ULTIMATE GUIDE To Men’s Hair Types
Here’s the situation: you need to pick up some shampoo for yourself, so you walk into the drugstore and see a wall of options.
Which do you pick?
You ask yourself… “what is the cheapest & what smells the best?”
Boom – Sandalwood body, hair, & face wash 3-in-1 for $5?! What a deal.
SOLD.
Simple, right? Problem solved.
Wrong.
Did you know these mass-market brands can potentially damage your hair? When it comes to picking hair care products – ingredients & formulations matter. More importantly, your hair type matters.
For years, men have been tricked into thinking that combining shampoo, conditioner, and body wash into one product gives us the best results.
Don’t fall for it.
If you shop for the cheapest products you’ll get the cheapest results. And you could end up with a long list of problems:
- Dry scalp
- Oily scalp
- Itchy scalp
- Dandruff
- Frizz
- Unmanageable hair
- Knots
- Breakage
…the list goes on and on.
At the end of this article, I’ll provide you with some reputable brands to shop for and guide you through the process of discovering what your hair needs.
Discovering your hair type.
Your hair type is the road map you will use to pick the best products. Without knowing what it is, you’re shopping blind. You wouldn’t shop blind when investing in a new watch or car – so why do it when shopping for grooming products?
In this article, I will break down exactly how to find your hair type and what products you should buy.
We’ll cover:
- Who The Heck Am I?
- Why Your Hair Type Matters
- Curl Patterns Explained
- How To Discover Your Curl Pattern
- Hair Care For Each Curl Pattern
- Hair Porosity Explained
- How To Discover Your Hair Porosity
- Hair Care Tips Based On Porosity
- Hair Texture Explained
- How To Discover Your Hair Texture
- Hair Care Based On Your Texture
- Hair Density Explained
- How To Discover Your Hair Density
- Scalp Moisture Explained
- How To Discover Your Scalp Moisture Levels
- Hair Care Tips Based On Scalp Moisture
- Conclusion
- Download the Mannered Manes App
Who The Heck Am I?
For those who don’t know me, my name is Travis White. Let me start by saying this – I’m not a cosmetologist. I’m just a guy who’s passionate about helping men with their hair & grooming.
Over the years, I’ve done tons of research for my articles & videos, and any claim I make, I back up with a reputable study.
In the past, I also worked for Real Men Real Style for three years so I’ve been trained well on how to research.
By the way, if you want an easy way to discover your hair type, connect with other men who have the same hair type as you, and find the BEST products for you, download my FREE app, Mannered Manes. Click HERE to download!
Why Your Hair Type Matters
Let’s start with a simple rule:
Just because a product works for my hair, doesn’t mean it will work for yours.
Read that again.
Just because a product works for my hair, doesn’t mean it will work for yours.
Why? It’s simple – the products that are right for you relate to your unique hair type and style.
Shampoo & conditioner are NOT one size fits all. Before reading on, the first thing you need to do is shift the belief that any product you find on the shelves will give you good results. Are we on the same page? Cool…
Some common questions that follow are:
- How do I figure out my hair type?
- What products should I use?
This stuff can seem complicated. If you Google “how to find my hair type” you’ll get sucked into a never-ending rabbit hole of charts, graphs, and contradicting info. Pro tip: don’t do that.
Let’s not kid ourselves: most of you have the same goal regardless of your hair type:
To develop hair that looks and feels healthy.
So remember this – don’t overthink it!
As you go through this article you might tell yourself you need to buy hundreds of dollars worth of products. You don’t.
Once you know your hair type, the solution might be as simple as switching your shampoo and conditioner.
You won’t believe how simple it is, and you’ll probably be relieved at how much money you will avoid wasting.
Here’s a quick shortcut for short-haired men…
If you have short hair (2 inches or less), you can jump to the texture & scalp moisture parts. Those are the most important parts you’ll need to know when choosing products.
However, if your hair is long, or you’re growing it out then you’ll want to get a good idea of each characteristic.
Let’s start with your curl pattern.
What is Curl Pattern?
Studies show your curls are entirely determined by your genetics.
A 2017 study out of the Experimental Dermatology journal looked at a sample population of 6630 people – made up of South American, European, Native American, and African ancestry.
The conclusion: your genes are responsible for shaping hair curl and exist within your hair follicles during hair development, puberty, and the hair cycle.
In other words, a gene determines how curly or straight your hair is.
So what are the different hair curl patterns?
As you can see, there are 4 main hair types: straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Each one is broken down into sub-categories based on how tight or loose the curls are.
Straight hair only has one category: it’s either straight or it’s not.
Then comes group 2 hair. 2a, b, and c are based on the intensity of the s-curve from loose to tight.
- 2a is a loose wave
- 2b is a bit tighter and curls from midpoint to ends
- 2c is the most well-defined s-curve.
Next, we have group 3 hair.
- 3A curls are s-shapes that form loose loops
- 3b is a bit tighter
- 3c curls are starting to become coily, you could wrap them around a straw
Finally, we have group 4.
- 4A is a tight coil that can wrap around a chopstick
- 4B starts to form a z-pattern, some refer to this as kinky
- 4c are the tightest corkscrew coils.
If you look at two people who fall into identical hair types, you’ll almost certainly find slight differences between them. Even within the above categories, hair type is so unique to each individual that it’s impossible to develop a system that shows every combination. What’s more, individual men can have more than one curl pattern.
My hair, for example, is actually a combination of 1 & 2a on the top and 3b on my sideburns (it’s weird).
How To Discover Your Curl Pattern
The best way to find your curl patterns is to see how your hair lies naturally after you’ve washed, conditioned, and allowed it to air dry.
Don’t use any heat tools when performing this test. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to see your curl pattern pretty easily.
The longer your hair is, the looser your curls may get as the weight of your hair will often (but not always) slightly straighten it out.
Congratulations, you now know your curl pattern. So what do you do with this info?
