With Father’s Day coming up, men’s grooming products are always reliable favorites for dad. I remember giving cheap after shave as a kid, but now you can step things up a bit with high-quality products at stores like The Men’s Shop at ULTA Beauty.

The site has a great selection of gift ideas at any price point. The experts at ULTA have identified this season’s hottest items from classic colognes to lighter body sprays perfect for gym bags and traveling, and Father’s Day favorites including shave gels and hair sculpting clay. ULTA is also gifting a free insulated tote or roll-up picnic blanket with any $30 fragrance purchase for dad!

They sent us several samples to try out, including the Lacoste Rouge Eau de Toilette pictured above and the Dolce and Gabbana The One Sport Eau de Toilette pictured here to the right. Both are excellent fragrances that would upgrade the cologne collection for most men. This Lacoste fragrance for men has a clean, crisp, fresh scent with a light and cool feel. The Dolce and Gabbana product is also a fresh, clean fragrance with “light and energetic top notes accompanied by an unmistakable Mediterranean aroma of rosemary, the freshness of water and saltiness of the sea. The middle notes feature sequoia wood enhanced with the energy of cardamom. Patchouli and musk naturally compliment the fragrance’s base notes.” Basically, it also will make you smell great!

Check these and other products out and find something cool for everyone on your list this Father’s Day. Check out our guide for more ideas.

There is a certain inevitability that we as men must all face in our lives, and that is that, as much as most guys hate to shop, occasionally we have to buy new dress clothes.

That dress shirt you bought five years ago for your buddies wedding? It doesn’t fit anymore, and actually makes you look like Artie Lange in the movie “Dirty Work.”

Since it’s time to buy a new shirt anyway, why not do it from the comfort of your own computer chair and design a shirt that you like without anyone hassling you, and at an affordable price? www.ShirtsMyWay.com makes custom dress shirts that fit really well. Many men have the problem that normal shirts just don’t fit well in certain areas and custom shirts are the solution.

Do you even know how much a custom dress shirt typically costs? At your local tailor, you can bet it will be at least $200. Even if you attempt to purchase one online, you’re not going to spend less than $135, perhaps even more when you factor in shipping and handling. That is, unless you check out www.ShirtsMyWay.com.

I went to the site and created my own shirt. Even as a child of the internet age, at first, I was somewhat daunted. “How long will this take? What are the odds I screw this up?” These thoughts and more careened through my brain, like a pinball in an empty auditorium. But once I got started, it was easy — the entire process took less than five minutes, perhaps more if you don’t have your measurements handy? Don’t know your measurements? Go to the men’s department of any reputable clothing store in your area and they should measure you for free.

The site is straight forward and easy to navigate thanks to the “point and click” setup. First, I picked the color of my dress shirt (Atlantis L. Purple). From there, the customizing options were seemingly endless; you can customize everything from sleeve length (long), type of collar (classic), cuffs (1 button angle) to yoke (plain) and even the placket (seamless). One really cool feature is that you can actually combine different fabrics for your design, which is something I have never seen anywhere else.

With my custom shirt now completed, I proceeded to check out and see what kind of financial damage I had incurred. Even with a custom color, my total was just $85 dollars. And since www.ShirtsMyWay.com has free shipping and handling (if you choose Standard Delivery; $10 for Express), there were no additional hidden fees. There are also no extra charges for any extra options.

New to the idea of a custom dress shirt and curious to exactly what that entails? You can download the free Book of Dress Shirts for more inspiration and tips on designing your dress shirts. Check out the site and read more background info on the company here: http://www.shirtsmyway.com/about.php

If you’re looking for gift ideas for Father’s Day, consider a gift certificate from ShirtsMyWay. You can email them at support[AT]shirtsmyway.com to set it up.

With Father’s Day coming up we’re all looking for gift ideas, and shaving products are always a good option. Grooming Lounge has put together a luxurious gift set around a luxurious dark leather travel bag created exclusively for them by renowned leather goods maker Mulholland Brothers. They stuff the bag with some great shaving products, including Mug Cleaner Face Wash, Beard Master Shave Oil, Beard Destroyer Shave Cream and Best for Last Aftershave. But my favorite item is the Ivory razor with chrome stand. As someone who just leaves his razor lying on the sink counter, the weighted chrome stand is perfect for holding your razor. Check it out along with other gift ideas at Grooming Lounge.

The new 2-in-1 AXE product was very similar to my thoughts on marriage. At first, I was repulsed and completely uninterested. “How often do combinations of body wash and shampoo actually pull it off?” I thought. “That’s like the amount of guys who refer to their wife as their ‘best friend’ and actually mean it.”

Usually, 2-in-1 combos are either too gloppy due to being more body wash than shampoo, or too light because they are more shampoo than body wash. Based on past committed relationships with other body wash/shampoo combos, I was initially repulsed, just like I was about marriage.

So I went into the experience with an eye jaundiced by past experience. But if I was going to get through this review objectively, I had to put on my big boy pants and separate my past experiences from a future unknown. Once I did that, I realized that SportBlast wasn’t the problem — it was me.

