The Lean And Mean Look

By Hector Choksi The days of chocolate boys, clean shaven cute and emotional guys are over and now a new breed is taking over with strong, rough and tough looks.

Want to know how to adapt to the times and change yourself into the modern brand? First the eyes.

By using coloured cosmetic lens you can change the way you look.

Your choice has to depend on the type of skin you have.

For a fair skin grey,green and blue would do.

If you are dusky then warm colours like hazel and brown are in order.

These special cosmetic lens can change way you look, converting you into a colder, rougher and meaner romeo.

If you want your eyes to look more strong and dramatic, then you can become 'unusual" with an eyeliner, usually black, that ensures that your eyes are defined and accentuated.

In case you are endowed with short lashes, enhancing them in an outward direction with mascara is advisable.

Eyebrows Maintaining bushy and thick brows does add to the overall look.

Do not confuse this with brows that are unkempt.

Your need to keep the centre and ends clean and free of any unwanted hair.

While shaping, follow the direction of hair growth and maintain the natural thickness.

If the brows dip too much, then your face will look droopy.

All you have to do is to lift the brows at the end, creating an impression of an angular face cut.

This is doubly necessary if you have double chins or have to hide excess fat in the face.

You have to trim your brow if endowed with long hair and using an eyebrow brush would be necessary to sort down stray hairs.

The basic idea is that the eye brows should look well maintained.

Your face For men with a square or angular face, sporting the tough look is easy.

If your face is not of this type, then the other alternative is to maintain a shadow stubble, so that , you will get the illusion of an angular face.

Sporting this type of stubble is very simple.

You only have to shave just under the cheek and get the "hairy area" as sharp flat line, instead of the usual rounded shape.

But remember, even stubbles have to be trimmed to keep them clean and a stubble more than three days old is taboo.

The overall effect of a stubble ensures your tough look, if not blessed with a angular or square face.

Another good idea woule be to spend some money on a good bronzing powder.

You can lighly apply this powder with a makeup brush on your jaw line and chin.

But ensure that the bronzer is blended well and if you see the hard lines on your face in the mirror, then you have to clean it up and do it again.

This type of tough make up is for the night only and is a no no for the daytime as it would be visible too clearly.

Hair Your hair can make or mar your macho look, although some 'baldies' manage to look tough without this adornment.

Make up experts claim that it is better to keep the hair short or medium, in any case not more than three inches, as we do not want sweat/heat related problems.

One universal style is a short military/sports cut with short clean sides.

If you have longer/naturally wavy/curly hair, then it will be necessary to fashion it up in an outward/upward direction.

Strictly no parting of hair and no 'fashion' of hair falling on your face.

Dress The gear you wear is of course accentuates the whole dressing up.

In the words of fashion designer Perry Lobo "the strongest trend for the look; cut sleeve shirts, coloured and white vests, muscle T-shirts, and half-sleeve tops that stick close to the body.

For lowers, you can choose between jeans, cargo pants, multi-pocket trousers,sports tracks, shorts and drawstring trousers.

The fit; very structured and fitted.

Stay away from lowers that flare, especially at the ends.

Textures are strong.

Look for faded, aged or stone wash finish on linen and cotton drill.

Subtle prints, embellishments and patterns on T-shirts, pants and vests work well too." Ok you have got that lean and mean look.