The other day I was buying toiletries in Superdrug, girl at the till asked if I wanted to buy cheap aftershave. I didn't - because I haven't shaved in well over a decade.
Mrs Tyred thinks I'm being overly literal and finds this most amusing, but surely the clue is in the name!
It wouldn't occur to me to use aftershave because I have a beard, but am I on my own here?
If you're not shaving, then that's just perfume, no?
I'm 49, and feel like using moisturiser and all that is a younger man's game - maybe I'm just lucky and have flawless skin 🙂 - but what gives? Are other beardies slapping on the Old Spice regardless?
I'm curious.
Got a stubbly beard and generally don't bother with aftershave, because I don't shave and CBA with the faff. But Mrs Bloke thinks that's daft, tells me 'aftershave is nothing to do with shaving' and thinks I should wear some, because she likes it. So sometimes I do. Happy wife, happy life.
No beard, but no aftershave either. Makes me sneeze!
My wife bought me some a while ago, and I had to point out I'd not worn any in 12 years of marriage.
I've an unkempt beard and I use water of toilet or whatever the French call it.
@ajantom the aftershave isn't for you, you are merely the bearer of the fragrance for your good wife's nostrils.
I find it unusual to smell anyone wearing scents these days.
Aftershave/eau de toilette was reserved for younger days in the romance spectrum.
Wife loves me regardless apparently, plus my kid been using my old clinique happy as air freshner after using the toilet... so that's ruined that.
@breadcrumb - but I'm genuinely allergic to something they put in it. Tight chest, sneezing, the lot.
I suppose I should just give in and suffer though, as long as it makes her happy.
😆
Oh yes!
Aftershave - no.
Moisturiser - yes.
Never used aftershave, even when I actually shaved most of my face; these days my whole head gets a going over with a strimmer, sorry trimmer, apart from my ‘tash and what I call a beard around my chin. I’m not putting aftershave over my head. I do use a deodorant body spray, though.
The smell of any perfume makes me wretch (seriously!), so I'd appreciate it if you all stopped using it (otherwise you run the risk of me puking on you 🤣)
Beard here and I wear cologne and moisturiser as well……
Beard
And wear eau de perfume, or aftershave, or whatever.
Often get complimented that I always smell nice. Ladies seem to especially love Sauvage by Dior
Beard here and use scented beard balm or oil to keep the face fuzz in check. Also use moisturiser with SPF and always wear a hat outside because I’m a baldy.
Beard oil applied after each morning or I end up with a chin covered with wire wool by the afternoon, has essential oils for scent but doesn't smell like a tarts boudoir as my dad would have said. It's some concoction of my own as in a tight git.
I've been offered aftershave by the'following the script' Saturday staff too, I might have been blunter than you in my response 😊
I don't use it because I am no longer living in the 1970's
Bearded, I wear men's perfume almost daily.
nowt wrong with smelling nice.
People often confuse aftershave and eau de toilette/eau de parfum.
Aftershave is used as per its name, the high alcohol content is to help sooth irritation, close the pores and reduce bacteria from entering them. It is a weaker scent as its primary function is to treat the skin after shaving. It is usually splashed on.
Eau de toilette is a cologne and has a higher fragrance content that lasts longer, hence dearer. It is applied as a scent and this is why it comes in spray form. Eau de perfume is more concentrated again, and hence more expensive again.
So, if you have a beard you would not wear aftershave but you may wear eau de toilette, but the term ‘aftershave’ is often used for all.
Beard, after shave occasionally, new and trendy (*well to me) beard oil occasionally. (*only following orders and using presents)
Often have a stubbly beard when skiing, and love a cheeky glass of aftershave with my beer in the bar sportif apres.....as does my wife who, currently, doesn't have a beard. Time will tell on that last point I guess.
I suppose I should just give in and suffer though, as long as it makes her happy
Follow @ajantom for more relationship advice...
No beard, no aftershave or deodorant, those things make me sneeze and snivle. I used to hate it in the office with the amount and range of perfumes and hairsprays that assaulted my poor old snotter.
