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Brand Review: Ustraa - all men grooming product

"“A well-groomed man is an asset. “ "  -- Hardik Gandhi

Remember a few days back I posted an article about Grooming – How much is too much?? If you don’t, then please have a quick glimpse through that so that what you read next here might blow your mind (yeah that’s exaggeration, but you would love it).

How often have you men used a female brand or at times even their products in your grooming regime?? Never?? Ok I don’t buy lies so be honest. Once, twice or still using? Don’t shy away, that has nothing to do with questioning your masculinity. The problem is we men lack all-for-man brands, products that are for us - to groom our body, our hair, our beard and so on. But as they say, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and thus today your horrific shopping decisions come to an end. No more shying away while you receive your grooming products, ever again.

The bro-saviour is called Ustraa. (Yeah the one you have been seeing often on Facebook)

As always, like all the lovely brands that want us to be honest about their product-review, the dialect started. They sent product. I said I write if I like. I use the products, AND BANG – I love it and I review them. So without bragging any further, let’s start the rituals.

ABOUT USTRAA

Brand Name: Ustraa

Mother Brand: Happily Unmarried

What is Ustraa: Grooming products - just for Men

Ustraa, a Hindi slang and much of Bollywood’s gangsta’ armour, is technically a razor blade used for a clean shaved face. Hence, the brand name sounds quite apt and idiosyncratic thinking of its association with the grooming industry.

Before making up my mind on what to get for the review I went through the array of products they have on their website. The first thing that strikes you is the way they have done their branding – for products as well as the brand. For a quirky and branding enthusiast like me, it was appealing yet subtle.

Product Range:

Shaving Cream | After Shave | Facewash | Body Wash | Mooch & Beard Tonic | Beard Wash | Hair Wax | Travel Kit

Tag Line:

"Not tested on animals, Only on rascals." (Click here for the Rascal’s Guide)

So after a lot of thought and strategies, I chose the products based on my need and the foresight of having an amazing moustache before Movember. So I chose:

Body Wash-Old School

Mooch & Beard Tonic

Ustraa Travel Kit

Body Wash-Old School

If you would have read my review about AllGoodScents, you would remember that for my body fragrance I prefer lemon as one of the ingredients in the products I use. Old School is one of those. The flavour is strong and contains lemon oil which reduces excess skin oil and increases lustre of dull skin.

One the first go, you might not like to smell it directly from the bottle. It’s strong, smells like a medicated drug and might just turn you off. WAIT !!! Remember that it is a body wash and not a flower that you just smell. Old School does wonders in the shower. A little bit on the LooFaah (again, a girly product but chill its unisex nowadays), a little rub on the body and the Old School is just too rejuvenating. The menthol as one of the ingredient in the body wash gives an amazing fragrance and feel when it comes in contact with water. Natural & Refreshing.

The body wash is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Paraben free (these are widely used inexpensive chemical found in many mainstream personal care products) which means that this is completely chemical-free and harmless product. The ingredients like Almonds, Aloe-Vera & Lactic acid assures that the skin stays healthy, smooth and irritation-free.

Key Ingredients:

Almond and Honey extract. Lemon oil.

Aloe Vera, Aqua, Decyl Glucoside, Coco Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Celquart 240C, Elfacos GT 2825, Basil Extract & Essential Oils.

Quantity:

200ml of pure love.

Mooch & Beard Tonic

Yes. TONIC !!! Similar to Gin-n-Tonic, that gives you strength, charm and next-level of confidence. But this you don’t drink. This is for those alpha men, the ones who take an oath to put their loved ones after their Moustache & Beard.

Mooch & Beard Tonic is a must-have or rather say lust-have for men who know the importance of both – facial hair as well as the benefits to groom them. I have heard that men with beard get laid more than the clean shaved ones (I am joking but I won’t be shocked if that true). This little tonic bottle has oil, magic-oil that has enough juice to make your mane legendary. After the rejuvenating Old School long-shower, damp your beard a bit and apply this oil thoroughly. The beauty behind any well-groomed beard or moustache is one big word - CARE !!! Carefully, with love oil the hair gently and turn your moustache up. This oil nourishes your facial hair and keeps that odour-free and shiny.

Key Ingredients:

Natural Preservatives

Silicone Fluid, IPM, Easttosil, Cyclomethicone, Coconut Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Jojoba Oil & Essential Oils.

Quantity:

35gms of pure lust.

 Ustraa Travel Kit

Often called the dopp bag by many fashion brands and men-style bloggers across the globe, Ustraa Travel kit is more than that. You can actually make your better half envy you while you pack all your grooming products, like all, in this little kit. Having 2-partition zipper one can store liquids and dry items separately or oral and body needs in different compartment. The canvas fabric and leather linings are enough to shout “ Yes, that’s mine.”

