The Man Mag

Men, for ages, have been carrying the burden of masculine imagery imposed upon them by tradition. It is no doubt that self-care had to take the last seat in a bus full of other priorities. And at that, men’s grooming was a speck in the horizon. There was a gap in how self-care was portrayed to men as a matter of basic toiletries. Our men surely deserved much more than a bar of soap and family shampoo. They deserved to get their grooming needs discovered and met. If not a trip to the Turkish Hamams, they deserved to get the care for their subjective hair and skin types, scents to enhance their style. In 2012, our founders realized that they had to find a way to fill this gap. And on our 5th birthday, we are glad to walk you down the memory lane of a vision perceived and the vision achieved.

The cinemas are gathering dust, diners denied dining, and it’s been an era since we could hug anyone at the whim of our will. The only good thing that the current pandemic has given us is a good relationship with our bodies. We are all eating healthy, adopting fitness practices to suit our needs, and going that extra mile with “just one more push up”, a new sports practice, and a more grounding Yogasana. The God bods that were a distant dream feel so achievable now. Doesn’t it, gentleman? On this National Sports Day, why not celebrate our commitment to our bodies and go a step forward to promise ourselves healthy hygiene practices:

Some men have the perfect skin, faces that shine, brows that arc over their eyes oh-so perfectly. Not one hair on their crown is out of place and what radiance smiles through them! They are basically the perfect versions of Adam in their Eden Gardens. They leave others wondering if God had baked them out of a precious mold, given them a better skin, the others not, and then hid that mold somewhere. Well, worry not for that farce is untrue. And come along, kind gentlemen, we’ve got a secret for you: No man is perfect. They all groom themselves to perfection. And we have found the grooming secrets that help this perfection. So grab your combs and find your clippers, and bring along your favorite barbers because we’ve dug deeper to bring a list of grooming secrets that can help you polish the already amazing person you are:

The trees are washed, sky’s overcast, and the world looks like it has just stepped out of the shower. Monsoons usually arrive with the pleasantness that all of the summer months lacked. Only, it brings along a horde of skin care worries. And obviously, the problematic humidity is to be blamed. If only I could, I would dictate the weather changes. Rains would shower and the sun would shine according to my skin needs. Since that is a distant dream to hope for, I decided to change the things I can and find wisdom for the best skin care practices during monsoons. And my skin hasn’t ever been as glad during the monsoon days. You’d be glad to know that I have prepared a list of these healthy skin care practices for you to reap as many benefits from. So, here it is at your disposal:  

A few ideas to ease out shopping for your sister, this Rakshabandhan. Childhood used to be easy. Blue skies, open fields, summer holidays and marginal global warming. Which meant you could easily brave the midday sun and be out on the field or maybe hang out at the mohalla market. You pocket money itself was a great eliminator. So choosing a gift for your sister was easier. A box of chocolates would do the trick. The fancy packs of course. Or maybe a cassette. I remember getting mine a Michael Learns To Rock album. CDs came in a little later. So that was a natural graduation. I stayed away from pens mostly because visually they didn’t have the body of a “gift”. And besides I couldn’t afford a Waterman. Those things changed as we grew up. Of course chocolates still work but mostly as add on. So what do I buy for my sister, this Rakshabandhan? It’s a emotional turmoil. You really cannot start by ascertaining a budget. Come on, you know why. She’s your sister. Makes you feel like a cheapskate, doesn’t it?So you start with the something bigger. Like care. And you pick something that shows - you care about what she would like. My safe bet is always a book. But then that’s because my sister is an avid reader and our taste in books are a lot in sync. Books also are great because they last and you can go back to them and the memories associated with them. But some sisters are not too big on reading. Jewellery. Now that’s an all time hit. Even if she is not a very dressy person she would appreciate the fact that you went to a jeweller’s and spent hours there to find that perfect piece which you believed was made just for her. I generally stay away from clothes. It’s always a confusing affair picking clothes for anyone else, no matter how close they are to you. Unless you are a professional buyer or a designer. Or you generally are bossy pants like that. I am not. And if you knew my sister you would know why. A bottle of perfume? Sure. Everyone loves perfumes. And it shouldn’t be very difficult for any brother to know what sort of a fragrance the sister likes. That one is easy. But this year the malls are closed. So you won’t be able to go around exploring all the aromas through all the aisles. There’s of course one way to do this. Just beef up the stock of her favourite label. The other way is to take a peek into her perfume cabinet and find the bottle that is about to be emptied out. There’s no denying that she likes that one. I mean it’s almost empty, right? These are the few things that I dabble with or stay away from. And then there are shoes. Never met someone who didn’t appreciate the idea of a new addition to their collection. But it’s best to have them choose. If you were as confused as I have been on so many occasions, before reading this, I sure hope I was able to throw some ideas into the ring.  There’s one thing though. I have realized that all these years it was mostly she, who was protecting me. From the wrath of the parents and from the after effects of terrible decisions. From midnight hunger pangs and colossal heartbreaks. So this year, no matter what I get her, I am getting a rakhi for her as well. Makes sense doesn’t it? That’s another idea I want to leave here with you all. And if you want to talk about it more write to us at care@themancompany.com #RakhiForSisters    

