Obama Gives Birth To A New Type of Swagger

Taken from MariaShriver.Com

Is The Model of Masculinity Changing In America? By Maria Shriver

Got Me Thinking: Is the Model of Masculinity Changing in America?

By Maria Shriver

CNN's John Blake analyzed "What 'Situation Room Photo' reveals about us" from many cultural angles, but I was struck most by what the photo might say about the evolving model of masculinity in America.

This excerpt got me thinking:

American presidents have traditionally sold themselves as our alpha male. Theodore Roosevelt went safari hunting; Ronald Reagan cleared brush at his ranch in a cowboy hat; George W. Bush did his "Top Gun" imitation when he donned a flight suit on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

"There's a certain kind of machismo and swagger that Americans expect their president to reflect," says Clarence Lusane, author of "The Black History of the White House."
Projecting that presidential swagger was so powerful that it obscured some presidents' serious illnesses, such as President Franklin Roosevelt's polio and Kennedy's hobbling assortment of ailments, including a bad back, Lusane says.

"They were both very ill. Kennedy could barely stand for two hours. But they never let those images out because they had to project toughness. Obama, though, is a different animal." The photo shows why.

If someone didn't know who Obama was, he or she probably couldn't tell that he was the president in the room, some scholars say.

"He's not in the tallest chair," says Brown, the sociology professor at Meredith College. "He's not the center of attention. He's not even in the middle of the room."

Yet Obama's willingness to be photographed without the typical Oval Office swagger gives birth to a new type of swagger, says Contee of Jack & Jill Politics.

She says that photo shows Obama's self-assurance and leadership style. He seeks out the opinions of his advisers. He believes in collaboration -- all while he's taking down the baddest terrorist on the planet. He doesn't need to wear a "Top Gun" flight jacket to project strength, she says.

I've been wondering recently whether we are at a transformational moment in American culture as it relates to our expectations of men, our views on manhood, and our definitions of masculinity. This description of President Obama's "leadership style" bears some of those tensions out.

I'm fascinated that President Obama has been able to "project strength" in a way that is authentic to himself without having to imitate traditional "alpha male" models.

So, what do you think: Is the model of masculinity changing in America? Who do you think are some of the new masculine role models? And how are we defining masculinity differently today?

If you don't think there has been a cultural shift, what expectations do we still place on our male leaders and is President Obama living up to them?

European Hair

By Melissa Colabella

When I was styling hair in Michigan, clients would frequently ask me, "what's the style like in NY?" In the suburbs of Detroit, there are polar opposites in race but a somewhat unvarying cultural demographic. Unlike the fairly small town of Royal Oak, hair styling in this melting pot of a city is multi-dimensional and multi-cultural. With the varying ethnicity's that live here, self expression comes slicked, textured, cropped, coiffed, colored, tousled, braided and buzzed.

I always wondered how homogeneous hairstyling could be in a country with virtually one ethnic group. On a recent trip to Europe, I checked out the styles in cities that weren't multi-cultural. Here's what came up.

Venice Italy:

Longish, slicked back and very traditionally European. This waiter was very proud of his hair and exhibited no hesitation when I asked to take his photo. In fact, he was curious to know why I didn't want to take more pictures.

Luzerne, Switzerland:

I was hard pressed to find a gentleman who agreed to having me photograph him, so I decided to capture these images the sneaky way... by sitting on the front steps of Deutsche Bank and photographing people secretly. There is a uniform aesthetic in Swiss men. Most gentleman in that city were tall, tanned, and noticeably athletic, even with their cigarette in hand. Most men wore their hair tightly cropped. 

Munich, Germany:

The young Germans love their highly textured, medium length, trendy styles. Most German men wore their hairstyles proudly, regardless of whether it was short, long, casual, or overdone. 

Even this guy, with his MacGyver mullet.

When Dandruff Shampoos Don't Work

By Melissa Colabella

No matter how amazing your haircut is, the noticeable flakes falling off of your scalp will unfortunately be the only thing that people notice. If you experience "the flakes", perhaps this post will help.

Dandruff is caused by a fungus called Tinea Versicolor, and most medicated shampoos, such as Head & Shoulders and Selsun Blue, are designed to treat this fungus. But what if you've used several "dandruff" shampoos and the flakes are still an issue? Perhaps it's not dandruff.

Scalp Psoriasis and Dermatitis of the Scalp are two very common skin conditions. Scalp Psoriasis is similar to psoriasis that would appear anywhere else on the skin although it's much more difficult to treat, seeing that you can't wear ointments and heavy creams on your scalp during the day. It can feel itchy or sore, appear white, crusty, or scaly, and can bleed when removed. Dermatitis of the Scalp is usually defined as red, greasy skin covered by white or yellow scales.

Treatments to these conditions are similar. Over the counter medicated shampoos, such as T-Gel or Nizoral, may relieve some of the inflammation. Look for products containing ketoconazole, tar, or salicylic acid. Also, your physician can prescribe an oral medication or steroids if needed.

