Author: Paul Eide (Page 31 of 36)

Product Review: Gillette ProGlide Styler

October 10, 2012 / Paul Eide

In the heart of the current political season, and in the interest of full disclosure, I must say that I have always been pro-Gillette throughout my personal shaving career.

It started way back in the mid-nineties, when I fell in love with the Gillette Mach 3 right out of Harvard Law. Three blades at the time was revolutionary (not as progressive, but certainly more moderate than the Schick Hydro 5 Power Select and it’s five blade setup) and I used it faithfully for years.

That being said, I was totally unaware and fully surprised when I recently received the Gillette ProGlide Styler for review. So rest assured, this review comes to you as the result of a fully non-partisan effort.

The 3-in-1 features the ability to shave with the Fusion ProGlide Power Blade, the Power Trimmer to trim your facial hair or beard, and the Precision Edging Blade to make crisp, defined lines to finish your cut or look of choice.

Right out of the box, I immediately liked the weight, feel and contour of the tool to fit in your hand.

The Precision Edging Blade is a great touch and totally removes the need for a separate tool to tighten up you sideburns, mustache, beard or just your look in general.

The Power Trimmer came with three adjustable attachments to trim up a beard or sideburns, but you could just as easily use it for some spot manscaping or even to trim a wild hair on your head.

The coolest feature on the Fusion ProGlide Power Blade is the built in Microcomb at the base of the razor. This helps by guiding your hair to the blade so you can shave, even against the grain, in a more controlled, close manner. The razor didn’t feel as solid as I would’ve liked (it felt somewhat flimsy), but it gave me a very close shave.

While using it, I got the feeling that this is a great 3-in-1 tool for a person who does a lot of traveling. There are very few attachments to carry around and lose while on the road. Also, there is no need for a charger because it is battery powered. Switching attachments was somewhat difficult at certain points.

The ProGlide Styler is waterproof and is also contoured and coated in rubber, which means that it’s not only more difficult to drop should you be shaving with a wet hand, but it could also withstand said drop should it hit the sink.

The built in Organizer Case was also a nice touch to make keeping track of the attachments and interchangeable parts even easier.

Accompanying the ProGlide Styler was the Fusion ProGlide Shave Gel. Interestingly, the shave gel was actually clear and barely foams up in the sense of a more traditional shaving cream. It definitely made it easier to see the area you were shaving, so you can “see where to shave and edge more accurately”, which was true. There was no blind shaving, which was a great touch and definitely lent itself to the quick shave a man may need to undertake when he is on the road shaving in a hotel room for business.

The versatility is what any user of the ProGlide Styer will like the most. It is a quick and easy alternative to using separate tools for each shaving task.

For more information, click here.

Grooming, Stuff to Buy

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Product Review: Old Spice Champion Collection

September 18, 2012 / Paul Eide

Sometimes, “smelf-confidence” can be misplaced. Maybe it’s that booger you have hanging out of your nose that you’re unaware of, your wife that’s overly “friendly” to your homies on game day, or just that funk that emanates from your body that you’ve gotten so used to you don’t even notice anymore.

While Old Spice can’t help you with your incompetence, or your slutty wife, it can help you with your scent. The Old Spice Champion collection has an Offensive Odor game plan that breaks down as follows:

Old Spice Champion Body Wash Gel Douche

It’s first and 10 and you’ve got a long way to go to get clean, AKA to the end zone. Strip down like John Travolta at an all-male bath house and hit the showers with your bottle of Old Spice Champion Body Wash Gel Douche in your, ahem, hand. Before you apply it to your body, take a whiff and notice the effective, yet not overly apparent scent. What does it smell like, you ask? I’d say it’s similar to the Original Scent of the Original Old Spice, yet toned down a few notches, like John Travolta when he’s out with his wife. Lather up — we’ve got a drive to “consummate” here.

