Mr. Natty : Grooming Products for the Urban Dandy

London barber Matt Raine cheekily explains on his brand website, "with traditional British men’s hair care products we will liberate the men of the world from their inert grooming state! Rise comrades!" Such is his mission in launching Mr. Natty, a range of men's grooming products focused on beards and coifs, co-founded with business partner Matt Brooke. 

Having started his career cutting the hair of schoolmates, Matt discovered that there was a need for men's grooming (and styling) that simply wasn't being met. Classically trained at the Royal Court barbers in St James (UK), Matt has worked with a wide range of clients, from models on catwalks to celebs and the everyman.

In a recent interview with Fenwick.co.uk, Mat explained his top grooming tips for men: "Smell woody, use a beard shampoo, keep clean, moisturise and get a regular beard trim. Also, get involved with your facial hair; it needs to either be a beard or clean-shaven - no whiskers."

In keeping with his grooming philosophy, Mr. Natty offers beard oils and cleansers; shaving products, lotions and potions; hair pomades and waxes; and soaps, travel kits and combos. The following are some of Mr. Natty's top sellers.

Silver Label Shave Soap

PURPOSE: "Mr Natty has really pushed the boat out for this one. Whether you be ragtaggle, ruffian or royal, shaving should always be done as though one is a proper toff. Time to cover your boat race with our hand-made, 100% natural, solid shave soap with real silk fibres and a refreshing lime and peppermint fragrance. The silk fibres create a smooth and creamy lather to allow your blade to glide like a swan through your face forest (do swans ever visit the forest?). It's like getting the family silver out on your face. Packaged up in our trademark Natty tin (with a Silver Label no less), it's perfect for reconnaissance missions, special manoeuvres, dirty weekends or all three together."

USE: "For the best experience a shaving brush is the trick, failing that, the palm of your hand. Lather it up good and proper on your face, using hot water, with the brush until you look like Father Christmas. Always let the blade do the work. The silk fibres in the soap help to hold in the moisture and make for a better, cleaner shave. We would recommend using Mr Natty Shave Oil on your stubble before applying Silver Label. It softens up the bristles and pores and gives even more lubrication to the skin."

PRICE: $27 USD at Birchbox.com; £16.50 BPS at MrNatty.com

Shave Oil

PURPOSE: "Much as we admire a hirsute fella, there are times when a man is at his best when clean shaven – first dates, court appearances, high tea with a grandmother (your own, not random octogenarians). To aid you in your preparation, Mr Natty has prepared a beautifully scented shave oil that can be used as well as a shaving soap or entirely on it’s own. Perfect for travelling light, like an eagle-eyed spy."

USE: "Mr Natty shall suppose you have an inkling of know-how to rid yourself of facial hair. If not, here is a timely reminder: always splash your lovely chops with warm water. Even better, shave after a hot shower so that your pores have opened up to let those bristles loosen up. Massage a few drops of shave oil into your whiskers and then shave as usual (nice sharp blade, please). Rinse. Then, as it says on the bottle, your face feels like a baby’s behind. Step into the street and feel the wind in your face like an ace fighter pilot. It’s good to be alive."

PRICE: $15.25 USD at BigelowChemists.com; £9.50 BPS at MrNatty.com

Face Forest Soap Beard Shampoo

PURPOSE: "Mr Natty gets asked a lot of questions. “Should I use soap or shampoo on my beard?” is a favourite. It’s a conundrum: there’s skin! There’s hair! Both together! The answer? Use our Face Forest Soap (FFS). No man needs confusion in his life - especially in the shower. FFS takes care of both the skin and the beard. First of all, the olive oil in our FFS is high in antioxidants. These love a good ol’ tear up against the ‘age accelerating free radicals’ in your skin. Olive oil is the winner, keeping your skin hydrated and smooth. Aiding and abetting this is a bit of shea butter. It’s perfect for soothing and protecting dry skin (a common downside to being hirsute). A dash of peppermint oil adds a little livener to the whole process making you feel raring to go."

USE: "FFS is gentle enough to use daily. Once you’ve towel dried your happy, hairy face don’t be shy; shower more Natty love upon it with some of our Famous Beard Elixir. It will merely underline the good work you’ve already done. Just don’t be too smug. It’s not becoming."

PRICE: $25.50 USD at Birchbox.com; £16 BPS at MrNatty.com

Famous Beard Elixir

PURPOSE: "Mr Natty’s Famous Beard Elixir is like nectar for your facial hair. We sourced the best natural oils and blended them together to create a beautifully scented elixir that would be fit for every man’s face forest. Just keep it under lock and key... we find that Mrs Natty likes to pinch it and use it as her own ‘perfume’. FYI: Mrs Natty does not have a beard of her own."

USE: "Skin can get dry under your face forest and some of those hairs have a nasty habit of ingrowing. Just massaging a few drops of our elixir into your beard or heavy stubble will help your face feel invigorated while your skin is gently moisturised (helping to alleviate ingrowing hairs) and your beard is conditioned. "

PRICE: $15.25 USD at Birchbox.com; £9.50 BPS at MrNatty.com

Products mentioned in article

Mr. Natty Famous Beard Elixir

Mr. Natty Face Forest Soap Beard Shampoo

Mr. Natty Shave Oil

Mr. Natty Silver Label Shave Soap

Marlen Elliot Harrison

Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison’s journalism in the fragrance industry has appeared in international print and online publications such as Playboy...(more)