Working Dads gift guide September 2023

Nanogen hair products

I have to admit I was sceptical about these products when they popped through my letterbox. Hair loss is a significant issue for many men and there is a vast industry around ‘solving’ it, of which Nanogen is one. Many men will see ads for this pop up on your Insta, or Facebook and it can look revolutionary and terrifyingly silly at the same time. There were two main prongs to the stuff I tested. One was shampoo, which is intended to thicken the hair more generally and the other was, well, dust, or more specifically kerotin fibres which adhere to your remaining hair and make it look more lustrous. The shampoo is solid, with a nice aroma. I used it and it did a good cleaning job, which is its primary function. As to whether it creates thicker hair, I would imagine you need to do it for some time, which I haven’t. So the jury is out there…so far.

In terms of the particles, I was pleasantly surprised. Application is easy and my worries about colour differences (since I’m a bit salt and peppery these days) weren’t an issue. I’m receding with age rather than flat-out bald, I guess, so there is more for the product to cling onto. And you know, it worked! It made everything look a bit more buoyant, a bit more like I did in my twenties. I’m still not sure whether I would be happy using this long-term. I splashed some water on my hair after application and it didn’t make a difference (I was trying to emulate sweat or a rain shower although there is also a fixing spray intended to help keep everything attached to your hair), but there was definitely a slight dark tinge to my scalp. Some of that might be my inexperience at application, or putting too much on. But it was there and I would be a little worried about that. But overall, I would be happy to use this sporadically. I think you need a good amount of hair left to get the full benefits – it feels like it’s more for filling in a small bald spot, or thickening up a quiff that is gradually making its way further back along your head. But if you are concerned about hair loss, then this might be worth a go.

Find them here.

Juice plug

We’re all looking at ways to cut our energy bills and this handy device offers a way to do that. It’s a smart plug, controlled from an app which is intuitive and simple and even responds to voice commands. I particularly like the big on/off switch on the phone screen which is a very easy reminder!

Especially useful in a world where everything is constantly on standby and if your house is anything like ours, a thousand charging cables all left going at the same time, it’s also unobtrusive and undemonstrative, just like the best tech should be. Plus it can potentially save you money – which is a godsend at the moment.

I put mine on my electronic drum kit, which I always accidentally leave on and is a pain to turn off at the mains because it’s behind lots of wire. I found using Juice (the Juice?) a straightforward way of making sure I wasn’t using electricity for no reason.

Find it here.

Tropical Sun jerk seasonings and sauces

We love a good chilli sauce here at Working Dads and so were excited to give these Caribbean-inspired seasonings from Tropical Sun a go. And my, do they provide a kick. The Boston Bay jerk gives your meal proper heat, but also has more complexity to it, with nice fruity notes and a peppery-ness that made an impromptu stir fry feel fresh and different. The brand also does a lot of BBQ accompaniments (hey, we’re expecting a late late summer this year!) and there is an authenticity to the flavour that will spark a lot of memories for anyone who’s been lucky enough to visit the West Indies (or at least go to a restaurant like Banners in London). Yes, it’s spicy – and we would encourage you to be cautious with application if you don’t like to sweat while eating – but it was also delicious.

Find them here.

Elbow Grease All-purpose degreaser

I hate cleaning, so anything formulated to make that job easier – if it really does what it says – is alright with me. Elbow Grease says it is good enough to get oil off a car engine (which I didn’t try, sorry), but is marketed as a degreaser which works on your kitchen and bathroom as well as your clothes. I tried it on one of the most disgusting and neglected areas of my kitchen, which is my metal cooker hood. I’m sorry to say that I don’t think I’ve cleaned that in, well, let’s not go there. It was certainly covered in grease and I was very excited when one spray and one wipe on each side totally resuscitated it, bringing its lustre back and completely getting rid of any gunk. Consider me impressed. And it’s cheap. I can’t wait to give it a go on the multiple trousers I’ve kept that I spilled curry on.

Find it here.

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