Hair Care Tips For Each Curl Pattern
Type 1: Straight Hair
Pin-straight hair tends to get oilier than the other types because the sebum your scalp produces can move down the hair shaft easier than curly hair. As a result, guys with this hair type don’t usually need to use hair oil.
Brushing twice a day is a good idea if your hair is pin-straight. The bristles will absorb and spread your natural oils down the hair shaft, which will thin out the oil build-up and keep it from sitting up at the roots.
Avoiding this will help lengthen the time between washes and help your cuticles seal in moisture. Just make sure you brush your hair correctly!
Type 2: Wavy Hair
If your hair is wavy, you’ll want to avoid heavy creams and butter because they can weigh down your mini-curls and make them look flat. Type 2b & 2c are also prone to frizz, especially when it’s humid.
Type 3: Curly Hair
Opt for lighter conditioners and styling products instead. Look for mousses that include anti-humidity ingredients – if you want to bring out your waves, it’s best to look for ingredients marketed for curls.
If this is your hair type, unless you want frizz, avoid brushing your hair dry.
Instead, apply a leave-in conditioner while your hair is damp and detangle it with your fingertips or a wet comb.
You’ll also want to avoid blow-drying. Again, frizz! The exception to this is if you’re using a diffuser to style the curls.
Curly and coily hair have similar treatments when it comes to moisturizing. I’ll go into more detail on how to do that in type 4.
Type 4: Coily Hair
Similar to type 3 hair, Coily hair tends to need a lot of hydration and moisture. To keep your curls moisturized well, just remember: WHEO.
- Water
- Humectants
- Emollients
- Occlusives
These four types of ingredients will be the best thing you can do for your curls.
Water is the hydration that will ultimately keep your curls from frizzing up, but water can escape your cuticle and evaporate, so you need to seal it in. The other 3 types of ingredients keep the water LOCKED In.
Humectants are ingredients like glycerin and aloe vera. These ingredients pull water into your hair from the environment, which is amazing for fighting frizz and replacing any of the water that escapes.
Emollients soften and shine the hair, giving it that smooth conditioned feeling. Conditioners are full of emollients like Behentrimonium Chloride or Shea Butter.
Occlusives seal water inside your cuticles to prevent it from evaporating. Hair oils do a great job at coating and sealing in water. Not all hair oils are created equally, though. Some penetrate the cuticle, and some seal the cuticle. So you’ll need to find out what the best hair oil to use is.
Most curly hair conditioners formulate their products using WHEO ingredients. Be sure to find products that are specifically marketed for curly hair because they will also have ingredients to help your curls stay bouncy.
Another factor that plays a big part in how moisturized your hair stays is your porosity.
Hair Porosity Explained
Porosity refers to the hair shaft’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. This is based on how tight or loose your cuticle scales are.
What is a cuticle?
Let’s look at the anatomy of one hair shaft.
A hair shaft has three layers.
The inner layer is the Medulla, the middle layer is the Cortex, and the outer layer is the Cuticle. For this section, the cuticle layer is most important.
Think of the cuticle layer like the overlapping scales on a fish. It’s the outermost layer that protects what is inside the cortex, like the cortex cell membrane, keratin proteins, and much more.
Having a healthy cuticle is vital to your hair retaining moisture and staying conditioned. To define how tightly or loosely your cuticles lay we use the term hair porosity.
We divide hair porosity into three categories: low, medium, and high.
1. Low-Porosity Hair
Characteristics:
- Cuticles lay flat and tight
- Water is hard to absorb
- Retains water really well once it’s in your hair
Signs You Have Low Porosity Hair:
- Products sit on the outside of your hair for a while
- Hair takes forever to get wet in the shower (water droplets sit on the outside of your hair)
- Hair air dries quicker because it doesn’t absorb too much water
- May be sensitive to products with protein
- Coconut oil or heavier oils make your hair stiff because they can’t penetrate
If this is your hair type, it means that your hair cuticle lies extremely tight and doesn’t let anything in.
It’s really hard for moisture to get under these scales and you will often see droplets of hair sitting on the outside of low porosity hair when it gets wet.
However, once moisture does get in, your hair holds onto it well because your cuticles are so tight. As a result, it will hold that moisture for a long time when you condition.
Downside? You’re prone to over-conditioning, which could cause your hair to get too stiff.
2. Medium-Porosity Hair
Characteristics:
- Cuticles slightly raised
- Easy to absorb & retain moisture
Signs:
- Your hair isn’t too dry or too oily 1-2 days after shampooing
- Water absorbs easily
- Your hair air-dries relatively quickly
- You hair absorbs product easily
For this hair type, the cuticle scales are slightly raised, allowing your hair to absorb and retain moisture easily.
3. High-Porosity Hair
Characteristics:
- Cuticles are highly raised and might be damaged
- Water absorbs instantly
- Water escapes easily
Signs:
- Hair absorbs water and product instantly
- It air dries slower because it absorbs water easier (wide open cuticle), but when it dries it stays dry
- Hair always feels frizzy or dry
- It has had coloring or chemical treatments in the past
This hair has raised or broken cuticles, possibly due to damage or color treatment but it can also be genetic. Moisture is easy to absorb and really hard to retain.
High-porosity hair gets saturated with products very easily but it also dries really fast. It’s often frizzy or dry, may look damaged, and it’s more prone to breakage.
I found a study from the Journal of Cosmetic Science showing that high-porosity hair is directly linked to UV damage and chemical treatments.
If you don’t regularly straighten or bleach your hair and your blow dryer isn’t always set to “fire hazard”, chances are your hair is medium porosity.
This is a good thing.
How To Discover Your Hair Porosity
Determining hair porosity can be tricky because it’s not always the same day-to-day. Sometimes your porosity can change with the condition of your hair, and other times it’s genetic. For this reason, it can be difficult to pinpoint.
Having said that, low porosity hair seems to be the one that doesn’t change often. If you have low porosity hair, you can spot it. Your hair will always look shiny because all your cuticles lay tight and flat.
If your cuticles feel rough to the touch, that means they are raised, and if your hair looks dull and dry all the time, then chances are you have high porosity.
