Monthly Archive for May, 2008

Interview: Women Tell The Truth About First Impressions

Published
by
Jae
on May 31, 2008
in Interviews
. 8,791 views

What are REAL beautiful women REALLY saying about first impressions?

On the quest to find the ultimate answer to this question, I’ve surveyed more than a hundred highly coveted women and picked at their female brains - digging deep into their answers and discovering universal patterns.

Some of these women are close friends, some of them I’ve met through social circles (every hot girl knows at least a couple other hot girls), others I’ve met at clubs or bars. I’ve interviewed these women either through phone, the internet, or in person. This ensures that you’re getting quality answers.

I’ve cut the misleading fluff by running it over multiple times with all these women and got to the core essence of it all.

What’s very important is that I made it a point to only interview high caliber women. When I say high caliber, I’m talking highly mature, confident, intelligent, and beautiful women. The kind of women that most guys would want. How do I know this? because all of these girls have men chasing them.

I’ve made this article a faster read by combining highly similar answers into the best collective answer - no point in reading the same answers over and over.

Again, these are all answers from real women that I’ve interviewed, not some contrived, misleading fluff that you might find in a dating magazine.

A little disclaimer: some men might be offended by this, and others might be take it as a wakeup call. Regardless of how you receive it, this is a rare collection of wisdom so take full advantage of it.

Without further delay, here’s what they had to say…


What Women Notice At First Glance

Kinowear.com: We’ve all heard that it only takes a woman a few seconds to make countless assumptions about men, but what do you really notice first, second, third, and so on?

When you greet someone or make eye contact with them you naturally look at their face first.

This doesn’t mean the first impression ends there depending on how good looking the guy is.

We look at how good looking he is, but the most important thing is that he is well groomed.

When we look at his face we automatically look at the hair on top and around his face. The hair should be styled in some way and not just sitting on top of his head.

It should definitely not look like he just got out of bed.

His face should be perfectly shaved, and if he has a beard, it should be shaped without stray hairs.

Some guys can pull off a light stubble and look sexy if done intentionally and kept under control and not all over the place in different lengths.

If a man looks unkempt and messy, we assume that the man doesn’t really care what others think about them - and not in the good way. He probably doesn’t interact with anyone important, especially women.

Kinowear.com: What if you’re not “gifted” in the face department?

If you don’t think you are blessed in the face department, what’s more important is that you’re well groomed. You can also make up for it in the other things we look at.

Kinowear.com: What’s the next thing women look at?

The next thing we naturally look at is his silhouette or body type.

Basically we just look at whether the guy is fit or not.

He should look strong and not have the body of a girl. If we are bigger than him, something is wrong.

If he’s skinny he should be cut and have some muscle on him, if he’s a big guy he should be mostly hard muscle and not too flabby. For example having a midsection that looks like a flat tire around his waist is not attractive.

Kinowear.com: What’s next?

The next most important thing that we will look at is his STYLE.

Kinowear.com: What does “STYLE” include?

This includes the way he’s dressed, his hairstyle, his body language, and his confidence.

When it comes to a guy’s image, it’s all about how confident he is in his own skin.

He should be neither trying too hard to impress, nor neglecting attention to his appearance. He should show a level of respect for himself for taking care of his appearance, but not seem like he’s trying to be someone he’s not.

He should wear things that make him feel comfortable but at the same time make sure to show some personality. So many guys have no style whatsoever. Even one little item that shows some personality goes a long way.

It also depends on the setting that they are dressed up for, you can tell a guy who isn’t comfortable in his own skin by the way he dresses to certain events.

If he’s too overdressed, it says he’s trying to impress, but if he’s too underdressed, it shows he doesn’t consider himself worthy to be noticed or care about the event.

Kinowear Tip: Always be upgrading your style in small increments. This could mean upgrading the clothes in your closet, getting fresh haircuts when necessary, bringing more personality into your outfits, or adding new colors to your wardrobe. Going for a gradual change will also help you avoid looking “try hard” by helping you understand the little things you are doing right, and what you’re doing wrong before it gets out of proportion.

Kinowear.com: What do you think is the most important factor when it comes to first impressions?

With first impressions, there is nothing that brings it over to the good side like great eye contact and a confident attitude.

Kinowear.com: What is a “confident attitude?”

Not arrogance or cockiness, but being sure of himself.

High level of self-acceptance.

Security.

Healthy level of entitlement.

Continued:

This is why some guys may not have great style but still get girls because they naturally seem relaxed and they don’t look nervous when talking to us. If a guy who was super well dressed came up and said hi in a creepy or nervous way, we would probably lose interest at that moment. But even if a guy was somewhat poorly dressed or ugly, if he was confident and showed good energy we will reflect that energy back.

If the guy may not look stylish at first glance, a confident attitude will make up for it.

The best combination would be to have BOTH style and a confident attitude.

Remember: image is more than the clothing on you back, it’s the total communication of who you are.

Kinowear.com: What is one thing that bothers you the most about the majority of guys when it comes to image?