While we just don’t review the products for the sake of it, we actually interview the founders/ co-founder’s/ COO of the brands for our readers so asto get a better insight of the vision and passion put behind these brands.

So here’s the interview with Mr. Rajat Tuli, Director and Co-founder of Happily Unmarried, the brand behind Ustraa. 

 QUICK Q&A WITH MR. RAJAT TULI

1. Happily Unmarried - a quirky name with quirkier products on the e-shop, what made you think of Ustraa?

USTRAA came up because we realized there was no one offering quality grooming products to men. So after taking care of his bar, his home, his supply oft-shirts, we at happily unmarried decided to help our brothers look and smell better.

2. It’s interesting that you guys had balls, like literally, to put in market a grooming product that says “Just for Men”. What were your 3 big challenges to launch Ustraa?

Our main challenges were:

Create products which are comparable in quality to the best in the world.

Make sure we let everyone that this is only for men( that we can see has worked).

Get people to buy it ( the response so far has been overwhelming)

. Honestly, just like your bottles even your product’s fragrance gives a strong medicated feel, not that it’s a complain but why so?

When we spoke to men one feedback we got was that men are sick of the sweet smelling feminine fragrances that are imposed on them. We decided to use essential oils to add the flavor. We have tried to create fragrances of manly associations so there is a smoke house flavor and a badass sexy variant.  

4. Yes, the chemical friendly products, but isn’t it "great fragrance" that the larger consumer audience asks for?

- We are working on a lot more fragrances to launch. A lemon or a musk or a confused fragrance and call it " classic" is not what we want to do. We are developing signature fragrances and you will be pleasantly surprised with what is in store.

5. You guys are off-beat, with your products as well as the branding, so what’s next in store and please don’t tell me it’s : “Bindi” or “Jhumka” ora just for women e-shop (no seriously, women have had a great time shopping now it’s about Men)

Well we want to add a lot more products including a line for men who are expecting action. Happily Unmarried will continue to grow and we are also doing movie merchandising. So life is busy but good.

6. Lastly, if you were to recommend Ranveer Singh or Wolverine 3 keys products from your showcase, what would they be?

For Ranveer Singh, a quirky Bollywood Actor:

Hair wax cause he is big on hair styling/

The brain freeze body wash so that he smells as sexy as he looks.

The smoke house facewash to get him looking all fresh and recharged in 30 seconds

For Wolverine, fictional superhero on Marvel Comics:

The beard & mooch tonic to nourish those sexy side burns

The beard-wash to make them even better

The old school body wash for the occasional shower that he may take.

FAQ’s

What is Happily Unmarried?

Happily Unmarried was anti established in 2003 with no vision and no business plan. Actually at some point they did make a business plan but according to that they should have retired 5 years ago.

They make fun products, do music festivals, work with corporates when they want to do interesting work and lately they have been doing a lot of projects involving branding, communication, interiors, marketing all rolled into one (they are trying to think of a name for someone who does all that but no luck yet).

What Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? What does Ustraa use instead?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (commonly known as SLS) is a widely used and inexpensive chemical found in many mainstream personal care products such as facewash, bodywash, shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, soaps, and detergents. SLS is a detergent and surfactant that in turn creates lather. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is so inexpensive that it’s found in a number of industrial cleansing agents. This Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is exactly the same as what you would find in a car wash or even in a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

Instead of SLS, Ustraa uses Decycl Glucoside and Coco glucoside. They are 100% natural and chemical free.

What Is Parabens and what does Ustraa use instead?

Parabens are chemicals which have preservative qualities. They are frequently used in personal care and health care products. Presence of parabens in personal care products increases product shelf life. Some medical researchers believe that Parabens interfere with healthy endocrine system functioning. Everyone who uses Paraben-laced ingredients and products should be aware of the potential downside of using these chemicals in personal and health care products.

Instead Ustraa chose to use Phenoxyethanol and Triethylene Glycol (TEG) which are relatively gentle preservative that is considered non-irritating and a great solvent used in personal care products due to its natural properties. It has an excellent resistance to acids and oxidizing agents, respectively.

VERDICT

"I am too picky when it comes to fragrance and body care products, more because I have a bad skin history and now make sure I use products that hurt me less. Also, I prefer products that are specifically designed and produced by men because I believe that men and women have a different reaction and tolerance for their skin. Beyond that, I often order my hair styling-grooming products from international websites but seeing the availability of the similar kinds by Ustraa, I guess I will be saving some on shipping. Personally I loved Ustraa, as a brand and for their products. Their packing and graphic style is too global and neat, something one can relate to that of Aesop. I would surely ask you men to try them once and glamorise your bathroom shelves”

 - HARDIK GANDHI, FOUNDER " I AM MR."

[iam-mr]

Men's Styling: "Young Adults" - From a boy to a MAN.

