How To
This is the structure upon which every stylish men's wardrobe and grooming routine is built. TheChicGeek's extensive range of 'How Tos' brings together his and industry experts' advice on everything from 'How to Tie a Bow-Tie' to 'How to Get the Perfect Smile', empowering you to look after your wardrobe, wear it correctly and to make the best of yourself. If there is something not covered then send TheChicGeek an email at askthegeek@thechicgeek.co.uk and he'll be happy to answer.
How to Cut Your Hair with Remington Touch Control Hair Clipper - Sponsored
You will need:
Remington Touch Control Hair Clipper
2 x Mirrors (to see the back of your head)
Towel to protect your clothing
Comb/Brush
We recommend cutting your hair in the bathroom so you can sweep your hair away
1. Select the right hair comb attachment for the hair length you desire – the stubble comb, short length comb or long length comb:
Stubble comb (1.5mm, grade 0) Non-adjustable – for facial hair
Short length comb (3-23mm, grade 1-8)- for backs, sides and buzz cuts
Long length comb (22 – 42mm, grade 7-14) – for longer styles and fringes
2. Attach the hair comb - simply hold the comb with teeth upwards and guide the comb rails in to the slots and push down until it sits on the adjustment arm. Now select the correct corresponding switch on the side of the clipper:
Long length comb – A
Short length comb – either B (for 0.5mm increments) C ( for 0.1mm increments)
3. Use the touch buttons on the touch screen to adjust the comb to the desired cutting length by simply pressing and holding the up arrow to increase length and down arrow to decrease.
4. Select the desired power level by pressing the boost button on the touch screen. If you have thicker hair, go for more power. Once you’ve selected your cutting length and power level, lock settings with the lock switch button on the side of the clipper. Remember, your Touch Control Hair Clipper won’t work unless the lock is in place!
5. Finally, check the Touch Control Hair Clipper is free from any hair or dust. Comb/brush your hair to make sure it is tangle free. Your hair will need to be completely dry. Now you’re good to go….
Top Tip: Make a note of your settings for your next hair cut
Cutting Your Hair
Top cutting tip from Chris Appleton:
Use the anchor, pivot and suspend technique. Start with the clipper blade flat against the head and then move in an upwards direction (against the hair growth) pivoting the clipper onto its heel and moving it up and out of the hair. It’s much simpler than it sounds and will give a blended professional finish.
Step 1 - The Nape of the neck
Using the short comb, set to between 3mm and 6mm, to suit your preference. Hold the hair clipper with the blade teeth pointing upwards. Start at the centre at the nape of the neck, slowly working the clipper upwards and outwards through the hair, trimming a little at a time
Step 2 - Back of the head
With the comb set between 12mm and 18mm, repeat step 1 but cutting hair at the back of the head up towards the crown
Step 3 - Sides of the head
Set the comb to between 3mm and 6mm to carefully trim your sideburns. Then alter the setting to 9mm and continue to cut in an upwards direction towards the top of the head.
Step 4 - Top of the head
Using the longer length comb attachment set to between 24mm and 27mm. Cut the hair on top of your head, always working from the back of the head forwards. If you want a longer style, simply use the longer length comb attachment on the longest cutting level to achieve your style of choice.
Step 5 - The finishing touches
Chris Appleton’s Style Tips:
To produce a clean, straight line at the sideburns, reverse the hair clipper. Place the reversed clipper at right angles to the head with the tips of the blades lightly touching the skin and work in a downwards direction.
Cutting Do’s and Don’ts
Do…
Make sure you have access to a couple of mirrors and a bright light so you can see the back of your head
Keep checking in the mirror as you go to check the cut is even
Make sure your hair is completely dry
Experiment with different comb lengths for added definition, texture and styles
Get a friend to check you haven’t missed anything at the back and spot any areas that need blending
Keep your style under control by trimming your hair every couple of weeks
Don’t…
Rush into the chop – take your time!
Think that military buzz cuts are the only styles that can be created using clippers. The Remington Touch Control Hair Clipper can give you an array of on-trend styles.
