Men's LifeStyle Blog

Grain Mapping and More Things Most Men Don’t Know About Shaving and Razors

Hair grows back no matter how often and differently you shave. You know that yet how much do you know about shaving and razors? For example, have you heard of grain mapping? Read about mapping and more to eventually achieve the best shave.

Great Idea

The origin of shaving dates back to 3000 BC. It’s thought some shaved earlier, yet Alexander the Great gets official credit for making the style widespread. He believed soldiers should be shave to avoid beard grabbing in battle and to attract more attention off the battlefield.

Four Months

It’s estimated the average man has somewhere between 7,000 and 15,000 hairs on his face. So many hairs makes shaving quite a task. However, less than 150 strokes are needed to achieve a close shave, and a man will spend about four months out of his life shaving in totality.

Shave Graph

It’s a shaving faux pas to go against the grain, yet it’s difficult to figure what direction hairs grow. A shaving chart reveals the natural growth pattern on male faces. Some hairs grow up, some down, and some sideways. Not to mention, depending on background and ethnicity, some beards are coarser, with curly hairs that are more difficult to cut. See more online literature regarding grain mapping.

New Technology

Over the years, the need remained but the tools did not stay the same. Aside from a straight razor, men began using shorter, handheld razors along with electronic razors featuring blades under one or more flexible coils. Additionally, electronic razors became wet and dry to accommodate preferences and various consumers. However, a stalwart legion of fans remain faithful to straightedge shaves.

Quality Cream

What manufacturers that produce multiple-bladed razors don’t want consumers to know is that the number of blades don’t matter much. Passing from different directions in conjunction with a quality shave cream makes a significant difference. Shaving gurus agree; making multiple passes from the same direction only achieves irritation - not a close shave.

Necessary Heat

Those who achieve quality shaves take a hot shower before applying shaving cream to a face with pores open and hair soft. A preheat episode is necessary for those taking a blade to the face and desiring a closer and superior shave. Alternatively, emulate old-school barbers and apply a hot towel to the face for 45 seconds before shaving. The routine won’t guarantee a shave as compared to taking a shower, but it’s a quick alternative.

Old School

As with the straightedge blade, many men are adopting old-school methods of shaving altogether, opting for traditional products their fathers used rather than an array of shaving gels and creams found throughout modern store shelves. Traditional shaving brushes, creams, and equipment may warrant an initial investment, yet generations of men swear it provides a better shave and is the better investment.

Cold Water

Where does cold water come into the mix? Splash cold water on the face and avoid irritation after a shave. Make it a regular part of the shaving routine. Remember, hot water or a toasty towel opens the pores, making hairs stand on end in addition to soft and ready for a closer shave. Cold water closes pores and helps avoid subsequent skin irritation that plagues daily shavers.

Electric Shave

Electric shavers are the most popular alternative to a traditional blade. Making things more complicated or opportunistic, manufacturers offer circular and rectangular blades, necessitating different methods and results. In some cases, it requires a few weeks for a beard to adjust to a new electric shaver. Read about the best electric shavers for detailed information on the topic.

After Shave

Aftershave balms and gels flourish as much as varieties of razors and associated products. However, when it comes to a period after a shave, a man must know thy self to make the best decision. Some men don’t need anything but a splash of cold water. Others, who have sensitive or dry skin, need balms to increase moisture on the face. Alternatively, splashes cleanse the skin and provide a douse of antibacterial protection. Splashes are reserved for those with oily to dry skin, and yet the time of year, frequency of shave, and outside temperatures dictate how a man should proceed.

Who can guarantee the best shave? If you read related marketing and ad material, it’s just about any and every manufacturer offering shavers and products. So, it’s best to do research and experiment to assess the best methods of shaving. Each face and preference is different. The good news is that an array of straightedge and electric razors, along with balms, gels, and creams, satisfy the most demanding and meticulous shavers out there.

Being a freelance writer, blogger, and social media enthusiast Chris Schuepfer has been writing on a wide range of topics since 2005, specializing in topics such as health, nutrition and lifestyle.

How to Match Your Tie

The style is discussed according to tastes and colors, but like other areas of discussion there are some rules as well. These rules are there to tell us what we can and can’t do to avoid teasing our colleagues or poking the eyes of the people around us.

Some use tie for their own style and for some it is a part of their uniform. Silk, knit or any material is easy to find, the hard part is to match the shirt. The businessmen sometimes struggling to dress properly, those who use Line 1 of the Paris metro realize it every day. Here are some notes to select the tie that goes perfectly with your shirt.