“Young Adults”, is an interesting yet contradicting term. Young is a youth – colourful, vibrant, risky and spontaneous whereas Adult on the other side is – calm, stable, continual and mature. Usually age range from 18-24 is what can be termed as “Young Adults”. Firstly, it is really important to understand why a “young adult” should care about his appearance, reasons being:

It is a competitive world today and apart from your resume, its only your personal appearance that will make you stand apart.

It will help you develop a mind-frame that you care for yourself and are sincere towards your life and its goals.

It will allow your superiors to see you in a perspective that college or your new job is not just a part of life but a result of your hard work and perseverance.

And the most important aspect of dressing well and looking sharp is that you never know what opportunities you meet, hence it is better to be well prepared, all-the-time.

So, today I am writing about, how can you simplify understanding this range of age group and can style-groom in a better way – not to rule the world but to LEAD the world.

 18-24: A journey from a boy to a man.

Characteristics of an individual: Energetic, Adventurous, colourful, experimental

Negative traits: trend-follower, tries hard to blend in the crowd

Opportunity: to develop a long lasting individual style

18-24 : Mostly individuals in their academic years or on threshold of professional life.

Styling: 

Find your perfect style, for example do you like colourful outfits or monochromes, do you like layering your outfits with a scarf or a jacket or you just like a plain shirt.

Don’t think about the crowd but your personal choices; go for outfits that make you confident.

Once you know what your style is about start experimenting with it and build a wardrobe around it.

Try shortlisting on a colour that you love and looks best on you or a style of shirt or trouser that makes your body look the best.

Wear colors that enhance your body type, skin tone, face-type and hair color. For example:

Body Type: Rectangle Body frame - Aim to wear an outfit that accentuate your shoulders and slim down at torso, making it look narrow.

Skin Tone: Light Brown – Try wearing outfits that are Golden undertone/ Rusty Colours like Cocoa, Olive, Brown, Khaki, Burnt Orange, Navy.

Face shape: Round – avoid wearing frames that are round in shape, go for sharp rectangular frames like Wayfarers.

TIP: At this age, shortlist few care-takers like a tailor, hairstylist and a doctor and keep them for life.

Wardrobe:

Keep your wardrobe lively and full, which allows you to experiment to the edge.

Make sure you have at least one tailored suit either in black, grey or navy.

Focus on quality rather than quantity.

Start investing in key styling pieces: A watch, a sunglass and a wallet.

TIP: Try to go for made-to-measure outfits as much as possible, not only it will fit you well but will highlight your best body parts.

Grooming:

Again, being a college-going individual one constantly experiments with the hairstyle and facial hairs, do that but try to conclude on one style that suits you.

In a professional life, opt for a hairstyle that’s 2-faced: classy at the work and fun at the bar.

Buy grooming products that are rich in minerals and protein and not just chemical based.

Eat healthy and drink lots of water, at this age your body, skin and hair needs the most nutrition.

TIP: Find a celebrity that has a face-cut like yours and see which of his hairstyle you liked the most, this way you will get an understanding of what hair-cut to have.

Inter-personal Skills:

Find your interests and invest in good books that help you grow in that interest apart from the professional life.

Dedicate yourself to one sport that you like the most. Not only it makes you stay fit but will keep your blood circulation in place.

Travel. In these years of life, not only you have the energy but time to explore places and people. Travelling helps you to understand the world with a better perspective.

TIP: Develop and focus on one hobby of yours. You never know when that can become your full time job/ business.

" AS WRITTEN FOR AND PUBLISHED BY

B POSITIVE MAGAZINE 

FOR THEIR AUGUST '2015 ISSUE"

This post has been written by Hardik Gandhi, who is style adviser just-for-men and the founder of this site:  I am Mr. 

He is a frequent contributor to the magazine writing about  the aspects of men styling-grooming, wardrobe shopping and management. 

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Men's Styling: Accessories For Men

We men have limitations and inhibitions on several decisions of ours. For instance, Vodka is a girly drink or a pink shirt would look too feminine. Today, I am writing to all you men about one such thought, accessorising. A lot of men have a fear of wearing accessories. Some, because they think it’s too jazzy for their work-profile whereas some, because they think its just-not-necessary. Honestly, I defer and might help you today to reconsider accessorising and flaunt it in a better way – for work, for fun or just because world needs more sharp men. It is really important to understand, that today people look for details in an over-all outfit rather than just a generic effort to dress well.

In this article, I am writing about accessories beyond cuff-links and tie, accessories that will make sure you are not just an ordinary guy in the league.

Tie-bars

Every one of us owns at least one tie, how shabby or dated it might be, but we still have one dying in our closet drawers. To have a quick touch-base about the tie, below are few points to consider while buying/ wearing a tie that might help you replace that old neck-belt.

