Electric Hairdressing - London C4 Shaping Paste

The Electric Hairdressing phenomenon has been a fascinating story to watch develop since 2007 when the first salon opened in Brighton, followed in a succession of nationwide salons in Reading, London, Oxford, Liverpool and Edinburgh. With a firm foundation at its core coming from every person involved, it is clear that a major part of this success comes from people power, and Mark Woolley who is the founder of it all rightly pays tribute to his dynamic team forging ahead with even more exciting plans.

Every aspect of this innovative business is researched thoroughly, and that is certainly true of the Electric Hairdressing product line, and at The Amazing Blog we’re not just talking shampoos and conditioners here, but the whole gamut of kit involved in the maintenance and styling of those luscious locks. 

The focus today is the Electric Hairdressing ºC-4 Shaping Paste, which is a 50ml pot of styling versatility, developed to shape and define your look giving a lightly textured finish, keeping that all-important style in place, but without the clagging build-up of product which so often can literally weigh the hair down. The Electric team are believers in allowing the hair to flow as freely as the creativity employed in tending those tresses. At £16.50 for the 50 ml tub, this unisex product will prove to be well worth it; not simply because of the professional results, but also we found a little goes a long way - therefore it’ll undoubtedly be a welcome long-stay guest in the bathroom cabinet. This, and the entire range can be perused (and we would allow plenty of time to peruse since there are many goodies to tempt us) here, and where the complete journey of Electric Hairdressing styling can be witnessed. Something tells us, this is just the beginning for a treasure trove of options for quality, products to help achieve professional results.

Andalou Naturals – Men’s Invigoriating Body Wash, Grooming Style Balm & Herbal Deodorant

Stem Cells are grabbing our attention today - fear not, we will delicately avoid beginning a debate on ethics, but rather, let us focus on the benefits which can be had from the science employed in the extraction of the exotically named phytocannabinoids from the mature stalk of the hemp plant, fortifying us with a veritable armoury of goodies to counteract free radicals, oxidative damage and pollution. Yes, we at The Amazing Blog are talking totally natural skincare here - a revolutionary, patented liposomal technology which promotes and protects the vitality and longevity of skin stem cells, and thereby giving us enhanced skin health. All this comes to us from the incredibly popular Californian brand of Andalou Naturals whose range is as expansive as it is diverse.

Started by Stacey Kelly Egide and Mark Egide, who have a long track record of success building brands in the natural space. For over 30 years these visionary partners have been creating category-defining brands like Beauty Without Cruelty, Avalon Organics, Alba Botanica, Alba Hawaiian, Sonoma Soap Company, Un-petroleum, and The San Francisco Soap Company.  Andalou Naturals, the first non-GMO project verified beauty brand and has a comprehensive product portfolio and distribution network in North America, Europe, and Asia. Founder Stacey said “for Andalou Naturals, my goal was the create an empowerment brand with a mission to influence the industry to do better”

Of course, the full range offers up lots of benefits from all sorts of sources - the apple, grape, rose, and the organ tree kernel, all contribute their nutritious elements for our skin’s wellbeing, but for today we are highlighting three of the best in Andalou’s men’s grooming range, starting with the minty refreshing Men invigorating Body Wash  which comes in a bumper 25ml tube, giving us the 3-in1 action, for hair, body and face. It can be bought here for £10.79. This one gives great value for money, and has been formulated with cannacell antioxidants and organic hemp seed oil. There is also aloe vera in the mix to soothe, and bioavailable vegan ingredients, keeping the natural credentials high, making this suitable for all skin types.

The cannacell antioxidants are also to be found in the Men Herbal Deodorant in Mountain Sage, along with the essential hemp seed oil and vegan probiotics, which is again it’s very gentle on the skin, neutralising any odour in a mild but effective way. Sizewise, we have a stick of 75g  here for £8.55

Interestingly, Andalou gives us another 3-in-1 option when it comes to their Men Grooming Style Balm which can be used to shape and condition our hair, scalp and beard. Clearly giving a nod to the avoidance of too many bottles of potions in our grasp, here we have an easily absorbed application to create and finish off the well-groomed look we are asking for. Priced at £10.79 here for a tube of 125ml. What makes this, the deodorant and the body wash all very appealing is that they are 98% nature-derived, non-GMO project verified, and vegetarian with a large vegan offering, Plus, they're gluten-free and cruelty-free. And we love that these are quality grooming products are accessibly priced for our wallets!

Ramer Sponges - Wet Shave Towel

It will come as no surprise to regular readers of The Amazing Blog to hear that whenever we get the chance to report on a product which will help the daily ritual of shaving a tad more successful, then we are up for it with our razors primed … add the promise of some serious ‘salonesque’ pampering into the mix, and we cannot hold ourselves back. So, when we heard the whisper that Ramer Sponges were set to launch a new collection targeted at us boys, called Ramer For Men, we kept our eyes peeled for the first offerings. Zeroing in today on the ingenious idea of the Ramer For Men, Wet Shave Towel  - although don’t let that put you off exploring their extensive range for boys, girls, grown-ups and little ones alike.

