Tools Of Refinement
Maturity brings with it a fresh set of grooming challenges, so make sure you’re fully equipped for the task, says Pankhurst
01 Shaving Brush While a proper badger-hair brush is as much about the experience as it is the benefits, the advantages for the mature man are palpable. Applying soap or foam with a brush effectively acts like an exfoliator, making for a smooth ride and fewer bumps and rashes. Leave those to teenagers. Resin Handle Badger Hair Brush £45 pallmallbarbers.com
02 Small Hair Clippers You might be able to get away with tufts below the hairline in your twenties, when untamed plumage can be a sign of youthful exuberance. Not so when you’re meant to be of managerial stock and unruly hair typifies a body in decline. Use these clippers to neaten the back of your neck. Braun Cruzer 6 Precision £ 14.25 beautyexpert.com
03 Safety Razor You’ve not shaved properly until you’ve tried shaving with a single-blade razor. This is exactly what we use in the shop. Multi-blade razors and electric shavers have a tendency to eat up your skin, leading to irritation and ingrowing hairs. If well maintained, a single blade will give you a beautifully smooth finish. TSS Stainless Steel Handle Double Edged Razor £33 shaving-shack.com
04 Wide-toothed Comb If you have slightly longer hair, then you should be toweldrying it and shaping it with a wide-toothed comb. Hairdryers will dry out and damage your hair while brushes can pull strands out if you’re already thinning. Now is the time to introduce more – albeit judicious – haircare, not less. L’officine Universelle Buly Handle Comb £42 mrporter.com
05 Nail Scissors These aren’t just for your nails – though any self-respecting man should certainly keep those in check. Equally useful is their ability to manage the rogue hairs that sprout from the nostrils and ears in men of a certain age. This is simply an unfortunate fact of life that needs addressing, so start snipping ’em. Tweezerman Stainless Steel Scissors £ 23 lookfantastic.com