Tried & Tested: GO24-7 Texture Paste & Shampoo

Offering progressive luxury, GO24-7 is a hair, skin and shave brand for real men. Not the archetypal cave man type of real men, but real men who understand that they really should be taking care of their skin, styling their hair and improving your shave.  Originating from the USA, the brand is said to have none other than David Beckham on its list of admirers – which is pretty impressive in my book. So I got stuck in to 2 key products from the GO24-7 range to see if they lived up to the celebrity endorsed hype…

GO24-7 TEXTURE PASTE

Price: £14.95 for 67g
Purpose: To craft your style with texture, but give you flexible freedom.
What the brand say: When you need a job done right, reach only for the best. GO24-7 Texture Paste is a no-nonsense pliable paste that performs to perfection to provide texture with definition while encouraging thickness and volume.

The Pour Homme Verdict: I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard of GO24-7 before the Texture Paste landed in my wash bag, but I can honestly say that this is one of (if not the best) styling product I’ve ever tried – hands down. I have hair that’s very difficult to style, it’s short around the sides but much longer and curly on the top. However my current style (a 50’s style quiff if you must know) requires control to slightly straighten without weighing down my curls, but with matt texture and a mouldable hold that I can rework throughout the day. The GO24-7 Texture paste covers all these bases and more. When you apply it, it’s very pliable making it easy to work your style, before setting (but not in a ‘stiff’ way like the hair gels of old) to hold your look in place with a finish that has just the right amount of balance between matt and natural shine. Oh and it smells AMAZING, plus it washes our really easily too – a must buy! 5 out of 5

GO24-7 SHAMPOO

Price: £12.95 for 264ml
Purpose: To gently put back what hard work and hard play takes out.
What the brand say: Trusted by the stars of sports and screen for clean natural health and performance, GO24-7 Shampoo is luxuriously invigorating and nutrient-rich for any day, any style, any hair-type.

The Pour Homme Verdict: After the overwhelming success of the Texture Paste I had high hopes for the GO24-7 Shampoo, and on the whole this daily shampoo lived up to the hype. Like its styling counterpart it smells lovely, and has all the right component that a top quality shampoo needs – leaving my hair soft, shiny and really manageable. My only complaint is that after I ran out of the Texture Paste the GO24-7 Shampoo struggled to remove all traces of heavy clay styling products and occasionally needed two washes which is why it slips slightly from perfect marks. But if you want my advice – buy both the GO24-7 Texture Paste and Shampoo for one hell of a shampoo/styling combo! 4 out of 5

A-Z of The Great Escape Festival

With over 300 new bands showcased in 30 venues across Brighton, The Great Escape festival is like Camden Crawl, only with more seagulls. And one and a half more piers. Here are 26 alphabetical mini reviews from the gig-fest by the sea…

Apes, Fight Like. If Florence & The Machine had decided to add synths instead of harps, and a punky attitude instead of a formula for chart topping success then they’d still only be half as good as Fight Like Apes.

Brothers and Bones. After waiting through the abomination that was ‘Trials’ (who were doing a bad impression of an early 2000 college band), Brothers and Bones brought bongos and bluesy rock to a packed Komedia on Friday lunchtime. Toes were tapped, heads were nodded and clapping ensued.

Concorde 2. A cracking venue that didn’t feature in my weekend purely for the fact that it’s just to far away from everything (apart from the nudist beach).

D/R/U/G/S. And not the recreational kind. Don’t be fooled by the quirky forward slashes kids, drugs really are bad.

Experience. Only a wise old festival head will know that you’re better off sticking close to your venue or gigs of choice, thus maximising the time spent watching music and minimising the time spent being turned away from capacity shows. As a second year veteran, last years disappointments were vital to this years resounding gig watching success.

Frankie and The Heartstrings. Not even sound issues could stop F&TH cementing themselves as my favourite band of the weekend. Lead singer Frankie performed the second half of the set from the lofty heights of the bar in front of the singing, dancing masses. And after that show, lofty heights is something the Sunderland five-piece better get used too.

Guest, Special. Despite rumours of a Snoop Dogg gig, there was nothing to rival last years surprise Cribs show.

Heartbreaks, The. When the Heartbreaks last played Brighton it was in front of a handful of punters on the night of the X Factor final. On this occasion TV viewing figures deprived them of a larger crowd, but this time there were no such distractions. “Elegant British pop to be proud of” is how the guide book described them, and boy did they live up to the hype.

