How To Apply Product - A Tutorial From Aveda

Posted by Melissa Colabella

Have you had a hard time recreating the hair style that you left the salon with? Aveda came out with a great tutorial offering application tips to make your mornings less stressful. 

We don't offer Aveda products at our salon, but we do have a wide array of products for all hair types and textures. Be sure you consult with your stylist during your next visit. 

Patrick Bateman Looks Like Jesus

By Melissa Colabella

The original title of this blog post was going to be "Make Up or Make Under?" but I didn't think it would catch your attention as much as the winning title did. This post isn't exactly about Christian Bale, although his look qualifies for the 'make under' category these days. He has come a long way from his infamous leading role as Pat Bateman in American Psycho; a character whose hair-style has become iconic, and one I still get requests for.

Despite those requests, the un-kept look is still winning over the trendsters these days - in NY at least. Was it the recession that caused men's grooming trends to go from metro-sexual to retro-sexual? Or were men just fed up of trying to live up to the stereo-type? 

Men's fashion has become a bit more glamorous with an increasing desire for tailoring and accessories (see the Gilt MANual's suggestion for essential hosiery) while men's grooming has become a bit more lax. 

Please comment on this post and give us your feedback on why turning down an eye-brow trim, or any other subjectively required 'manscaping' is considered over-styling.

Truman's Demonstrates at PROJECT in Soho

Truman's demonstrates at PROJECT in Soho this year. The show featured a mix of contemporary menswear emerging brands including apparel, accessories and footwear.

PROJECT NYC 2011

New Year, New Hairstyle

By Melissa Colabella

Happy New Year! January is a great time to give yourself motivation to start fresh. We all set goals for ourselves, whether personal or professional, and sometimes these goals are image related. It's no surprise that gyms are packed in January, proving that improving one's self image still makes the resolution list.

If you're have considered changing more than your physique, or are just bored with your look and ready for a change, here are a few ideas for updating your hairstyle in 2011.

If you wear your hair long all over,

consider wearing it long with layers.

If you wear is classic, and parted to the side a la Don Draper,

consider cropping the sides shorter than usual for a more metropolitan look.

If you have been wearing the faux-hawk,

the style can easily convert to a messy and tousled look by switching product and squaring off the length on top:

If you have been wearing your hair gelled and spiky,

try messing it up with texture cream instead for an entirely different look.

If you're more of a "bridge and tunnel" kind of guy,

we suggest keeping it low maintenance.

And if you've been seeing the same incompetent barber for years, consider making an appointment at Truman's :)

Hair Loss Facts and Fiction

Posts by Melissa Colabella

The most common question my clients ask me is related to hair loss. How can they prevent it? Are they doomed because their mother's father went bald? Should they try the comb-over, cut it short, or just shave it all off? Below are some myths debunked.

Myth: Your hair loss genetic destiny comes from your mother's side.

Fact: According to http://www.hairlosslearningcenter.org/, hair loss and hair growth is set by a genetic combination determined by both sides of your family. Of course, if your family tree is filled with balding scalps, you do have a better chance of losing hair.

Myth: Blow Drying your hair or using product promotes hair loss.

Fact: Too much drying may lead to brittle and breakable hair, but men with shorter hairstyles are usually cutting their hair off way before any damage can begin to show. This is more of a concern with women who wear their hair long. And as for styling product and coloring processes resulting in hair loss, there’s no truth to that. These applications may cause some damage to the hair strands if you regularly choose poor quality products with a high alcohol or peroxide content. Regardless of what you put on the hair on your head, the root of the hair, located under the skin, stays safe.

Qu: Can medications cause hair loss?
 
Fact: According to Dr. Robert Leonard, a hair loss expert for Rogaine, There are a number of medications that can cause hair loss. The most common are, medication for blood thinners (e.g., Coumadin), anti-anxiety medications (specifically SSRIs like Prozac, Lexipro, and Zoloft), drugs that employ chemotherapy agents (e.g., Methotrexate and Tamoxifen) and the long-term use of steroids. To determine if your hair loss is due to medication, you must consult your doctor. Your doctor can then decide if you can switch medications

(Photo courtesy of Model Mayhem and is no way implying proof of steroid use.)
 
 
Myth: Lotions and potions can't regrow my hair.
 
Fact: According to Rogaine.com, a company that uses the active ingredient Minoxidil in their product, "In clinical testing, ROGAINE^® Foam regrew hair in 85% of men after 4 months when used twice daily." According to Nioxin.com, "NIOXIN® is not a hair loss product but a scalp and hair care regimen designed to improve the scalp health environment and improve the appearance of fine and thin looking hair. Regardless of the many contributing factors associated with thinning, using NIOXIN® to create an optimum scalp environment helps encourage healthy, thicker-looking hair." NIOXIN® products may be used simultaneously with Propecia®. The company does not recommend any NIOXIN® Treatments with Rogaine®. Propecia® is a registered trademark and product of Merck & Co. Inc. Rogaine® is a registered trademark and product of McNeil-PPC Inc.


Qu: What is the best way to style thinning or receding hair? Should I buzz it off? Comb it over? Grow it long? Keep it short?

Answer: That's best determined during a consultation with your stylist. Every individual has a unique hair texture, balding pattern, growth pattern and preference.

Truman's Holiday Gifts

For the first time ever, Truman's is offering a special 'haircut only' annual membership package for $725. A haircut every four weeks for a whole year!

Please visit our website for other pre-set packages the man in your life will love:
Truman's Holiday Packages

If you would like to create a custom package, please send an email to Reservations@Trumans-Nyc.com, with the services you would like to include and we will put together a custom gift package for you. 

Happy Black Friday! Looking for stocking stuffer ideas? Pocket Combs make a come back!

 Posted by Melissa Colabella

David Coleman posted a great article in the New York Times about men's hairstyling and the comeback of the pocket comb. Bed-head spikes are becoming a trend of the past as styles focus more on refinement.

"The shorter hairstyles are very in,” he said, “and guys want to look neat.”

To read the full article:
New York Times - Pocket Combs Make A Comeback

No Shave November

Posted By Melissa Colabella

I've been noticing a lot of whiskers, fuzz and fur this month but generally nothing one would classify as a "beard." Apparently 'No Shave November' is growing in popularity. There is a band named after the phrase, an organized Facebook group encouraging the boycott, college students using it to promote prostate cancer awareness, and men from around the nation joining in the trend out of just pure laziness.

Now there's nothing wrong with a great beard. An unknown author quotes, "There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless - boys and women - and I am neither one." But a good beard need maintenance. A committed group of manly men created a website for the cause which also includes several types of beard styles you can shape your face fuzz into come December 1st:

No Shave November

Mustaches for Prostate Cancer Awareness:
MoVember


Some trendy beards of note:

Conan O'Brien's unemployment beard

Barber Jim Flacche's special stache:

Why the mustache? "The beard grows gray. Add the chops and you have a fresh retro look," says Jim.

New York Mag Discusses Men's Worst Hair

Posted by Melissa Colabella

I am so greatful for "The Fug Girls Survey Fall's Worst Hair, Men's Division" in the latest October issue of New York Magazine. I personally felt Danny McBride from Eastbound & Down should have been the poster boy for corn-rows but his permed mullet does deserve cult stardom.

Quoting the article, "Actors love to stretch. This fall, they also like to tease, braid, muss, shellac, even perm - some with questionable results." Check out some of their guide:

New York Magazine - The Fug Girls Survey Fall's Worst Hair, Men's Division

I've told clients time and time again - growing out your hair doesn't translate into growing unkempt hair. Zach Galifianakis's "especially lively pubic shrub" says it all.