I do admit that some have caught my attention as smelling nice and not over the top ( no idea what), but that's a rare occasion and maybe once the full on assault of the morning douching in it has worn off?
My wife would like me to wear it occasionally as she's asked if I'd like some, but I'm sure she'd prefer me not to have a dribbling itchy nose.
As above, beard oil / softener daily.
Aftershave for after shaving, I still need to shave my neck+cheeks or I go full 'Saddam - the bunker years' by the end of the week. It's not for the smell it's to clean up the pores and stop your face looking like a teenager that's just butchered themselves with their dads bic for the first time.
Eau De Toilet to keep the Missus happy.
Fairly big beard here, no aftershave. Didn't aftershave before I had the beard either. I do "look after" the beard a bit and put balm/oil in it from time to time when I can remember to do it and be bothered.
I've got a beard and a bald head, I use moisturiser (with spf) on my head and face that's not covered in hair. Moisturiser is not only for ladies and young men. Just because you have a beard it doesn't mean you are a grizzly lumberjack that lives in the forest, I reckon most beard wearers have them because they just look better with them, I have a right baby face when clean shaven! If you have a beard cos it looks better then why not embrace other "beauty products".
I also use a eau de toilette, aqua de gio usually, as it makes me smell nice. Don't use it every day, but It's nice to smell nice sometimes.
Why stop there? Give up soap for the full manly effect.
Beard here and I wear aftershave / mens perfume all the time.
I like smelling nice.
Why stop there? Give up soap for the full manly effect.
Actually... 🙂 Well, no, I haven't given up soap, but I have given up "deodorant". It's a terrific waste of money and resources, in my personal experience. I can only assume that using it regularly plays havoc with the skin's natural "life". I don't smell any worse now (not to me, but I suspect I wouldn't notice, but those around me confirm that there isn't a nasty cloud of BO following me around). I don't smell of perfume anymore, though..
It wouldn’t occur to me to use aftershave because I have a beard, but am I on my own here?
It wouldn’t occur to me to use aftershave because it stinks rank.
No beard, clean shaven.
I occasionally use Aftershave and I regularly use moisturiser.
I wear an unscented deoderant spray almost everyday.
Eau de toilette and a short beard. Can’t smell so it’s for others to enjoy. Most people with beards shave their neck, just not their face.
I believe Terry Pratchett coined the name "insteadofshave" for just this eventuality.
I haven't worn aftershave for donkey's years, probably mainly cause I'm making zero effort to impress the opposite sex...
Mrs Tyred thinks...
It wouldn’t occur to me to use aftershave because I have a beard,
Nah, it wouldn't occur to you because you're married.
Nowt wrong with smelling nice, and the ladies do like it IME.
Beard and bald(ing)
Moituriser always!
Aftershave sometimes, when going out. CBA for mon-fri in the office.
water of toilet
Eau de colon
then that’s just perfume, no?
No, its cologne, and if some people want to smell nice, even (gasp) they've not shaved how is that a problem?
but I have given up “deodorant”. It’s a terrific waste of money and resources, in my personal experience.
Yep, me too, I shower every day, I work in an office, don't really sweat heavily, so why am I scraping a chemical across my armpit every morning? Gave up a few months ago.
Small beard here for over thirty years. Moisturise every day, eau de toilette every day, even when spending the day at home. I’m more likely to forget my trousers than my perfume! Married forty years so something is working..
Beard here.
Unscented moisturiser after every wash of the face.
Eau de Cologne if I'm feeling fancy. As said above, the smell is not for me but for the good lady.
Beard oil?
Surely the benefit of having a beard is not having to bother with titivating with your face. What on earth does beard oil do?
You'll be applying mascara next.
For the record, I've not used shampoo on my hair for probably 10 years... Just water and my hair feels fine.... Not greasy. Your hair has natural oils that you wash out if you use shampoo.
Don't use moisturiser, just cold water on my face.
Beard oil? Just no.