In Flight Safety. Didn’t see them, but it’s a good name right? And a more than acceptable review for ‘I’.

Jezabels, The. They played four shows over the three days, each one of them a resounding and packed out success. The futures bright.

Katy B. A combination of good timing and savvy queuing meant that I got to see one of the weekend’s big names. Once I got inside, the bass line shook the Corn Exchange to the ground and Katy B showed everyone why she’s one of 2011’s biggest stars. Oh and ‘On A Mission’ – TUNE.

Lucy Rose. The elfin-esq singer songwriter has added a backing band to her phenomenal voice and heartfelt lyrics. The 12.30 slot in Komedia didn’t do her talent justice.

Mean Poppa Lean. Stripped back acoustics and a man down, Brighton based Mean Poppa Lean didn’t disappoint. Stage presence and catchy rhythms – local boys done good.

Newcastle Brown Ale. My tipple of choice. And what a bad choice it was come Friday morning.

Open Air. Three days spent in dark, low ceilinged venues could have started to become tiresome. But in true festival fashion, many of the surprise an impromptu gigs took place in the May sunshine – and the festival is all the better for it.

Phone Signal. A seemingly permanent feature of TGE was that none of the venues had any phone signal, particularly those on the seafront. Difficult to keep in touch with fellow gig goers, but it did save my twitter followers from a host of drunken tweets.

Queueing. Ahhh the ever present problem. There were some hefty queues, particularly at the bigger venues but the brilliance of TGE is that there’s always a venue with space just round the corner.

Relentless. Hosts of the open air gigs at festival HQ, the free caffeine packed drinks only added to the wealth of the musical talent on offer. Shameless promotion, yes. But good music to go with it.

Seaside, The. They both have plenty of gigs, lots of new bands and a whole load of drunk music fans, but one thing that Glastonbury doesn’t have is the Great Escape’s sea front setting.

Turner, Frank.

Life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings,

About fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings,

And the aching amplitudes that set our needles all a-flickering,

And help us with remembering that the only thing that’s left to do is live.

After all the loving and the losing, the heroes and the pioneers,

The only thing that’s left to do is get another round in at the bar.

Poet of the people doesn’t do it justice.

Unknowns. Brother and Bones, Dog Is Dead, Young Empires, just three of the previously unknown bands (to me) I saw this weekend. Some instantly forgettable, others slotting nicely into my new music collection. This is why I love The Great Escape.

Various Publications. When I asked a music journalist who she wrote for, she replied “Various Publications”. Could that answer have got any more pretentious?

Wristbands. Your key to the city. That is unless there’s a queue.

tXt Service. You’ll have to let have this one. The text service is a vital part of this festival, allowing you to keep up to date with capacity issues and secret gigs (phone signal depending).

Yuck. The ones that got away, dam line up clashes.

Zzzzz. Or lack of. Thank the lord that TGE ends on a Saturday to give you Sunday to recover (and write a mildly amusing blog entry).

Fashion Forward: TOMS Shoes

Lightweight, practical and versatile – espadrilles are the stand out spring/summer footwear choice for guys. But for TOMS Shoes, they represent so much more than just fashion.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

The TOMS Shoes movement is such a simple idea. It’s a fashionable idea. It’s an idea that sets a very high standard to other retailers. But most importantly it’s an idea that supports the biggest trend of them all: giving. So for anyone – guys or girls – thinking of investing in a pair of espadrilles, please don’t opt for a 2 for £20 high street bargain, visit the TOMS Shoes website and do your bit.

Wingman: Grooming’s Next Big Thing

You’ll know him as one of the all-conquering Dragon’s from the TV institution Dragon’s Den, but this week Theo Paphitis embarks on a new project – searching for the UK’s best and brightest young entrepreneurs BBC Two’s ‘Britain’s Next Big Thing’.

Men’s grooming brand Wingman and its creator Stuart Jolley are among a number of products and entrepreneurs in the series, which follows him through the process of developing his launch product – a premium male deodorising wipe that has been engineered for men on the go. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath battle as the 24 year old goes up against competitors like Lynx for a slice of the multi million pound male grooming market. Wingman is a product that’s been on the market since late 2010, but with the help of the BBC2 series, April 2011 is going to be the month that Wingman truly takes off.

