COCOAHOMME ~ Men of Color with Distinguished Grooming & Style
Sean Heywood & Kumi Walker, Co-Founders MR. The Barbershop (June 2007)
Robert Brace, Co-Founder of Barc Skin-Care Formulated For Men of Color
(July 2006)
Skincare advice from Grooming Expert Stephen Rice (June 2006)
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 Co-founders Sean Heywood and Kumi Walker
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MR. retains a "clubby" sensibility and manliness, without succumbing to stuffiness or exclusivity. In fact, grooming professionals are trained to make all men look their best, regardless of hair texture or personal style. MR. is a completely contemporary, elegant take on the lone bastion of male grooming: the barbershop.
Gentlemen who don't live near the Bay Area, take note: a number of MR. shops are scheduled to open in most major U.S. cities, by 2009. You'd better get on the waiting list…now.
Sean and Kumi kindly set aside some time to talk about MR., a barbershop with ‘Real Barbers, Real Conversations, Real Guys', precisely for the COCOAHOMME, men of color with distinguished grooming.
HOMME: What are the grooming necessities for today's sophisticated man?
MR.: We don't proclaim to be experts on sophistication, but we do believe there are a few grooming basics.
- Shampoo & Condition Daily — No need to elaborate here.
- A good face wash regimen — Understand how your skin responds and make sure to wash every morning and evening.
- Shave — Every man's skin type is different, so if you have not yet figured out what shave regimen works best for you, seek insight from the experts — a MR. Barber.
- Moisturize — This is the most often neglected portion of most guys' regimens, but it is just as important as the rest. Always use a moisturizer with SPF to protect against sun damage and irritation.
- Be consistent — Make time everyday for grooming. See it as an escape, and not a chore.
HOMME: It is more than a barbershop, more than a male-oriented spa — how would you best describe your business?
MR.: MR. is a stylish fusion of contemporary barbershop and boho bar with a hotel lounge MO. We have 8 barber chairs, 2 shoeshine stands, 9 plasma televisions, including one 100” HDTV, in addition to champagne, beer, and wine. Imagine the feeling evinced as you walk into your favorite New York City, Chicago or Atlanta nightclub and the ambiance and décor is out of this world. Imagine the sense of belonging evinced as you walk into your barbershop and see the men you grew up with already in the store waiting to chat it up with you. Mesh all of these feelings and this is the most accurate description of what MR. is.
HOMME: What treatments do you offer that are unique to your shop?
MR.: We offer haircuts, straight razor shaves and shoe shine services. It's a fairly simple portfolio of services, but we do it extremely well. MR. however makes an impression on clients not so much by the novelty of the services, but more so in the execution of these services and how the business enables clients to seamlessly integrate the service into their demanding work and social calendars.
HOMME: What are some of the perks that come with membership?
MR.: MR. has partnered with many of the most popular nightclubs, restaurants, retailers, promoters and athletic clubs within the Bay Area. All of our members, depending on their tier of membership, have access to special perks and privileges. We also have several in-store events (wine tastings, custom tailoring, trunk shows) that are exclusive to our members.
HOMME: In terms of grooming, who are some of your style icons?
MR.: Sidney Poitier, Ralph Lauren, Barrack Obama, Kanye West, George Clooney, Don Cheadle
HOMME: What has your feedback from clients been? Have men been receptive, or hesitant for such a decadent experience?
MR.: Our feedback has been overwhelmingly positive thus far. With luxe service businesses, it is quite difficult to articulate the value proposition to potential customers and partners via words and pictures - especially when the service being offered is a novel concept. We've found that once our customers step foot into the store they are hooked.
HOMME: You guys made quite the career transition - how were you able to do it so successfully?
MR.: We attribute much of our success to our friendship, mutual respect, and our commitment to help each other succeed in the face of adversity and naysayers. We also acknowledge the support we received from our fiancés, family and friends throughout this process. There is a tremendous amount of risk involved in new ventures, and without a strong support unit, it is difficult to imagine a successful transition.
HOMME: Do you have recommendations for other guys out there, looking to break free of Corporate America with similar success?
MR.: Corporate America has its benefits and it is clearly an amazing professional training ground. At some point very early on in our careers after Brown, however, we realized that it just wasn't for us. That realization helped fuel our entrepreneurial engine and helped us get to where we are now. If you do decide to make the plunge and leave corporate America behind, make sure you have identified a viable way to make the transition and try and save money to mitigate some of the risks involved with a career change. Without a plan, an exit from Corporate America doesn't guarantee a positive outcome, and can ultimately lead to a less than desirable result. Nevertheless, don't let the world define your destiny.
Visit www.mrthebarbershop.com for more details.
By Sacha Phillip
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Barc: Unique Skincare Line for Men of Color
 Barc Skin-Care For Men of Color Co-Founder Robert Brace |
Barc Co-Founder Robert Brace breaks down the skin issues and gives advice for the COCOAHOMME, men of color with distinguished grooming.
HOMME: What is your industry background?
Brace: I have always been interested in skincare because of my own personal quest for products that work. Inspiring men of color has always been important to me. I was an ordained minister in Harlem for six years. Much of my time was spent building community programs to uplift and inspire Black and Hispanic men and youth. During this time I discovered that the first step in building self-esteem is addressing how you feel about yourself. Not feeling comfortable in and with your skin can be detrimental to your confidence. Confidence, as we all know, is an extremely important ingredient for success.
HOMME: Why did you create a skincare line for men of color?
Brace: Eighty five percent of men of color use skincare products daily to combat a variety of skin conditions from ashy skin to dark spots and ingrown hairs. There is presently no complete skincare line that meets this groups specific skincare needs. Barc clients before discovering our products are usually frustrated because of the lack of quality products available for their specific needs. Many are stuck using female products, some even develop their own concoctions by mixing products. Most companies that focus on men of color usually limit their products to the shaving category. We felt that a complete range of quality skin-care products for men of color was long overdue.
