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DEWAR’S has the Perfect Father’s Day Gift
What are you getting dad for Father’s Day this year? If you were thinking a good bottle of whiskey is just what the doctor ordered, DEWAR’S has an even better suggestion. To celebrate dads everywhere, DEWAR’S Scotch whisky and Freemans Sporting Club in NYC are teaming up for two gifts that will make it the […] -
The Bison Paddle Strop Razor Case
Every man needs a good razor case, so the folks at Bison came up with the idea for the Paddle Strop Razor Case. Beautifully crafted with cocobolo hardwood and calfskin leather, the case is both functional and well-designed. The Manual talked to Bison’s Sebastian Sandersius, who talked about the origin of the Paddle Strop Razor […] -
The Manual’s Guide to Grooming: Facial Hair
In the upcoming weeks, The Manual will be posting tips from people in the know on various industries. Today we get groomed by England’s own Mister Natty. Our thoughts on the subject: Grooming has become a booming business and we couldn’t be happier. It’s good to see guys taking care of themselves. But there are […] -
Hydrate Your Face with H20 Plus
Tired looking skin? Or tired of looking at your skin? H20 Plus is going to kick your grooming game into overdrive by blasting you with a series of hydrating products. The men’s line appropriately titled Oasis is surprising addictive and fresh with no overwhelming smells – and it’s going to take your skin to paradise. […] -
The Manual’s Earth Day Grooming Guide
Happy Earth Day! While we are always fist bumping planet Earth here at The Manual, today is a special day for our globe. We are continuing our love fest with the good lookin’ eco gals over at O&N Collective to hear what is trending in their world organically, sustainably and locally. Michelle Witherby offers up her […] -
Masters of All-Natural Men’s Grooming: Bulldog
Out of the hundreds of men’s grooming products that make it to our testing station (Read: our bathroom) Bulldog has consistently impressed. Their all-natural products get right to the point, use quality ingredients, smell great and most importantly—work. But what also stands out are their prices, which starting at just $10, seem too good to […] -
Masters of the Beard: Brooklyn Grooming
Long gone are the days when facial hair was synonymous with a slovenly man. Today, beards aren’t just pervasive, they’re treated like royalty, and as such beard grooming is giving shaving a run for its money. There are no shortage of brands vying to help you spruce up your face follicles, but among them, Brooklyn […] -
Grooming Alert: Portland General Store
These days, smaller and local is better, and grooming lines are starting to follow that whole ethos. One such company is Portland General Store, which was founded by Lisa Brodar and Troy Tyler in 2007, and produces all-natural, small-batch products in Portland, Maine. Here they discuss how they came up with the idea for Portland […] -
An Affordable Men’s Grooming Kit
Sometimes it’s essential to shake things up. Grooming is one of those essential things (or at least rolling out of bed to take a shower once in while). We found this super affordable grooming sample box with a terrible name. Dare we say it … the Glossybox. And to be fair the company usually caters to women. […] -
Steer Clear From Pimples and Blemishes
ACNE – it’s not just a brand -, it’s a real life issue. Even as adults, mild acne, blemishes, and pimples can pop up at any given moment – especially under stress. And they always seem to drop by at the worst times – like right before that interview, or the day of a special […] -
The Five Top Fragrance Picks From Elements
This one is for those of you who are looking for a fragrance that stands out from the sea of scents you can find at the department store. The Manual visited the most recent edition of Elements to find five colognes that you should get your nose on. Aperture Ulrich Lang This new scent by […] -
Manready Mercantile’s All-American Grooming
First a guy is making candles in small batches on his apartment stove and suddenly a business is born. That’s exactly how the curated goods site, Manready Mercantile burst onto the scene. Founder Travis Weaver began his experimentation using all-natural ingredients and then went on to develop additional products. Most of the grooming items are […] -
Feel Good Friday – Every Man Jack
We are big fans of natural and organic products but we also know they can hit the wallet harder than a hippie hits a bong. That is why we are fans of Every Man Jack. Based in Marin Country, California the line offers products that contain only naturally derived ingredients. No parabens, no phthalates, no […] -
The Best Haircut for Your Face Shape
The time has come for a haircut once again, and you’re unsure of what to ask for at the barber. Maybe in the 4-6 weeks it’s been since your last trim, you spotted a celebrity or friend with the style you want. But before taking that photo to your stylist, it’s best to find out […] -
Beard Trimming Tips
Having a beard reflects a certain serenity to your life—avoiding the is, after all, one reason to let the follicles on your face flourish. And true, being bearded requires a lot less upkeep than being clean shaven, but still, unless you’re on Duck Dynasty, you’ve most likely got a job that requires you to show […] -
Grooming Guide: Tom Ford Skincare
Tom Ford doesn’t exactly skew with our readers per se. His line can be a bit OTT for our tastes, but when we saw he launched a grooming line, we were intrigued. -
The Manliest Cologne
The manliest cologne isn’t necessarily made from tobacco, wood, whiskey or even motor-oil (yup, it exists). Though all fine, the true measure of a manly cologne goes much deeper than the business of fragrance (itself a word unbecoming of manly men). We’re talking about build, gentlemen. As in a solid cologne; no dainty sprays, messy […] -