Your best bet to determine your hair porosity is to ask your stylist the next time you get a cut. They’re trained in cosmetic science and know what high, medium, and low porosity “feels” like when sliding their fingers along your cuticle scales.
They also have a trained eye to know what it looks like. Chances are, they can tell you more accurately than you can diagnose yourself.
But here’s a quick method that you can do at home to test your own porosity. Next time you shower and wet your hair – ask yourself these questions:
- How quickly does my hair absorb water?
- Does it air dry quickly?
- How does it look most of the time? Is it dry & frizzy looking 90% of the time? (High porosity)
- Is it flat & shiny looking most of the time? (Low porosity)
- Is it somewhere in between? (Medium porosity)
Important note: Different parts of your hair can have different porosities. For men with longer hair or color-treated hair, the ends tend to be more porous than the roots. This is because porosity is a combination of the day-to-day condition of your hair and genetics.
Your ends have been exposed the longest to the weather, pollution, the environment, and the sun. Your roots are “newer,” so they will typically be your “true” porosity.
Hair Care Tips Based On Hair Porosity
If your hair is low-porosity…
Wash with warm water to raise the cuticle scales a bit, allowing them to absorb more moisture. Apply oils or leave-in conditioners when your hair is damp to help penetration.
When hair is wet, cuticle scales are raised more than when they’re dry.
After applying the product, wear a shower cap. The heat from the shower cap will help raise the cuticles so the product can be absorbed. Once your hair dries, it will retain that moisture really well.
Additionally, use protein-free shampoos and conditioners. Since your hair holds onto keratin really well, adding more protein could cause it to get stiff or brittle. Keep in mind that most low-porosity hair tends to be protein-sensitive.
Water-based conditioners and leave-ins are a better choice since they’ll prevent oil build-up.
If your hair is high-porosity…
The goal is to seal and heal the cuticles. Use shampoos and conditioners with oils, shea butter, and proteins.
Using leave-in conditioners often and applying coconut oil daily can help lock in that protein and seal those cuticles.
Washing your hair with cold water can help close those cuticles – if you’re blow-drying your hair, use a heat protectant.
If your hair is medium porosity…
Congratulations! Keep doing what you’re doing.
Hair Texture Explained
The next thing to consider is hair texture or the thickness of one individual strand, and it’s measured as fine, medium, or coarse.
How To Discover Your Hair Texture
To test this, take one strand of dry hair and roll it between your fingers.
If you can’t track the strand of hair in your fingers, you have fine hair.
If you can feel something, but it’s hard to track perfectly, you have medium hair.
If you can easily track the strand of hair, almost like a thin wire, then you have coarse hair.
Hair Care Tips Based On Texture
1. Fine Hair
If you’re like me and you have fine hair, the most important thing to remember is that your hair is easier to break. This means you need to treat it very gently.
Scrubbing or brushing too hard, using too much heat, or towel drying too roughly will all damage fine hair. Be gentle when doing all these things.
Gently massage your scalp when you shampoo.
If you have to use a blowdryer, use its low-heat setting.
Since fine hair holds little protein, products with protein in them can be helpful.
On the other hand, guys with fine hair need to be careful not to over-condition since this can lead to flattened hair or Hygral-fatigue over time. Also, when you use leave-in products or oils, remember that a little goes a LONG way.
The best shampoo and conditioner for people with fine hair is volumizing products. Lightweight formulations that don’t weigh your hair down.
My personal favorite is the Odele Volumizing Set. It’s the shampoo & conditioner I personally use.
2. Medium Hair
If you have medium texture hair, you’re kind of right in the sweet spot when it comes to hair care.
Lucky you!
This means you have a ton of flexibility when it comes to products and you can worry more about porosity (see above) when choosing your shampoo and styling products.
3. Coarse Hair
Again, this hair texture has a thicker feel between the fingers since it’s so dense.
This hair texture means your hair is much stronger, holds more protein, and is far more resistant to heat and chemicals.
The downside?
It can be stiff, especially when dry, and it can frizz really easily, especially if it’s curly.
Coarse hair also contains the most amount of keratin protein since it’s the thickest type: to prevent protein sensitivity, you’ll want to avoid high protein shampoos and other products.
Again, this stuff gets really complex with all these variables and it really comes down to individual trial and error.
Hair Density Explained
Hair density refers to how thick or thin your hair is overall or how thoroughly it covers your scalp. When people say that someone has thin or thick hair, they usually refer to density, not texture.
As we mentioned above, the texture is the width of the individual strand.
Density, on the other hand, is how many hairs are on your scalp per square inch or how close the follicles are to each other.
Once again, we divide hair density into thin, medium, or thick hair.
How To Discover Your Hair Density
To perform a density test, gently pull a little bit of your hair to the side and see how much of your scalp is visible. If there’s a lot visible, you have thin hair; if there’s a little bit of scalp visible, you have medium hair; and if you can’t see your scalp at all, then your hair is very thick.
When looking at hair density – there’s not much to say about maintenance.
If you have thin hair, avoid heavy creams or oils. It will weigh down the little amount of hair you have. Lightweight powders or sprays are the best for styling this hair.
If you have medium or thick hair, you can get away with both light and heavy products.
Alright – we’re in the home stretch now. Let’s move on to scalp moisture.
Scalp Moisture Explained
Scalp moisture is how dry or oily your scalp is based on how much sebum your scalp naturally produces.
When it comes to scalp moisture, there are four subcategories: balanced, dry, oily, or combination (oily roots and dry ends.)
How To Discover Your Scalp Moisture Levels
If you’re not sure how oily your scalp is, ask yourself these questions:
- Is my face dry, oily, or balanced? – This is a good indicator of sebum production in the scalp too.
- How quickly does my scalp get oily after I shampoo and condition?
- Does my scalp get oily even though my ends stay dry?
Characteristics:
- Balanced: your scalp & hair get oily 2-3 days after washing with no flaking or dandruff.
