It frustrates me that something that men and women both have has to be divided on a gender line. I can understand that men may not want to smell like coconuts or lilies (perhaps) but it is crazy that women have a whole aisle of choices when it comes to hair products and men get a small section in the corner if they are lucky. Not only do they not get the range of choice unless they buy a “women’s” product but the men’s products are often very strong smelling (in what is supposed to be a manly scent I assume). Not being a man I am not sure what men really think of all this but if it annoys me, it probably annoys many men too.
I found an excellent website by sheer chance called Menscience. They sell products online that include hair and body products as well as shaving gear, acne treatment, anti-aging and specialized beard products. I was impressed by the appealing packaging which is white with black and orange writing. Good, no-nonsense design that appealed to me and didn’t scream men only but certainly was something I could imagine men being comfortable with buying and having in the bathroom cabinet.
One feature of the site that I found interesting was that each product has a short video alongside it to demonstrate how the product is used. I have never seen anything like this on a women’s hair or makeup website and to be honest it would be very handy. My mother was never keen on encouraging me to wear makeup and so I was left to my own devices (with interesting results). If I had a video to guide me I would have been set. I am not sure what inspired this idea but it’s a good one. The customer is then going to use the product correctly and get the best result which is a win for the company and the customer.
The hair product range is a bit limited being shampoo (no conditioner), a hair pomade and hair gel. Pomade is an old fashioned term and in many of the reviews on the page the customers agreed that the name should be different. Pomade always makes me think of the Brylcreem that my grandfather used, an emulsion of water, mineral oil and beeswax. It was first made in 1928 and it was designed to soften men’s hair including moustaches and beard maintenance to give a sleek styled effect. It is very much a product of its time but it is still popular today. The pomade that is marketed on Menscience is a different animal I think. From the descriptions that the customers give it appears to be more of a finishing or styling wax although it does say that it provides hold and structure as well as being nourishing for the hair.