Your Guide to Summer Grooming with Vince the Barber and King C. Gillette

King C. Gillette & Sharp

Summer is here and with it comes a fresh opportunity to upgrade your look for the season. We spoke to Vince the Barber, a Toronto-born, LA-based grooming pro and member of the Gillette Barber Council whose clients include some of the biggest names in sports and music for expert advice on hair care, beard care, and how to master your facial hair style with King C. Gillette.

With facial hair, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, and it can be scary to try something new. If a guy is looking to try something new this summer, what are you recommending? And what’s the best way to achieve and maintain this look?

I would say trying something simple, clean, and manageable would be best for a new summer look. If you have a lot of facial hair and like rocking a beard, I would suggest keeping it low-cut or even a five o’clock shadow. Most clients nowadays like the five o’clock shadow with a natural line up because it’s easy to maintain. King C. Gillette offers all of the tools you need to experiment with your look – from trimming to facial care essentials. A great way to get the versatility a lot of men are looking for is to start with the Beard Trimmer and try different lengths.

What about yourself? What are you rocking right now and how do you keep it looking tight?

I wish I could grow a beard because I would definitely rock a full-grown beard! But until that day comes, I’ve just been rocking a low-trimmed goatee. I keep it looking nice and clean by using the King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer with a 1 guard. To clean up the lines, I follow it up by using the Double Edge Safety Razor with the Transparent Shave Gel, so that I can see exactly where I’m shaving and then keep it sharp.

What’s a common mistake guys make with facial hair and how do you correct it?

A lot of common mistakes guys make with their facial hair would be lining up the neckline too high. The best way to create a straight neckline would be to start from the centre of your chin, below your jaw and go from centre to the right side then centre to your left side or vice-versa. Most people start from one side to the other which ends up with a crooked neckline.

What’s one product every guy should have in his grooming kit for summer and why?

One product that every guy should have in his grooming kit for the summer would have to be the King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer because it will allow you to be precise and consistent in the length you’re going for, whether that be a long beard or short stubble.

Are there any tricks to wearing a full beard in the summer months?

Wearing a full beard in the summer months could be rough at times especially if you aren’t using the right products to keep it moisturized. If you want to rock a full beard be sure to keep it clean and moisturized by using the King C. Gillette lineup which includes the Daily Beard & Face Wash, Beard Oil and Soft Beard Balm. Using some or all three of those products in your grooming regimen will allow you to wear a full beard all year round.

Guys learn to shave in all kinds of ways, which means a lot of us are doing it wrong. What’s your best advice for a clean, close and irritation-free shave every time?

Start by rinsing your face with warm water, then apply your shave gel onto your face, making sure you cover all areas that will be shaved. Next, apply a hot towel over your face or the area that you will be shaving. The hot towel will help open up the pores and soften up your hair and skin for a smoother shave.

It’s also important to choose the right tool. King C. Gillette offers a Neck Razor specifically designed to prevent shave irritation on those more sensitive areas. Lather up your face once more and begin to shave, going with the grain (the direction your hair grows in) with light and short strokes which will help prevent irritation. Once you complete the shave you can always go back to make sure you didn’t miss any areas. After the clean shave, it’s always best to close up the pores by either using a cold towel or rinsing your face with cold water. Then finish it off with some aftershave to help prevent razor bumps and skin irritation. Always be sure to keep your face moisturized.

Old-school double-edged safety razors are very cool, but also a little intimidating. What’s the trick to getting a close shave with this classic tool?

The trick behind getting a close shave while using a double-edged safety razor is by shaving in three steps. First off you always want to make sure your skin is fully lathered with shave gel, then you want to start shaving with the grain. After that, you then rinse off both sides of the razor and do a second pass going across the grain, and lastly, if you really want that smooth baby face you do a third pass, but this time going against the grain. Always remember to use light and short strokes while shaving.