- Dry Scalp: Your scalp dries up quickly after washing, e.g. within 24 hours, and/or you experience irritation, flaking, or itchiness immediately.
- Oily Scalp: your scalp gets oily within a day of washing and it’s always flat and difficult to manage. You may or may not have dandruff.
- Combination: your scalp gets oily quickly but your ends stay dry, even after a few days without washing.
One important note before continuing.
There is a BIG difference between dry scalp and dandruff.
Dandruff is mainly caused by a skin condition called Seborrheic Dermatitis. It’s a fungus that needs an antimicrobial solution.
Dry scalp, on the other hand, is just flaking from your skin being dry. Dandruff is usually found on oily scalps, whereas dry scalp symptoms are found (surpise) on dry scalps.
Here’s a chart showing the differences:
Why is this important? Many men will see dandruff (from a dry scalp) and go out and buy medicated shampoo. That’s the wrong solution. It would be best if you had a gentler shampoo. More on that below.
Now that we’ve got that cleared up…
Hair Care Tips Based On Scalp Moisture
For Dry Scalp
Wash your hair less often (twice a week, perhaps) to allow more time for sebum production between washes.
After you wash and condition, try a deep conditioning mask or protein treatment. Coconut oil masks can work wonders for this.
Using argan oil in your hair daily can also offer your hair and scalp hydration.
Finally, use a gentler shampoo and moisturizing conditioner. When shopping for shampoo, look at the ingredients on the back and make sure it doesn’t have any of these on the first line:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
These detergents are powerful and while they can be a great tool for fighting a greasy scalp, they could make a dry scalp worse.
To reiterate the point above, one BIG mistake men make is seeing flakes and automatically assuming Dandruff. If you look at the previous chart, you know Dandruff is a fungal problem, not a dry scalp problem.
But most men mistake the two, so they go out and buy anti-dandruff shampoo. These shampoos contain the harsh detergents listed above and active ingredients your scalp doesn’t need.
So when men think they are solving their flakes problem, they’re actually exacerbating it – harsh shampoo is what caused their dry scalp in the first place.
Case in point here:
The solution is to shop for gentler shampoos.
Here are some detergents to look for that are gentler:
- Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Sodium Cocoyl (or lauryl/lauroyl) Sarcosinate
A great brand that uses gentle shampoo is Beardbrand. I highly recommend men with dry scalp try their shampoo. It’s a great formula.
For Oily Scalp
For men who have greasy scalps within 24-48 hours of shampooing, there could be a few problems at play. The solution to overactive sebaceous glands could be one or both of the following:
- You may need a stronger shampoo
- You may need to increase your shampoo frequency
For my greasy-haired gentlemen, using a sulfate shampoo or a shampoo marketed as clarifying could be beneficial.
In your case, you will want to look for the ingredients that people with dry scalp try to avoid because you need the extra chemistry elbow grease (pun intended) to fight that sebum build-up.
The recommendation I have for people with a greasy scalp is the Bumble & Bumble clarifying shampoo. Their formulations are salon-quality, meaning they’re more meticulous about percentages and ingredients than a mass-market brand is. Their Sunday Shampoo is specifically formulated to fight a greasy scalp.
For Combination Scalp
Chances are, if you have short hair, you don’t have a combination scalp because your hair isn’t long enough to have dry-ends. Men with long hair are the main ones that suffer from this.
For men with long hair, oily roots, and dry-ends – use a similar shampoo as men with an oily scalp because the roots are the issue.
However, make sure you shampoo and condition your hair correctly. For combination hair, it’s important you only scrub your scalp when you shampoo. As you rinse your hair, the shampoo will pick up any remaining dirt on the way down.
When you condition you will only condition from midpoint to ends – let the conditioner sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse it out.
For Balanced Scalp
If this is you, congratulations, keep doing what you’re doing!
Is Hair Type REALLY THIS Important?
If you’ve ever considered growing your hair out past your ears, yes it is this important to know.
Most men with short hair visit the barbers so often they don’t have time to damage their hair before chopping it off again, so they never see the results of poor hair care.
However – their scalp may feel it, so understanding SOME of this is important for every single guy. Even those without any hair at all!
I hope I’ve helped you and given you some direction on how to care for YOUR hair.
Want more hair care tips? Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Download The Mannered Manes App
If you want an easy way to discover your hair type, connect with other men who have the same hair type as you, and find the BEST products for you, download my FREE app, Mannered Manes. Click HERE to download!
Click below to watch the video – ULTIMATE GUIDE To Men’s Hair Types
The post ULTIMATE GUIDE To Men’s Hair Types appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
——————–
By: Travis White
Title: ULTIMATE GUIDE To Men’s Hair Types
Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/mens-hair-types/
Published Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2022 13:02:02 +0000
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.mansbrand.com/10-things-women-love-on-a-man/
Most guys think women only notice men with the looks of Brad Pitt, biceps the size of Texas and more money than Jeff Bezos.
But this isn’t true. If you nail that first impression when you walk in a room women will easily notice you. That’s why in this article I’m going to give you the ten things a woman notices about a man first.
Take note because after you’ve read this article getting to know a woman will be infinitely easier.
#1 Women Notice Your Face
No debates here. If you keep your face in its best form – it means you’re taking great care of yourself.
Do you need a super handsome face? Nope! Not all of us are born with the Hollywood movie star look. If women only wanted that, there’d be a huge surplus of single men on this planet!
What you really need are good grooming habits. You want to show the ladies your well-maintained facial hair (whether it’s short stubble or a full-grown beard).
Or maybe you prefer a clean-shaven look – just make sure there are no post-shave bumps or red marks plaguing your face.
And then there’s the skin itself. Some guys still think they are ‘too manly’ for skincare. They wait for an acne outbreak or pain issue before seeking treatment.
The truth is, it’s every man’s responsibility to find the right lotion, cleanser or anti-aging cream to keep his skin healthy 24/7.
#2 Women Notice Your Smile
The most important part of your face is so valuable it’s worth talking about separately.