A wide torso or a huge-belly: go for a wider tie

A slim-straight body: go for narrow/slim tie

On a plain shirt: go for a contrast color tie or one with patterns

On a check shirt: always wear a plain/single color tie (Safe-tip: select tie color that matches any one color from the check pattern)

Now coming to the “Tie-bars”. We all have seen what tie-bar is but frankly, have never bothered to understand the need of having one. Tie-bar is not only a sign of elegance but is also a tool that keeps your tie in place, and intact. It is used to stick your shirt to the tie so that your tie doesn’t go swinging like Tarzan-in-the-jungle. So, continue reading to know how-to-flaunt a tie-bar and about all the details to take care off while wearing this tiny little piece of sophistication.

Size:

Practically it should cover 3/4th part of the width of your tie, no matter if it is a slim or wide tie.

Position while wearing:

While there are lot of rules around on how one should position this piece in the ensemble, I personally follow the nipple-line. Place it just below the imaginary line joining the nipples.

Colors:

On a usual basis, anything in silver, gold or chrome looks dapper.

Occasions to wear:

Wedding, Corporate meetings, Gala Dinner, Business Meet.

Tips:

Check that your bar is not clipped so hard that it crumbles your shirt and tie.

I recommend you to wear your personal tie and then choose an appropriate tie-bar.

Always make sure that your tie-bar is perpendicular to your tie.

For a monochrome dressing, a colored tie-bar would just add a bit of flair to the outfit and make you stand-out of crowd. Nowadays you get a variety of designer tie-bars with prints and motifs, good for style-freak individuals.

Never over-do with a tie-bar. And never wear it while wearing a waistcoat.

Select a good quality tie-bar.

Suspenders

Like any other major style-trends across the fashion fraternity, suspenders are also a welcome-back accessory in the men’s wardrobe from the 19th century. We all remember how our grandpa worn one of these and how a gentleman walking by the Wall Street made us curious about those belt. Widely used as a shoulder-belt to hold-hang ones trouser and to portray a sartorial image in the past, today suspenders is an accessory for dapper looking men. It is one of the versatile accessories, like bow-ties that can be worn on formal attire or just casual denim.

Types:

Y-type & X-type

Style:

Buttoned & Clipped

Fabric:

Usually, Leather or Elastic

Fabric Style:

Solid colored or Patterned

Size:

For a man with a height between 5’ to 6’ a suspender size between 42” to 46” is apt

Occasions to wear:

Office wear, Business Meet, Black-tie Event, Date night or just-like-that.

Tips:

The Buttoned Suspenders are specifically designed for sartorial dressing hence if you want to flaunt one of that; you will need a good tailor to stitch or alter the trousers accordingly.

The Clipped Suspenders are usually a casual type and can be purchased off the stores and worn either with a formal trouser, chinos or even denims for that matter.

 Never ever wear suspender with a waist-belt.

Don’t buy a suspender just looking at the colors but also try on before buying. They are not one-size-fits all.

For a refreshing look, try belts with patterned fabric and clips/loops with leather.

Collar-bar

Collar bar, collar barbell or collar pin, whatever you call them as, they are the most dapper looking accessory in a man’s wardrobe. Like the suspenders this stylish element was also a part of 19th century gentlemen outfit. Functionally it is used to hold two tips of the collar in a dress (usually termed as formal) shirt together so that the knot of the necktie juts-out appropriately. Today this small piece of style is enough to shout-out that you care for each little details in your outfit and assures that you are distinctly different than the mediocre ones.

The most interesting thing about a collar bar is that it is specifically used for dress shirts that are bespoke and tailored, keeping the use of collar bar in mind. It is really tough to find ready-made shirts with eyelets specified for collar bar. Hence this in itself creates an identity that this is not for mass but for a niche segment. Like the previous accessories, there is few things one need to know and understand about a collar-bar.

Types:

Collar-bar, collar barbell, collar pin (similar to safety pins, but huge size)

Style:

Bar or pin

Material:

Anything in silver, gold or chrome will look just perfect

Size:

Usually 1.5-2 inches, but varies from designers to designers

Occasions to wear:

Office wear, Business Meet, Gala dinner, Award Ceremony

 Tips:

Make sure the quality is of best standards. You can just have one of this, but of a premium quality.

I recommend you use it only on tailored shirts as that would give you the perfect eye-lets for the bar.

If you are wearing on a ready-made shirt, make sure the collar is not stiff and fabric is soft, preferably Oxford or pure cotton. This will save you from creating shabby holes in the collar.

It is a good idea if you match the colors/ materials of your tie-bar and collar-bar. Looks organised.

A white collared shirt will amplify your collar bar at its best. 

" AS WRITTEN FOR AND PUBLISHED BY 

B POSITIVE MAGAZINE 

FOR THEIR JUNE '2015 ISSUE"

This post has been written by Hardik Gandhi, who is style adviser just-for-men and the founder of this site:  I am Mr. 

He is a frequent contributor to the magazine writing about  the aspects of men styling-grooming, wardrobe shopping and management. 

