If you take a walk down a busy street in a metropolitan city or check your social media feed, you may notice a change in how men are expressing themselves. The shaggy, unkempt looks of previous decades are no longer at the forefront. Rather, we are seeing a resurgence of clean lines, styling, and polish reminiscent of the mid-20th century. Grooming in today’s world is having a renaissance of sorts. We are looking to the past to move into the future.
It’s not about donning a costume to go to a Renaissance fair. Rather, it’s about rediscovering the utility and masculinity of previous decades. Men are finding that the grooming habits of previous generations offer a sense of ritual and reliability that cannot be achieved with today’s fleeting trends. The move towards tradition is changing the landscape of our industry. From the type of haircut you ask for to the razor you place on your bathroom sink, it’s all being affected!
The Haircuts That Never Actually Left
When it comes to haircuts, we’ve stuck with what works. We’ve stuck with what complements our facial structure rather than what fights it. The side part remains the absolute gold standard of men’s hairstyles. It’s suitable for the boardroom or the weekend. It requires only a good comb and a small amount of pomade to maintain.
Along with the side part, the pompadour style has also seen a massive revival in the conversation of a classic men’s haircut in Scottsdale. Although the style today is a bit tighter on the sides, similar to that seen with rock and roll stars in the 1950s, the general idea is still the same. Not even the buzz cut, which was popularized by soldiers, is exempt from this revival. It is a reflection of a minimalist approach that many men today find quite appealing.
The Return of the Ritual Shave
The biggest change that has come with modern grooming is that many men have moved away from plastic cartridge razors and opted for a return to wet shaving with a safety razor or a straight razor. For a while, shaving was seen as a tedious process that needed to be gotten over with, and this was often done with a can of shaving cream and a plastic cartridge razor. Today, however, shaving is seen as a moment for self-care.
Using a single blade takes a lot of skill, but the benefits make it well worth it. For one, there is less chance of ingrown hairs, which many complain about with a cartridge razor. There is also a certain satisfaction that comes with making a lather with a badger hairbrush and a good shaving soap, which turns a mundane process into a mindful one, allowing a man to slow down before he rushes off to start his day.
Merging Heritage with Modern Science
Though the look may be retro, the chemistry behind it is very contemporary. The way to groom oneself today is to marry the style of the past with the skincare technology of today. We may adore the style of an old glass aftershave bottle, but we do not have to put up with the stinging formulas of old.
Today’s man can get that close shave using a safety razor, but then follow it up with a hyaluronic acid serum and moisturizer that contains SPF. We are seeing heritage brands that have been around for over a century change their formulas to remove harsh sulfates and parabens from the ingredients. They are keeping the classic look of the packaging and the scents of sandalwood, bay rum, and cedar, but giving the product the modern upgrade that meets the requirements of modern skin health.
Why Heritage Brands Are Winning
The combination of old and new is why heritage brands are seeing a massive comeback right now. In an era of digital noise and pop-up businesses that are using the drop-shipping model, men are looking for authenticity. There is a level of trust that comes from a company that has been making the same comb or shaving cream since 1920. When you buy from these brands, you are making an investment instead of buying into hype.
Embracing the New Standard
While embracing the new standard of timeless style does not mean that you are going to have to change your personality completely, it does mean that you are going to make small changes that add up to a personal style that looks just as great twenty years from now as it does now. This means trading your plastic razor for a metal one, or asking your barber for a haircut that has more structure than texture. By incorporating these classic elements into your look, you are not just following a trend; you are creating your own personal style that looks great now and forever!