A captivating smile is a “welcome” sign that you’re waving from afar in a woman’s direction.
Combine that smile with seductive eye contact and a confident posture? You’re well on your way to impressing a woman.
BUT
Your smile can also be a hindrance if the teeth are noticeably dirty. Or worse… discolored! That’s why you need to watch out for:
- Stains from drinking lots of coffee, tea or wine (see your dentist every 3-4 months).
- Stains from smoking (as if there aren’t enough reasons to quit smoking).
- Too much fluoride from certain toothpaste brands or environmental sources (e.g. water) can darken your teeth.
- Teeth as you age – the outer layer of enamel wears out over time and starts revealing the natural yellow color (of the inner layer of dentin). You may want to consider some teeth-whitening products at home when you’re older.
#3 Women Notice Your Silhouette
Here the term silhouette refers to the outline of your body PLUS your clothing. Women are unsurprisingly drawn to a hyper-masculine silhouette:
- A built-up chest.
- Lean torso.
- Strong shoulders.
For those of us without the body of Adonis, what is the easiest way of getting this look? A suit jacket or blazer.
There are many types of suit jackets and it’s important you find the right one for your body shape. The sack-cut suit is very common in America because it is affordable to produce and fits over most men. It is not the fit that will make you look your best though.
A structured jacket adds subtle padding to the wearer’s shoulders, making them appear larger and broader. A fitted jacket tapers towards the middle to give the wearer the appearance of a leaner torso.
Just be careful to avoid a fit that is too tight in the search for a flattering jacket. A jacket should drape gently over your shirt and body. If a jacket creates an X-shaped crease when buttoned you have gone too far.
The same principle applies when matching trousers with your jacket. Avoid skinny trousers and jeans – they create an unattractive ‘matchstick’ silhouette that signals a lack of muscle. Swap them for slim-fit or subtly tapering cuts that create a muscular but lean silhouette.
#4 Women Notice Your Style
We are taught growing up never to judge a book by its cover. The truth is though, women (and men for that matter) make judgments and assumptions based on what you wear.
Don’t underestimate the power of nailing the 3 core components of dressing well – ever.
- Fit.
- Fabric.
- Function.
Also consider what your clothes say about your status, lifestyle and personality. Make an effort to choose clothes that send positive messages like maturity, sophistication and passion.
Women seeking a long-term partner are attracted to men who can be good providers – so knowing how to dress like a grown man helps if you’re looking to settle down.
#5 Women Notice The Details
Sure. You may initially impress with a well-fitted blazer and slacks. But if those are the only elements you work on – you won’t get far.
Any man who understands the laws of men’s style can find good shirts, jackets, and pants
- Hairstyle – consider this list of most attractive men’s hairstyles.
- Eyewear – choose the perfect sunglasses or eyeglasses for your face shape.
- Watches/Jewelry – discover how to match a watch to your outfit when buying one.
- Shoes – learn how to identify quality men’s leather shoes.
#6 Women Notice Your Mannerisms
Picture yourself as a contestant on The Bachelorette. You step out of the limo on Day 1 with all the guys. Your bachelorette is waiting by the mansion door.
You’re all on an even playing field appearance-wise, so what can you do to instantly get noticed?
Nail the greeting. This small act sets the tone for everything else that follows.
- Offer a firm handshake.
- Make solid eye contact.
- Smile!
Communicate to a woman that you are giving her your full attention.
Take just a few seconds to acknowledge her presence. Make her believe you’re invested in courting her.
OK, so chances are you’re not a reality show contestant. It’s the same principle in real life though: greet a woman poorly or have bad manners and you’ve immediately dug yourself a hole.
Showing a disregard for others’ feelings or basic courtesy might seem like a small issue to you. Women quickly pick up on these things though and assume you’re a loose cannon.
What are some examples of bad manners?
- Forget about your phone and other distractions. Keep your cell in your pocket.
- Arrive early. Aiming to arrive exactly on time is a recipe for being late.
- Go easy on cursing and foul language.
- Avoid constantly interrupting. Don’t cut a woman off in the middle of saying something.
- Meeting a woman online? Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say in real life.
#7 Women Notice Your Hands
What good is a handshake if your hands look like you’ve been digging through garbage? Always wash your hands and take care of your nails before an event. Even better, build it into your daily routine.
Otherwise – you can come off as neglectful, unhygienic or even ‘poorly raised’ (making your parents look bad).
Let’s not forget about dry hands with cracked skin! Should you use hand lotion? The natural oil your body produces normally keeps your skin supple. If your hands have a lack of natural oil I strongly suggest you regularly apply a hand lotion or cream. No woman wants her man to have hands covered with calluses.
#8 Women Notice Your Fragrance
You can nail every other category on this list – but none of them will count for anything if a woman doesn’t like how you smell.
Most men settle for using deodorant to keep their smell ‘neutral’… but why not go one step further and smell GREAT?
It’s no mystery. Studies prove that smelling great and wearing cologne makes you more attractive to women.
Get into the habit of routinely wearing a fragrance.
TIP: Learn how to apply cologne to avoid over-spraying and smelling like a biohazard.
#9 Women Notice Your Voice & Language
Yep. Women care about what they’re going to hear from you.
This time you can’t throw money at the problem. Even the most expensive jacket and fragrance won’t make you a smooth talker.
So what do you do?
It’s about self-development. Expand your knowledge and vocabulary. Set yourself apart from guys who always talk like they’re at a football game.
The next step is to read quality books. Click here to discover ten books every man should own. Find books that go deep into enriching topics (not just entertain you) – and help you grow as a person.
You’re aiming to show women you’re relatable, that there is no ‘intellectual barrier’ between the two of you. How enthusiastic you sound and whether you say “No” or “I’ve heard of that” when she mentions a topic – all these factors come into play.
Learn how to speak in an engaging way once you know what you are talking about. It comes easier to some than others but there are techniques you can learn. Use your voice in a way that grabs a woman’s attention and makes them eager to listen.