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Like on Facebook

[iam-mr]

Monday Massacres: Man & Sports

"You can best teach character on playing field, using Sports to teach life lesson."

-Jim Thompson

And we think Sports is all about physical fitness.

Honestly, I have hardly played one sport dedicatedly throughout my life. But today, I feel I should have stick to one and played it religiously - not to represent my country at Olympics, not to win medals and awards but to understand life in a better way. A sport is one such activity that teaches you something beyond the classroom academics. It makes you a Man. Recently, I started to dedicate myself and my schedule’s one hour to play Squash. Not because it’s a classy game but because with a limited circle of friends I have it becomes easy to hunt down one friend and convince him/her to accompany me.

At 30, you often find it hard to play a sport which requires a group of people as players and participants. For instance, football –you will actually need a lot of co-ordination and time management to bring all of them together and play the game. One thing you learn in doing this is time and people management but it becomes a task at certain point and difficult to make the sport your regime.

So, SQUASH. What this game teaches me personally:  perseverance, concentration, judgement, speed and most importantly to be in a box but still be smart enough to score. Health-wise, it helps me burn more calories than I would at a gym and gives my body enough stretching than I would get at aerobics. So practically it saves time. 

Squash-facts:

Over 20 million squash players participate in the sport regularly worldwide in over 185 countries.

The number 1 ranked female player is from Malaysia and the number 1 ranked male player is from Egypt.

A Forbes study announced that squash is the best sport for getting and staying fit. On average, a player burns about 750 calories per hour.

It is ideal for urban lifestyles, of the kind that have generated increases in child obesity and other metabolic health issues.

The fact that both players share the same court space means that in competition, they have to co-exist. This unique feature of our game teaches valuable lessons of friendship and friendly rivalry.

It is an all-weather activity – as it’s an indoor sport, weather conditions don’t prevent you from playing.

Few other similar sports to give a try at 30:

 Kick Boxing:

Kickboxing is a group of stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Western boxing.

Benefits:

Patience

Self-confidence

Discipline

Self-defense

General fitness

Stamina Building

Concentration

Reflex - Accuracy

Badminton:

A sport played with rackets in which a shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net.

Benefits:

Team work

Self-confidence

Physical fitness

Fighting obesity

Flexibility

Reflex-Accuracy

Mental health

Billiards/ Snooker:

A game for two people played on a billiard/ Snooker table, in which the balls are struck with cues into pockets round the edge of the table. Not technically a sport-sport, but serves with benefits. Primarily played for improving mental health.

Benefits:

Patience

Perseverance

Self-confidence

Helps build focus

Burns calories

Stretching and balancing

Sharpens hand-eye coordination

Roller-Skating:

It is skating on a hard surface other than ice with roller skates. It is a form of recreational activity as well as a sport.

Benefits:

Self-confidence

Endurance

Tolerance

Low-impact exercise for joints

High caloric burn

Aerobically as good as jogging or cycling

Involves all the major muscle groups, hence good for weight control

Mentally uplifting

SO ALL YOU MEN OUT THERE, GET UP, SELECT A SPORT & DEDICATE YOURSELF TOWARDS IT.

ALL THE BEST.

Do share with me your stories about sports and how has it helped you grow as a man. Or just tell us if you loved reading this article.

[iam-mr]

Men’s Grooming - "How much is too much "

I remember the days when a haircut for men was just about getting the length short and facial-grooming meant a quick face-wash with a splash of after-shave. Interesting how the word globalization has changed the whole idea about going to a salon. Today, haircut is more about looking stylish and smart whereas facial grooming is about having a clear skin tone and hygiene. Hence to give a quick word on “how much grooming is too much” I would like to throw some pointers that might help you to stay in your limits both, in terms of saving your masculine image and your pocket dent. So to have a clear picture I want to divide the grooming aspects into two parts: STYLE & HYGIENE.

STYLE:

Shaving: Acceptability of facial hair has become common these days, and hence a must would be to take the best care of that, hygienically as well as in terms of aesthetic. Learn to shave and trim. Invest in a good razor unless you are planning to go back and hunt like an Ape. A man with a razor-cut is a normal thing but one must learn how to tackle it. Moist the skin before the shave, warm the blades in hot water and aftershave the face. Its simple and basic.

Over-do: Unless you are a thug or a rock band artist, avoid giving a fancy design on your beard or tying a knot down there. Put your creativity into your work and not your facial hair.

Skincare: A lot of grooming products have bifurcated their skincare products for a men-skin type, which usually is rough and multi-tone. Learning about your skin type is essential and consulting a dermatologist is a good option. Avoid using too many products at the same time. For an easy step, scrub your face twice a week, use cleansing milk and toner once a week and to keep the skin intact and healthy use and appropriate face wash on a daily basis. You don’t need to visit your salon every week for these easy steps.

