Why It’s Time to Switch to All-Natural Grooming Products

Where women go, men follow. You think men would deign to go out dancing, try yoga, drink paprika-laced green juice, or experience the exultant joy of a pedicure if not for women? But damn it if they aren’t right… most of the time.

The next obsession you’ll be asked to try? Going all-natural. To hear some women describe it, toxins are the root of all social and physical ills. And the push to use all-natural products extends to their (and likely your) grooming regime. “The Green Beauty industry is the fastest-growing market in the beauty industry internationally,” according to Laura Townsend of the Detox Market.

And while you’re right to be skeptical of the vague dangers of meticulously tested mainstream products, the move toward more natural ingredients won’t hurt you. The question is how well those hippy-dippy products will work for a man who relies on unpronounceable chemicals to keep him looking his best.

Josh Rosebrook Medium Hold Styling Cream

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Why it’s good for you:
Prepared in small batches with certified organic ingredients, without synthetics or guilt (because it’s not tested on animals, obviously).

Strong enough for a man?
Hold is a personal choice. Some men’s hair needs a little more discipline than others. This citrus-scented cream is a fine choice if you like your hair to have a bit of freedom — plus, it provides some conditioning while it’s doing its job — but, if you need a product to tame your mop, you’ll need something stronger.

Carriage 44 Charcoal Soap

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Why it’s good for you:
Charcoal is having a moment in the grooming industry right now. Something about its purifying power. This soap is full of the stuff, plus shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, and other essential nutrients.

Strong enough for a man?
It gets you clean, without leav- ing your skin dry and damaged, which is more than can be said for a lot of bar soap. Plus, since it looks like a lump of coal, it feels pretty badass to use. But, it will make your shower dirtier than Ivory.

Schaf Ultimate Comfort Shave Cream

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Why it’s good for you:
While it still contains mysterious ingredients (what exactly is sodium hyaluronate?), it doesn’t contain the typical rogues’ gallery of stuff found in other shaving creams, like parabens, animal by-products, artificial colours and fragrances, and petroleum. Also, no gluten for some reason.

Strong enough for a man?

It’s hard to mess up shaving cream. Still, Schaf does the trick. It’s rich, sturdy, and it lacks the ominous, unidentifiable smell of freshness that can feel vaguely oppressive in your typical shaving product.