Who knows? With a little rhythm and use of your diaphragm – you may end up with a deep and booming voice like Neil deGrasse Tyson. That will definitely intrigue a few women!
#10 Women Notice Your Body Language
Actions speak louder than words.
Fun as it might be to talk knowledgeably and engagingly – don’t forget what your non-verbal communication is saying. Like your voice, body language can be more powerful than whatever clothes you are wearing.
Avoid any closed-off, negative or aggressive gestures that can catch a lady off guard. Particularly if a woman is getting to know you, even a subtle finger wag or angled neck can make the wrong first impression. Remind yourself every now and then to keep your arms unfolded.
Over time understand how men can use body language to signal positivity and openness all the time. It will take practice and a conscious effort at first but before you know it you’ll be using positive body language without realizing it.
TIP: Do NOT clench your fists in front of a woman (as if you’re about to punch someone!) You’re probably stronger than her – so why make yourself more intimidating?
BONUS: Women Notice Your Attitude/Personality
Some important points regarding attitude that you ought to take note of:
- Women do perceive some men as ‘douchebags’ unfortunately and it often stems from try-hard macho male behavior. One-upping people, wrecking someone’s home you’ve been invited to and taking your shirt off at every opportunity might have been cool when you were a frat bro. However, grown-up women want a grown-up man. This kind of attitude sends a negative vibe regardless of how nice you are in actual conversation.
- What you find funny tells women a lot about your attitude in general. You may not think about what your sense of humor says about you but there are different advantages to using ‘positive’ humor (using optimism, puns or wittiness) versus ‘negative’ humor (being sarcastic or self-disparaging).
- Be a ‘nice guy’ to start a serious relationship! Some women might want a fling with a bad boy but that’s all it will be. Have good manners and show maturity if you’re searching for your soulmate.
Click below to watch the video – 11 Unusual Traits Women Find Surprisingly Attractive
The post 10 Things Women Notice First In A Man appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
——————–
By: Antonio Centeno
Title: 10 Things Women Notice First In A Man
Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/first-things-women-notice/
Published Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:27:10 +0000
Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/ultimate-seiko-watch-buying-guide/
When most men think of buying a reliable, high-quality wristwatch, brands like Rolex and Audemars Piguet stand out. But what also stands out is the price tag of those brands. Ouch. But what about buying a Seiko watch?
Not every man has the budget for luxury, Swiss timepieces. With a Seiko watch, you can get a durable, high-quality timepiece starting around $100.
Seiko has been around for 142 years, and to this day, they are one of the world’s top watch manufacturers. With a wide selection of timepieces ranging from affordable options to high-end luxury offerings, they have cemented themselves for their durable and high-quality timepieces.
But why buy a Seiko watch over any other brand? What does Seiko do differently? Which is the best Seiko watch to purchase in 2023?
In today’s article I’m going to cover:
- Why You Should Buy A Seiko Watch
- A Brief History Of Seiko
- What Makes Seiko Watches Special?
- Top Seiko Watches I Recommend
- When And Where To Buy A Seiko Watch
Why You Should Buy A Seiko Watch
Seiko Watches offer a lot of benefits that other watch manufacturers can’t match. But why should buy one? Here are a few reasons why you should buy a Seiko watch.
The Brand
When it comes to Japanese watchmakers, there are really only 2 that come to mind for most men – Seiko and Casio.
While Casio is a great company and you can find plenty of classic Casio watches to choose from, they tend to offer more rugged and digital options than Seiko.
The key selling point of the Seiko brand is that regardless of which model you choose, you are always getting a top-notch watch from a company with great heritage.
The Value
Seiko has plenty of offerings that start around $100 – sometimes less depending on where you shop. But even on their high-end offerings, you are still getting an incredible value.
Often times, luxury brands like Rolex or Patek Philippe are only available directly from the manufacturer, if you decide to buy new that is. This means you could end up paying a massive mark-up on your watch.
Seiko is available almost everywhere you can buy a watch. With the digital landscape of 2023, you can easily head to a major online retailer and buy almost any Seiko watch you’d like.
The Design
Just because Seiko has affordable watch options, does not mean that you’re getting a poorly designed timepiece.
Unlike other watch companies whose claim-to-fame is only producing clones of famous designs – think Invicta’s clone of the Rolex Submariner – Seiko has real heritage and history behind their designs.
Over the years, Seiko has even given some of their watch designs refreshes to keep them modern with the times. This is the attention to detail that separates companies like Seiko from others with their dedication to design and authenticity.
The Selection
As I previously stated, there is a Seiko watch for everyone.
Anywhere from casual field watches and dive watches, to formal dress watches and everything in between. Do you want a Seiko watch to wear when hiking? They have that. Do you also want a Seiko watch you can wear with a tuxedo? They have that too.
Seiko truly has one of the best selections for beginners to get their feet wet in classically designed timepieces. And the best part is, they only go up from there.
A Brief History Of Seiko
Where It All Began
In 1881, Japanese clockmaker Kintaro Hattori opened a shop that was dedicated to selling and repairing watches and clocks in Ginza, Tokyo.
He excelled at this for the next 11 years, until 1892, when he founded Seikosha, the company that was to become one of the most important manufacturers of timepieces in the world.
It was here that Hattori produced his very first clocks.
Then in 1895, he built the first pocket watch, the Timekeeper. This was an important development for timepieces from Seikosha that heavily paved the way for Japan’s first-ever wristwatch.
How Japan’s First Wrist Watch Came To Be
After creating the first pocket watch in Japan, Hattori would go on to create the first wristwatch made in Japan, named the Laurel in 1913.
At the time, the company was only able to produce a small amount of watches. Then, unfortunately, in 1923, a large earthquake struck the company’s headquarters and the Seikosha factory burned down.
In 1924, after a fresh start and under the new name of Seiko, the first Seiko brand watch went on sale.
For the next 30 years, Seiko would go on to create and innovate in the timepiece space, even, becoming the official supplier of pocket watches to Japan National Railways as the railway industry was expanding in Japan.