Over-do: Using too many products at the same time, bleaching your face and most importantly using products used by your sisters/ mother or girlfriend.

Haircut: I often hear people saying that they got this cool haircut but it still looks pathetic. The reason is because you are a sheep and are following the flock. Learn your face shape, relate it to a famous personality with a similar face cut and then get a haircut where people loved his look. This is an easy way to save you from mockery. Also it is very important to stick to one barber, just like your family doctor. It is because he is aware of your hair quality and type and would hence move his scissors accordingly.

Over-do: Patterns and design on the hair-cut, no matter how emotionally attached you are to that particular team. Growing long hair and not taking a proper care.  

HYGIENE:

Pedicure-Manicure: Yes, it sounds girly isn’t it? But accept it, we are living in an era where being hygienic is not an option but a necessity. I understand a lot of men feel shy in visiting their salon and asking for this services but a fortnight meeting with your hands and feet might make you look like someone who is responsible. A good nail-cutter, warm water and a moisturizer is all you would need to get this done by yourself in your bathroom, away from all the disapproving minds.

Manscaping: Yes, pretty much similar to landscaping and moving a mover in the lawn but here the grass is your body-hair. Trim those unwanted hair peeking from the areas that ruin your style-quotient. Trim your armpits at appropriate time, which should not be when someone points a stare at the sleeves. If you are too hairy and find it hard to understand what should be done, use a trimmer/clipper for the areas like: legs, arms, shoulder, chest and even the private parts. Trimming body hair is not a taboo but a sense of politeness towards the society. A body trimmer dedicated for this use is and apt investment.

Men-waxing has created a lot of interest in men lately, from film-stars to athletes to body builders, everyone seems to undergoing that. And honestly, although it is pretty much about choice, it is recommended that if you are too hairy, waxing is a better option. The care one needs to take here is that once trimmed at waxed for the first time, one needs to be regular in their waxing schedules to avoid pain and rashes.

" As written for and published by 

B Positive Magazine 

for their April '2015 Issue"

This post has been written by Hardik Gandhi, who is style adviser just-for-men and the founder of this site:  I am Mr. 

He is a frequent contributor to the magazine writing about  the aspects of men styling-grooming, wardrobe shopping and management. 

Follow on Twitter

Like on Facebook

[iam-mr]

Brand Review: All Good Scents - Men Perfume

"Women are more influenced by how a man smells, than how he looks."  -- Anonymous

It would need a tough evidence to prove this sentence wrong but easier to facilitate men to smell better. Every man has a signature perfume that he, if allowed, would take it to the grave. More than the smell or the fragrance, the reason a man is attached to a particular smell is because it speaks about his personal style and persona. Personally we find the luxury brands like Tom Ford, Paco Rabanne One Million and Acqua Di Gio as some of the best investments in the smell-good industry. But then, they are expensive and a luxury which  might dent your wallets on and off. Hence, it is not at all a bad idea to go for fragrances that not only smells as good as your personality but makes sure you save enough to go on a great date wearing it.

Yes, we are reviewing a fragrance brand here today - ALL GOOD SCENTS. 

It all started with a graduate degree in chemistry followed by a full-time diploma to study perfumery, where Rajiv Sheth, the Nose & the Creative Director of  All Good Scents (A venture of Just Scents Pvt. Ltd) decided to give a shot in the fragrance industry.

All Good Scents is a Gujarat, precisely Ahmedabad based venture who are not only creating world-class perfumes but changing the way this top-notch luxury industry works. Having priced at the most affordable rate yet without any compromise in the quality, these guys are surely to give tough competition to the likes of Park Avenue, Raymond’s and similarly ranged perfumes.

So, with the most humblest request All Good Scents asked me, if I could review their products, and like always I mentioned that yes I would but only if I find it worthy. Rest is history.

Having used the likes of Acqua Di Gio and Joop, I am more of a smooth and sweet smelling personality. Musk and Spice don’t suit my style. Hence, I chose to ask them for delivering me their ARISE from the EAU DE TOILETTE segment and FREE from their ESSENTIALS FOR HIM segment.

The reason I chose these was because both of the fragrances had the citric top-notes that accentuates the sense of freshness in a good smelling perfume.

Oh, what are top-notes, you ask?

Practically, every perfume come with typically 3 notes: TOP, HEART & BASE notes. All the notes has a different mix of ingredients and their fragrance depends upon the application of the perfume and the number of hours passed after applying it.  

Check the images below to get a quick idea.

So, how was my experience you may ask? Keep reading..

ARISE

Top Notes           Orange, Grapefruit, Pepper

Heart Notes    Patchouli, Rose Bay, Geranium Leaves

Base Notes         Benzoin, Vetiver, Atlas Cedar

With a quick spray one can get an understanding that ARISE is a wear-to-date fragrance.  With a strong Orange and Pepper smell on the first sniff, this fragrance gradually goes to a smoother level giving it a calmer yet a sensual touch with the Atlas Cedar.

