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Father's Day: A Man's Mini Makeover

Licari_FathersDay.jpgFather's Day 2008 is June 15. Now is the time to think about a special gift for dad. Modern dads don't fit into the traditional father mode. Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, Hugh Jackman or Sean "Diddy" Combs are all fathers. Would you buy them a tie or a bottle of cologne for Father's Day? I don't think so! You are probably thinking, "My dad doesn't look like those guys," and you might be right. That doesn't mean your father doesn't want to look his best. He can be a hip dad, a jock, or as traditional as a Ralph Lauren ad. He can even be a sweats-and-favorite-T-shirt dad. No matter his style, a man's mini makeover (mmm) is a present that dads will have fun with and be talking about for years to come.

All men love being groomed and pampered even if they act like they can't be bothered. I promise that when family, friends and coworkers tell your dad how great he looks, he will be thrilled and beam with pride that you gave him the most special gift of an mmm.

Organizing an mmm is easy. The first step is to think about your dad's life style. What kind of guy is he? Don't try to make him look like something he's not. He won't keep up his new look if he feels it's not who he is. A man's comfort zone regarding his appearance is small and men are often reluctant to try new looks. Refine your dad's look and he will love his mmm.

Start by finding the appropriate hair stylist or barber who can evaluate which cut would work best with your dad's hair and life style. The haircut is the most important determining factor of a man's appearance. It should look great and require little grooming outside of monthly shapings. Most men don't fuss with their appearance. Their haircuts must be wash and wear. I hardly see a man use a comb or a brush at the gym, never mind a blow dryer.

If your dad's hair is full, he can wear it almost any style. Men with curly hair should keep the sides short because it has a tendency to grow out, not down. Dads with thinning hair on top should also be aware of keeping their sides short. This will give the illusion of more hair on top of the head. Comb-overs never work. Tell your dad how much better he will look and how easy his life will be if he surrenders to his receding hairline. This is a tough conversation, but your dad will be forever grateful once he accepts your advice.

Often men who are losing the hair on their head choose to make up for it by growing facial hair. If your dad has facial hair, he must keep it trimmed. Growing it long looks eccentric, not good. My best advice for facial hair is that less is more.

All women say that grey hair looks best on men and they are right. This doesn't mean that all men like to look grey. Most men work out, go jogging, or play their favorite sport. This keeps them looking vital. Why should men have to look older than their years because they are grey?

Men usually conjure images of Elvis with shoe-polished black hair or that hideous orange hue when they think about hair color. I am happy to say those days are long gone. Hair color for men is actually much simpler than for women. Women love to change their hair color. Men only want to maintain their natural color by blending away some of their grey hairs. Men's coloring products are gentler than women's hair color because they contain no ammonia. This means they will not lighten hair to a different color or turn orange. Men's hair color should only be left on the hair for 10 to 15 minutes. This will insure a translucent color, avoiding any chance of looking fake.

There are many brands of men's color for all those who want to color their hair at home. At-home hair color works if you pick the right shade and follow the directions. Picking a shade slightly lighter than you think you need will help you avoid any chance of a dark, artificial look.

To put dad totally over the moon, arrange for a manicure and (if you think he will go for it) make a pedicure appointment too. Once he is in the chair, he will think he's died and gone to heaven. If he resists, offer to do it for him at home. He will feel pampered and loved.

The one thing all fathers have in common is their unconditional love for their children. Father's Day is the time for us to let our dads know how much we love and appreciate them. An mmm is a thoughtful gift he will always remember. Oh yes, be sure to give him a big hug too! Happy Father's Day!


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