I've never got aftershave as an 'after shave' thing. Always used to sting and dry the skin out.
When office based daily I used to shave daily and moisturise afterwards with non smelly moisturiser (harder to get than you think)
These days I shave every other day and dont need to bother with moisturiser
Also never ever used deodorant. If I use it I smell worse than if I dont. Plus I dont get rubbing chemicals on to my body.
Also never ever used deodorant.
WHAT?!!! Not even....
Beard here...
I wear a fragrance if I fancy it, or for an occasion and sometimes on my neck after shaving if needed... not day to day though.
I've got 3 different bottles on the go at the moment, my bottle of JPG will probably last a lifetime though as it smells like an explosion in a Skittels factory! its not a bad smell, but a bit much for me!
No thanks. I prefer to not smell like a polecats but.
Gotta laugh at a forum full of wet blankets eschewing the use of fragrances to establish their manlyness.
News for you , you might not think it, but the pits of your hair shirts really do smell
😉
Mens grooming thistle and black pepper made in Scotland but not from girders
A wee spray around the neck and I like myself even more
I have a beard, and wouldn't leave the house without deodorant...I've worked with loads of people that tell me they don't need it.
(They do, and everyone is talking about the smell)
Also use aftershave (well, the parfum version of Acqua di Gio)
The Sex Panther sketch makes me cry with laughter Every. Single. Time. It's a genuine masterpiece.
yes. no
A wee spray around the neck and I like myself even more
I prefer cologne personally but I suppose it might keep lions away.
fully bearded, non shaving epitome of masculinity here.
cologne is the product you are looking for.
Beard here so obviously no aftershave. Nothing else perfumed either. Not massively keen on perfumed ladies either.
No thanks. I prefer to not smell like a polecats but.
How do you know what a polecat's butt smells like?
Gotta laugh at a forum full of wet blankets eschewing the use of fragrances to establish their manlyness.
News for you , you might not think it, but the pits of your hair shirts really do smell
Unperfumed antiperspirant works too.
Beard for about 10 years just started wearing aftershave again after discovering Zara and lots of other dupes for a fraction of the cost of the big names.
Yes i do. Shave scalp with 7 blade Trim Pod (Amazing). Then shave neck with a blade. Trim beard with adjustable electric shaver.
Finish off with Nivea balm for the scalp & neck, beard oil for.....the beard and aftershave (Whatever Hugo Boss comes to hand) in general direction of everything.
Never had any complaints about smelling nice.
It's nothing to do with masculinity but most male product devotees are unpleasant to be downwind of.
Wearing perfume? It's up there with farting in lifts in terms of anti-social behaviour. You may think you smell nice, but don't inflict your stink on everybody else you selfish bastards!
You may think you smell nice, but don’t inflict your stink on everybody else you selfish bastards!
I'd put money on it most of us smell nicer than you
vlad smells (probably of wee) - pass it on
Beard oil?
Surely the benefit of having a beard is not having to bother with titivating with your face. What on earth does beard oil do?
Having a beard and not looking after it is awful. I’m always sporting facial hair of some sort. From short beard to full on Billy Gibbons style. Having a beard that doesn’t look like shit is more difficult than shaving. Beard oil helps keep your skin underneath in good nick, stops beard dandruff and helps keep the old beard from getting too dry and brittle. I tend to use it on an evening. Beard balm on a morning after a shower as my beard gets a bit wild without it and I occasionally need to look presentable for work.
Admittedly I've never tried beard oil as my skin is naturally quite oily... although I'm thinking of trying it as once beyond a certain length, I sometimes get knots in it and it tends to curl in on itself in places, under the chin, mainly.
With regards to not shaving, well you still have to shave your cheek line and neck line unless you are going for the worzel gummage look!
Don’t need to do the neckline once you can’t see the neckline although it does help with shaping. Cheek line only needs doing if you’re going for a shaped look. I tend to do the former but not the latter unless I’m growing the moustache out to comedy size. If your hair is curling a good quality brush and a beeswax based balm will probably be better than an oil.