FREE

Top Notes           Lemon, Mandarin, Sweet Lime

Heart Notes       Cyclamen, Freesia, Marine Notes

Base Notes         Cedar, Patchouli, Oak Moss

This is a day-wear kind of smooth and liberating fragrance. Fresh and youthful, this fragrance has a constant smell throughout, but if you are one hell of a sniffer, cedar would get your nose over the end of the day. A good office-wear kind of perfume that is not too loud yet makes its mark, right there.

 QUICK TIP ABOUT BUYING A PERFUME

Always buy a fragrance that suits and elevates your personality. It is not that tough. Open your closet and see the kind of clothes you wear on a daily basis. If your wardrobe shouts tees and jeans or more casual outfit go for a fragrance with top-notes that are more citric. If suits and formals is what makes your daily wear, chose a smell that’s classic – spicy and musk.

BEST WAY TO APPLY A PERFUME

There are three simplest way to apply a perfume.

Not clothes but on body. Apply the cologne to your pulse points. Primarily at the points that generate heat. Wrist and behind the ears are two best places to apply.

Chest is one good option if you are a free-hug-giveaway person.

Neck is again one point which a men should not forget while applying the perfume, if he is sure to go intimate that night. Don’t apply too much or it will make the area oily and non-kissable.

Use deo-sticks and not perfumes for under-arms swearing and smelling good..

Of all the above, limitise the spots where you would want to use. For instance, if you are applying on wrist, chose chest/ neck as the other and only spot.

QUICK Q&A WITH Mr. Rajiv Sheth of ALLGOODSCENTS 

1.ALLGOODSCENTS, a quick story behind it? 

 ALL GOOD SCENTS is the first contemporary perfume house that has gone beyond the traditional and local elements of India and brought the most celebrated fragrances from around the world. Currently we have 14 fragrances for men and women & three variants of scented candles in the brand. Apart from retailing online via our own website; www.allgoodscents.com we are also available on most of the major online portals in India. 

Being an online brand, one of the major hurdles of evaluating fragrances by customers, we have overcome with our innovative concept of SCENTBOX, whereby a customer can choose any 3 fragrances to sample from our collection for INR 165 with free delivery. Hence the customer has enough time to try them out at their convenience and select the most suited one for them.

2. So, do you manufacture all the products in INDIA? 

All our fragrances are created and made in France. The entire manufacturing process and filling of the eau de toilettes and eau de perfumes are done in India.

3. Fragrance and Perfumes is a niche market, how is the competition like?

We aim to be India’s first contemporary perfume house brand. Currently we are exclusively available online. The perfumery market in India is not very segmented and a lot of unbranded, mass market products are available. In addition, a large section of people use body sprays and deo’s as perfumes. This could be due to economic reasons or also lack of perfumery awareness. Hence today, our competition is all international perfume brands & local body spray, body mist and deo brands.

4. One thing that, ALLGOODSCENTS is proud about of their product?

“Premium quality at pocket friendly prices - Affordable luxury”  

Also the eau de toilette and eau de perfumes range of ALL GOOD SCENTS has a large variety, a fragrance choice for everyone. The fragrances are modern international scents with a touch of the Indian soul. These fragrances are created and made in France and are of very high quality with a long lasting effect.

5. What’s next in store? Body Splash/ Body Mist is something a lot of men are looking at, any plans to venture in that segment?

We plan on expanding our fragrance category & also add line extensions in the most popular fragrances. For men, we will be adding after shave lotions as line extensions of a few eau de toilettes. There are new fragrances also planned.

6.I loved your ARISE, which one is your best-selling one for men? -

Men Top 3: Urbane Nights , Free & Arise

7. How did you find www.iammr.in, and what made you reach out to us?- 

Researching online on the Indian Male bloggers in Fashion & Beauty industry.

VERDICT

"I tried ARISE on the day I received it. It was a movie night with a friend and as soon as I stepped in the car, she said you smell great. I guess that's enough as a verdict. But on a sincere note, if you are someone who prefers to smell good all the time and believes that the luxury perfumes are for special occasions only, ALLGOODSCENTS is one for you. Pocket-friendly, good smell and still as classy."

- HARDIK GANDHI, FOUNDER " I AM MR."

[iam-mr]

Monday Massacre: Monday Outfits

Monday Massacre:

Yes, the Monday again. Come on, let's be a Gentlemen and welcome the week with some style, right? So what is your agenda this week? Business Networking? Deal sign-up Lunch with the prospective clients or partners? Meeting with the merchandisers? Yeah? And if your concern is how to nail it and start the week with a bang of confidence in terms of your attire, then here's some advice to be smart and effortless at the same time. 