The color wheel

Before we discuss patterns, stripes, polka dots and other geometric shapes first let’s review some basics about colors.

Color wheel

If you do not know already that there are similar colors, complementary, contrasting, in short this wheel allows you to know the winning combinations of colors! Choose a color, the portions of each side of this color will be similar colors, the opposite portion is the complementary color and contrasting colors can be obtained by forming a “Y” which cut the wheel in three.

For simplicity, consider the example of the light blue, its family colors are blue-violet and blue-green, its complementary color is orange and its contrasting colors are yellow and red. In other words, do not take risk by betting on colors similar to a nice cameo, and if you are a little eccentric feel free to opt for complementary colors and contrasting colors. Remember that everything is played in the shade!

How to choose a tie?

Yes we may not be able to answer “What came first the chicken or the egg?” but can at least tell you how to choose your tie for your dress shirt.

Colors and patterns

Rule of thumb: always choose your tie in accordance with your shirt and not the opposite! In the morning, once standing in front of your wardrobe, choose your shirt in the first place. Then the choice of the tie will be much easier for you to make. Plain or patterned, the tie should be darker in general that your shirt. The tone on tone, white on white or black on black is banned! If your shirt and tie are reasons to think that the tie is the most impressive grounds as those of the shirt and conversely for each element is recognizable. If you are not sure with the reasons, find a tie with a common color for the shirt. Although it is only a small detail, recall color is important.

The long and wide tie

For a tie to fit perfectly with your shirt you should also consider your cervix. We do not put a decent slim tie on an Italian collar: follow a good proportion between your collar and your tie. For the length, know that a tie should come tickle your pants or your belt buckle. Neither too short nor too long!

What tie for what shirt?

Here we will give you some ideas of associations according to the most worn shirts.

The white shirt

The white shirt is always an essential of the men wardrobe. The patterns, colors, anything goes along except of course the white tie! Even if we did not say, it is clear that you must also pay attention to the color of your suit, jacket and pants.

The sky blue shirt

Referring to the color wheel you realize that the sky blue goes for complementary color everything in orange tones and contrasting colors red and yellow. A tie in the yellow-orange or burgundy tones will be accompanied perfectly with this kind of shirt. You can also choose a navy blue tie, knitting or peas. Play with patterns as you like on plain shirts.

Pink shirt

In past few years we have understood that pink was not exclusively for women. To accompany a pale pink, take a purple tie and purple tones with a fairly deep color. Green is a complementary color, a khaki tie works but this is a bold choice that will take. You can opt for a navy blue but avoid colors in shades of yellow and orange.

The plaid shirt

Tartan or gingham plaid shirts can be worn for both casual and teen fashion. Wrong impression that no patterned tie on a plaid shirt. We must be vigilant but a plaid shirt can be adorned with a patterned tie without any worries. If your shirt has small tiles choose a tie with large tiles with a recall of color and if it is made of large tiles prefer a plain tie. For the more adventurous, you can opt for stripes and peas, still large grounds on a shirt with small squares. However one must avoid geometric patterns that might interfere visually all.

Striped shirt

As mentioned before, combine thin and wide stripes to differentiate the two. You can also have fun mixing bands with a shirt with horizontal stripes and striped tie vertically or diagonally. Peas are also accepted. Think about the colors. To be more cautious, even a plain textured tie will be a good combination.

Visit : http://www.nattyshirts.com

Design your shirt : Here

Shirts collection : Here

Men’s outerwear for the 2014 season reflects an outside – the - box style as fashion designers have kicked staid and formal outerwear to the curb. Fitted jackets are still in, but are more casual, cinched at the waist and worn with collarless shirts for an effortless appeal. Tees are acceptable under coat jackets, which don’t have to be buttoned to the top. A relaxed - look is the heart of 2014 men’s fashion, so skip clasping the top button or them all. 

Overshirts are the rage this season and add warmth to any wardrobe; no pun intended. The overshirt is an in-between; half shirt, half sweater, for in – between weather and perfect for layering.

The season is giving a nod to classic World War II military fashion, with the return of the bombardier jacket. It is perhaps the best and most popular trend in men’s outerwear, and is likely the biggest trend for the season. Andrew Marc’s Norton jacket is a prime example of the striking trend. 

Shearling is also hot this season.

The collar on the Andrew Marc Norton jacket is removable, so while it is fashionably on fire, it is never too hot.

And leather is always cool.