Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Hardworking Gentlemen Offers American-Made Grooming Goods for the Everyday Man

Cruising down Southern California’s Highway 101, you’ll certainly feel nostalgia for the simpler days or having a surfboard in tow. But by no means has the surf culture faded away. Encinitas, California, is harboring true craftsman with the intent of bettering the everyday with a brand dedicated to Hardworking Gentlemen.

Found in one of Encinitas’ oldest buildings (built in the 1920s),

Hardworking Gentlemen

prides itself on delivering grooming products made from natural ingredients for the everyday man. The shop and conveniently located headquarters are everything you want to be and in its truest form: SoCal, so chill. The shelves are littered with cultured clothing from local companies, which complement the California-crafted goods of Hardworking Gentlemen. The brand’s lineup is meant to be kept by the sink, in your dopp kit, and used every day. The focus is on simplicity and functionality to deliver sustainable and mindful products.

hardworking gentlemen
Hardworking Gentlemen

Hardworking Gentlemen spent years researching and testing ingredients. As co-founder Ryan Reid mentioned, “It felt like I was back in school … as a chemistry major trying to find the right formulas.” It certainly speaks volumes about a brand that is backed by the blood, sweat, and lab beakers of its founders. (Not to mention that the woodwork within the shop was all done by a Hardworking Gentlemen.)

Recommended Videos

But back to that chemistry project. Hardworking Gentlemen has crafted a variety of moisturizers, hair products, soaps, natural deodorants, and a sea salt spray that leaves your hair feeling and looking like you just got out of the surf. The products are proudly made in the United States, branded black and yellow, and are thoughtfully developed with the highest quality components. They’re designed to not only enhance a gentleman’s look but to also be functional with the power to moisturize and nourish hair, skin, and body.

Differing from most business headquarters, Hardworking Gentlemen in Encinitas is a community gathering, providing space for retail, lounge, office, and a two-chair barbershop. And with tw0 full-time barbers the shears are sharp, the conversation is on point (generally about the surf), and you better believe the brand’s products will be the icing on your fresh look.

Hardworking Gentlemen

Hardworking Gentlemen is a shop and company that cares about you, from head to toe —  before and after the surf. And based on the fact that it was derived from a need for products that enhance a hardworking gentleman’s everyday life, you know you’ll be filling your bathroom counters with the best the 101 has to offer. Here are some of our favorites:

Hardworking Gentlemen Sea Salt Spray

hardworking gentlemen sea salt spray
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Hardworking Gentlemen Sea Salt Spray is a natural volumizer that works hard by adding texture and body to your hair. With a simple spritz, you’ll have a perfectly natural look and be smelling pine fresh.

Hardworking Gentlemen Firm Hold Clay

hardworking gentlemen firm clay
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Hardworking Gentlemen Firm Hold Clay is a rugged and dapper natural hair product that offers the strength necessary for long-lasting performance. The Firm Clay has a matte finish, remains workable, and is lightly infused with the scent of fresh-cut cedar.

Hardworking Gentlemen Natural Forest Tonic Deodorant

hardworking gentlemen natural deodorant
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An all-natural and powerful odor-fighting deodorant, the HWG Natural Forest Tonic Deodorant was developed to withstand the demands of Hardworking Gentlemen. The formula consists of Bentonite Clay to isolate odor, absorb sweat, and with Juniper Berries and hints of Pine you’ll be smelling fresh and from the forest.

Ben Hitch
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ben Hitch, well, he's the first of his name and one hell of a character. You can find him exploring the streets of San Diego…
Acqua di Parma releases the ultimate men’s fragrance for the summer
Acqua di Parma releases new Italian reserve collection
dark blue acqua di parma bottle in front of colorful background

Even if you aren’t planning to jet off to Capri or Amalfi, there’s still another way you can add some Italian summer flair to the season. For Acqua di Parma, invoking Italian scents is an everyday act, but their newest fragrance collection takes this to another level. Playing off three familiar fragrances, the brand has enriched the scents to unveil its new Blu Mediterranea La Riserva collection. Released in a decadent dark blue shade, this collection stands out from the brand’s traditional lineup with a subtle tone switch. The perfect unisex fragrances for the season, Acqua di Parma transports everyone to the Italian coast with plenty of style. 

Exploring Italy with Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterranea La Riserva

Read more
How to trim a beard the right way — from stubble to full-on lumberjack
Choose the right beard, get the right tools, and master these techniques for a great look
Beard trimming

At first glance, how to trim a beard seems like an easy problem to solve. I have first-hand experience with this, as my beard grew out evenly when I decided to sprout one. Even better, it came in with a reddish color that complemented my long face and Scotch-Irish ancestry on my father’s side. The basic color and uniformity made it easy to overlook the inevitable mistakes I made, so the toughest task was reminding myself to trim every other day. Otherwise, I would grow a small beard forest that was tough to handle.
For many men, though, it’s not so simple. That’s especially true for beard novices and for those men whose beards serve up some surprises. When that happens, trimming becomes a tougher task, so a brief tactical review is a solid idea.

Choose the right beard type, then get a trimmer

Read more
These unusual men’s colognes are inspired by your favorite food
Man spraying on cologne

For many men, the quest to find the ultimate personalized fragrance is unending. They know all about colognes, expensive and otherwise. They also go into this project with boundless curiosity, well aware of how much they’ll benefit from getting it right with the best men's colognes, both personally and professionally.
In addition, they’re often actively involved in exploring food-based colognes and scents. This can open up a whole new world of personalized fragrances, so it’s well worth taking a closer look to see what works and how far you might want to go in your explorations.

Spices are a staple in the world of scents

Read more