Choosing the perfect Father's Day gift is not easy can be quite a task for some. To begin with you can never seem to get any help from them. They generally always have good advice to dole out. But ask them what you should get for them and they will never seem to want anything.  The trick is to figure out what you want for him. While there's always the lure of going for something practical to find the perfect balance between the worldly and the emotional can go a long way. Something that shows care and yet is not everyday.  It could range from a classic fountain pen to a wallet. Could be a tie or a bottle of his favourite cologne. If you still can't zero down on any of the options. 

When it comes to fathers, it's more often than not that they are the gentlemen who have set the benchmark for us to live by. They were our first superheroes. And some of them remained so throughout. They are the owners of the first pair of shoes we want to fill in. They are the musk that smells assurance for us. They define our codes. They are our personal heroes. And in confusing times we often go back to them for direct advice or in a meditative state to reveal what they would have done in a similar situation.   But when it comes to getting something, why does it seem like an ordeal? Is it because he is a man of discerning taste? Probably. Probably not. Maybe just sometimes. Could it be that you never seem to find anything that is truly worth its salt to be the right gift for gentleman of his stature? You could ask him – but you will never get an answer. Or at least a satisfactory one. My father once, upon being asked what he would like for his birthday, told me that the greatest gift I could give him was by living a meaningful life.   And while every day that you live by his codes you are paying a tribute to him, it's always nice to do something new once in a while. A surprise visit. An unexpected mail. Or a phone call. Sometimes a bottle of cologne. You could always take him out on a trip to a place you suppose he would love – but right now no one’s thinking of that.   It becomes even more difficult when you look back at childhood and remember that he always knew what you wanted. Natalie Massenet once famously said, “My father always had people around the house who were famous psychics.” But the truth is no matter what you get him he would love it. It could be a fountain pen, a passport holder, a wallet or an Eau De Cologne – he will rejoice in it. You can do it today, tomorrow or day after. And you might just want to do it for Father's Day as well. We know that no one knows what's best for him better than you. But we also know that sometimes you might still be at a fix. If that is niggling at you right now, here's an idea. This Father's Day let us help you put together a customised box from The Man Company, for him. You could also go and check out our special Father’s Day collections on the link below. These combos have been curated with a special attention to these gentlemen and the day itself. You can customise a message along with it and share it with us so that we, in turn, can share it with the world. Write to us at.....for further details and let's do something new for all the wonderful fathers out there, together.

