’s steam room. Think of a steam bath as a deep conditioning treatment for your beard.

Cover your beard when you’re outside
#IceBeards are wicked, but other than being a cool photo op, they do serious damage to your beard, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage.
Prevent ice beard by doing the following:

• Cover your beard with a scarf.
• If your beard gets wet from snow, ice, or rain, wipe it off immediately to prevent it from dying out.

 
These tips appeared on ZeusBeard

British men become more confident about their looks with age, a new study reveals.
As many as 75% of men over 65 feel confident about their looks, according to a new Mintel report. This compares to just over half, 56%, of men in the 16-24 age bracket, and 61% of men overall.

The majority, 71%, of men aged 65 and over also said they feel they look good for their age. The figure for men across the board was a moderately lower 67%. 

Most men, 78%, also felt ageing naturally and having wrinkles is absolutely fine, while 68% agreed said “skin ageing is a natural process that can’t be stopped”.

However, feeling confident about their appearance does not mean not paying attention to it. Overall, 38% of mean said they look at themselves in the mirror during the day. This figure went up to 65% for those aged 16-24.

Roshida Khanom, associate director, beauty and personal care at Mintel, said: “Men are adopting a relaxed attitude towards ageing with the majority of men agreeing that ageing is acceptable, and that skin ageing is a natural process.”

Sales of men’s skincare products in Britain are, however, set to decline in the next few years. The men’s facial skincare sector is currently valued at £104 million, but is expected to shrink 4.7%, to £100m by the end of this year.

The decline is predicted to continue in the next few years, with a predict 5% drop, to £93m, in the next five years.

This could in part be caused by the fact that although men do use skincare products, they tend to apply them as and when they feel their skin needs it, rather than as part of a daily routine.
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The Mintel research demonstrated that just 15% of me who use moisturiser apply it more than once a day, while only 28% use it a few times a week. 

24% of men who use facial skincare products said they apply them when they remember to do so.


This article first appeared on World Spa Wellness

Homemade Beard Oil Ingredients

Each ingredient in this beard oil recipe has a purpose (and makes it smell awesome!)

The oil base (I used apricot oil because it is what I had on hand and it’s pretty inexpensive) helps to moisturize and tame the beard.

Vitamin E oil is very nourishing for your skin and promotes the growth of healthy hair.

Tea tree essential oil will help heal any tiny cuts from the razor around the edges of the beard – and also helps to maintain cleanliness as it has disinfecting properties.

Cedarwood essential oil is known for it’s soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. This is great for a beard that might be irritating or itchy sometimes (especially growing one back out after a shave.)

Lavender essential oil is another great addition to this beard oil because it is relaxing and promotes healthy hair growth. It also helps to remove any bacteria from the area which will ward off infections from razor cuts.

While all of these ingredients have a purpose in this recipe, the essential oil combination smells awesome (and pretty manly.)

Personally, I prefer to use 2oz amber dropper bottles to store this homemade beard oil and this size works perfectly for the labels I created.
 
Click on the photo above for the recipe for this DIY Beard Oil