From a bar of soap and a straight razor to 12-step skincare routines and beard oils with more ingredients than your dinner. Somewhere along the way, men's grooming got complicated. But did it get better?
Once upon a time, a man could walk into a barbershop, sit in a chair and trust his barber to sort him out. A haircut, a shave, perhaps a splash of aftershave, and he was on his way.
Fast-forward to today, and the modern bathroom counter can look like a chemistry lab. Cleansers, exfoliants, serums, toners, moisturizers, beard balms, beard oils, pre-shave oils, post-shave lotions. And that's before we get to the hair products.
Somewhere between the traditional barbershop and the modern grooming aisle, things got complicated.
But how did we get here? And does a more elaborate grooming routine actually mean better results?
Let's take a look.
The Barbershop Era: Keep It Simple, Keep It Sharp
For generations, the barbershop was the centre of men's grooming. It was where men went for a haircut, a clean shave and advice from someone who knew their way around a razor.
The tools were straightforward: a sharp blade, shaving soap or cream, a brush, a towel and a steady hand. Grooming was practical, and the barber's expertise did much of the heavy lifting.
That doesn't mean men weren't interested in looking good. Far from it. From meticulously styled hair to carefully maintained moustaches, personal grooming has a long history. But the emphasis was often on technique, routine and a few reliable essentials rather than an overflowing shelf of specialized products.
The lesson? You don't necessarily need more tools. Sometimes, you need to know how to use the ones you've got.
Enter the Men's Grooming Boom
For much of the twentieth century, skincare and beauty advertising was marketed primarily towards women, while men's grooming focused heavily on shaving, haircuts and fragrance.
That distinction gradually blurred. Men's skincare became more mainstream, beard care expanded, and grooming brands began offering products for increasingly specific needs.
Dry skin? There's a product for that. Beard itch? There's another. Want a matte finish instead of a shiny one? There's probably an entire collection dedicated to it.
And to be fair, some of these developments have been genuinely useful. Men have different skin types, different hair textures and different grooming preferences. A good moisturizer can make a difference to dry skin, and a suitable beard oil can help condition coarse facial hair.
The problem isn't that more products exist. It's the idea that you need all of them.
The Internet Changed the Bathroom Counter
Then came the era of online tutorials, grooming influencers, product reviews and skincare routines with more steps than your morning commute.
Suddenly, everyone had a recommendation. One video swore by a particular exfoliant. Another insisted you needed a dedicated product for every inch of your face. Your favourite influencer had a 14-step routine, and somehow your perfectly serviceable moisturizer started looking inadequate.
The result? It's easier than ever to discover products that genuinely suit your needs. It's also easier than ever to buy something because it looked impressive in a video, only to leave it untouched beside the sink for six months.
There's a difference between being informed and being convinced that your current routine is never enough.
A good grooming routine should solve problems, not invent new ones.
More Products Don't Automatically Mean Better Skin
Here's where we separate marketing from common sense.
Healthy-looking skin doesn't require the longest routine. It requires the right care for your skin.
For most men, a sensible starting point is relatively straightforward:
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Cleanse: Wash away sweat, oil and everyday buildup.
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Shave properly: Prepare your skin, use a suitable shaving product and avoid pressing too hard with your razor.
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Moisturize: Help maintain hydration and support your skin barrier.
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Protect: Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin during the day.
From there, add products based on your actual needs. Beard oil can help condition facial hair. A targeted skincare product may help address a specific concern. An exfoliant may be useful for some people, but it isn't essential for everyone.
And remember: using several strong skincare products at once doesn't guarantee better results. Depending on the ingredients and your skin, it can actually lead to irritation.
The goal isn't to own a product for every possible scenario. It's to find what works and stick with it.
The Return of the Grooming Essential
Perhaps the most sensible approach to modern grooming is to borrow a little wisdom from the old-school barbershop while keeping the useful innovations of today.
Invest in a good shave. Choose products suited to your skin. Keep your beard clean and conditioned if you wear one. Replace worn-out razor blades. And stop buying things simply because a new trend says you should.
Quality matters. So does consistency.
A well-made shaving product that you use regularly is worth more to your routine than five products you bought on impulse and promptly forgot about.
At Crown Shaving Co., our philosophy has always centred on professional grooming essentials inspired by the barbershop tradition. Products should have a purpose, do their job and earn their place on your bathroom counter.
Because looking after yourself shouldn't require a second mortgage, a spreadsheet or a chemistry degree.
So, How Complicated Should Your Routine Be?
Complicated enough to meet your needs. Simple enough that you'll actually do it.
If your current routine works, there's no reason to overhaul it. If your bathroom counter is crowded with products you rarely use, perhaps it's time for an audit.
Keep what works. Reconsider what doesn't. And before buying the next big thing, ask yourself one question:
Will this actually improve my routine, or am I just buying into the hype?
Your bathroom counter might not thank you. But your wallet probably will.
Ready to get back to the essentials?
Discover Crown Shaving Co.'s collection of professional shave, beard and skincare products, designed to help you look sharp without overcomplicating the process.
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