By Sally Hunwick
(picture Jane Burleigh and Paul Anderson)
Do men really use skincare? Heck yes. According to Paul Anderson, owner of Sydney men’s grooming salon MANKiND, men are into pampering in a big way. But it has to be manly, which is why Anderson has produced KiND skincare, a new chemical-free grooming brand especially for men.
RESCU: How did you get into male skincare?
Paul Anderson: “MANKiND came about when I hit my 30s. I couldn’t find a place to go where I felt at ease and where I didn’t have to choose a smell that suited my mood or lie on a pink bed sheet. I just wanted a really good deep cleansing facial in a place that I felt comfortable. I realised that there was a gap in the market so I set up MANKiND. It was that simple. Good professional skincare in an environment where I could relax and feel comfortable.”
RESCU: So looks matter to a guy?
Paul Anderson: “I’m a regular guy. I surf, I have a few beers and enjoy a laugh, but at the end of the day, I want to look good. I want to maximise my potential and it all starts with appearance. Looking good gives a man confidence. It’s what gets his foot in the door, gets him that first date, gets him an edge in a competitive interview…”
RESCU: Truthfully now, are men really embracing skincare?
Paul Anderson: “We see 500 to 550 clients per month at MANKiND and 80% are male. There have been 9000 clients through the door since we opened in 2004. That means we have taken care of over 7000 men in 5 years and we get over 100 new male clients every month.”
RESCU: Any particular men?
Paul Anderson: “Our client base covers the whole gamut of male society; from film directors to tradesmen, sportsmen to bankers, musicians to train drivers. There is no pigeon holing the guys who walk through this door.”
RESCU: What’s different about your new skincare range, KiND?
Paul Anderson: “The range has no perfumes, cheap fillers or nasty chemicals. It’s effective botanical-based skincare that smells great, is easy to use and targets specific male conditions.”
RESCU: Hero product?
Paul Anderson: “I think our hero product is the shave cream. It took forever to get that one right. We wanted a natural product that worked. And for 9 months, I shaved half my face with KiND samples and the other half with other brands. The research paid off because we have achieved a product that has the glide and protection men need using essential oils. Essential oils also provide a really good scent – I hate the artificial scent of regular shaving creams – and antibacterial qualities.”
RESCU: KiND has been snapped up by Barneys and Fred Segal in the US…must be exciting?
Paul Anderson: “Selling skincare to men in LA is like selling ice to the Eskimos – but the reaction to KiND from Barneys and Fred Segal has been overwhelming. They love the smell, the feel and the story behind KiND and they absolutely love the packaging. Thanks must go to Stan my designer, who has been with me from the start and has done everything from the MANKiND logo to the KiND packaging. Thanks mate!”
For more info on the KiND products or the MANKiND salon in Sydney’s Surry Hills, go to https://www.mankind.com.au/
Also check here for our roadtest of the KiND shaving range, held at Grand Royal Barbers in Sydney.