How Seiko Became So Prominent
From 1956 onward, Seiko solidified itself in horology by innovating and designing some of the most well-known components in wristwatches we know today.
Seiko went on to create the Diashock in 1956 – a component that Seiko used to absorb shock in their watches to better protect them. Then in 1959, they created their own proprietary “magic lever” system, which is an innovative self-winding system that is still used to this day in Seiko watches.
Hitting a pinnacle in 1960, when the first Grand Seiko model was created, Seiko wanted to create a watch that was more durable and legible than any other watch. It was their flagship and really set off the next 60+ years of innovation to where we know Seiko today.
Here are some more staple moments in Seiko’s history of innovation:
- 1964 – created Japan’s first wristwatch with a stopwatch on it, the Chronograph
- 1965 – produced Japan’s first diver watch to handle deep water pressure
- 1969 – introduced the world’s first quartz watch
- 1973 – introduced the world’s first 6-digit LCD quartz watch
- 1982 – introduced the world’s first TV watch
- 1983 – introduced the world’s first voice recording watch
- 1999 – created the Spring Drive – this gave mechanical watches quartz accuracy
- 2006 – introduced the world’s first E-Ink watch
- 2012 – introduced the world’s first GPS solar watch
What Makes Seiko Watches Special?
While it’s well known the vast majority of watchmakers use different types of the same components, what’s less known is the types of materials that each brand uses.
For example, Seiko creates their watches with commonly used materials mixed with proprietary technology and designs to create timepieces that are durable and high-quality.
What Materials Does Seiko Use In Their Watches?
Much like other manufacturers, Seiko uses a broad range of top materials to create their watches. This is a list of what you’ll find in most offerings of Seiko watches:
- Steel 316L – industry standard, used for watch cases, bezels, and bracelets
- Sapphire crystal – premium option, extremely scratch resistant, less shock resistant
- Mineral crystal (also known as Hardlex) – budget option, relatively scratch-resistant, more shock resistant
- LumiBrite – proprietary lume found in regular Seikos AND premium Grand Seiko watches – 10 minutes of bright sunlight = 3-5 hours of gradually fading light
- Premium Leather – used for straps and bracelets
What Movements Does Seiko Use?
Possibly some of the most interesting aspects about Seiko watches are the internal movements that make each watch tick – pun intended.
Now while I won’t get into too many details about the specifics and terminology of mechanical watches, I will dive into a few different movements from Seiko specifically.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into mechanical watch research, check out the Ultimate Watch Buying Guide.
Here are 3 of the most common movements that Seiko uses and some features of each:
1. Seiko 7s26 – The Less-Expensive Movement
- Non-hacking, automatic and manual winding not possible
- 41 hour power reserve
- Accuracy somewhere between -20 to +20 seconds a day out of the box, settling down to somewhere in the range of -15 to +15 seconds a day or better
- Found on Seiko 5s and other older models
2. 4r35 – The Mid-Range Movement
- Hacking, manual and automatic winding possible
- 41 hour power reserve
- Date display
- Accuracy of -20 to +20 seconds a day, settling down to -10 to +10 seconds a day or better
- Found on Seiko Cocktail Times and newer lines
3. 6R15 – The Higher-End Movement
- Hacking, automatic and manual winding possible
- 50 hour power reserve
- Date display
- Accuracy of -10 to +10 out of the box, settling down to -5 to +5 seconds a day or better
- Found on Seiko Prospex and old Alpinist models
Top Seiko Watches I Recommend
It’s important to find the Seiko that’s perfect for you. But with such a wide selction to choose from, it’s understandable that you would want somewhere to start.
Without further ado, here are some of the best Seikos I’ve owned and some I wish I owned!
Seiko Ion Prospex SRPB55
- Quality dive watch
- 200m of water resistance which matches other luxury watches (think Tudor)
- Around $400
Seiko 5 SNK793
- Highly affordable dress watch
- Features day-date, sunray dial, and exhibition case back
- Around $100
Seiko 5 SNZF17J1
- A more adventurous Seiko 5 option
- Features a chunky, unidirectional stainless steel bezel and lumed hands
- Around $200
Seiko 5 SRPC61
- Smart-casual Seiko 5 option
- Features 120-click unidirectional bottlecap-shaped bezel
- Around $300
Seiko 5 SNK800
- Classic field watch style
- One of the most versatile Seiko options available for the price point
- Around $100
Men's SNK805 SEIKO 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with Green Canvas
$187.72
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPB43
- Classic style dress watch that works for both office and cocktail attire
- Features mid-century design with a sunray dial combined with 3D markers
- Around $400
Seiko Alpinist SPB121J1
- One of Seiko’s most popular watches online – design slightly updated in 2021
- Features sapphire crystal, 200m water resistance, and a 70 hour power reserve
- Around $700
Seiko Prospex"Alpinist" Compass Green Dial Sapphire Glass Leather Watch SPB121J1
$664.90
Seiko Prospex SBDC051
- Premium dive watch that combines old and new design
- Features a rugged stainless steel case with 200m water resistance
- Around $1,000
When And Where To Buy A Seiko Watch
The easiest answer to this question is “when you have the funds”. But the better answer is that it depends. And this goes for any watch, not just a Seiko. Let me explain.
A watch is highly visible on the wrist, making it a deeply personal part of a man’s wardrobe. For this reason, a good time to buy a watch is at a major life event such as graduating college, milestone birthdays, getting married, or a promotion at work.
But whatever the reason, the best time to buy a watch is when you are ready to buy one. Find your perfect watch, not someone else’s.
Certain iterations of Seiko watches may have more value at one time or another if you’re into collecting. Regardless, if you are looking for a good quality watch at a decent price, Seiko is one of the best options on the market.
As far as where to buy a Seiko watch, unlike other luxury brands that require you to go direct to the manufacturer or risk massive mark-ups from dealers, Seiko can be purchased just about anywhere.
Online is probably the most viable way to get one in 2023 but some large department stores, retailers, and dealers, will have plenty of Seiko options for you to choose from. When in doubt, a certified Seiko dealer will be your best bet.
