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AskMen Turns 20: All About the Year 1999

1999 was a year that will go down in history as the last good year of the twentieth century. That’s a quite literal statement seeing as it was the last year of the century, but we digress. Once the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2000, the world did not in fact end, we could still party hard — regardless of what the Prince had to say about it — and we got to start retraining our brain to write 20 instead of 19 when writing out the dates on our checks. Oh yeah, we still used checks. 

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The year 1999 had a lot of great things going for it, before all the never ending social media, taking shoes off to get through airport security and self-driving car crashes, 1999 brought us one of the most important things in the history of the entire world — AskMen. OK, maybe not one of the most important things, but pretty damn great. But not the AskMen you see before you today. This was an AskMen started in a coffee shop in Montreal, Canada by Ricardo Poupada and Christopher Rovny with one mission in mind that still rings true today, 20 years later — being a better man. 

So what was going on in 1999 all around founders Poupada and Rovny to consciously or subconsciously influence their AskMen decision making? We took a deep dive into the last year of the twentieth century to see what we wore, what we watched and how we worked. 

What We Wore in 1999

In 1999, we were seeing the decline of grunge and JNCOs (or so we thought) and the rise of Americana pop stars like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. These young faces were setting new rules that would go on into the 2000s. Inspiration was also coming from movies such as “The Matrix” and “10 Things I Hate About You” which were stylishly stripped down versions of their predecessors like “Total Recall” and “Empire Records,” also ‘90s movies, but in a totally different sense.  

American Designers Were in High Demand 

Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger

Trips to the Mall Were Common

GAP, Abercrombie and Fitch, Journeys

Outfits Were Comfortable, Not Complicated

3-4 Button Blazer, Tommy Hilfiger Jeans, Black Leather Coat

What We Watched in 1999

Well, whatever we watched, chances are we watched it either in the theatres or on a VHS rented from Blockbuster. TiVo was out, but just barely — it was launched in January 1999. So unless you were literally the coolest kid in school, you were probably checking out the social scene at Blockbuster on a Friday night like the rest of us. If you were one of those guys who wanted to get out of the house and go the multiplex at the mall, then believe it or not, you were only dropping $5 on average for the price of admission — it’s almost double that today.

Best TV Shows of 1999

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Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ER, Friends

Top Grossing Films of 1999

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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, Toy Story 2

Oscar-Winning Movies in 1999

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American Beauty, Boys Don’t Cry, The Matrix

Top News Stories of 1999

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President Clinton was acquitted, JFK Jr.’s plane crashed, Jeff Bazos won “Time” magazine’s Man of the Year Award

Top Sports Stories of 1999

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Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl, New York Yankees won the World Series, Women's Soccer Team won the World Cup

What We Were Listening to in 1999

If you were an audiophile in 1999, chances are you were rocking out to the sweet tunes coming from your Sony Walkman, since there wasn’t an Apple product to provide music out of thin air. The latin invasion of 1999 was launched by heartthrob Ricky Martin, formerly of boy group Menudo, who would later come out as gay in 2010. Other latin superstars such as Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez (pre J. Lo) soon followed suit. 

Just because Martin broke out of his boy band doesn’t mean the boy band-formula wasn’t still going strong. We have that formula to thank for bands such as LFO, Hanson, 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men, *NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys. In fact, The Backstreet Boys broke the record for highest sales in the first week of release with their fourth album Millennium. It sold over 1.5 million copies in the first week, which was a record previously held by Garth Brooks.

A Few Top Songs of 1999

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“Believe” by Cher, “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears, “Every Morning” by Sugar Ray

A Few Grammy Song Winners of 1999

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Smooth by Santana feat. Rob Thomas, No Scrubs by TLC, Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers

A Few Grammy Album Winners of 1999

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Supernatural by Santana, Fanmail by TLC, Fly by Dixie Chicks 

What We Ate in 1999

1999 didn’t bring any groundbreaking culinary cuisines our way — with the game-changing exception of the Subway fast-food diet invented by now-convicted child sex offender Jared Fogle. However, foods we think of as the total norm today, such as sun-ripened tomatoes and calamari, were fresh on consumers minds in ‘99. 

Where We Were Getting Our Food in 1999

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Kroger, Subway, Starbucks

The Foods We Loved in 1999  

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Red Bell Peppers, Crab Cakes, Cosmos

How We Worked in 1999

In 1999, under then President Clinton, the U.S. economy entered its 9th year of expansion, unemployment was at a 30-year low at 4.1 percent (only slightly higher than the 3.7 we see today). More than half of all job growth in 1999 was in services, and companies that provide services to businesses led the way — perhaps a sign of the service-based economy that was to come with Uber, Seamless and of course, Amazon (which was founded in 1999 — coincidence?). 

Wall Street stocks closed out 1999 — literally on Friday, December 31 — at an all-time peak after a century of unprecedented growth punctuated by two market crashes, the longest-running stock rally in history and the emergence of technology companies as future leaders to come.