For those of you new to Wingman Deodorising Wipes, they are extra large ‘man sized’ wet wipes, created for busy men who’s personal heigene is vigorously tested by their daily lives and the environment around them. They don’t have time to shower, but still need to freshen up instantly and feel confident at all times – something that we can all appreciate. Clearly there’s a huge market for such an innovative product – whether you’re a regular urban commuter, a long suffering employee in a stuffy office or a regular clubber – you’ll have been in situations where you’d have needed Wingman buy your side. It’s a mystery why no one has ever come up with anything like this for men before? It’s so simple, yet equally as ingenious – and once you’ve tried it (like all great products) you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.

The product itself contains a refreshing mix of ingredients including soothing aloe vera, cooling peppermint oil and invigorating ginseng, to revive and refresh whilst effectively removing dirt, oil and bacteria. It ticks all the grooming boxes, but when push comes to shove will Wingman Deodorising Wipes stand up and be counted?

Tired & Tested: The Pour Homme Review

Theo Paphitis is no mug, he knows a good business idea when he sees it. And in Wingman Stu Jolley has one hell of a good business idea. But I’m not Theo Paphitis, I’m not interested in profit margins – I’m interested in whether Wingman is there in our hour of grooming need.

After trying the product in a number of situations (post gym, the commute, in the overnight bag and on a night out) I can confirm that Wingman really does have your back. The wipes are big enough to be considered ‘man-sized’, the fragrance is refreshing without feeling overpowering, and the cleansing performance is really impressive – even good enough to be used on your face. Priced at a mere £3.56 for eight wipes, they come individually wrapped making them portable as well as practical, and the packaging would sit comfortably alongside anything a luxury brand has to offer.

Wingman hit the market in 2010 a festival essential,  a man bag essential and a desk drawer essential. But in 2011, Wingman Deodorising Wipes will become the grooming essential of the year. And for that reason, “I’m in”.

The Verdict: 5 out of 5

The Wingman wipes are currently on sale exclusively in Boots stores nationwide and are priced £1.22 for a box of two or £3.56 for eight.

Tried & Tested: Henri Lloyd Skin Protection For Men

“Stick to what you’re good at” – that’s what we’re always told. But what happens when you’re not content with what you’re good at and you want to try your hand at something new and exciting. Should you give up on your vision? Should you hell. Just go right ahead and attempt to be the best in your field. Which is exactly what nautical fashion pioneers Henri Lloyd have done with the launch of their new grooming range – Henri Lloyd Skin Protection For Men

With a heritage embedded in nautical innovation, Henri Lloyd’s history ensues a prestigious expedition. From creating groundbreaking fabrics for sailing clothes to defining the zeitgeist for Italian youths, Henri Lloyd’s contribution to global design and fashion is impressive. That leaves the Henri Lloyd Skin Protection For Men some large shoes to fill. As a skin care range Henri Lloyd follows the ethos of producing premium performance products, technically engineered with an infusion of marine ingredients combined with a sophisticated British edge. That’s all well and good but all that blurb only stands up if the products are effective, so for the last few weeks I’ve been trying my hand at several products from the Henri Lloyd range – and is my Pour Homme review.

Henri Lloyd Ocean Mineral Shower Gel (200ml) – £12.95

First up from the Henri Lloyd grooming range, the shower gel has all the refreshing properties you’d expect from a products based around the sea and ocean minerals. It provides maximum freshness and acts as a real morning/evening pick me up – without letting you down on the cleanliness front, and it left my skin feeling ‘no need to moisturise’ soft. 4 out of 5

Henri Lloyd Ocean Mineral Hand Protection Cream SPF6 (75ml) – £10.50

Both as a fashion line, and grooming range Henri Lloyd is designed for people who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, so it was imperative that the range included the essential outdoor product – a strong, protective hand cream. Performing under the most strenuous of circumstances, Henri Lloyd Ocean Mineral Hand Protection Cream features SPF6 and uses minerals, vitamins and algae to repair dry, chapped or cracked hands – which it does brilliantly. 4 out of 5

Henri Lloyd Ocean Mineral Tinted Moisturiser SPF15 (75ml) – £19.00

The feather in the rather accomplished  Henri Lloyd cap, Ocean Mineral Tinted Moisturiser SPF15 is not only my favourite product in the Skin Protection range, but it’s cemented itself as one of my must have products. Providing maximum hydration, optimum protection and a natural looking healthy colour, this grooming must have is almost as multi-tasking as a Swiss army knife! In the run up to summer a moisturiser with SPF protection is essential, but this Henri Lloyd offering provides so much more than just a UV guard making it an absolute must try. 5 out of 5

Click here to buy Henri Lloyd Skin Protection products.