Bridget Brennan's Mencyclopedia

Post by Melissa Colabella

Blame it on society, hormones, or the way we utilize the left-hand corner of our hippocampus. Whatever science or theory lies behind the reasoning, one thing is for certain - men and women think differently and it is often a struggle trying to decode the opposite gender.


Bridget Brennan is the CEO of Female Factor and author of "Why She Buys", the book from where I took this excerpt. She has pioneered business strategies that appeal to women consumers and worked with many of the world's largest companies to put those strategies into practice. She has put together a  glossary of terms in her "Mencyclopedia" to help men in corporate America decode women's speech. It helps serve as a translation guide in "how to speak female". After countless conversations with male clients I thought sharing a few may be relevant, if not entertaining.

Black Pants: The perfect pair is always elusive, but once found, it can magically make hundreds of outfits out of whatever else is hanging in our closet. Our lives are incomplete without the right pair. These magic pants can take us from day to evening, make us look sleek with a tailored jacket, and are always slimming enough to attract compliments that we will modestly deflect.

Breast Implants: We women can usually tell who's got them. Upon spotting fake breasts, we typically feel one or more of the following contradictory emotions: fascination, fury, jealousy, admiration, disgust, love, and hate for our own flawed but natural scoops of flesh.

Chardonnay: This is the default drink for any social occasion, serving several purposes for females: first, ordering it sounds feminine (men are rarely overheard ordering chardonnay); second, it keeps your teeth from turning gray like the tastier reds do; and finally, no one can accuse you of being a sleazy alcoholic if all you're drinking is chardonnay.

Empowered: A word men don't often find occasion to use. Women tend to use it quite a bit, especially in business and almost always in reference to decision-making power. Not to be confused with empanada, which is a very tasty Mexican pastry

Investment Purchase: Women will often use this term to justify an exorbitant fashion purchase. But an investment is something that increases in value. When was the last time you went to a consignment store and saw something that's more expensive now than it was originally? (If you're a man, you've probably never been to a consignment store.) The answer is never. It's just a phrase that helps justify an expensive purchase.

The Huffington Post and The New York Times Report "Guybrows"

Posted by Melissa Colabella

More Men Headed To Salon To Maintain Brows - Huffington Post Article

New York Times Article -Fewer Eyebrows Raised at Brow Grooming For Men

Yale University Uncovers the 'Self-Esteem' Impact of a Bad Hair Day

By Melissa Colabella

Yale University did a study sponsored by Physique, a hair care line from Proctor and Gamble, about the impact on our self-esteem if we have a "bad hair day." Both men and women felt similar insecurities.

The three take-aways from the study were:

1) Bad hair lowers self-esteem regarding performance. "The perception of bad hair leads to a reduced sense of performance self-esteem. Just the thought of a bad hair day caused both men and women to feel that they are not as smart as others. Surprisingly, the impact was more pronounced among men.

2) Bad hair increases social insecurity.  "Women tend to feel more disgraced, embarrassed, ashamed or self-conscious.  Men feel more nervous, less confident, and are inclined to be less social."

3) Bad hair intensifies self-criticism. "Evidence shows that bad hair causes one to be more negative about oneself."

From PostSecret.com

Miraculous Non-Makeup For The Morning After

Posted by Melissa Colabella

There have been "mornings-after" when I have had to generously apply my under-eye makeup in order to conceal the prior night's sleep deprivation and have often thought, perhaps because I work on solely men, of the horror that would ensue if I were ever to show my naked, make-up barren face if, by ways of cosmic mix-up, I happened to be a guy. When I came across this non-Truman's product, I thought L'Oreal's marketing team are beyond genius for filling this men's product void.

The Men's Expert Hydra-Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller was designed as a "refreshing wake-up call" for men who want to "dissolve signs of fatigue like dark under-eye circles and puffiness."

"Action 1: Anti-dark circles. Oil - Free Peptide-Complex with vitamin C and caffeine to help reduce the look of dark circles. 

Action 2: Anti-bags. A cooling, massaging effect provides de-puffing action for under-eye bags. 

Visible Results: Reduced bags and dark circles for a wide awake look, day after day. Ophthalmologist tested for safety. With the Active Defense System, this powerful, soothing formula helps strengthen your skin's natural defense against daily aggressions."

I just wish I had thought of it first.

AM New York features Truman's Gentleman's Groomers

Posted by Melissa Colabella

We are proud to have participated in AM New York's recently published article discussing "Wedding Prep for Grooms". 

To read the full article:

Style Advice From The Pros: Cropped Hair, Wedding Prep For Grooms, & Work Appropriate Winter Boots

How to Avoid Ingrown Hairs While Shaving by the GiltManual

To read the full article:
How to Avoid Ingrown Hairs While Shaving by the GiltMANual

Here's a new article by writer Hamish Anderson. He forgot to consult us for our expert opinion but we'll let this one slide since the article is still on point.