They think nothing about spending tons on car accessories and electronics, but when it comes to hygiene and grooming concerns, dads seldom look beyond the grocery shelves.

But sometimes their problems are chronic. So what they would need would be better researched and formulated products. Dads may not buy them themselves but they sure would appreciate it when you give them those products.

Men, for example, are vain about their hair. They dread losing it outright. They gag at the stench of grease on scalp, and die of embarrassment when numerous white flakes stick to the strands or gigantic flakes pierced through several strands.

The Kerastase Homme Capital Force line has three variants. It has a shampoo and activator spray designed to tackle balding and other hair problems (shampoo at P1,150 and leave-on activator spray for P1,477). All lines contain Taurine, an amino acid and Biotin B vitamin which are both essential for stronger, healthier hair.

Grease fighter

I personally use KH CF Anti-Oiliness because it controls my very greasy scalp this summer: I didn’t have comb marks on my hair by dinner time even when I had shampooed in the morning.

I concentrate the shampoo lather on my scalp and leave on for a minute, then spread the rest of the lather on hair and rinse off.

Dads with long hair will need a conditioner for the ends; but they should make sure they keep it away from the scalp and rinse it off well with cool water.

I then towel dry and spritz the activator on my scalp only where oil is produced. Spraying on hair strands is a waste. This home-care duo leaves a squeaky clean touch and decreases sebum secretion and build-up in the hair and scalp.

The shampoo contains a purifying active ingredient that works to comb out wet hair more easily. Hair becomes shiny, clear, healthy and soft. The spray lotion also refreshes the scalp while providing a non-oily natural touch.

Dandruff control

KH CF Anti Dandruff flushes away dandruff in the scalp and prevents it from recurring.

Both products contain Piroctone Olamine, an important and effective anti-dandruff ingredient. The spray lotion helps speed up anti-dandruff effect in the scalp and makes the effect long-lasting after four weeks of usage.

When I left for Europe last month the extreme drop in temperature caused gigantic flakes to appear with a vengeance and it seemed to be an endless supply that replenished itself after every shampoo I walked everywhere with a beanie. I caved in and bought KH at a salon and the first wash and spray made such a difference. By day four not even the tiny white flakes were visible.

Capital Force Anti Thinning/ Densifying—This shampoo and texturizing spray gives the hair a thickening effect for men with thinning hair.

The shampoo facilitates styling the hair with its densifying effect. The spray lotion refreshes and tones up the scalp for a soft and thickening effect.

There is a supposed improvement in actual hair mass after two weeks. I loved the way it made my crown area seem thicker and my scalp less visible.

Kerastase products are available at most leading salons.

For dad’s greasy face, a mattifying gel like OC8 seriously works as a colorless oil-controlling agent, so it does not qualify as makeup.

Applied on a thoroughly cleansed face or sunblock the fresh look will keep for as long as eight hours.

The catch: Kerastase is available at select skin clinics only. Call 6723599.

E-mail the author at kinnyski@ gmail.com.