The gel itself was very thick, so my initial expectation was that when it came time to either rinse it off my body or out of my hair, it was going to leave a nasty residue. Nothing is worse than taking a shower with a new soap product (Zest soap from the 1990s, I’m looking at you) and realizing after the shower is complete and you’ve moved on with your life that there is still some residue on you.

But AXE SportBlast was different. The gel was thick but it didn’t feel like it once I began applying it to my dirty, alcohol-addled body. Just like with the shampoo, the body wash rinsed off with minimal effort. My skin felt clean and there was no leftover residue.

Another thing I appreciated was the smell of the product; it was refreshing and crisp. Not only that, but the gel really felt like it exfoliated and opened up my skin. I really noticed this about an hour after showering; my skin felt open, clear and clean. The shampoo, for as thick as I feared it would be, left my hair feeling noticeably lighter and refreshed.

One more detail for all you frugal dudes; you basically recycle the shampoo from your head and that becomes your body wash, so a bottle of this stuff will last a long time. We all know you’ve been using your shampoo of choice as a body wash as well because you are broke after the divorce, but now, you can buy a product that is made for that, specifically.

While I will never get married again, I would definitely purchase and use AXE SportBlast again. If you’re as hesitant to drink the Kool-Aid regarding 2-in-1 products as I was, this will be a pleasant surprise — unlike that $10,000 invoice from your divorce attorney.

Get more info on the product here: http://www.theaxeeffect.com/#/axe-campaigns/anarchy

Former rock musician and current author and entrepreneur Jack Passion has been making an admirable living off of something most men actively remove from themselves on a semi-daily basis. Author of “The Facial Hair Handbook” and multiple world champion “beardsman” in the “Full Beard, Natural” category, Passion is a star of the IFC television series “Whisker Wars” and was most recently featured in Morgan Spurlock‘s new documentary “Mansome,” executive produced by Ben Silverman, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. I recently got the chance to briefly interview Passion via email.

Ezra Stead: First of all, and I’m sure you get this all the time, how long did it take you to grow your beard to such length and fullness?

Jack Passion: I’ve had this beard for almost exactly nine years. I keep it trimmed, but this length would probably take 3-4 years to achieve. My book’s first law is “Healthy Man, Healthy Beard,” and I attribute the thickness of my beard all to my diet and health. I also take VitaBeard, the beard vitamin, which is very easy and helps quite a bit.

ES: Would you ever consider styling it in some weird, unique way, in order to compete in “Full Beard, Groomed” categories, as opposed to “Full Beard, Natural”?

JP: I have done styled categories in the past. I already look silly enough as it is, and the products required for those designs ruin the hair. When you see the German beard-styling masters with their beards un-styled, the beards don’t look great. I view the beard as a natural thing, and so I like to present it naturally and care for it naturally.

ES: My beard doesn’t seem to grow past about two inches. Are there any special techniques or products you’ve used to encourage yours, or is it pretty much all genetic?

JP: A lot of it’s genetic, but facial hair changes a great deal as you get older, so don’t give up hope! I mentioned VitaBeard, which has really changed the way I grow facial hair for the better, but I would also recommend waiting, as your beard grows in cycles. In your case, maybe it’ll plateau at two inches for several months before starting to grow again.

ES:How did you get involved with the documentary “Mansome”?

JP: I wrote a book called “The Facial Hair Handbook” and had won a few world titles in beard competitions, so when Morgan Spurlock’s team needed a beard, they came to me.

ES: Why did you decide to “quit and renounce music”?

JP: This is a long conversation, one that I absolutely love to have, but one that is outside the scope of “Mansome” and male grooming. Perhaps another time?

I don’t think the woman comes with the dandruff shampoo . . .

As guys, we’re always looking for the most efficient method of getting a quick and close shave with as little hassle as possible. If you are going to be looking for a new electric razor anytime soon, take a look at the all-new and waterproof Panasonic Arc3 Shaver. The Arc3 features three blades and can be used wet or dry, and I tried each way and a close shave was the result every time. One of the reasons for the comfortable shave was the 45-degree trimmer blade, as well as Multi-fit Arc Foil to lift and guide stubble closer to the blade. The aerodynamic Arc3 is available in white, silver or blue and is priced right at $89.95. Learn more about the new Panasonic Arc3 Shaver here or go to your local Wal-Mart store to purchase one for yourself.

Want an easy way to get rid of that back hair? There are all sorts of trimmers out there to help you with your manscaping, but few of them make it easy to handle the hard-to-reach areas on your back. That’s a problem, as back hair ranks up there as one of the biggest turnoffs for women. We tried out the new MANGROOMER, and this do-it-yourself electric back hair shaver is incredibly easy to use.

You can see the ingenious design from the photo about. The MANGROOMER simply folds out to give you an easy tool that reaches every part of your back. Just reach around your side or over your shoulder and you’ll be shocked by how easy this is to use. It also feels good on the skin as it neatly trims off the hair on your back.

With summer around the corner it’s time to get in shape, and now that also includes doing the little things to make you look better. Getting rid off that excess back hair will make you look much better, and now you have the tool to take care of it.