The guys who wear girl jeans - why the fuck would we want to know you can fit into our jeans? - Tiffany

They dress like shit or they dress too trendy, they don’t have their own style. It’s about finding that sweet spot in between not trying at all and trying hard, making it look effortless according to your personality - Haile

WEARING BORING CLOTHES LIKE HOLLISTER AND ABERCROMBIE! - Sarah

Most guys have NO style! - Jennifer

What ALL Women LOVE

Girls love men who smell good. This is SO IMPORTANT.

No one wants to be walking next to someone who smells like Big Foot’s dick.

We don’t want to be with someone that smells like shit all the time.

Girls wanna be with someone who’s got a nice smell…whether the guy is wearing a name brand cologne, or a random deodorant.. as long as the guy smells good, it’s a plus because you know that’s what the girl is doing when she hugs a guy, SMELLING HIM!


A Hundred and Counting

A hundred women may not sound like a lot, but that’s because high-quality women are rare. After all, do you really care to know what is going to attract an insecure, airhead who looks like Michael Jackson?

I don’t think any guy wants an insecure girl anyway, so I didn’t bother to interview them. Their answers will be different, and for most guys, irrelevant. Most of these girls don’t have guys chasing them, so they’ll make up answers and pretend to know what they’re talking about. One of the biggest mistakes guys make is asking these low-caliber, highly unattractive (zero love life) women for style & image advice.

Some girls don’t care about anything else except the body shape of the guy and how good he looks. The guy can be a total asshole but the girl won’t care because she’s with someone good looking, but this is because the girl is insecure and she’s just using the guy as a trophy to boost her sense of self.

You can do your own research by asking the women in your life similar questions, but they have to be highly mature and secure within themselves. They should also be the type of girl that at least a dozen other guys would want to date.

We suggest doing your best in all areas to make the best first impression.

And remember, the first impression isn’t all you need to attract women, you should back it up with an attractive personality. But if you’re meeting new girls, they can only make assumptions about you through the first meeting - what you’ve learned in this article will either help you get your foot in the door or get you shut out before you even open your mouth.

Now that you have the keys to making your best first impression with women, ask yourself which area you may be lacking in, and start improving it today.

P.S. Expect more interview articles like this in the future!


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The Elusive Perfect Shave

Published
by
Theory
on May 23, 2008
in Grooming and Stereotypes
. 51,123 views

Back in 2004, The Onion predicted that Gillette would release a 5-blade razor in a satire entitled: “Fuck Everything, We’re Doing Five Blades”

By James M. Kilts
CEO and President,
The Gillette Company
February 18, 2004 | Issue 40*07
Would someone tell me how this happened? We were the fucking vanguard of shaving in this country. The Gillette Mach3 was the razor to own. Then the other guy came out with a three-blade razor. Were we scared? Hell, no. Because we hit back with a little thing called the Mach3Turbo. That’s three blades and an aloe strip. For moisture. But you know what happened next? Shut up, I’m telling you what happened—the bastards went to four blades. Now we’re standing around with our cocks in our hands, selling three blades and a strip. Moisture or no, suddenly we’re the chumps. Well, fuck it. We’re going to five blades.

Well, it happened. It’s called the Gillette Fusion. And now, the thing has a battery and vibrates…

Do we really need 5 blades that vibrate?

Somewhere along the history of men’s grooming, shaving got adulterated and lost its purity, big time. Looking at the toys that litter the market these days, it’s clear that it’s just a marketing war out there.

So Jae and I did some research, revisited our shaving stash, and went on a journey into the art of wet-shaving: a world full of shaving creams scented with Lavender, shaving brushes made of badger hair and ivory handles from England, safety razors from the early 1900’s with blades made in Japan, and methods that looked like more art than anything I’ve associated with shaving before.

Excessive? maybe. We went in to investigate, and this is what we found:


The Classic Double-edged Safety Razor

It may seem like I’m bashing Gillette, but I only have the utmost reverence for Gillette. Gillette is the designer of one of the finest razors ever made, the Double-edged “Heavy Duty” Safety Razor. It is considered by many experienced “wet shavers” as the standard for double-edged safety razors.

I discovered, with the help of many a wet-shavers’ advice, that one of these old school safety razors, coupled with the proper shaving cream, will do a much better job at giving you a close shave than those new 5-6 bladed monsters. It also won’t cost you a tank of gas to buy replacement cartridges, saving you tons in the long-term.

Although they don’t make them anymore, a German company named Merkur is continuing the legacy with the same high quality and design. Search for the Merkur Heavy Duty Safety Razor.

I bought mine at lee’s razor for $35. Shaving never felt so solid and elegant.

They go for around $25-35, but if you’re looking for the greatest shave of your life, it’ll be one of the best investments you make in awhile.


Blades

These classic razors usually don’t come with blades so you’re going to have to purchase blades separately.

However, this is where you really save because Fusion replacements cost $40 for a pack of 8–that’s $5 per cartridge-- while double edge replacement blades will only cost you around $.50 cents.