A Beard Balm For Colds
Beards and colds. They go together like… bacon and vegans, tequila and luke warm water, gay people and Russia. OK, so if you’ve had a cold, and you own a beard, then you (and whoever you may be sharing a bed with) already know that these two things don’t play well together in the sandbox. […] -
Bay Rum Oil, Since 1500
Bay Rum Oil holds a special place In the pantheon of traditional men’s scents. Originating in the West Indies, Bay Rum Oil, which is derived from soaking bay leaves in rum, soon became a favorite of early 16th century sailors looking to cover up foul sea stenches. Later it became a favorite of 19th century […] -
Five Bizarre Men’s Grooming Procedures
Grooming can get pretty weird. Sure, things like shaving are normal, and so are most beards. The same can be said for soap, toothpaste, hair cuts, moisturizer and even some colognes, but venture past these everyday things and the world of personal care can turn into an intensely bizarre labyrinth of the strange and unbelievable. […] -
An Imperial Shave
We love shaving and we love Made in America – so here is a great new shave set to keep that mug of yours smooth for the New Year. Imperial Barber Products are made in America (specifically Los Angeles) and the team behind Imperial has worked for over 26 years to perfect the fine craft […] -
Feel Good Friday: Mister Beardwash
Mister Beardwash loves anyone or thing with whiskers. Case in point, with the purchase of every bottle of their wash and/or conditioner made specifically to clean beards and mustaches, you’re in fact donating to the North Shore Animal League of America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. What’s more beard warming than […] -
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Juniper Ridge Pop Up Brings the West Coast to Brooklyn
Good news for all of you East Coast readers out there. One of our favorite grooming brands, Juniper Ridge, brought the refreshing scents of the West Coast wilderness to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and it’s not something you want to miss. We stopped by last week to check out the pop up, housed in Barber & Supply […] -
How to Look Sharp When Hungover
Ah the holidays. They’re really, really, REALLY here, and because all the jubilation comes with more than one kind of libation, it’s also officially hangover season too. Between all the parties, potlucks and awkward family moments, we’re all going to be imbibing a bit more than usual in the coming months, so have fun, don’t […] -
Throwback Fragrance Favorites
Each year, the fragrance industry barrages our faces with new releases and editions (dubbed flankers, think CK One Summer). Within this mass sea of marketing, know that there have been forerunners in the past that have already paved the road for these fragrance free loaders. Read below for some monumental releases that not only have […] -
Your On-The-Go Guide to Holiday Travel Grooming
Like it or not, the holidays are approaching at lightning speed. Now that Halloween has passed, it’s time to think about Thanksgiving and Hanukkah (they overlap this year, in case you haven’t heard) until it’s a landslide into Christmas. For many of us, this means traveling both near and far to visit family and friends […] -
Feel Good Friday- Movember!
Razors Up! Shave Cream Out! Start Shaving! Today is the first day of a month proudly dedicated to us MEN. And we don’t have to feel even the tad bit apologetic about celebrating everything awesome about our sex. Why? Because it is all for a good cause. November 1st kicks off a month of charity […] -
Sex Panther: Time to Musk Up
Straight out of Brian Fantana’s secret scent stash, Sex Panther, the infamous cologne from Anchorman, has finally broken free from the silver screen and hit store shelves in the real world. It’s an actual product you can buy now, and from what we hear, it’s made with bits of real panther in it, so you […] -
Inside Harry’s Shave First Barbershop
Grooming with iPads? Just another day of innovation from the guys at Harry’s Shave, which successfully launched less than 365 days ago as a stylish, but affordable razor blade alternative to drug store brands. The young brand is barreling though their freshman year, as if they were determined to win some kind of rookie of […] -
Barnaby Black’s Hard-Milled Soaps
Unfortunately, the soap aisle at your local department store is a lot like the air freshener aisle – it’s absolutely overrun with flowery, hyper-feminine lady-scents. Soaps with fragrances befitting of a hair-chested he-man are few and far between, so unless you don’t mind your hands smelling like rose petals and bubblegum all the time, you’ll […] -
The Soft Goat Stops Stubble Scrape
You know what would really suck? Making out with Scarlett Johansson only to find that her face has the exact same texture as sandpaper. She’s one of the sexiest women alive, so you’d probably just deal and make awkward excuses as to why it looks like someone took a belt sander to your mug, but […] -
Stock Up on Essentials With Manpacks
You’ve all done it before. You’re going about your daily business and then you realize that — you’re out of shaving cream or toothpaste. Or worse — you’re about to get lucky with a lady and there aren’t anymore condoms in your bedside table drawer! You won’t have to find yourself in those situations anymore […] -
Defunk Your Face Muff with Beard Buddy
Beards are in, my friends, and as long as Congress doesn’t reinstate the draft (which killed off our fury companions during World War I), they are likely here to stay—and for good reason. Beards make dumb people look smarter. They award grace and nobility to even the ugliest of faces, and if you’re lazy (like […] -