How we’re staying cool this season  In these uncertain times the one thing that’s guaranteed is a summer at home. We know this season is going to fly past with us in lockdown. But Indian Summer is infamous for a reason and we’re still prepared to, figuratively, overheat and spontaneously combust ‘cuz of it.  So now we’re blessed with a little extra time on our hands, we’re going to use it to do a thing or two to stay cool this summer. 

Hair For You  No-fuss home remedies to boost hair growth  With all this free time on your hands, with yourself, you’re finally noticing your hair-- aren’t you? We know. We are too. You’re finally noticing the tufts of hair leaving your head every time you shampoo, you can feel the coarseness and now even the fact that your hair has thinned over the years is hitting you like a ton of bricks.  Fine, maybe we’re being dramatic and you didn’t notice it until we said it. But come on, your hair deserves some love. And we’re here to spread some of it. Read on for home remedies for hair growth.

Self-Care Sunday /sɛlf kɛ: sʌndeɪ/ noun “The human equivalent of pressing the reset button, leaving us feeling content, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle the brand-new week ahead” Today is the day you go the extra mile… a few extra miles. We’re going to be diving deep into skin, body and hair care today and we suggest you whip out a diary and take notes. We want to soothe our senses, nourish ourselves, feel calm and composed and prepare for a week of stressed out work calls and missed emails.  If you treat self-care sunday like a chore, it’s going to be long, annoying and hectic. If you treat it how it should be, like the most relaxing at-home spa, this will become a bi-monthly ritual. You can thank us later.  

Coding, Gardening and other stories from isolation  In the first chapter of the COVID-19 quarantine, we were consumed — thinking of a slew of ways we could fill our time. Suddenly, we had all the time in the world on our hands, so we defaulted to group chats and Zoom meetings. The next iteration of our dependence on Zoom came in the form of Zoom birthday parties and support groups. We could no longer keep up with our Zoom schedules and were entirely spent trying to keep up. The subsequent chapter, however, is far more exciting. We’re picking up productive hobbies, learning new languages, spending more time with our nearest and dearest, polishing old skills — to list just a few. In lieu of this, The Man Company chatted to a few gents about what they’ve been up to and how they’ve been spending their time in the most constructive of ways.   

A gentleman’s guide to making the most of quarantine  Rule number one of surviving lockdown - there are no rules.  We, at The Man Company, are trying to keep a fluid routine so that we don’t burn out. There are a few no-brainers that come to mind when we think about having to spend an extended period of time in our homes- meditating, spending time with the family, reading books, binge-watching shows etc. But we’ve been trying to figure out the best way to optimize our time considering we’re never, for the rest of our adult lives, going to see 21 days where we have the freedom and time to do literally anything we please (and yes, of course, while juggling office work- for those of you who are).    

Charcoal is the latest most used and loved product that beauty industry loves.  You will see people talking a lot about this beauty product and especially the charcoal peel off face mask. But why the product has suddenly gained so much popularity in the recent time? It’s actually because of the purifying benefits of this product. Activated charcoal present in the charcoal peel off face mask is a detoxifying ingredient, which helps to dissolve the impurities and removes oils effectively. This leave your face feel fresh and bright. So, while there are so many benefits of this charcoal face mask, let’s get to know. Charcoal is highly adsorbent in nature, this is why it sucks all the impurities lying on your skin surface. So while the product is pretty safe to be applied on all skin types, it is a boon for oily and acne prone skin. Someone with oily face would experience oils, acne and blackheads. To stop all that the magical product can work in your favour. 

