They may not take centre stage like movements in women’s beauty do, but increasingly we’re seeing male grooming styles trend across social media, and we’re gaining insight into what’s influencing men’s choices for looks and grooming.
From simple eye creams to extreme hair transplants, we discuss leading trends and how they’re affecting the way pharmacy assistants offer beauty advice to their male customers.
Transplants on the rise
Since receding hairlines are quite common among men, with studies indicating that 50 per cent of the gender experience balding by the time they hit 50,1, it’s no wonder that hair transplants are becoming more popular.
Social media users may have noted the trend thanks to homegrown TikTok-ers like ‘Luke and Sassy Scott’ who have filmed their hair transplant journey.
According to another study, published by the Hair Society, more than 35 million men and 21 million women worldwide experience alopecia or hair loss, and more than 650,000 of those affected have undergone a hair transplant as the most effective treatment option.2
Body hair care
By contrast, many men invest in trimming and removing hair from parts of the body other than the face and head.
For a long time, hair trimming among men involved only shaving, and mainly beards and moustaches at that. The modern man, however, is looking for alternatives to shaving for trimming down or removing body hair.
One of the most effective and non-invasive ways for men to remove hair is using hair removal cream, with an abundance of options available in pharmacies that pharmacy assistants can advise about.
Breath of fresh care
According to GQ magazine, among 23 grooming resolutions for men in 2023 is to ‘banish bad breath’.3
For the past couple of years the focus for men and women around oral care has been on whitening teeth, while using mouthwash has often been neglected.
But with an increasing number of men now beginning to attend additionally to their breath odours, the pharmacy is a great place for a fresh start, breath-wise, with an array of mouthwashes, dental floss and even gum.
Handle hands, treat feet
Australia has plenty of hardworking tradesmen, as well as men who regularly work out at the gym, but a problem can be blistered and dry hands.
With GQ suggesting that more men should consider their footcare regime and invest in a foot peel, it makes sense that they also should attend to those crusty hands.
Pharmacies are home to plenty of different hand and foot creams that range from ‘slightly rich’ to ‘very strong’ and can help smooth foot and hand skin in a matter of days.
Making scents personal
Another growing trend that seems to be taking both men and women by storm on TikTok is discovering one’s personal scent.
This has been the year of the spotlight on colognes and perfumes, with consumers often responding to the trend around changing or introducing a new personal scent to grooming routines.
You know what this means as a pharmacy assistant: get a range of tester products at the ready and be prepared to help your customer check out row after row of colognes so they can determine which scent works perfectly for them.
References:
- Patel R. 2021. ‘What does a normal hairline look like?’ healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/normal-hairline.
- HWT Clinic. ‘Hair transplant statistics and facts about hair loss’. hwtclinic.com/hair-transplant-statistics.
- Hurley A. 2023. ‘23 grooming resolutions for 2023’. gq.com/story/23-grooming-resolutions-for-2023.
This feature was originally published in the June issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