Tried & Tested: The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream

THE BLUEBEARDS REVENGE SHAVING CREAM

Price: £14.99 for 180ml

Purpose: To combat even the toughest stubble to give a smooth and luxurious shave that’s fit for the manliest man.

What the brand say: Designed by a real life Blue Beard who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan look-alike, The Bluebeards Revenge is a paraben free premium quality shave cream with added ingredients to combat tough stubble.

Pour Homme Verdict

The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream is fronted by 6’3″ Bedford Blues flanker and Britain’s Manliest Man, Sacha Harding. It’s designed for guys who grow a 5 o’clock shadow by lunchtime. And its packaging features a striking silver skull and cross-bones against a royal blue background. Masculine? You bet ya’. If The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream could talk it would ask you if you wanted a pint, and give you a run down on the week’s football gossip.

But far from being a gimmick lead product that doesn’t perform, The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream is backed by a proven formula and impressive results that make it anything but the class clown. The main reason behind the results is the exciting active ingredient ‘decelerine’ – which has been proven to actually reduce hair growth and nourish freshly shaved skin. All this means that over time you’ll decrease the effect of 5 o’clock shadow, reduce irritation and leave your skin noticeably softer for longer.

For all you statto’s out there, here are the numbers…

The BlueBeards Revenge Shave Cream;

– results in a 30% decrease in hair length.

– reduces the hair density by 16% after 60 days.

So how does it shave? Well the product lathers really well, and matches any other shaving product I’ve tried for comfort. I used the ‘Dabloon Bristled Shaving Brush’ to apply, but it you can use it without – it’s still just as effective. I’ve also noticed the declerine really starting get to grips with tough stubble. Don’t get me wrong I don’t resemble Desperate Dan, but tough stubble particularly on the neck has been a real problem for me. Overall The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream is an excellent product that I fully recommend you try for yourself – if you’re man enough that is!

The verdict: 4.5 out of 5

Click here to buy The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream and try it for yourself.

A Parody Fit For A King (of Shaves)

While Colin Firth and The Kings Speech was clearing up at the Oscars, King of Shaves founder Will King was delivering an emotional speech of his own. Complete with tongue in cheek Gillette-bashing, this two minute parody was hot property on twitter during the run up to the 83rd Academy Awards, showcasing yet again why King of Shaves lead the way with an innovative approach to its razors and its social media.

Hot Under The Collar: Kelly Brook for Lynx

Innovative, sharp and original. All words that don’t apply to the new Lynx advertising featuring Kelly Brook. Now without wishing to paint myself as some marketing genius (although I realise that my last two posts have been on the subject), surely they could have come up with something slightly more creative than women + boobs = sales?

To be fair Kelly Brook looks great, and teenage boys up and down the land will fall for head over heels for her (all over again).  But whether you’re hitting your target market or not, I can’t help feeling this type of advert is just too obvious.  So as it turns out, not so hot under the collar after all.

French Connection S/S 2011 – You Are Man?

It was around this time last year that French Connection launched their ‘The Man’ advertising campaign, showcasing a series of slick adverts that depicted the survival skills of a ‘real man’.

This Spring/Summer French Connection have taken things a step further, exploring how gender and society dictate behavior with powerful, thought-provoking shots entitled “You are…”.  Questioning what it means to be a man or a woman in today’s society, French Connection have kicked on from the award-winning 2010 campaigns to pose some more provoking questions – confronting the viewer by asking; “You are Man?”

Man or not, this is one striking campaign.

For more snap shots and videos from the campaign head over to the French Connection website.

Toys Will Tear Us Apart: Joy Division – Transmission in Playmobil

The story of one of my favourite bands – Joy Division – is far from light hearted. That was until their famous John Peel session from 1979 was turned into a Playmobil music video. Showing an uncanny resemblance to the original, the only difference with this toy inspired version is that the band members appear to be smiling.