Shave gels are one of the most interesting personal care products on the market—particularly the ones marketed to men. They have to simultaneously achieve the purpose of soothing the skin after it’s been freshly shaven with a sharp (or sometimes dull) razor, they have to make men feel pampered (which is usually achieved through some combination of fragrance and a velvety texture), and they have to make sure they don’t damage the integrity of razors by clogging or dulling the blades.…

The world of men’s hair care products is a bit puzzling to me. How does hair gel differ from fiber pomade, apart from the fact that gel is usually squeezed from a tube, and pomade is a thicker substance packaged in a jar or tub?

Now that summer is upon us, I’ve been thinking more than usual about two types of products: hair removal and deodorant. No one wants to see or smell your underarms, especially when you find yourself clutching an overhead pole on the MTA subway (unless that’s your strategy for forcing someone to offer you a seat). So I decided to review my first men’s-focused product on My Dad the Chemist: Old Spice Classic Deodorant.