Technology Developments that Changed Our Lives in 1999

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BlackBerry, USB Drives, Apple iBook

Internet Launches That Changed Our Lives in 1999

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Internet Explorer 5, Napster, MySpace 

With all that has gone on since AskMen launched as a humble site for the modern man in 1999, we have to wonder, what will the modern man be thinking about 2019 in 20 years time? We hope the footprint we have left so far has helped men become better versions of themselves, and we hope the steps we take in the future will only keep the trend going. 

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I Got Botox to Stop Sweating and This Is What I Learned

We’re all sitting here in the middle of one of the most sizzling summers ever. As we come off of the hottest June on record, we quickly head into a heatwave that is seemingly sparing no one the world over, including the United Kingdom, Europe — especially the Netherlands and France — Canada and the U.S. Hell, the heatwave affecting India and Pakistan has its own Wikipedia page. 

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No, this is not about climate change, although maybe it should be. Instead, this is about a big step I took in the name of vanity to deal with the insufferable heat this summer has brought on: I got armpit Botox. That’s right. That tolerable toxin made famous by a certain set of Housewives has many more uses than just keeping you looking young forever(ish). 

I’m not a stranger to Botox, as you might have seen when I tried it in my face for the first time, but in my armpits? This is new, even for me, an editor who gets in early on a lot of the men’s grooming trends going around. But as I’ve been taking my early morning walks to the office through the humid New York City streets with temperatures in the 90s by 9 a.m., I decided it was time for drastic measures which lead to trying this whole armpit Botox thing. 

After researching so I could find the right doctor for me — a critical step for any medical procedure — I found Lara Devgan M.D., M.P.H, a board-certified, Yale-educated plastic and reconstructive surgeon. I felt that in order to really learn why this is an alternative to antiperspirants for so many, I should speak with one of the best. 

“Because New York summers are so warm, a lot of my patients focus on doing it seasonally in the hottest time of the year,” Devgan told me. OK, I’m convinced.   

What Is Botox?

Botox, a type of botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein that prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, that causes what is called flaccid paralysis. In other words, it prevents muscle contractions where it’s injected resulting in minor muscle paralyzation. 

Botulinum toxin is frequently used to paralyze facial muscles resulting in relaxed lines and wrinkles, but it is also FDA approved to treat overactive bladder symptoms, reduce increased muscle stiffness, prevent migraines and of course, treat the symptoms of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, more commonly referred to as severe underarm sweating.

Similar to Band Aid, Kleenex, Q-Tip and Jell-O, Botox is a brand that has become a genericized term for a specific botulinum toxin and whereas the most popular brand is Botox, there are others to choose from. “For this procedure, [your doctor can use] Botox, Dysport, Xeomin or Jeuveau,” Devgan explains. “There are four neuromodulators that are FDA approved in the United States. They all work, essentially, interchangeably, so they can all be used for this purpose.”

Why Get Hyperhidrosis Treatments 

“There has been a huge upsurge in the practice among the Wall Street type of guy,” Devgan tells us about the type of men coming in to get this specialized Botox treatment. “Also a lot of male patients who are planning summers away and also people who have a big special event. And grooms,” she adds. “You know, so [they] don't mess up [their] tux.”

I’m going to be straight with you guys — I don’t wear antiperspirant (outside of the occasional trial runs of various brands for work). It’s not because of the inconclusive health research about aluminium, but instead, because the aluminium in antiperspirants (that’s what separates them from deodorants) is what causes yellow irreversible pit stains in tees and dress shirts. I’m not here for that. I may not be on Wall Street or getting married anytime soon, but those yellow underarm stains are the pits regardless. 

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Most of the time a good deodorant works just fine for me (see some of my favorite here) but there are times, such as this summer, I have been in need of a little added protection. I realize that those of us that sweat a reasonable amount are the majority here, but according to a 2016 study, 4.8 percent — 15.3 million —  of people in the U.S. suffer from hyperhidrosis in some form from their armpits, palms of their hands or their soles of their feet, and it’s thought that only about half discuss their condition with their healthcare provider, suggesting that the actual prevalence is likely higher due to being underreported. 

Pitting out your shirt every now and then can be embarrassing, but for these 15.3 million people, it can really take its toll on their lives. So whereas new antiperspirant innovations such as the once-a-week Dr. Sweat deodorant pads that use 15 percent aluminum chloride may be the added oomph some people need, others will benefit from talking to their doctor. 

How Does Armpit Botox Work

“So we look at where the care bearing portion of the axilla [or armpit] is and because these axillary hairs are the ones that have apocrine sweat glands at the base of them so that means that they are responsible not only for sweat but also for odor.” Yes, this means once I receive the treatment in that meaty, fleshy part of my armpit, not only will it reduce sweat, it will also reduce odor. It really is a win in the fight against funky pits.