Old Spice Champion Body Spray

It’s second and six after a solid gain on first down thanks to the effectiveness of the Old Spice Champion Body Wash Gel Douche. Now that you’re out of the shower, let the all-out assault of the Old Spice Champion Body Spray on your body begin. Apply it liberally, like Obama wants to apply his healthcare bill. Cover your body in it and you’ll notice quickly that has a refreshing scent like you’d expect from any Old Spice product, but it also has the refreshing tingle and scent of Original Scent crossbred with baby powder. You may say, “Oh, Paul, baby powder, what’s the deal man? I’m a man, man!” Yes you are, but your lady isn’t. She’s the one, after all, nuzzling your body with her ample bosom, so let’s keep her bosom happy. Game, set, you.

Old Spice Champion Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant

It’s third and one. You’re moving the ball down the field in an efficient manner, but efficiency doesn’t sell, sex does. So slather on the sex, AKA Old Spice Champion Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, and assault the opposing team’s (or any lady of your choosing) front line! “Believe In Your Smelf” and fire that pigskin over them mountains — go deep! Thanks to the scent of the Old Spice Champion Deodorant, you’ll already have the requisite confidence to cock your arm behind your head, exposing your great smelling armpit, and find your #1 wide out Greg Jennings running a fly pattern to an easy TD!

The Old Spice Champion Gold Collection is available in somewhat limited edition via the website here, or at any reputable store in your area.

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A chat with #1 UFC Middleweight Contender Chris Weidman

September 13, 2012 / Paul Eide

The hottest name in the UFC’s middleweight division belongs to Chris Weidman. Fresh off a beat down of leading middleweight contender Mark Munoz, it was just announced this week that he will next fight Tim Boetsch on December 29^th for the right to face Anderson “The Spider” Silva with the belt on the line.

His ascension to legitimate middleweight contender has been quick thanks to his willingness to fight (five fights in a year and a half) and a commitment to discipline, including a 32 pound weight loss in 11 days prior to fighting Damian Maia.

“I had to cut 32 pounds in 10 days on top of not being in great shape. I pretty much came right off the couch and took that fight. It definitely wasn’t a great idea for me and was probably the worst experience I ever had. So, I wouldn’t recommend anyone else doing that and I would never do it again myself.

“But it was a huge opportunity for me and I found a way to win against a guy who was top five in the world at the time. I was fighting at about 10% of what I generally feel like I fight at, but it did more for my confidence than any other fights, even the ones I’ve finished in the first round. After that fight I got a lot of criticism because it wasn’t a very exciting fight and I looked tired but it did a lot for my confidence regardless.”

What has created so much buzz about Weidman is his overall multifaceted skill set, and his ability to finish fights in different ways. In the course of going undefeated in his first five UFC fights, Weidman has collected both “Submission of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” honors, an incredibly rare feat.

“I don’t really have a preferred way to end a fight, I just want to end it and win, “said Weidman. “It’s always a good feeling to knock someone out, but I don’t want to be one of those guys who only looks for knockouts and get caught because that’s what I’m looking for exclusively.

These days, Weidman’s name has been increasingly linked with middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Thanks to the way Silva has torn through every one the UFC has put in front of him, and the quick rise and exciting fights Weidman has fast become known for, it’s a fight the fans want to see. But Silva’s camp has been reluctant to accept.

“It’s frustrating,” said Weidman about trying to orchestrate a fight for the title. “Since I got into the sport anytime I’d tell people I was doing MMA they’d ask what weight class and I’d say middle weight and they’d say “Isn’t that Anderson Silva’s weight class? Oh, you’re screwed. You better change weight classes, pal.” That motivated me and he deserves that type of respect ‘cause he’s earned it, but it motivated me to take risks like fighting on short notice and I’ve worked really hard to be the #1 contender and for him to just kind of downplay me, more his managers, it’s kind of frustrating. So I hope the UFC makes the fight happens but if not, I will fight someone else.

Currently Chris is a member of “Team Edge” shaving gel and is in the running to become the next “Face of Edge.”

