One of the most overused lines I hear (besides "Don't make me look like a drag queen!"—see my previous blog post on that one) is from most cisgender straight men who say, "Oh, am I next?" After they laugh as if it's the funniest thing ever said, I look at them blankly and respond, "You can be if you'd like. I do makeup for men quite often." They then clam up and scurry away, mumbling something about it not being for them.
But why shouldn't it be for them? If you've read some of my other posts, you might already know that makeup was originally created and used by men. Anyone on television or professionally photographed has to wear some level of makeup. So, gentlemen, grab your brushes and join the fun!
Makeup doesn't care about gender. Everyone has skin and imperfections that can be improved to boost confidence. With big events like weddings, family photos, headshots, graduations, etc., clients doling out a lot of money for professional photography. So why should men be excluded from the beautifying process?
Below are my preferred steps to help my male clients achieve a flawless appearance without feeling heavy or overworked.
SKINCARE! SKINCARE! SKINCARE!
Waterless cleanser with silk cotton squares all over the face to take off any sweat, dirt and excess oil.
Oil fighting textured exfoliating facial pads to take off any dry skin texture.
Hydrating (not moisturizing) toner with silk cotton square all over the face to help keep pores open and ready for treatments and skincare.
Mattifying serum with a brush in the T-Zone to help oil and sweat control throughout the day.
Hydrating serum with a new brush on the cheeks and neck for flexibility and redness control.
SPF with no flashback for suncare (also on top of head if required)
Brow Grooming
Clear brow wax to tame fly away hairs or form into a more complimentary shape.
Colored waterproof brow gel to tint gray or lighter hairs and fill in blank areas.
Trimming extra-long hairs or even unibrows.
Lip Care
Light exfoliation lip scrub to help take dry skin and texture away from the lips.
Lip oil with multiple hydrating oils and butters to lock in moisture.
Potential hair trimming around the mustache area and chin area to rid the mouth of stray hairs.
Undereye Depuffing and Color Correction
Eye depuffing with eye patch - eye massage - eye gel or eye tool
Color correcting where needed to lighten any discoloration without the heaviness of concealer.
Light translucent powder dusting to absorb any excess moisture and set.
Beard Line Fill and Trim
Trim any stray hairs along the beard shape.
Hot comb through rough hair texture if necessary and finish with dry oil.
Fill in beard line with waterproof airbrush color to fade patching or thinning. This can also be applied to hair line and back of head for thinning or graying.
Clear brow wax to finish and shape.
Powder to Set and Finish
Loose powder in skin tone or slightly lighter with a fluffy brush dusted all over the face lightly.
Translucent loose powder on the neck to tone down any redness or shave irritation.
Setting spray in hydrating or matte to leave a natural finish.
I will adjust my grooming packages per client depending on what they might need or not require. Some men need more help than others just like any other client. We do live in a world now where skincare regiment and makeup are more socially acceptable for most everyone but there is still a stigma placed upon men by men when it comes to grooming.
You read the list above. Was that so scary? Did that seem too intense? It is a step in the right direction of selfcare and taking care of yourself. Want to see something that might shock you even more? ALL the men in the photos below are wearing as much makeup as I listed above if not MORE.
Now, how do you feel about wearing makeup like a man?
コメント