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A post shared by Dr. Lara Devgan, MD, MPH, FACS (@laradevganmd) on Jul 18, 2019 at 6:41am PDT

When Botox is injected into the armpit, it keeps the muscles involved with sweat production from working at full capacity. I was surprised with how the process didn’t hurt at all. It was absolutely fine. I was in and out of the chair in 15 minutes, and it would have been less if I wasn’t asking Devgan all the questions I’m laying out here. Sure, there was a little pinch once or twice, but it was far less than I was expecting. She gave me about nine tiny injections in each armpit totaling 30 units each, and that was it. 

Just like Botox anywhere else, it doesn’t kick in immediately. My results took about five days, but the results in others can take anywhere from three to seven days. I can attest that on my sweaty walk to work this morning, my pits were not dripping down my torso. Was I sweating? Sure, a little — it is a mile long walk in the summer after all — but not nearly as much as I have been and not any more in other areas such as my chest, back or feet. 

Are There Botox Side Effects

There can be, of course, as there are with most procedures performed by doctors, which is why it’s important not just to take my word on things, but to find a doctor you trust. But the main misconception about getting Botox in armpits is that this will result in more sweat other places. 

Not the case, according to Devgan: “[A] decrease in sweating in the armpits has no meaningful difference on your overall homeostasis in the body,” she says, putting to rest the myth that decreasing armpit sweat will make you sweat more in other areas of the body. “[People ask] 'Am I going to die because I'm not sweating?' You're going to be okay, [I say]. You're going to be fine,” she confirms. But how is this possible? 

“A palm size area is about one percent of total body surface area,” explains Devgan. “So if you look at your hand and put it all over your body; it’s like, one percent ... that's a good sort of easy way to estimate percentages. So the armpit's total will represent that one percent of total body surface area.” 

Botox for Sweat Results 

My short answer: I love the results. My long answer? Well … It starts with cost, and the question “is Botox expensive” is a hard one to answer. Devgan offers a flat rate for 50 units, and the price increases from there. Remember, I received 60 units total, 30 in each armpit. 

The fact of the matter is any doctor is able to charge any price they want, so “price” can become arbitrary pretty quickly — especially because most cost analysis found through a quick Google search are categorized by facial areas, not units or other body parts. Depending on where you live, what level of experience your doctor has and how much you need, the price can vary by hundreds of dollars. 

Would I get Botox injections in my armpits again? I’m not opposed, but I’m also aware that I’m not the ideal candidate. It has sure helped me with summer sweat, but as Devgan explained, I wouldn’t feel the need to have this anytime other than the three hottest months of summer, which happens to be just about as long as a good dose of Botox lasts.

That said, with rising temperatures seemingly becoming our new normal, maybe the popularity of this procedure will grow not only among the people getting it, but how often they’re getting it as well. 

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JNCO Jeans Are Back and More Expensive Than Ever

Like it or not, the ‘90s continue to influence our fashion choices of now, and you can add one iconic (or ironic?) anti-style staple for high school ravers and skaters to the mix — JNCOs. You read that correctly, JNCOs. Let that sink in. The brand that helped pave the way for fights as to who had the widest pant legs wants you to start that discussion all over again.

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JNCO

We do mean you, and not the high schoolers of today, because whereas these jeans used to compete in price with the likes of The Gap, American Eagle and Hot Topic, JNCO now expects you to start dropping the kind of cash typically reserved for rag & bone, A.P.C. and AG Jeans. These reinvented JNCOs will now set you back between $130 and $250 for most and even up to $350 for limited edition and collector’s styles — presumably due to the sheer volume of denim required to make a single pair.

This leaves us to quote the words of one omnipresent '90s mantra: “Daaaaamn, Gina!”

JNCO

JNCOs were still going up until 2014 when the brand was licensed to the Chinese company Guotai Litian Group. In 2015, Guotai Litian Group tried for a comeback, but according to loyalists who still knew the brand existed, quality had gone down. HuffPost, reports that this is what led to vintage JNCOs becoming quite popular on sites such as ebay, going for as much as hundreds of dollars. But remember, with all of this, OG JNCOs would only set you back between $65 and $75 according to a 1997 catalog listing Jezebel recently published.

JNCO

The JNCO reboot will not only include a refreshed version style we loved (then hated and apparently are now expected to love again) but also hoodies and shirts renisiant of those it made in the ‘90s as well. So what makes this new version different from the JNCO of yore? For one, glow-in-the-dark-ness. Yep, you can leave your glow sticks at home because some new styles have glow-in-the-dark stripes sewn right on, as well as new washes and patches designed for today’s raver, skater, poser and beyond.

This is a lot to take in, and we are not sure what we think about *this* particular trend of the ‘90s making such a big, oversized, excessive comeback, but we would be lying if we said we weren’t interested to see how it all goes. For those of us raised in the '90s, JNCOs bring back some serious nostalgia — but not all middle school and high school nostalgia needs to be rehashed for the sake of “fashion.” Only time will tell if these new JNCOs become all the rave — we mean rage — again.

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