Barber Mind's Ocean Hair Grooming

We are all aware of how far the world of male grooming has jumped in recent years - thriving businesses popping up in our high streets catering to the particular need for us boys to take great pride in our presentation of self to the world. Therefore it’s inevitable that huge competition and artistry would be kindled, as the desire to push forward the boundaries gathered pace with our Italian cousins, grabbing the opportunity with both hands and not for the first time, giving us all food for thought at The Amazing Blog…

Therefore we invite you to enter the world of Barber Mind, an incredible space where the passion for doing what they do is best exemplified in their inspirational tag line: ‘Barber Mind is a point of view, a way of being. It’s born as a belief fixed in a tattoo, a prospect that contains the principles of the brand: Scruple, Care and Respect’. And we think that it’s a rather cool place to be, with precision styling, design and care of oneself.

Where better to start delving into their treasure trove, than with Barber Mind Ocean Hair Grooming, the perfect styling tool for that effortless aplomb which the Italians do so well - and your crowning glory is left smelling quite delicious too! Granted, that may be slightly missing the point, as this worthy bottle does so much more besides perfuming the locks; it’s styling properties are impressively firm without being sticky or claggy - perhaps the need to run hands through hair was a major factor in their research and development! Anyway, they certainly achieved a very tactile result, alongside the fresh and clean fragrance. Paraben and colourant free; petroleum and paraffin free and free from animal by-products, so the provenance here is quite impressive too.

Of course the fun doesn’t end with styling the hair, there is much more product and ethos on offer from the Barber Mind Team - not just for the hairdo either; there are beard oils, and shaving options to keep us in complete grooming heaven, all with the unmistakeable trademark of the core belief of Barber Mind. How cool is it that you can also source your own barber shop’s emblem pole, or if that is a tad on the excessive side for your bathroom, you might be tempted by a rather funky ring to signify an appreciation of the brotherhood, and it’s beliefs?

Clearly there is much to explore and enjoy through Barber Mind, but the Ocean Hair Grooming is a great place to start - £16.20 will bag you a 250ml bottle here, although there are intermittent offers discounting certain products and haircare kits - so keep an eye open!

London Beard Company's Eastern Spice Beard Oil

With us boys at The Amazing Blog embracing the current mood for cultivating an individualistic style through our facial fuzz, it was only a matter of time before we started to search for products that cater to these follicle matters. Enter the London Beard Company! Although a relatively young label, they have navigated an incredibly successful path to grooming outlets across the land, including that most celebrated of department stores, Fortnum & Mason, as well as winning an award from the prestigious Beauty Shortlist for The Best Beard Oil of 2017.

Clearly the London Beard Company are doing something right, with an ever-increasing band of followers keen to lavish some serious attention. And while it may not be breaking news that this is a highly lucrative and competitive market, it is perhaps interesting to note the devotion of The London Beard Company to the beard and male grooming market. The well-groomed man about town is now just as likely to spend as much time and money on perfecting their beard as they have in the past on their hair, so it’s no surprise that The London Beard Company’s products have become ever popular.

With products that not only nurturing our follicles, but also our skin too, we tried their Eastern Spice Oil. Like their other oils, this has a base of olive and argan oils - with the use of 100% natural ingredients, with well documented beneficial properties for the skin. With an evocative mix of clementine and clove, this oil has a warmth akin to this cold time of the year, yet still has a light consistency, with a sweet aroma. For a medium beard, 2-3 pipette drops are recommended, but naturally, with a fuller and more bushy crop, you may require slightly more. For 30ml, we are looking at £17.99, but a little does go a long way! Widely available through stockists across the country, you can also check out the London Beard Co. website here to purchase the Eastern Spice Beard Oil from their online shop.

Dark Stag Shaving Set

There is nothing quite as satisfying as a REALLY good shave - ask any chap who has just been under the blade, and if the results of the daily beard blitz aren’t up to scratch, the whole day ahead runs the risk of being tinged with negativity. Few of us boys at The Amazing Blog have the diary space to indulge in the unashamed pampering that’s enjoyed within the trusted walls of our favourite barbershop each and every day. Oh the joy of shutting out the world for 45 minutes and revelling in the solitude and peace of ‘me time’, whilst having the experts lavish their grooming attentions on us. 

However, Dark Stag is a company based in Worthing, West Sussex giving us all the chance to recreate the authenticity of our hallowed barbershop ground, in the confines of our own bathroom, with a plethora of quality barbering products for us to enjoy. The complete Dark Stag range can be found on their comprehensive website, with everything you could ever need. From combs through to scissors, you will also find the required hardware for a truly exquisite shave. We were sent the Dark Stag Shaving Set, compromising of a doubled edged safety razor, shaving brush and stainless steel shaving bowl. Each product has the feeling of true craftsmanship and quality, which of course always helps in the final result. And that isn’t just important to those of us undertaking the task of shearing our whiskers, but it is of course always of huge concern to anyone who may be getting up, close and personal during the course of the day or evening.

Where Dark Stag have been particularly clever, is in offering a set of products to suit varying price points - particularly useful as we approach the season of tinsel and gift giving. The Dark Stag Shaving Set would make an excellent gift for a loved one, available for £65.00, but as each item from Dark Stag is exquisitely packaged, other products would make fantastic stocking fillers too.