Dandruff Flakes floating all over your hair and over your shoulders, is a common sight when you have dandruff. You may be tired of noticing those. Dandruff is a very common hair condition that not just lowers your confidence but also makes you conscious of your appearance. The main reason of dandruff appearance is those dead skin cells that accumulate on the scalp. Other than that fungal infection can also lead to scalp getting really flaky. The fungus causing dandruff in men feeds on the skin sebum and the dead skin cells. This is why eliminating the dandruff in the first place is extremely important. For these you can simply follow our guide to get rid of dandruff and flakes. What causes dandruff? First of all, let’s talk about this common myth that dandruff is caused by dry flaky skin. Rather the irritated oily skin, fungal growth and lastly not washing your hair enough are to be blamed for dandruff attack. Furthermore, stress can also cause dandruff in men. In some rare cases, infections like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema can lead to dandruff infection in men. Other than that, your genes also have a role to play. So now that you know the common reasons that cause dandruff in your scalp, the main question arises, how you can deal with it.  Can you deal with dandruff? Dandruff is one of those hair problems that cannot be cured permanently; but you can control it. Using a good shampoo containing Zinc Pyrithione can really help. Buy why use chemicals when you get the same efficient results faster using natural products. This is why, you can try shampoos with Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar clarifies the scalp and also proven as the best anti dandruff ingredient that slowdowns the rate at which your skin cells die and shed. Therefore, you can get instant relief in scalp itching and dandruff flakes. There are some hair care products formulated solely for controlling dandruff. As we mentioned, you must look for the effective ingredients which are able to cure dandruff, must be there in your hair care products. So after you have used the dandruff treatments, you can notice that your scalp is getting clear with no visible flakes in the hair. But this does not mean that you have completely cured it. However, it clearly means that you have controlled the dandruff and can enjoy the clean scalp and hair. Here the point to be noted is that dandruff can come back, when you start ignoring it. How to control Dandruff?  Now in this segment, I am going to tell you how can you control dandruff and get rid of it fast. As I mentioned, there are no medical solutions that can eliminate dandruff for ever but there are certain tried and tested natural remedies and ingredients that you can try to keep your hair free of dandruff and scalp itching associated with it.

A good face wash is the first step in any skin care routine. Face cleansing gives you an even toned, clean and refreshed looking skin; therefore, you must choose face wash for your skin type. But due to different reasons guys get confused about which is the best face wash that they should use. Therefore, in this guide, we’ll help you in figuring out how to find the best men's face wash for your skin type.

Do you feel like people keep telling you that you need all these products to make your skin better, without much of a guide on what exactly goes first and what last? Yeah, us too. So we took it upon ourselves to do some research and figure out if there really is a right way to tackle this whole skincare regime.  You may be using 2 products, maybe 3 or if you’re really committed to your skin health then probably all (hoping every single one of you uses SPF). You still need to know what goes on first and what last.   

Do you want thick and strong hair? A lot of men, who want to grow thick hair, as hair being the crown glory to give you youthful appearance. Not just that, your hair enhances your look and for men they can change their look by different hair styles. But, due to certain factors one can experience, thinning of hair, hair fall and many such problems related to hair. These issues can be experienced by millions of men across the globe.  As men, you should not stay away from taking care of yourself or your hair. Everyone wants to look good and this is why so many products that claim to get you strong and natural hair. Taking care of your hair not just encourage the growth of hair but also strengthen your hair roots. Nature has given us a lot utilising which, we can certainly grow strong and thick hair strands. Even though there is no magic trick involved yet you can quickly boost the growth and get results in curbing the hair issues.  Natural Ways for Good Hair Growth

Whether you’re thankful for the good harvest, or you’re welcoming spring after the frosty winter our country saw this year or just celebrating good over evil, Holi is a close second when it comes to favourite holidays for Indians. A giant paint ball fight, minus the painful pellets and the rules. If you’ve been playing for a while, you’d know that not everyone plays with organic colours and there’s always that one dude who has a bag full of (semi) permanent colour to rub your face with. In which case, we need to make sure we’re prepared for everything our face and hair is susceptible to on Holi. Apart from the basic wear white and douse your face and hair in oil rules, we have a list of precautionary measures and post holi care ready for you which may seem extra but will most definitely help your skin and hair in the long run.

Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients which is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues, making it one of the best anti-aging products. It helps in performing different body functions like collagen formation, immunity development, healing, etc. Being an antioxidant, it protects damages caused by harmful free-radicals and other pollutants. This lists unveils the top cosmetic benefits of using a Vitamin C Face Serum.

