
Zinc provides the best skin protection and least penetration, but it’s heavier. What does that tell you? Lastly, don’t confuse “smooth” hair (which can also be large, shiny curls) with stick “straight” smooth hair. Somehow, a half-dozen hair smoothing irons have been “lost” backstage while I worked on male models’ heads. Sometimes dollops of slick serum and a flash dose of a flat iron.

Personally, I’ve found my best hair days are bed-hair days, which require dry shampoo, a 3.5-inch round brush, and a blow dryer. Know when to use a cream versus a serum or paste or three varying stiffnesses of wax and pomade or wet-styling conditioning spray versus real hairspray. Professional styling is an art, and learning when to use a comb, a Denman brush, a flat palm military brush, or a tightly woven boar bristle round brush is critical.

Whatever look you’re rocking, rarely can it be done without tools and product, product, product. And a receding hairline or shaved head both have a place on the hot meter too. For those who didn’t wake-up-like-this, good hair is a nice way to enhance your eyes, blur a less-pronounced jawline, or create slick sophistication (think: The Great Gatsby) with tightly combed wax and a severe part. For those that are blessed with great looks, a head of hair is the cherry on top. Hair care is an essential part of a grooming routine. Given my credentials in master haircutting, color formulation, and skin care, the two most frequent conversations I’ve been having for more than three decades are: Don’t over-shampoo your hair, and apply SPF sun protection.
