Yesterday I began to think back upon those heady days of yore. I mean the halcyon days of the late 90s. Twas a simpler time, hearing the soon to be classic anthems of Britney Spears, Blink 182 and the immortal Lou Bega. And yet, lurking in the background with perfectly gelled hair spiked above the forehead and one fingernail painted black was a coming plague. Metrosexuality.

Championed by European fancy-lad David Beckham and other tanned, perfectly coiffed soccer player types, metrosexuality burst into our lives in a torrent of overpriced “product” and lightly scented body lotions. It left almost as quickly as it came, leaving behind a trail of moisturizer and that one awesome South Park episode with the Crab People. 

As the modern day dandies and fops that embraced metrosexuality slipped off into the night, the gentlemen of the world chuckled knowingly as they prepared their evening toilette, lathering himself well with a wood-handled brush before expertly shaving and, finally, applying a single unguent to protect facial skin.

And the true gentleman’s knowledge stretches far beyond his mirror. As he has made it a point to educate himself on important issues, he is of course well-informed on issues of ecology and climatology. He thus ensures his lifestyle helps contribute to the welfare of the earth he inhabits, rather than its destruction. 

Combining his sense of style with his respect for the earth, the environmentally-friendly gentleman stocks his medicine cabinet with a carefully selected range of toiletries; start with the oft-used shaving kit :

The modern shaving kit is one example of today’s technology taking a step in the wrong direction. Made of cheap plastic and between one and thirty-five cheap, easily worn-out blades, it’s neither environmentally or skin friendly.

-Replace your disposable with the ultimate reusable blade in the straight razor. Shaving with a straight razor is an art form, and will take careful practice. If possible, visit a barber who knows what they’re doing and watch closely. One of the great things about straight razors is that old razors from junk and antique shops are perfectly suitable once cleaned and sharpened, meaning you can start by recycling. You’ll need to invest in a sharpening stone and a strop to ensure the blade stays keen. 

-Despite the claims of advertisers, it is possible to get a clean, close shave without using chemical filled foam from an aerosol can. Cut out the eco-horror of your canned lather by replacing it with classic shaving brush, preferably made of cruelty-free badger hair  although slightly less eco-friendly synthetic versions are available at most retailers.  

-For the lather itself you’ll need only a mug and a cake of old-fashioned shaving soap, available almost anywhere although green sites sell many all natural versions.

-To properly use the soap and brush you first wet the brush, then shake off excess water before rotating the brush over the soap to create a rich lather. Apply the lather to the face in a circular scrubbing motion, and away you go. You’ll look good, feel stylish, and do a little bit to help the planet. You truly are a gentleman. 
 

Top image by Andrew Dyer, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.