Face The Facts
Face the facts! You’re getting old! Ok, maybe that was harsh. And we have no idea how old you are, but whatever your age, it’s always good to start taking care of your face. Luckily for you, Lab Series has come out with two new great products that will help you out, whether you are currently fighting the […] -
Worn Out Wednesday – Dion Nash
As you know there is a plethora of grooming products out there these days and many are from the big bad corporate companies yearning to tap a market and make another buck. But it is grooming lines like Triumph and Disaster who we really trust with protecting our rugged mug. Created by the New Zealand […] -
Kill Your Sweat: A New Possible Way
In a nutshell—sweat sucks. And not just in the dog days of summer when you’re either currently sweating or covered by a sticky layer of dried sweat, courtesy of your office’s overzealous air conditioning system. Sweat sucks because it is the ultimate betrayer of men everywhere. “Never let ’em see you sweat,” the old saying […] -
A Better Way to Deal With Sweat: Ursa Major Face Wipes
Oh, “Wipe.” We dislike the word just as much as you, but since we live in a world filled with sweat, and you can’t always use your T-shirt, we must also live with the reality of things called face wipes. Those of the individually wrapped ilk can be especially useful for guys on the go, […] -
The Motley- Your Go To Site for Grooming
We never thought we would say this, but the amount of men’s grooming products out there is overwhelming. Just ten years ago we had half an aisle at the local drug store, mostly with Athletes foot powder and beard dyes. Now, there is a plethora of brands, which is exciting but can be confusing. Enter […] -
Perry Ellis Launches New Fragrance
The summer months are good for lighter, crisp fragrances, while the colder months are generally associated with deeper, richer colognes. Thankfully, for the first time in three years Perry Ellis, the cool and preppy sportswear line is launching a new scent that is the perfect transitional cologne. The scent is fresh and rugged, perfect for […] -
Talking Facial Fuzz with Master Barber, Alex Glover
Remember when a beard was a sign of slobbery? At some point that symbolism was superseded by a new found sartorial respect for facial hair. A well-groomed beard or perfectly clipped handlebar moustache is now an indicator of awesome personal style. Murdock of London has championed this trend since the first outpost opened in 2006. […] -
Thorin Decatur on How to Protect Your Scalp From the Summer Sun
The temperatures are reaching record highs across the country and whether you have to be outdoors for work or just hanging out at the beach, many guys (especially those of us with fading hairlines) forget to protect our scalps from the sun. We spoke to Thorin Decatur, a third generation barber and owner of the […] -
Grooming Routine: The Best Spas for Men
Going to the spa isn’t just for the ladies anymore. Men’s spa treatments are becoming increasing popular, and hey, we have to admit, it is pretty attractive to see a man who likes to take care of himself. Women like a man with smooth, kissable skin (take it from me!). With Father’s Day coming up, […] -
Feel Good Friday: Glo Good Foundation
Whitening your teeth could possibly be one of the most vainglorious things to spend money on. But that’s also depending on what company you’re using. For instance, if you choose to go with Glo Science, you might actually be helping people. Like a woman named Agathe from a remote village in Rwanda. She’s a survivor […] -
Airing it Out: Floral Cologne
Airing it Out is a new monthly column featuring a more in depth look at what the hell we are misting ourselves with each morning. Not just for dead royalty, floral notes are making a comeback to the men’s fragrance market. Calm down, it’s not like we are telling ya to wear ladies perfume. Florals […] -
Fragrance Talk: Oliver & Co.’s Oliver Valverde Tells You How to Wear Cologne
In the cluttered world of men’s fragrances, it’s often difficult to decide on a scent that you identify with, so we’d like to suggest one rising line that we can’t get enough of: Oliver & Co. Created by Madrid-based perfumer Oliver Valverde, this burgeoning fragrance brand consists of specially handcrafted candles and colognes with scents […] -
Third Man’s Eau Nomade
The temperature is rising and with the heat, oftentimes we would rather not spritz ourselves with some overpowering scent before we walk out the door for a date. Enter Eau Nomade. Eau de Colognes are popular again as we mentioned a while back and these are a great alternative to heavy scents for the summer. […] -
Deodorant in a Towel? Oh Hell Yes.
Summer is here and the heat is on. That means sweat city and stink town for lots of us. Whether its from outdoor time (hiking or tedious yard work) or just a humid walk to work, we are precariously close to Neanderthal stages of odor. While a mid day shower isn’t an option for everyone, […] -
Smell Better: A 4-in-1 Shower Gel That Can Help
Maybe you’re a guy who wants to just wash and go, or maybe you’re one of those who likes to take pampering to another level…either way, here’s something you’ll both find of use. Molton Brown Sport is a body wash, face wash, hair and shave cream…but above all, it’s a multi-function sports wash that actually […] -
Beer Can Make You Look Better
Beer is magic. Drink it and the people around you start looking more attractive; rub it into your hair or on your body and, abracadabra, you start looking better yourself. Not a joke. That’s because beer’s ingredients—barley, hops, yeast and water (yes, water) release a menagerie of vitamins and nutrients in the brewing process that, […]