Exfoliator

A product that removes dead skin cells, and especially useful for keeping your beard looking its best. Choose a daily exfoliator, and use daily to twice-daily after cleansing to remove dead skin cells and debris. Always follow exfoliation by rinsing your face with warm water and applying moisturizer.

Fade

The haircut of the decade. Skin fades start with razor-shorn hair on the back and sides, gradually moving up the grades of electric clippers from the bottom of the head to the top.

(Related: The complete guide to fades)

Finasteride

Sold under the brand names Propecia or Procar, this is medication that’s taken orally and can help prevent male pattern hair loss.

Fringe

Or bangs as they’re known across the pond – the bit of hair that grows out and down over your forehead. There are many types of fringe: the side fringe (Justin Bieber of yesteryear), the blunt fringe, the choppy fringe, the emo fringe etc.

Fringe hairstyles are best suited to mild weather conditions: too hot and your forehead gets overly sweaty; too windy and it blows it out of place. Overall though, a great look to frame a face and make it youthful.

Grade

This is the length to which hair is cut using electric clippers and guards. Clipper guards are detachable and remove different lengths of hair depending on their grade; the lower the grade, the shorter the hair is clippered. A grade 1 is 1/8 inch; roughly 3mm. A grade 2 is 2/8 inch (or 1/4), which is a bit over 6mm – and so on.

Hold

A term used to describe the strength of hair styling products. The stronger the product, the less you should use (particularly strong products may leave behind residue). Weaker-hold products often have other attributes, like a high-shine finish, or being water-based (and easier to wash out).

Haircuts vs. Hairstyles

Let’s get this one tidied up once and for all. Haircuts form the basis for hairstyles, and there actually aren’t very many of them. Examples include: short back and sides, crop, buzzcut or crew cut, each of which can be used to let a barber know what shape and length the hair should be cut to.