Grooming Checklist Clean up your act with barber Peter Tan’s easy maintenance checklist
Rather than a bathroom filled with products or time spent in front of the mirror, when it comes to the modern man’s grooming - above all else - maintenance plays an essential role.
We head to a man with impeccable grooming, Hong Kong barber Peter Tan from The Handsome Factory Barber by Cuts & Glory, the stylish men’s hangout on Haven Street in Causeway Bay, to find out what he considers the five top men’s grooming essentials.
Hair
“Number one on the list. As a general rule, you know it’s time to get a haircut when hairs are no longer uniform, meaning they are no longer the same length.”
Eyebrows
“Whether it’s pluck, wax, thread, or shape – a little maintenance is a game-changer. Once I had them plucked and shaped for the first time, I instantly felt more confident, and started making it a weekly ritual.”
Nose Hair
“As a rule of thumb, when your nose hair is visible, it’s too late! You can use an electric nose hair trimmer, but I like to pluck with tweezers as it lasts longer.”
Nails
“Don’t let the tip of your nails grow pass the ends of your fingers, so get out the nail cutters regularly.”
Facial Hair
“Keep your facial hair neat and clean, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be short. I had a customer with a beard eight inches long that was well kept, and it looked awesome.”
When it comes to products, Tan believes the top five essentials for the modern man should be; “1) a good shampoo and conditioner, 2) either a pomade and/or matte hair product, 3) face wash, 4) moisturiser, and 5) - a product that I believe is essential but underrated - an aftershave balm or lotion.” As for the five grooming essential tools? “A comb, shaver, nail clippers, tweezers, and grooming scissors.”
Most Requested Cuts
Peter Tan shares which five men’s haircuts are trending right now
- High Bald Fade
- Tight Fade with a Man Bun
- Crisp Facial Hair
- a Shaved Parting
- Braids
“Recently, I have been doing a lot of high bald fades and tight fades with a man bun on top. The key to a great fade is ensuring a smooth transition from the shortest point in the hair to the longest. Facial hair is still trending, but rather than the rugged look, urban men have been making the facial hair look crisp and clean. A shaved parting in your hairstyle is also popular – there are those who take it to the next level and get graphic designs in their hair, which can be a logo, picture, or pattern. Braids are also back. I would advise the guys to ask their girlfriends to help with this. If one can pull off braids which are faded into the haircut, paired with a full beard, then one would have the epitome of what is trending now.”