Different blades work for different people, so you’re going to have to experiment a little. The best bet is to buy small sample pack of the following brands before you go ahead and invest in 20,000 of one kind.

Here are some of the highest quality blades recommended by experienced wet shavers: Merkur (Germany), Personnas (Israel - great starter blades), Derby (Turkey), and Feather (Japanese blades that are feared and revered as ninja sharp blades - the company makes surgical equipment).


Shaving Brushes

Now this is where shaving takes on another level.

Most men do not own a brush nor do they feel compelled to drop $25-$500 on something they can use their hands for. However, if you’re even somewhat serious about getting the “perfect shave,” the shaving brush is an integral piece.

It not only turns your shaving cream into the perfect lather, but raises the hairs on your face for a much better shave. Not to mention, it also exfoliates dead skin off your face.

Types of Shaving Brush Hairs

There are a few types of shaving brush hairs, and these types (including what part of the animal the hair is from) will determine the quality of the brush, as well as the whether it will cost you $5 or $500.

The major types you’re going to find are 1. Badger, 2. Boar, and 3. Synthetic.

The Badger is going to account for your highest quality brushes, followed by the Boar.

For many guys, this is where they might want to cut costs, but opting for the boar hair may result in a harsh brush that falls apart all over your face. You don’t want that, so I recommend going with the Badger.

Within the Badger brushes you’re going to get a few grades. In general the grades are categorized as “pure” (being the lowest grade), “best,” “super,” and “silver tip.” The “super” or “silver tip “badger brushes are going to be some of the softest, highest quality brushes you can find, and will have a white color instead of its usual black/brown. These brushes can go upwards of $500. Personally, I don’t see the need/value, but to each their own.

I got my best badger brush at Crabtree & Evelyn. It’s one of the best values you’re going to find for a really high-quality badger brush.

Some other great look-for brands are: Vulfix, Savile Row, and Shavemac.

If the idea of using animal hair rubs you the wrong way, Men-u’s Premier Shaving Brush is a synthetic brush that is highly recommended by experienced wet shavers. 3-years in the making, many say the men-u premier surpasses the effectiveness of badger brushes in creating a phenomenal lather.


Shaving Creams

Even if you decide to skip the brush, and even the safety razor, you’re going to see a huge improvement in your shaves by upgrading your shaving cream.

Look for a glycerin-based shaving cream as it binds well with water. Throw away that shaving gel as they most likely contain alcohol which closes your pores and drys out your skin. Here are a few brands I would recommend:

Taylor of Old Bond Street ($13)

Geo F. Trumper ($15)


Crabtree & Evelyn Sandalwood Shaving Cream ($15)

Proraso ($8)

Here is another great shaving cream that I would recommend: The Art of Shaving Unscented Shaving Cream Tube


How to Shave w/ a Single Blade:

It took a bit to get used to shaving with a single blade instead of “5 plus the precision of 1.” I was used to rushing, and worse, pressing down on my skin in order to get a closer shave.

Preparation is Key

“Ninety percent of shaving is preparation” - Adam Dishell, of The Shave Beverly Hills

Shave after a hot shower, or at the least, wash your face in hot water for at least 30 seconds. This will open up your pores and get your hair exposed for the shave. You can also put a hot towel on your face like when you’re getting a wet shave at a barber. You can also go as far as using pre-shave oil to make your whiskers stand, but I find that a little excessive–a good shaving cream will do that for you.

Here’s a great video of a single blade in action:

The Aftermath

So many guys forget to moisturize their skin. Shaving tends to expose new skin and really dry it out. Use a good moisturizer to avoid the red and itching that may be the aftermath.

Here are some great after-shave balms:

Nivea Extra Soothing Balm ($6)
At $6 this is one of the best values when it comes to after shave balms.

Proraso Liquid Cream After Shave ($12)
The Italians know what they’re doing when it comes to shaving, and this after shave cream is a prime example.

Art of Shaving After Shave Balm ($38)
Personally, I think Art of Shaving is overpriced, but their products are quality. Their shave balm is especially good.

Geo F. Trumper Skin Food More a luxury than a necessity.


The Verdict:

Now the question is does all this result in a better, closer shave? or is it all merely a hyped-up hobby? I went out and bought some of the latest and greatest, and began to truly scrutinize my shaves.

At first, the shave was comparable between my old gear (Gillette fusion, can of gel shaving cream) and the new (merkur HD, taylor’s shaving cream, badger brush). In fact, using the classic safety razor initially resulted in a somewhat lack-luster shave with some nicks and cuts. However, after a few shaves under my belt, and a few revisions to my strategy, I began getting some of the closest shaves ever.

If anything, the shave brush and shaving cream upgrade alone magnified my shaving experience by ten-fold, even with my old multi-blade razor. The Merkur just took it to the next level. Not to mention, the whole process is an addictive, luxurious treat that sets the tone for the entire day.

Try it, and see for yourself.


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