Remington Touch Control Hair Clipper - £69.99
FYI - There is 1/3 off at Remington at the moment www.uk.remington-europe.com
Men's Fashion - How to Look Cool this Summer 2013
It’s the age-old problem: how to look cool on holiday. Being British - ergo spending most of your life covered up from the cold - come Summer, holiday shopping is usually left to a week before a holiday; panic-buying the high-street and picking up anything you can lay your hands on. More than often, buying into disposable trends that, come next year, are completely defunct meaning, the same process would happen again. Catch 22.
But with age comes knowledge! That knowledge is to slowly build up a Summer wardrobe that is translatable from sunny BBQ days here in Britain to the sunny shores of Ibiza. We have compiled a small capsule wardrobe guide on how to look cool and stay cool this Summer;
Left - Incotex - Slim-fit Cotton Blend Trousers - £200
Looking Cool
Simple classics are key - think Marlon Brando in his classic T-shirts, Gene Kelly in his tailored trousers and Paul Newman’s relaxed but classic style.
With that in mind, for cooler climates, a Summer appropriate thinner tailored trouser looks great on everyone. Not only does it look classic, but also these trousers work really well on your body: sitting above the hip, accentuating height and slimming the figure - it also makes your arse look good!
Whilst in those hotter climates, tailored shorts are man's best friend, keeping the classic look of the trouser and its figure enhancing features, but keeping you nice and comfortable.
Right - Margaret Howell - Cotton/Linen Blend Shorts - £195
For tops, the underrated simple T-shirt is always a must: classically cut, simple and in a light colour, paired with your tailored trousers or shorts creates a completely simple but stylish look.
For perhaps a city break, where the temperature is a bit cooler, try something similar but with longer sleeves.
Left - MHL - Cotton/Linen Blend T-Shirt - £55
Having something a little warmer for those colder evenings along the seafront - or the pub if you’re back in Britain - is always handy. Try a roll-neck top tucked into your tailored trousers or shorts. You’ll look like the coolest cat around but be nice and warm!
Right - John Smedley - Pembroke Sea Island Cotton Rollneck - £130
Never forget a shirt either! A slim-fit linen blend one is perfect for any holiday.
Left - J.Crew - Slim-fit Linen Shirt - £80
Keeping those feet cool are a must as well, stick to something like this cotton mesh slip-ons in classic colours.
Right - Rivieras - Cotton Mesh Slip-On Shoes - £50
Moreover, now that the trend for boat shoes has significantly died down enough - this also applies to brogues, it is now safe to buy into these again without looking like everyone else. We’d suggest something classic in suede to work into your Summer wardrobe.
Left - Sperry Top-Sider - Suede Boat Shoes - £85
Actually looking like you’re cool
So, one of those things that happens when you get hot is you sweat and you definitely do not want to be sweating over all your nice new clothes. To combat this whilst away, try Perspirex. It’s basically a strong antiperspirant that stops unwanted sweating. Apply one application once a week before bed to wherever you do not want to sweat: underarms, back, hands, anywhere! Perfect for preserving those new clothes and looking great in every moment of your holiday! Nothing worse than unwanted photos of you sweating popping up on Facebook now is there?
Put this hat in the freezer before you need it and the cooling crystals will keep your head cool. It also offer a UPF protection of +50 and is anti-mosquito.
Right - Peter Storm - Bucket Hat with Cooling Crystals - £14
Men's Grooming - How to Look Great on James Bond's Eggs
It turns out James Bond's egg of choice was from the beautifully plumaged Marans chicken. Ian Fleming writes of 007 favouring a perfectly cooked boiled Marans hen’s egg for Bond’s breakfast.
It turns out Bond was onto something, as beauty business entrepreneur Liz Earle explains further;
This Easter, if you want to beat the sugar rush, stay trim and encourage clearer skin, Liz Earle says eggs are the answer – but not the chocolate kind…
Left - Marans chicken, lay a little egg for me!
As co-founder of the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Co and owner of a thriving organic farm in the West County, which she runs with her husband Patrick, whilst bringing up a family of five children, here Liz shares her insights, top beauty tips for getting the best out of eggs.