 Barc Bump Down Razor Bump Relief ($18) |
Brace: Absolutely. Ingrown hairs or razor bumps affect up to 80% of men of color, especially those with coarse hair. The hair shafts of men of color are usually curved. After shaving, the beard's sharp pointed hair may curl back into the skin, piercing the wall of the hair follicle. This causes a reaction resulting in painful, unattractive bumps and skin discoloration from irritation.
HOMME: Please describe how your product Bump Down actually reduces razor bumps.
Brace: Bump Down takes a holistic approach to fighting razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
- Glycolic acid, a naturally derived alpha hydroxy acid, exfoliates the skin by removing dead cells from the surface of the skin and releasing ingrown hairs.
- Bump Downs anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients fight the infection and inflammation associated with razor bumps.
- Chamomile extract soothes and calms painful and irritated skin.
- Glycerin moisturizes dry flaky areas, keeping the skin adequately hydrated.
HOMME: What products help with breakouts/acne?
Brace: Barc's All Over Face+Body Wash helps fight breakouts by deep cleaning skin without drying it out.
HOMME: Please share skincare tips for the COCOAHOMME?
Brace: The simplest, practical pieces of advice:
- Avoid products that contain alcohol.
Many products on the market contain alcohol which breaks down the skins natural surface layer of moisture. This leaves the skin more exposed to environmental damage, causes dry, ashy skin and leads to skin irritation. - Always use sunscreen.
Sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage and helps fight dark spots. Many people of color do not like using sunscreen because it leaves white or blue streaks on their skin. Barcs Game Face Face Lotion is an alcohol-free moisturizer with a translucent SPF for sun protection without streaks.
By Ellen Rosner Feig
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Skincare advice from Grooming Expert Stephen Rice
The act of "grooming" was once an integral part of every man's daily regimen, but as society became more casual, this ritual fell to the wayside. Now, in the "naughties", "manly" and "sloppy" are no longer synonymous, as more men are seeking to attain "polished" facades. Unfortunately, many men are unsure where to start the grooming process, that is, how to find the products that will give them the desired results. This is particularly true for men of color, who have unique skin concerns and often find it difficult to locate products to address them. Look no further, guys! Grooming expert Stephen Rice of Josephine Day Spa in New York City has provided his expert insight and advice as a Father's Day gift for the COCOAHOMME.
Building Blocks
Though it's admittedly a well-worn cliché, looking good on the outside has a lot to do with what's going on inside. For men this is particularly relevant, because they don't have the illusion-creating option of makeup to hide complexion flaws. Says Rice, "the keys to good skin are drinking a lot of water, taking a daily multivitamin, eating lots of fruits and veggies, taking a dietary supplement to make sure you're getting enough greens and making sure to get seven-to-eight hours of sleep."
Professional Help
Every man knows that he should visit his internist, dentist and eye doctor regularly. Every man, well, most men anyway, make sure to pay regular visits to their barbers as well. Most men, however, neglect to seek professional assistance when it comes to their skin, choosing to deal with their skin care concerns themselves (or avoid dealing with them altogether). Rice warns against this behavior, because such self-treatment often results in "scars and hyper-pigmentation" in men of color. Serious skin problems should be treated exclusively by a dermatologist, while either a licensed aesthetician or a dermatologist may treat minor skin problems, like moderate acne.
The Winning Trifecta
There are three simple steps that every man should incorporate into his morning and evening routines. Three items that, along with toothpaste and tiger balm, are essential to every man's medicine cabinet: cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Below, Rice's tips for different skin types:
 Dr.Bronner's Eucalyptus |
Oily Skin: "It's important to cleanse the skin properly with a glycolic wash (available from a dermatologist) or a cleanser with salicylic acid (available over-the-counter), which will keep the skin from being as oily while rejuvenating the skin. A glycolic or salicylic toner should also be used." People with oily skin "tend to be afraid to hydrate...but a non-oil-based moisturizer containing a bit of glycolic acid will moisturize without encouraging skin problems."
Dry Skin: Those with dry skin should use only the gentlest products with the greatest moisturizing ingredients. Finding a gentle cleanser is often difficult, but one of the best is "Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (available at Ricky's NYC and at www.drbronner.com 8 oz. $4.99), a face and body cleanser that helps to clear up the skin on both the face and the body." Men with ashy skin should see a dermatologist and may take an Alpha Omega M3 vitamin supplement, to encourage hydration.
Combination Skin: Men with combination skin should "find a regime that will hydrate the dry areas, while toning down overactive sebaceous glands."
Masque It
Skin treatments are not just for the ladies! Rice recommends a twice-monthly application of a masque, like Kiehl's Soothing Gel Masque (available at Kiehls.com and Kiehl's stores), to tighten pores and refine the skin's texture.
Bump Stopper
 Men-only Nickel spa in New York City |
For men who cannot afford laser treatment, the depilatory Magic Shave Platinum (available in drugstores), which contains vitamin E and aloe, may be an effective treatment. Additionally, the lotion Tend Skin (available at Sephora stores and at www.sephora.com), a particularly effective treatment, is designed specifically to prevent ingrown hairs and the resulting bumps.
Safe Sun
Although people of color are blessed with natural sun block of sorts, topical sun protection is nevertheless a necessity — particular during periods of extended sun exposure. "The sun is stronger these days, and we have to protect ourselves," says Rice, who recommends wearing anything from a sunscreen with SPF 8 (which will allow some "tanning") to a "full block".
By Sacha Phillip
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