Jack Henry || Grooming Products for the Modern Surfer

We are the mad ones who surf dawn patrol. We are the gritty ones with salt water running through our veins. We are the forever-active ones constantly seeking the next adventure. So why should our movement through activity, compromise style?

Jack Henry, a grooming company that creates natural, minimal-ingredient products, for the stylish, confident and active man, has the goods that we’ve been looking for. 

I took a crew of four guys surfing, all with different styles (both in and out of the water) to test the elements on our skin and hair in the ocean, and then apply Jack Henry to see how it would hold up. It did not disappoint.

If you’ve never surfed, let me paint a quick picture. After surfing for hours, your body is in a state of exhausted ecstasy. Your arms are noodles, you’re probably sun-kissed, your skin and hair are caked with sea salt, you have most likely swallowed a gallon of sea-water, but you are all smiles and continuously telling your buddies the intimate details of each wave you caught.

I can honestly say that there are very few moments in life that make you feel the kind of raw energy that surfing does. With this energy comes confidence and a feeling of coolness. There is no getting around that as you walk off the beach, every surfer (whether they admit it or not) is attempting to embody the style and sexiness that it is to, in fact, be a surfer (think Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in Point Break). But in the past couple years, with the rise of sponsorships and social media, a new wave of surfers have emerged who aren’t just beach bums, but are stylish, crisp, successful, well-groomed beacons (now think Jack Freestone, Luke Davis, Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds...to name a few).  So with this rise, we are all looking for those products that allow you to shred in the morning or hit a sunset surf, throw in some pomade or beard oil, and head to get morning coffee or happy hour looking fresh.

After testing Jack Henry, it did just that, and in a way that directly appeals to the moral code and aesthetic of the surfing world. Jack Henry’s goal is to create the best product with the least amount of ingredients with zero harmful chemicals or toxic waste. Take their pomade for example, its ingredients are; beeswax, coconut oil, bentonite clay and laver essential oil. That's it.

Jack Henry has figured out a way to use minimal, natural ingredients, that give you supreme texture and incredible control that keeps your hair, skin and beard healthy and stylish after you just did real damage to it surfing (oh, and their product bottles are recyclable after you finish using it).

Not only did my crew and I get after it in the water, but we fully tested and fully approve the quality, style, aesthetic, company morals and overall coolness of Jack Henry. This brand understands what it means to cater to the active man who refuses to compromise style for movement, through activity.

Jamie O'Brien: Pushing Surfing to the Next Level

Jamie O’Brien, also known as J.O.B (@WHOISJOB), is pushing limits on his surfboard and conquering social media one wave at a time.  Scrimshaw gave Jamie a call recently to talk to him about his favorite waves, Red Bull’s increasingly popular and thrilling TV show - Who Is J.O.B, and how to live life like a free surfer.  He was calm and collected and gave a sense of appreciation and love for his craft throughout the whole interview.  Jamie is true professional speaking like a quintessential surfer who lives his life to the fullest.  So once initial niceties were exchanged, he was excited to answer any question we had:

For someone who has never been to Pipeline, what is paddling out like in ideal conditions (without tourists, boogie boarders, and kooks)?

When the waves are bumping, you have so much anxiety.  You are pre-meditating what kind of wave you are going to catch and what you are going to do, then you also have to think about what is going to happen.  There is this crazy buzz, like the highest buzz of your life, and then there is this buzz kill behind it dealing with the reality of everything at that moment.  It is unlike anything you have ever felt.

When you ride waves like Pipeline or Teahupoo, and others that are so heavy, do you have any specialty boards that you like to ride?  In your show (Who is J.O.B) you even ride soft tops and the SUPSquatch, how do you choose what to ride?

Shit, I get into rhythms with a board and it becomes my bread and butter, but it is so fun to go and challenge myself with all different boards.  The Catch Surf (@CATCHSURF) soft tops are so fun because they paddle really great and you can catch all the waves.

With all your boards and the ability to choose any wave, would you ever return to competitions, or do you feel that progressing as a free surfer is more your style still? 

I enjoy myself every day man, and I don’t have to go where I don’t want to go.  What the ASP (The Association of Surfing Professionals) is doing currently is really good for surfing but you know what, it’s not for everyone and to each there own, and I just choose to free surf and go with my own path.

Yea you kind of own that lifestyle and you are sponsored by these great companies who allow you to create your own TV show and surf where you want.

Yea it’s a blessing in the skies man, My dad raised me right here in Oahu (Home of Pipeline) and he taught me everything I know, whether its being a good person on land or whether its learning how to surf, he set me up in the right place.  It all worked out.

You said that it was a blessing that your dad raised you out there, was he also born in Hawaii?