Eggs are the perfect food, packed with high quality protein, vitamins A, D, E and highly-absorbable forms of the stress-busting B-complex vitamins, as well as minerals iron, phosphorus and skin-building zinc. They’re also a dieter’s delight as studies show eating an egg for breakfast makes you feel fuller for longer, so you eat less later on.
As well as being good for us, reducing stress levels and filling us up, eggs are also low in calories. A medium sized egg contains around 80 kcals and is relatively low in saturated fat. That old myth about eggs raising cholesterol levels is debunked now, with even the Department of Health saying we can eat as many eggs as we like – within reason!
The very best eggs are always organic for two good reasons: firstly, hens are kept with much better welfare so you are supporting greater care for animals and secondly, hens are fed higher quality, non-GM feed, which in turn leads to tastier, nutrient-rich eggs. For me, organic eggs, along with organic milk, are two daily staples that I don't skimp on for taste and wellbeing. Organic eggs are especially rich in trace elements too, such as iodine (required for thyroid hormones), selenium (an important antioxidant) and choline (linked to improved brain function).
Eggs are not just for Easter, they’re the perfect mix of proteins for the skin to keep collagen and elastin fibres supple. Of note, egg-white only omelettes are no good for the skin as they’re missing the yolks that contain lecithin, a true skin superfood. Lecithin repairs skin tissues, helps keep cell membrane strong and slows the ageing process. Eating a whole egg a day is therefore a brilliant way to help keep skin looking young – just make sure it’s an organic one!
Eggs also work on the outside as natural beautifiers and can give hair an extra conditioning boost. For dry, colour-treated or normal hair, use the entire egg to add moisture and shine. Oily hair types can just use egg whites as these contain enzymes to help remove excess oils. In either case, apply the fresh raw egg mixture to dry hair, leave on for 15 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as usual. Be sure to use lukewarm (not hot) water or you’ll end up with scrambled egg in your hair!
@lizearleme
Men's Fashion - How to Do Valentine's Day if You're Single
How to Do Valentine’s Day if You’re Single - By Doug Haines, Director of The London School of Attraction
Valentine’s Day - the burden for a guy in a relationship. The frustrating scramble for a worthwhile gift; the Italian restaurant in Kensington charging obscene rates for a plate of stodgy carbonara and a thin crust pizza so thin you can hardly scrape it off the plate; the flowers, chocolates and red balloons…
But as a single man you don’t need to stress about it. You can rejoice in the opportunities this day can bring. Here are my three tips for making the most of Valentine’s Day as a single man.
Tip #1 Go out
2013 is a great year for Valentine’s Day because it’s on a Thursday. It’s a normal night out (last year it was a Tuesday) so it won’t even seem strange. The beauty is that ever girl who’s out in the bars and clubs is likely to be single. There’s no other night of the year where this is the case.
You can even go to an anti-Valentine’s Day party (London will be teeming with them). Whatever you do, as a single guy, make sure you get out to meet people.
Tip #2 Use it as a conversation starter
We generally advocate going up to a girl and simply saying hello but, if you’re feeling nervous, use Valentine’s Day as a good way to kick off the conversation. Try some of these simple ways to start a conversation:
“My friend is proposing to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. Is that romantic or so cringe-worthy it makes your toes curl?”
“What’s the most romantic thing that a guy could do on Valentine’s Day?”
“I need to get away from all of these soppy couples. I want to go to a gritty underground bar and get drunk on strong cocktails – know somewhere to go?”
Tip #3 Think of it as an opportunity
We work with a lot of clients who see an attractive girl walking down the street and feel fear – fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. We spend a lot of time getting them to see the attractive girl as an opportunity – someone new and exciting to say hello to.
It’s the same with Valentine’s Day. I know a lot of guys who’d like a girlfriend who get really down on Valentine’s Day. They think about what they don’t have rather than the opportunities they do.
See Valentine’s Day this year as the start of something new. You’re going to go out and meet new people and have fun doing it. Being single means the world is your oyster; think of this rather than the negative feelings you might have about being single.
Something to wear while you're looking?! Above - Drake's - Cupid's Arrow Printed Silk Pocket Square - £45