Those of us lucky enough to enjoy the true expertise of a trained barber, will not only know the intense relaxation afforded when having our skin prepared by a professional before the slicing of the blade commences, but also the vital task all that preparation does in opening up the pores and softening the beard. By lubricating the follicles effectively of course we lessen the chance of the dreaded razor drag which inevitably leads to razor rash and burn which is never a good start to the day! And chaps, we need to make a note of the growing trend of losing the hipster beard trend - 55% of us are now embracing a smoother look according to an online poll, and making the most of that precious half hour spent in the barber’s chair. Which is where Ramer come in and present their wonderful option of enjoying the salon experience every day at home with their Wet Shave Towel.

The process with this Wet Shave Towel could not be easier - simply immerse the towel in hot water, squeeze and apply to the face to soften the beard; the heat and moisture will open up the pores, preparing the skin effectively for the razor onslaught.Then shave as we would normally, removing excess foam when complete, and rinse the towel, but this time in cold water. Re-apply to the face to close up the pores, and moisturise, thereby giving us the luxury of a wet shave barber experience, but in the comfort of our own bathroom. To store, we simply rinse again and allow to dry - each towel is super-soft, hypoallergenic, machine washable at 40º and ideal for sensitive skin.

This Wet Shave Towel comes in 3 colours (black, lime green and ultra violet) with approximate dimensions of this new found favourite, is 360mm x 210mm and retails at just £6.99 available here or from John Lewis and Superdrug.  We think that it will be simply a matter of time before this magic towel becomes as indispensable as the razor itself.

BEYofi Shaving Gel, Balm and Oil

As our desire for ever more intricate and precision shaving styles increases, so does our need for efficient tools with which we can execute our creativity with pinpoint accuracy, whilst still ensuring our skin is as protected as much as possible when the blade descends. We at The Amazing Blog notice that more and more brands are now extending their shaving ranges to include far more user-friendly options, and BEYofi are the perfect example of this - most notably their Mens Shaving Gel For Sensitive Skin, formulated with exactly that in mind, whilst also avoiding irritating the skin as far as possible. 

The shaving range is attractively packaged all with pump dispensers. But it is this Shaving Gel For Sensitive Skin, that is the one that really caught my eye. Its rich formula is designed not to lather up into an explosion of bubbles, but rather simply provide thorough lubrication of the skin along with effective moisturisation so we can sculpt away to our heart’s content. Similarly, the BEYofi Shaving Balm has also been formulated to ensure it is easily absorbed, soothing the skin to avoid irritation, soreness and reduce the dreaded razor burn. This delight is fragrance-free, allowing your choice of after-shave to remain unhindered as you complete the task in hand.

With an impressive heritage behind him, the creative genius that is Bernard D. Evans, has come up trumps once again with a superb product to add to his already impressive range to help us in our quest. The product however which perhaps exemplifies the versatility of this line is the Mens Shaving Oil, which has a three-in-one functionality, allowing us to use it on it’s own, as a preparation base for a shaving cream, or indeed as a post shave serum, and all with a fresh peppermint and lemon fragrance to engage the nostrils! The Shaving gel retails at £19.75 (100ml), the Shaving Balm for £20.45 (100ml), and the Shaving Oil comes in at £21.45 for 30ml, and all available through here.

Matis - Vitality by M - Roll’on Energ’Eyes

A few months ago, we here at The Amazing Blog were reporting in on the range of mens skincare Réponse Homme which had been developed by Matis to sit alongside their highly successful women range (see our review here) . At the time we were struck by the intense science behind each of their products - whether for boys or girls, and therefore you can imagine our excitement to find another gem to help us in the daily battle to moisturise our skin and keep the hydration levels as high as possible- only this time, there is no battle to be waged as we have the most deliciously satisfying beauty tool at our fingertips - and it’s effects are a dream. 

The Vitality Roll’On Energ’Eyes from Matis is a tube of heaven which stands out, not just because of it’s vibrant orange/red colour palette, but because when you unscrew the lid, two things become abundantly clear. Firstly, this is no ordinary moisturiser for the delicate area around the eyes- we have three generously sized ballbearings mounted in the top which effortlessly glide over the skin, not only hydrating and toning as they go, but also massaging and cooling on their way. The second revelation is the utterly seductive fragrance, which all goes to imbue a sense of calm tranquility leaving your eyes feeling sensational.The science part of course is more straightforward, in that, by decongesting the eye contour area, we are actually stimulating the micro-circulation. Therefore hydration is maximised reducing the dark circles so the skin becomes more radiant.

The main active ingredient in our newfound friend is vitamin C, which goes to stimulate our collagen synthesis, protecting our skin, and evening out the colour tone. There are also extracts of goji berries which, being high in antioxidants, vitamins C,B and amino acids help to strengthen and regenerate the cells. So, although this glorious tube may be just 15ml, it packs quite a formidable treat into it’s compact space, but what a joy for our eyes to discover. We found it on special offer for only £15.99 here