Check out their website for more information on the MANGROOMER and other grooming products for guys, along with their Facebook page and Twitter account.

Does your special lady complain that after a few kisses, her upper lip feels like it’s been exfoliated thanks to your vintage 70s style moustache? Maybe it’s time for a clean shave, fella. With that in mind, check out the shave products from Grooming Lounge.

What’s remarkable about the Grooming Lounge shaving products is how they make you feel. And I don’t mean feelings in the nontangible sense, because men don’t have feelings, duh.

The two products I received were the Beard Master Shave Oil and the Beard Destroyer Shave Cream and I was amazed how my skin felt after I shaved… a day later. Even an hour or so after or shaving, I kept stroking my face and could immediately recognize how smooth and soft my skin was compared to normal, after shaving. It felt like velvet wrapped in butter, pressed lovingly against the heat of a young Neve Campbell’s neck, minutes after her epic love scene with Denise Richards in the movie “Wild Things.”

But what really made me fall in love with the product was how smooth and moisturized my skin still felt even two days later. Literally two full days later, I was sitting at my desk caressing my own face, longingly.

I followed the directions and used both products in concert, (i.e. I cocktailed them), and based on the ingredients of each, it was impossible to tell which product was responsible. The Shave Oil contained Meadowfoam Oil (lifts whiskers), Peppermint Oil (lubricates) and Avocado Oil (soothes). Not only did all these ingredients feel fantastic on my skin, but I would eat any one of them right now.

The Shave Cream contained Sandalwood Oil (cushions razor), Rosemary Oil (demands razor glide) and Eucalyptus (battles ingrowns). Also, these products from Grooming Lounge weren’t falling all over themselves to be touted as some natural or earthy alternative to other shaving products on the market. They were just really good; and when I looked at the ingredients afterwards, it made sense as to why my skin was so soft and smooth.

The shaving experience was equally as good as the product. The Shave Cream, described as “ultra-lubricating shaving lotion,” came off with one swipe of the blade, even in difficult areas like around your neck. And it only took a minimal amount of cream (combined with a small amount of water) to spread an adequate amount on my face. The scent of Minimalist Clove was also a nice, subtle touch.

The Shave Oil, or “pre-shave whisker lifter,” is a product you could use by itself on a day where your skin was perhaps a little dryer than usual. One dab of this potent little sucker could cover the entire side of your face and felt more like massage oil than a moisturizer thanks to the consistency and the way your skin absorbs it.

For the price (Shave Cream $16.20, Shave Oil $22.50) you can’t go wrong; you really do get what you pay for. But hey, if you don’t want to spend roughly $40 for the best shaving solution you’ve never tried, keep buying that bargain shave gel and feel good about the money you’re saving rather than the quality of the shave.

Check out the full line of Grooming Lounge products at their official site.

Duke Cannon’s Big Ass Brick of Soap is the coolest soap you’ve never heard of, let alone actually used to clean your mangina.

I was in love with Duke Cannon the minute I read about the product and the slick-ass advertising. In the words of those on Duke Cannon’s Team, “The only ‘axe’ he would ever use is for cutting down trees.”

Do you know why? Because Duke Cannon is a MAN; not a kid on MTV with a hairless chest and perfect abdominals. Duke Cannon earned his chest hair by doing hard man work over the years and there’s no damn way he’s going to be conned into being embarrassed that he has it.

But what about the soap? Is it any good, or is it a POS product that survives only off great marketing, like the pet rock, Crystal Pepsi or Kim Kardashian before it? I was eager to find the answer.

In an era where men’s body wash gels have taken over, Duke Cannon’s Big Ass Brick of Soap is truly that; it’s a big, green piece of soap that has a big “D” (imprinted on it, you perv) and weighs three-quarters of a pound.

As I removed it from its sheath, I was assaulted by its fragrance. But it was a good, enjoyable assault. It smelled like a high quality men’s cologne rather than a fragrance associated with a bar of soap. Once Duke and I hit the shower after a long day at the orifice, Duke cleaned all my orifices in the most pleasing manners allowed by law. The soap also had these little yellow pieces of steel cut grains imbedded in it. Purportedly used for “maximum gripability,” they also worked to exfoliate and scrub dead skin from your body; you know, if you swing that way.

The Big Ass Brick of Soap came to a frothy head soon after we entered the shower and I never felt even an ounce of guilt or regret about it. The froth itself was very thick and laid down a dense layer of awesome all over my body. When it was time to rinse, it washed right off (which can be atypical of several leading men’s soaps), but the awesome lingered long after, and made me recall a time when me were men and weren’t ashamed of it either.

The next day I hit the shower again and thanks to the girth of Duke Cannon’s Big Ass Brick of Soap, it looked like I hadn’t even touched it the previous day, which means that for a meager $15 investment for three bars, you’re going to get more than a handful of uses in exchange for your hard earned cash.

Duke Cannon’s Big Ass Brick of Soap got me clean. And after all, isn’t that what soap is supposed to do? Check it out and buy some here.