So my dad was born in America, but grew up in Australia and met my mom, and she was from Australia.  And because of my family and Grandparents, we ended up here in Hawaii. 

Do you have duel citizenship?

Yea I am dual, and a real fun thing to do in Australia is I go to the bar and talk to someone and I’m like “Yeh, I’m Australian mate” (Australian accent). They bet me next couple rounds of drinks that I’m not, and I win every time.  Pull out my passport and boom. 

Hahaha, that’s amazing.  

Ah yea I love Australia man. The people, the surf, it’s a great place.

Nice, so would you ever live there or anywhere besides Hawaii?

Ah nah man, I love Hawaii.

That’s awesome.  Well we have to say, we have been watching your Red Bull TV show, Who is J.O.B, since the beginning.  Absolutely stellar stuff.  What prompted you to start this project?  Just that you lived this life and wanted to record everything?

You know, I was always into filming and have always enjoyed filming. It was like a year of me surfing and not really doing anything and the next thing you know, Red Bull has an idea and asked if I was into it.  I took my own initiative and time and really made sure it was a good show and quality content.  And each year I get more excited and think about it more and figure out what worked and what didn’t work and better what we do every year.  And I think that can really make it a success. 

Which is so commendable because not only are you bettering the show, but you guys are pushing the limits of surfing, like setting yourself on fire and surfing Teahupoo and surfing places most people wouldn’t go near.

You know I just think, everyone just does the same shit and we are just having fun.  People say we are like Jackass but it’s like saying every surfer is Kelly Slater.  What, just because we like to have fun?  We have the talent behind us both on and off screen and we have real passion about what we do. Shit, we just have fun and that’s amazing to run your life and show that way. 

You guys really do have such an awesome group.  Speaking of your group, we gotta know, how did you meet Poopies (Sean McInerny @Poopiesgram)?

Ha you know, I met him because there was this guy renting a room from me and the next thing I know, he has like 8 guys in the room, so I came over to the house to figure out what was going on.  Sure enough, Poopies was one of the 8 humans that were living in my house.  And I kicked everyone out, told them to beat it, except for my good friends.  And you know, Poopies kept just coming around after that and was just a real nice and a real chill and down dude.  I felt bad because his name was Poopies, so I was like, ‘yo man, you are a really cool guy, I will just call you Sean’ (his real name) and it just didn’t work, he’s just not a Sean, he’s Poopies. 

Haha, yea you guys have such a solid cast.  Between the filming and your social media presence with photography you guys are killing it.  Your pictures that you post from these photographers are just so epic.

The thing about it is we have just an amazing team and the people that I work with are so amazing and without them I wouldn’t be who I am.  As a group, we work together.  We are all about social media and great content, and we like to take pictures and show off our work.  I keep up on the surfing community and the following it is getting on social media and I was like shit, I am like top 5 most followed, which is really cool.  I think that goes to show, you don’t have to be the best surfer, but you could be great and have a great lifestyle and work really hard and people will enjoy watching it. 

Do you ever feel any pressure to entertain since you are top 5 and a big social media player? 

I think the hardest thing to do is to produce good content when you are taken out of your direct element.  Like when there are no waves.  Like right now, I feel like a fish out of water and am just trying to think of something that could keep the ball rolling.  Some days I don’t know what to post, but I need to keep people happy and put something out. 

So if there are no waves at home do you travel?  Like what’s the craziest place you have ever visited? Outside of the Island. 

I think South Africa is one of the craziest places I have ever visited.  There is so much diversity and culture there between the location and the people.  The waves are so epic and whether its crowded and huge or pristine and no one is out there, there are so many channels and it is crazy. 

Yea man, I stayed in South Africa for 6 months and everything about it is amazing.  From the people to surfing to just living there, it is so incredible. 

Yea South Africa is insane. 

Have you been a couple times?

I have been like 5 times.  I recently just visited for John-John’s (John-John Florence @John_John_Florence) new movie, View From a Blue Moon. 

Do you get to surf with the talent of John-John often or do you rather take trips with your crew or alone?

You know, I love surfing with John, and we surf together in the winter sometimes.  It’s awesome being able to push yourself with him.  I just like to surf and have fun.  Whether it’s on my boards or the SUPSquatch with my friends.  I just want to have fun man.  Surfing is like anything else and can be made boring, so I try and enjoy every second and make it as fun as possible.  That way I love what I am doing.

Well thanks man, for doing this.  We started Scrimshaw (@Scrimshaw_Collective) because we wanted to make our passions come to life.  It really means a lot to speak to you, someone who follows his passions and made it his livelihood. 

Yea no worries, glad I could help you guys out!