“Basically it’s a contest,” said Chris. “There are four guys in the running to be the face of Team Edge Shaving Gel from the beginning of July to the end of September. The winner becomes the next “Face of Edge” so basically the winner will have their face on a couple million cans of edge shaving gel cans. I’m trying to win but I’m in second place and I’m down by a lot, these numbers are weird man. I think there’s some cheating going on (laughing).”

To listen to the full audio interview click here.

Follow Chris on Twitter at ChrisWeidmanUFC

Check out Edge Shaving Gel and vote for Chris at Edgeshave.com/ufc

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Wes Welker and the Science of Hair Transplants

September 10, 2012 / Paul Eide

A month ago, New England Patriots star wide receiver Wes Welker announced he had undergone a cutting edge procedure to fight the effects of male pattern baldness called hair transplant surgery.

Recently, we spoke with Dr. H. Rahal, owner of Rahal Hair Transplants, about the specifics of the procedure and what men can do to prevent thinning hair.

Bullz-Eye: What is hair restoration surgery?

Dr. Rahal: Hair restoration surgery could also be called hair relocation surgery, as it involves taking hairs from one area of the head and moving them to another. Most men who are suffering from hair loss will retain hair at the back and sides of their head. We call this the safe zone. This is the donor area, and we extract hairs from here and implant them into the zones where hair has been lost. We only implant individual follicles in their natural groupings of one, two, three and occasionally four hairs. This ensures that the result looks and feels totally natural.

BE: How did you get involved with the science of men’s hair loss?

DR: My brother had a hair transplant procedure in the early 90s. The result wasn’t great and got me thinking about how the technology could be improved. I’ve been performing hair restoration since 1995 and, yes, my brother is a patient of mine!

BE: What is the most ridiculous old wives’ tale you have ever heard about why men lose their hair or a way to regrow it? Does massaging the scalp while laying upside down help at all?

DR: I believe a lot of people tried that back in the 80s. It doesn’t work as the root cause of hair loss is genetic. There are a lot of myths out there regarding hair loss and a lot of people claiming to have miracle cures. One in particular that stands out is the claim that rubbing your finger nails together can help you regrow hair and stop it going gray.

BE: Why do some men lose their hair and some do not? What bearing does your father’s hairline have on yours?

DR: Genetics is the main cause of male pattern hair loss, but it’s difficult to predict and no single family member can indicate your own potential for losing hair. Looking at the general picture of how much hair loss is seen within your family can give some indication in how likely you are to lose hair and how far that hair loss might advance.

BE: How much does stress cause hair loss? How about diet or exercise?

DR: A healthy lifestyle helps keep hair healthy, but many hair loss sufferers take their health seriously but continue to lose hair, so unfortunately, making wise lifestyle choices alone is not enough. Stress can play a part in the onset of hair loss and there are conditions, such as Telogen effluvium, where hair loss is directly related to emotional or physical stress. That’s why it’s important to consult a physician to determine the cause of your hair loss.

BE: How is a hair transplant different from hair plugs? Is there a difference?

DR: Technology has come a long way since the days of hair plugs, and while the basic principle of moving hair is the same, the methods we use and the results we achieve are on a different level. Hair plugs are very conspicuous and they draw attention. This is why so many people continue to associate hair transplant surgery with hair plugs. When something about a person’s appearance doesn’t look natural, the human eye can spot this very easily. A great hair transplant is a combination of the latest refined surgical techniques and the artistry of planting hairs so that their position and angulation appear completely natural – on the level of the individual follicles and when viewed as a complete design.

BE: What is the success rate? Is there a chance the hair transplant won’t be successful?

DR: With any surgery, there is a chance that the outcome won’t completely meet expectations. There are physiological factors which are hard to predict. However, we typically achieve a growth rate of 95-99%. We also offer a Growth Guarantee as part of our commitment to patient satisfaction, where we will replace any non-growing hair transplant graft free of charge.

BE: How long does it take to see results?

DR: Transplanted hairs begin to grow at roughly three months after surgery. Typically, a patient will notice a significant improvement by around five months with the result continuing to improve until 12-15 months after the procedure.