That’s it. I hope this guide helps you to find your next Seiko watch so that you can finally get your hands on a well-designed, classic Japanese-manufactured watch that has withstood the test of time.
The post Ultimate Seiko Watch Buying Guide appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
——————–
By: Antonio Centeno
Title: Ultimate Seiko Watch Buying Guide
Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/seiko-watch-buying-guide/
Published Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:24:39 +0000
Most men have no clue when it comes to mixing and matching colors.
If you err on the side of caution and avoid bringing any color into your wardrobe, you’ll look dull. Or, if you get it wrong and add too much color – or the wrong colors – you’ll look like a clown.
This article will help you understand how to match colors in men’s clothing.
You will learn how to:
- Focus On Neutral Colors
- Use Small Pops Of Brighter Colors
- Don’t Overthink Your Skin Tone
What Does Understanding (And Using) Color Do?
- Avoids blatant mistakes
- Guides people’s eyes
- It makes people subconsciously “feel” things (red enlivens, brown = trust, dark navy or gray = power)
- It makes shopping MUCH more straightforward when you know what works best for you
But how does that translate into an actual outfit?
It’s not enough to know that red and green are complementary colors that go well together.
Even though the colors are good in combination, the wrong shades or the wrong amounts of each color will make you look like a Christmas decoration.
Menswear has to find a good balance between the dominant colors of the suits and shirts and the accent colors of things like neckties, pocket squares, and jewelry.
Combining colors tastefully is one of the hallmarks of the genuinely well-dressed man.
Although people have written dissertations on color-coordinating your wardrobe, the basics are pretty simple. All you have to remember are these 3 quick rules for combining colors in men’s clothing (courtesy of my friend Barron).
Trust me; it’s a lot easier than you might think.
For this article, I collaborated with Barron Cuadro from Effortless Gent, a men’s style blog that guides you towards building a lean wardrobe.
Do you ever look in your closet and think, “I have all this clothing, yet there’s nothing I want to wear”? If so, you’re in luck! Barron has helped many men like you take advantage of a flexible and interchangeable set of clothes for daily use. He makes it an effortless task regardless of your age, body type, or budget.
Whether you’re starting your wardrobe from scratch or just bringing in a few classic pieces to fill in the gaps, I highly recommend browsing Effortless Gent. You might also want to visit the EG online store for some stylish items that will upgrade your wardrobe even further.
Now for Barron’s 3 essential rules for how to match colors in men’s clothing.
How To Match Colors In Men’s Clothing Rule #1: Focus On Neutral Colors
Think of all the possible clothing color combinations like a pizza. You’ve got the base made up of bread and cheese and then an assortment of toppings that cater to different tastes.
Which would you say is more important: the base or the toppings? No-brainer! What kind of pizza has no crust? Similarly, a stylish outfit needs a good base of neutral colors like these:
- Black
- White
- Gray
- Navy, Light & Sky Blue
- Brown & Khaki
- Olive Green
These are the colors that go with most others. They set up the foundation for your outfits, making your job of finding matching clothes in your closet much more effortless.
That’s why they should constitute the majority of your wardrobe in terms of color percentages. With the right proportion of neutrals and non-neutrals, you can focus on the following rule (and have fun with it).
How To Match Colors Rule #2: Use Small Pops Of Brighter Colors
This rule is where you do get to do a bit of experimentation. Just remember what happens to a pizza if you overload it with multiple veggies or meat types that don’t go well together. The same principle applies when it comes to color in your wardrobe.
The key, as always, is moderation. Stick with only small touches of 1-2 brighter colors to prevent them from clashing with or overpowering the rest of your outfit.
A yellow or pink pocket square, for example, will pair well with a charcoal sports jacket and all other neutrals you have on (white or light blue dress shirt, dark blue jeans, black belt, etc.). It will easily pop out with that combination. The same goes for a red necktie or gold buttons on a neutral-colored jacket.
Shoes are slightly trickier. While black is the only option in some cases, e.g., formal dress, shades of brown complement most of the neutrals above far better. So what’s your best bet here? In a nutshell, brown is the answer. For a more thorough explanation, check out this article on matching dress shoes with neutral-colored suits.
But what if you’re planning instead to wear a bright suit color for a friend’s wedding or another special event? A bit of trial-and-error is in order. Do a bit of research on your best options. Ask the groom’s opinion. Or the bride’s. And remember – there’s always Pinterest and Instagram to help you out!
How To Match Colors Rule #3 Don’t Overthink Your Skin Tone
When dressing up, men often wonder: “Does this color look good with my skin tone?” Ever asked yourself this? Don’t worry about this too much. It’s more a secondary issue and not a huge limiting factor in what colors you can wear.
Shouldn’t skin color matter here? Well, yes, to a certain extent. But it should only play a part in about 10% of your decision-making regarding your color choices for clothing, and only after you’ve considered the two rules mentioned above.
It does help to know the type and amount of contrast between your skin tone and hair color. But that info should only require minor adjustments to your style. Don’t let your skin completely overhaul whatever you’ve taken time to put together. Stick to the neutrals and pops of color mentioned above, and chances are you’ll look good regardless of your complexion.
Matching colors is essentially a personal skill. There are no official rights or wrongs. The rules listed in this post – and all other rules about color – are not strict. As much as it helps to follow them (especially if you’re beginning to upgrade your style), there are times when you have to follow your gut simply.
With some practice, you’ll eventually be able to tell whether your outfit works with a single glance in the mirror.
When it comes to understanding how to match colors in men’s clothing, remember this: If you like what you see and the outfit suits the occasion, go ahead with it! Forget about how much it defies conventions. Be confident – and it’ll show. And confidence always looks good.
The post 3 Main Rules To Match Colors In Men’s Clothing appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
——————–
By: Antonio Centeno
Title: 3 Main Rules To Match Colors In Men’s Clothing
Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/match-colors-style-rules/
Published Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:51:28 +0000
Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/mens-dress-code-guide/
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