Hair loss is amongst the most common problem that men and women both suffer every day. It is observed that normally a person loses 50-70 hair strands everyday that is considered normal. But when a lot of hair strands start falling off and does not grow back, there can be a sign of worry. There are multiple causes and factors that lead to hair fall and loss. That includes mineral deficiency, stress, pollution, hereditary, certain critical illness and others. Hair loss problem even amplifies for men who start to experience bald patches in the hair because of this excessive hair loss. So here we’re you are going to talk about the best working guide for hair fall protection and to prevent loss of hair.

Holding onto our youth is something we all inadvertently want. Yes, men too. The men of today have started paying more attention to their appearance and grooming, now more than ever. Keeping your skin in a healthy state also involves combating the effects of ageing, and that’s why one needs to follow anti-aging skin care as soon as they reach their late twenties. While the age clock can’t be stopped, one can surely delay the signs of aging from showing on the skin. Here are some of the best tried and tested anti-aging skin care tips for men that would surely help you enjoy beautiful skin for long.  

Your groommate on duty!   Gentlemen, we all make mistakes, but when it comes to grooming, some blunders can leave you looking less than dapper.    Fear not we are here to guide you on the path to grooming greatness!    Here are some common mistakes men make and how to avoid them:   Overusing Products     There's a fine line between just enough and too much. Excessive product usage can make your hair greasy or heavy and clog your facial pores. Instead, start with a small amount and build up if needed.   Not Washing Your Face Your face is your first impression, and neglecting to wash it properly can leave you dull and tired. Don't just splash water on your face in the morning and call it a day. Use a gentle face wash before beginning your day and ending it to remove dirt and oil.   Using A Dull Razor     A dull razor can cause razor burns, irritation, and ingrown hairs. Make sure to change your razor blades regularly to avoid these issues.   Pay Attention To Intimate Hygiene   What often remains overlooked is Intimate hygiene, and it is an important aspect of grooming. It's essential to keep the genital area clean and dry to prevent infections and unpleasant odours. Use an Intimate Wash and lukewarm water to clean the area thoroughly and dry completely.   Ignoring Skincare   Skincare isn't just for women. Properly caring for your skin can help prevent breakouts, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and keep you looking young and fresh. Find a skincare routine that works for you and stick to it.   Skipping The Sunscreen The sun's harmful rays can cause premature ageing and sunburn. It becomes necessary to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It is also vital to note that one should apply sunscreen even on days inside or in cloudy weather.    Not Exfoliating   Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and can help prevent ingrown hairs. So, do not skip this step and scrub your face at least once a week.    By avoiding these common grooming mistakes, you'll be on your way to looking your best. Remember, it is a journey, not a destination. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep looking sharp.  

Up your style game with our range of products.   A good hairstyle can make or break your entire look.    Whether you are going for the polished businessman vibe or the edgy rockstar style, your locks play a significant role in your overall appearance.    And let's be honest, who doesn't want to up their style game?   If you are serious about your hairstyle, you know the right products can make all the difference. That is where we come in. We have a range of hairstyling products to help you achieve any look. So, let's dive in and see what we have got.

With our exclusive De-Tan Series.   Summer is here, and it is time to embrace the sun-kissed look!    Sun can do wonders for your mood and skin.    But the excessive sun can be a concern for many.    Yes, we are talking about tan. And yes, we come bearing a gentle yet effective solution.   Before diving further, let us first talk about the reasons for tanning.   Too much sun exposure can cause tanning as the rays trigger melanin production, a pigment that gives your skin its colour. The more time you spend in the sun, the more melanin your body produces, and the darker your skin gets. We understand that tanning can cause skin damage. But that does not mean you cannot have all the fun in the sun. With our essentials, you can enjoy the sun without worrying about the harmful effects of tanning.   We have a series of De-Tan Products like