Around the time I first got excited about craft beer, vinyl, and beard cultivation, my son started teasing me that I was the “hipster dad starter kit.” I guess I had it coming. But this was a term of endearment coming from him, so I couldn’t complain. As a copywriter here at UncommonGoods who’s also a father, I tend to get tapped for the “dad’s-eye view” of things, especially around Father’s Day. You might know me from my work as the Most Interesting Dad in the World. Basic hipster dad or not, I offer this personal perspective on our wide array of gifts for family guys. Any of these items would make me smile on Father’s Day. Simon—take note.
Hail, friends! We are living in a golden age of dad jokes, wherein corny puns and the frustrated groans of the nation’s teenagers reign supreme. What better way, then, to celebrate this Father’s Day than with a teensy bit of humor? Read on for a brief selection of goods hand-picked to give Dad a leg up when it’s time for him to practice stand-up. (Sorry. We’ll see ourselves out.)
Between changing diapers and navigating the many moods of adolescence, fatherhood can be tough. Enter the man cave, a masculine oasis filled with goodies designed for the utmost in paternal relaxation, from special mixology tools to decorative objects tailored to his own individual tastes. Want to help Dad deck out his den this Father’s Day? We’ve got you covered. Read on for our selection of 20 gifts complete with the man cave seal of approval.
He’s pretty great at the partner thing, so it’s no surprise that when the parenting thing happened, he totally nailed it. Sure, raising kids definitely isn’t easy, and you both have a lot to figure out. But you’re in it together, and that helps make the crazy journey of growing a family a whole lot of fun. Celebrate the dude your kids call Dad with something from our list of Father’s Day Finds for Your Fella.
If you’re already browsing our blog, chances are good that this ain’t your first Father’s Day rodeo. Give yourself some credit—you’re probably a seasoned gift-giver! At times, though, even the most dedicated among us can feel stumped by someone whose tastes elude us, and we all know Dad can be an enigma. Never fear—read on for a round-up of some of our most uncommon Father’s Day offerings, from grown-up fidget toys to beer-scented candles, filling voids you never knew existed.
It’s that time of the year again! You’ve finally found the perfect gift for Mom, and now you can relax your gift-hunting muscles… for about five minutes, lest you leave Dad in the dust. No need to start your search for another tired tie this Father’s Day, though—you’re bound to find something perfect for Pa in this selection of 20 gifts ideal for even the most exacting of the paternal population, be they gardeners, at-home chefs, or even amateur historians. The best part? Everything’s new since last Father’s Day.
Because your dad is anything but ordinary, we consulted the Most Interesting Dad in the World to choose some uncommon Father’s Day gifts. Each design he selected has a story more fascinating than the last.
Product: Beard Pack
Research:
A beard care kit isn’t something I’d heard about until recently. I generally keep facial hair so I was intrigued, but I wasn’t sure what it would be good for. If it made my beard grow slower or faster, I would have been sold right away. Upon reading the box I saw that the kit contains Whisker Wax, Moustache Wax, and Beard Oil.
Hypothesis:
I’d gotten away without these grooming products for so long, I thought that if I were to add them to my daily routine they had better be good. The ingredients in the beard oil included rosemary oil and vitamin E, which sounded like they might make my beard softer and healthier. The moustache wax also contained rosemary and vitamin E, but also had natural oils and wax. If I were to use any moustache product, I’d want it to be all-natural, so we were all set there. Finally, the whisker wash ingredients sounded as though like they would smell great–which is important since your whiskers are all right below your nose.
Experiment:
As I had never used these products before, I took them down to the barber shop below my Brooklyn apartment for some assistance.
The barber Brent, I was disappointed to discover, had never heard of these products either. After some convincing he agreed to partake in my grooming adventure. Naturally, we started with the whisker wash. Brent made a good point that he didn’t know if it was working since it didn’t foam up very much. Even after using twice the recommended amount it didn’t foam up a bit. We decided that the low-foam characteristic may have been a result of the all-natural ingredients and that although it may get some getting used to, it is probably better than anything you’d find in the average beard soap.
After the wash my beard definitely felt cleaner and smelled nice. Then Brent dove right into the beard oil, massaging it into my freshly washed and rinsed beard. The result was that my beard got much softer and smelled vaguely of fresh and natural oils. It was really nice.
Lastly, to truly try out the moustache wax, I needed a moustache so I asked for a quick shave around my moustache. We put in the wax while twisting and sculpting to get a good hold. Even with that effort we really weren’t able to transform my ‘stache into a work of art but it was fun nonetheless!
Conclusion:
After using these products for the first time it became clear that the beard oil was the best part of this kit. I didn’t know my beard could be so soft and hippy-smelling (in a good way, of course!). The whisker wash was nice and probably better than alternatives, but it didn’t do anything new for me so when it runs out I probably won’t replace it. The moustache wax was the least effective on my facial hair, because even after using different amounts, sculpting and adjusting, it really didn’t deliver that perfect ‘stache shape I was hoping it would. Despite that, the moustache wax was fun to try out as I was my first time. Overall, I would recommend this kit for those seeking to improve their beard using natural, pleasant-to-use products.