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Words you’ll need to know on your quest for being best.


DEFINITION: Also known as mustache wax, pomade is a greasy or waxy substance used to style hair. On head hair, pomade helps hair keep its shape (or rather the shape you want to give it). The mustache wax variety, meanwhile, lets you shape mustache hair in extreme ways (assuming your locks are long enough), such as by twirling the ends.

USAGE: “My hair is very fine and hard to style. A quick rub-through with some pomade really helps keep it in place.”


DEFINITION: In matters of romancing the ladies, a mack daddy, says the Urban Dictionary, is “a male of superior looks. A player of players. A romantic lady killer.”

USAGE: “If you’re going to a party with a lot of women, you might want to study Kurt’s technique. He’s a real mack daddy.”


DEFINITION: This beard style is similar to a circle beard -- except without the connection between the mustache and goatee. To achieve it, grow out your facial hair for several weeks, then shave off the cheek area, leaving the chin hair intact. Using a single-blade trimmer, sculpt the lower portion to be big or small, straight or curved. The style, by the way, is named after the most famous guy to sport one: Italo Balbo, a record-breaking Italian aviator.

USAGE: “John tried to grow a circle beard. But since he has those bald spots on his face between the mustache and goatee, he had to go with a Balbo.”
DEFINITION: Used most often by people who are switching careers or have gaps in their employment history, a functional resume is one that’s broken up into sections focusing on skills and career experience as opposed to the standard resume, which lists your past positions in reverse chronological order.

USAGE: “The director will notice your acting skills before your restaurant experience -- as long as you submit a functional resume.”


DEFINITION: To be the victor in a battle; to be the one who defeats in a conflict or contest.

USAGE: When you’re on the football field, you want to be known as “The Vanquisher.”


DEFINITION: The technical term for removing hair from the body. It comes from the Latin “depilare,” which means to remove (de) hair (pilus). Shaving is the primary form of facial depilation, which is way less intimidating than it sounds.

USAGE: “Should I depilate before we go out?”


DEFINITION: Better known as straight razors, cutthroat razors feature long blades that typically fold into a handle and require considerable skill to use and maintain. You’re most likely to see a cutthroat razor in a period film -- one that features an old-school barber.

USAGE: “It’s a real experience to go to an old-fashioned barber and have him shave you with a cutthroat razor.”


DEFINITION: In terms of personal grooming, “against the grain” refers to a method of shaving: driving your razor in the direction opposite to your hair growth. Shaving with the grain (in the same direction of hair growth) will give you a shave with less irritation, but some men have beards that are so tough, only against-the-grain shaving will do.

USAGE: “Even after plenty of pre-shave hydrating, John still found that the only way to get a good, close shave was to go against the grain.”


DEFINITION: “A lack of or a break in connection, consistency or agreement.” That’s the official Merriam-Webster definition. For our purposes, though, we’d like to define it the word as “the lack of connection between what you should be and what you are.”

USAGE: “There’s a real disconnect between our office’s grooming standards and Jared’s appearance. He needs to step up to the plate!”


DEFINITION: Enhancing physical performance or stamina

USAGE: “Biff is a total maniac when it comes to ergogenic aids. He downs protein shakes, creatine powder, amino acid supplements …”


DEFINITION: The outside -- and most resilient -- layer of a single strand of human hair. The cuticle protects the more delicate inner hair layers from damage. (And you thought this word was only some kind of manicure term.)

USAGE: “You should really try to soften your cuticles with warm water and shaving gel before taking a razor to them.”



DEFINITION: Using an abrasive substance to remove dead cells from your skin’s surface

USAGE: “Since shaving is a natural way to exfoliate your face, guys who shave have an advantage over girls when it comes to skincare.”



DEFINITION: Persistent; dedicated to success in a pursuit or goal

USAGE: “Brett achieves whatever he sets his mind to. He is way tenacious.”

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