First thing first, prevention is better than cure and hence, plan your outfit on Sunday evening. Not only it saves time but will allow you to focus on some other important issues for the day, like the newspaper headlines (it is always good to have a quick look at the newspaper in the morning, helps a good conversation starter).

So now, about the outfits. Keep it simple and elegant. Keep the experimenting factor in the business and not your attire. Follow some basic yet elegant color combinations. For instance, a black shirt and a charcoal grey trouser or a baby pink/ lavender shirt with a navy blue trouser. 

If you are in a weather or profession where suit is a must-worn, try something other than black. Choose charcoal grey, navy or beige. But make sure that the fit and cut of the suit is more than perfect. 

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHILE DRESSING-UP:

Fabrics: Make sure the shirts are cotton-based and trousers are wool/ semi-wool-based. 

Fit: Try your best to hire a tailor for all your formal wear. Looks Sharp.

Colors: Wear colors that suit your skin tone. 

Accessorize: Try using tie-bars and pocket-squares to the simple outfits. It will make you look smart without being too loud.

Quick Tip: A solid color shirt (preferably crisp White cotton) with a navy or black formal trousers is always a safe bet to start a Monday.

Check out what “I am Mr.” recommends in the formal wears, here: 

THE STORE

[iam-mr]

A Double Breasted Suit and how to style around it.

Suit – people have various synonyms for this word. For instance: class, fashion, style, investment, black, corporate attire, wedding garment and many more. For me suit is all about its VERSATILITY. Yes, you heard it right. I agree to the statement that “A well stitched suit is an Investment” but then I also believe what Warren Buffet has to say “Keep all your eggs in one basket, but watch that basket closely”. Hence for me a suit is more than just “a piece ensemble”.

Let’s talk a bit about suit today.

How many of you have actually paid an interest while buying a suit thinking of its color, fit and most important “Can I wear it in various style?”. Various, yes various. We men have a thing about suit, we tend to assume that a suit is a suit and needs to be worn as it was delivered by the tailor. Same color Jacket, Same color trousers, a shirt and a tie. But today let me tell. YOU ARE WRONG.

Allow me to help you change this pre-occupied mind-set. Whenever you buy a suit next time ask this to yourself: How versatile this investment should be. And this I am not talking to men whose wardrobe is a Sartorial Treasure (but no issues, you can read through too), this is for those who have limited ones but still love their SUIT.

Few days back I decided to invest in a suit, with my skin color tone being on a darker side, I decided to go with something lighter in shade and fabric. Also something that matches my taste and style and again, the versatility (yes, because I don’t wear suits often).

So, I went to Arvind Studio and asked the “Master” (chief stylist and tailor) to give me a quick enlightening tour in the fabric section, to which I was impressed to see the range of fabric they had. I closed my trip to what we generically say “Cream” shade (Khaki).

What I was impressed with the studio was they actually had few styles stitched already and made me try some. But honestly I was sure of what to get for myself – A DOUBLE BREASTED suit.

Yes, DB. Why? Because it’s trendy, classic and “versatile” (if you can carry it right).

The thing about a DB is that it shouts in all pitches: Classic Gentleman to a Dandy Stylist to a Carefree Soul. It is like those all-in-one kinda gadgets. But on an honest note, carrying a DB with style and elegance is a tough skill. You have to know your body-shape too well to go for it or it might make you look like nothing more than a “wannabee”.

Here’s a few consideration before jumping to get a DB for yourself:

Check those buttons .The 6×2 button configuration is the best for suiting and more formal, structured jackets and can never go wrong. Two and four button jackets will be more appropriate for casual use and easier to wear.

Lapels are the game changers in the DB. Peak lapels are almost always a winner. This is more personal preference, and notch lapels are still perfectly acceptable, but if it is all about a perfect look, PEAK it is.

Be aware of your body shape. It is not a thumb rule to follow but it is recommended that men with thin or extra muscles avoid a DB. This is to say because a DB has an extra layering on the jacket that closes at torso and it would highlight your thin or heavy skeleton.

A good rule for a DB is that as it is in itself a statement, it is suggested that one keeps the pattern and color of the fabric a bit subtle. Because we want the suit to talk not the patterns and colors.

Coming back to the main point of Versatility

While buying a suit next time keep this check list handy:

Is the color of fabric right for my skin-tone?

Is the Fabric right for the location weather?

Do I have ample shirts/ t-shirts/ trousers/ jeans matching this suit color?

Can I wear this more often?

Can I separate the ensemble and still use it as classy attire?

Can I show-up and show-down as per the occasion?

This question would help you narrow down on your selection nightmares and you will actually buy something that’s generic yet a master piece.

Check this Out

A Navy Double Breasted Suit with Various Styles to Rock:

(click on the images to enlarge)

Few Good Old Style we love from Pitti Uomo:

Here’s  how I styled around my SUIT:

(yes.. the photography is a bit “Ohhh” but we will soon bring better ones)