Men's style: WE CAN REBUILD HIM

When landscape builder Justin Kendrick gets home from work he has to take off his clothes outside the front door. "I'm not allowed in until I'm down to my underwear," says Justin, 30, from Twickenham. "It must be a bit of a shock for the neighbours." That's because he's covered from head to foot in dirt, brick dust and mud. His nails are grimy, his hair's gritty and the skin on his hands and face is like sandpaper. But we're about to change all that...

His wife, Jane, 31, who's expecting the couple's first child in June, tries to keep her husband presentable - but it's not easy. "He's just not fussed about the way he looks," she sighs. And Justin agrees. "I've never bothered about my appearance," he says. "Jane almost disowned me one night when I turned up at a posh restaurant wearing jeans and an old kagool. I know she'd be relieved if I made more of an effort - she's always trying to get me to do something with my hair but I hate going to the hairdressers."

We took Justin away from the building site for a day of luxury, high- tech pampering to see if we could rebuild him. After all, we have the technology...

SKIN DEEP

THE PLACE The Court House Clinic in London's Harley Street, where cosmetic dermatologist Dr Patrick Bowler examined Justin's weather- ravaged skin.

THE VERDICT Dr Bowler recommended MD Formulations Total Daily Protector SPF 30 and MD Formulations Moisture Defence Antioxidant Serum to help protect Justin's skin from the elements.

"It's very important that Justin protects himself, even on cloudy days," he says. "If he carries on doing nothing he'll end up like a wrinkled prune, not to mention put himself at risk of skin cancer."

"I'd never thought about my skin before," says Justin. "I pinch a bit of Jane's moisturiser after having a shave sometimes, but that's all."

THE TREATMENT Bowler suggested an MD Formulations Glycolic Peel to give Justin's skin a boost and help prevent ingrowing hairs caused by shaving. "Alex, the beauty therapist, warned me it might feel a bit tingly," says Justin. "It was nice but burned a little bit like a strong aftershave. Afterwards my skin felt really fresh."

THE LITTLE EXTRAS

Turning back the clock To smooth out Justin's frown lines and crow's feet Dr Bowler gave him Botox injections. "I was a bit nervous, but it was just like little pin pricks," says Justin.

Beat the sweat patches Dr Bowler also injected Botox into Justin's armpits, this is a treatment to cut down on excessive sweating. "I had no idea Botox could be used like this, but I can get pretty filthy and stinky after a day's hard work, so this will help," says Justin.

Rough hands to smooth Justin's roughened hands were smoothed with a Cellabrasion treatment. Small salt crystals were blasted onto his skin to take off the hard surface layer. "It was a bit like sandblasting only a lot gentler," says Justin. "My hands are often quite dry and cracked from working outdoors, but they felt softer afterwards."

HAIR TODAY

THE PLACE Next, Justin was whisked off to the Daniel Hersheson salon on London's Conduit Street for a long-overdue haircut.

THE VERDICT "It was obvious he hadn't been to a hairdresser for a while," says stylist Stephen Low, who also recommended Justin use a daily shampoo and conditioner from now on. "Jane'll like that advice," says Justin. "Sometimes when I don't wash my hair I leave grubby marks on the pillowcases so she's given me an old, dark blue Star Wars pillowcase to hide them."

THE TREATMENT "His hair was over-grown with no real shape and there was some sun damage to the ends," says Stephen. "Before it was all in his face so I opened up his jaw-line by taking a lot of hair away at the sides. It's an easy style for him to maintain. The way it's been cut it'll sit really naturally and he won't have to do anything to it when he gets up in the morning."

"That was good to hear," says Justin. "As I never brush or comb my curly hair."

THE LITTLE EXTRAS

After the sandblasting, Justin was given his first ever manicure at the salon too. "I could quite happily have that done every day," he says. "It was great and my nails looked really shiny afterwards." His nails were varnished with Seche Plus - fortified strengthener to help stop them splitting.

SUITS YOU SIR

THE PLACE Justin's final stop was a consultation with menswear fashion adviser Geri Cox at John Lewis on London's Oxford Street.

THE VERDICT "At work Justin usually wears combat trousers, an old fleece and steel-capped boots," says Geri. "Out of work he prefers casual clothes, so I thought his would be a great opportunity to get him into a suit."

THE TREATMENT "The sharp lines really show off his physique and the blue definitely works well with his colouring." "It felt weird being in a suit, not really me," adds Justin. "But I wouldn't mind wearing one for a special occasion."

SO WHAT DID JANE AND JUSTIN THINK? IS HE BETTER AS A BEAUTY OR A BEAST?

Jane says: He looked incredible. I hardly recognised him. All his blond curls had gone and his hair was straight. The skin on his face and hands was much softer and he looked all clean- shaven and boyish. His eyes and smile really stood out, which was lovely. And seeing him in a suit - I did laugh because it was so out of character, like someone had dressed him up for a job interview.

The very next day, he called and left a hilarious message. He was standing in the rain at work, pretending to sound like a camp male model, sulkily saying that he wanted his old life of pampering back. He complained that his hair had started to frizz, that he had muck under his nails and that his skin was getting rough again.

He says he's going to wear gloves at work from now on to try and keep his hands soft and nails clean ready to hold the baby. After all my efforts maybe the baby will have more luck keeping him in check! I have to say, I'm pleased with the hands and nails, but I've known him for so long and he's always had ridiculous hair - it's his trademark. To be honest, I think I'd prefer him smooth, and clean but with his old hair back.

Justin says: I really wasn't sure about the whole thing to start off with - but I ended up loving every minute. It was like being on Star In Their Eyes, one person one minute and another the next. I just wish I could be pampered every day, although I'll get used a bit of a ribbing from my mates. But I'm definitely going to make more of an effort from now on.

Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
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