BE: What makes it superior to other methods?

DR: Hair transplants are the only permanent solution to hair loss.

BE: How does it compare in success rates to the use of Rogaine or Propecia? How does the procedure differentiate itself from those popular methods?

DR: Many people benefit greatly from using treatments like Propecia and Rogaine, but these drugs are mainly successful in preventing further loss of hair. I highly recommend that patients use these treatments, but in most cases, hair transplant surgery is the only way that a significant amount of hair can be restored.

BE: Are there any side effects?

DR: There are no side effects to hair restoration surgery.

BE: Is there any way to prevent hair loss from starting in your younger years, if you are afraid you may be in line for future hair loss based on genetics?

DR: People who believe that they might have the genetic predisposition should check their hair regularly, but not obsessively, and consider treatment if or when hair loss begins.

BE: I recently heard an interesting theory, that hair loss was akin to a fungus or a cancer caused by an external force rather than internal genetics/heredity? Could this possibly be considered as true?

DR: There are lots of wild theories out there, but I think you can discount this one as untrue.

For more information, visit Dr. Rahal’s website here.

Grooming, Interviews, Lifestyle

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Product Review: Schick Hydro 5 Power Select

September 6, 2012 / Paul Eide

I’m not going to screw around here, guys. The Schick Hydro 5 Power Select razor is the best razor I have ever used. I could seriously just end the review right there.

Was it the battery-powered, multi-speed vibration that gently eased and spread the whiskers from my face during the shave? Was it the LED Digital Interface that lit up to show the multi-speed vibration between three different settings? Was it the “Fliptrimmer” razor with the flip-top back that allowed me to flip back and shave to the contours of my face and precisely trim any area I desired?

It could have been any one of those aforementioned features, but there were a few more in particular that caught my attention.

How about five blades, hence the name Hydro 5? For years, I have been using the Gillette Mach 3, with nary a negative thing to say about it. But I had never used a razor with five blades before; I immediately realized that three were inferior. Yes, five is more than three, wisenheimer. But I mean in terms of feel. And not just on the relatively contour free, non-sensitive areas like your neck or sideburns.

For me, the most sensitive area is where my mustache would be if I could grow one (if I were a man), i.e. the area right below my nose, above my upper lip. I anticipate this will be a painful exercise literally every time because it has been for about 15 years; the only way to numb the pain was to load up on high quality shaving cream (or whiskey) and have at it.

But with the Hydro 5, I glided over that area with absolutely no problem, and almost no friction — I couldn’t believe how well it worked. The combination of slight vibration of the razor with the ridiculous amount of blade-age left me with mouth agape in amazement. Almost on cue after I finished my shave, a neighbor came over to my house and used the bathroom. He came out holding the Hydro 5 in hand (which I had left on the sink), accompanied with a look of bewilderment on his face.

“Five blades! Five fucking blades, man?” he sputtered. “That is why you have such a clean shave — those grimy hairs don’t stand a chance!”

What aided those five blades was the Hydrating Gel Reservoir at the tip (which is water activated), just preceding the five razors. If there was ever a gimmick, I swore this was it as I perused the package prior to opening the Hydro 5. As men, how many times have we heard about “cooling gel” or some other “lubrication strip” that proves to be nothing but slick marketing?

Not only could I feel the effects of the gel, but I could see the gel coming out of the razor as I pressed it against my skin. The gel is comprised of vitamin E and aloe, which is even more soothing in use than it sounds in print.

The most amazing thing about the Schick Hydro 5 Power Select is that it retails for only $12.99. Even though it’s priced along the lines of a disposable razor, just holding it in your hand and feeling the weight of it proves that it is anything but and can hang with any of the overpriced razors on the market.

The following day I had two separate people comment on how smooth my skin looked, with one person asking me if I had “gotten a haircut or something because I looked different.”

Buy the Hydro 5 Power Select from Schick. It is the best money you will ever spend on a razor. For more information, click on this link.

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