What used to be thought of as a service for men who were celebrities is no longer the thought of the day.  African American men are learning that it’s important for them to take care of their skin just as their women do.

You can always tell when a man has had professional facials.  Their skin is flawless.  But just as with women who get professional facials, maintenance is Key.  Taking care of your skin is not a one time event.

There are certain conditions that men have and must be recognized when taking care of their skin.

• The composition of their skin is different.  It’s thicker for the most part.
• Men grow hair on their faces and as such,  they have to deal with conditions that hair growth might present.  In- grown hairs is one of them.
• Men shave.  Their skin has to be treated once they shave the hair from their face.  Electric razors or straight edge razors, the choice will require a different treatment for their skin.
• For the man that chooses not to shave, his skin has to be treated in a way that will keep his skin and the hair on his face clean.

I once had a client who was a professional swimmer and cyclist.  He needed every bit of the hair on his body removed.  He came in to be waxed, full body.  It was very early in my career as an esthetician and I didn’t understand why he’d want to undergo the discomfort of a full body wax.  He explained that the when he dives into the water, his hairless body allows him to glide and gives him a greater sense of speed.  That explained swimming but what about as a cyclist.  He told me he’d taken a fall when competing on a mountain terrain and when the hair on his leg and  the cuts became one, it was not the most comfortable feeling.   He said “It hurt like Hell”

There are many reasons why African American men would want to take care of their skin and the regimen that  they use is no different from ours.

Using the same basic regimen: cleanse, tone and moisturize.  The only additional step you might take would be to exfoliate 2-3 times a week.

I’ll talk more about skin care for African American men in later articles, until then

To Healthy Skin

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/President-NYRAJU Skin Care

www.nyrajuskincare.com