David Gandy—the male supermodel who redefined an entire industry—recently sat down for a refreshingly candid conversation that covered everything from mercury poisoning to the manosphere.
And yes, he attempted the ultimate girl dad challenge: the pints and ponytail hairstyle.
In a wide-ranging interview on The Beauty Desk podcast with beauty director Sarah Jossel, Gandy opened up about his beauty routines, parenting philosophies, mental health advocacy, and what it’s really like being married to a Greek barrister when you’re intolerant to chickpeas.
Spoiler: hummus was involved.
Jump to:
- The Supermodel Who Lives on Mousse (Yes, Really)
- Skin Care Secrets From a Face Worth Millions
- On Aging, Botox, and Never Say Never
- The Mercury Poisoning Incident (Sort Of)
- The Extreme Pre-Shoot Ritual: Salt Depletion
- Life as a Girl Dad: Spray Tans, Ponytails, and Parenting
- Raising Boys in the Age of the Manosphere
- Mental Health, Masculinity, and Being a Gentleman
- The Wellwear Revolution: Fashion Meets Wellness
The Supermodel Who Lives on Mousse (Yes, Really)
After 25 years in the modeling industry, Gandy has accumulated a loyal fanbase that borders on devotional. But when asked about his beauty essentials, his answers were surprisingly down-to-earth.
First up? Hair mousse—specifically Larry King’s Nana’s Mousse.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Larry introduced me to mousse. A lot of your hair is down to your haircut. A lot of men will focus on products, but actually if you’ve got the right haircut and hair drying as well, all Larry used to put on my hair was mousse and then just dry it.
Gandy explained that celebrity hairstylist Larry King essentially uses him as a guinea pig for new products, joking that his products should read “not tested on animals, tested on David Gandy.”
As for dyeing his hair? Not happening—at least not yet. Gandy embraces his emerging salt-and-pepper look, noting that men have the luxury of aging differently than women when it comes to grey hair.
Skin Care Secrets From a Face Worth Millions
Gandy’s skincare lineup includes heavy hitters like Dr. Sebagh’s Deep Clearing Mask and SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque, which he describes as miraculous.
But he’s also realistic about the fact that many men find skincare conversations intimidating or overly complicated.
Men struggle to talk full stop, but skincare regime also yes, very much. It’s too girly to talk about it.
One revelation? Gandy used to scrub his face with exfoliants—until a facialist friend who worked with Disney actors told him he was literally scratching grooves into his skin. She steered him toward enzyme cleansers instead, which he now uses once or twice a week.
He’s also embraced treatments like micro-needling, courtesy of his go-to aesthetician Rachel, and even gets his eyebrows trimmed now—a milestone he likened to his grandfather’s grooming routine.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
On Aging, Botox, and Never Say Never
When asked about his relationship with his own reflection, Gandy admitted he views himself almost like a third party—critiquing campaigns and always thinking about how to improve.
His biggest hang-ups? His nose and his inability to grow a full beard.
I’ve never liked my nose. I’ve never been able to grow a full beard. I have Satan’s goatee—like that’s it, it’s never really filled in. So I’m always quite jealous of a good beard.
As for cosmetic work, Gandy hasn’t had anything done yet—but he’s not ruling it out.
I haven’t had anything done so far. I’m not going to say I won’t. I think people can tell I haven’t had a facelift. But I understand now that intrusive procedures don’t need to happen. There’s little touches of filler and Botox—whatever makes people feel better.
He’s fully supportive of anyone doing what makes them feel confident, emphasizing that confidence is the ultimate goal—whether that comes from skincare, subtle injectables, or a great outfit.
The Mercury Poisoning Incident (Sort Of)
In one of the interview’s more surprising moments, Jossel brought up an old story about Gandy suffering mercury poisoning from eating too much tuna.
Turns out, it wasn’t quite that dramatic.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
We had tuna steak for lunch and the restaurant had to close down for a while. It wasn’t from eating too much. It was just a one-off.
Still, the story highlights Gandy’s remarkably clean approach to diet. He practices intermittent fasting—though he bristles at the trendy label, insisting he’s simply never eaten breakfast.
The Extreme Pre-Shoot Ritual: Salt Depletion
Gandy revealed one of the modeling industry’s lesser-known secrets: salt depletion.
Used by actors like Hugh Jackman to achieve that shredded Wolverine look, the technique involves drinking excessive amounts of water while avoiding salt and food for up to two days before a shoot.
You feel awful. But it does work because you’re dehydrated to the skin. You can’t have your muscles pumped out without carbohydrates, so you’ve got to get it just right.
Gandy did it for his final Dolce & Gabbana campaigns—and said the bowl of pasta afterward tasted incredible.
But he’s quick to caution: dehydration isn’t healthy, and he’s never taken extreme dieting to dangerous levels.
Life as a Girl Dad: Spray Tans, Ponytails, and Parenting
Gandy is father to two daughters, Isabella and Matilda, with his wife Stephanie Mendoros—a Greek barrister who, he jokes, has the messier bedside table.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The couple met through friends a decade ago, and Stephanie sees him as the gardening, furniture-rearranging husband—not the global icon.
She used to say, ‘You literally have another life after I go to sleep,’ because I couldn’t sleep. So I used to get up and move stuff around.
His daughters are adventurous eaters—they love olives, edamame, and even tried fish eyes and sea urchin during a family trip to Greece last year.
As for their potential modeling futures? Gandy says they can decide at 18—but he believes the industry as he knew it may not even exist by then, thanks to influencers, digital models, and AI.
The Girl Dad Challenge: Plaits and Ponytails
In a lighthearted finale, Gandy attempted the viral “pints and ponytails” challenge—where dads learn to style their daughters’ hair.
The results? Let’s just say his wife usually handles morning hair duties.
I do their hair and they go, ‘Can you get Mommy to do hair?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes.’
Still, he managed a respectable attempt—and joked that he should’ve asked his close friend, celebrity hairstylist Larry King, for lessons years ago.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Raising Boys in the Age of the Manosphere
While Gandy is raising daughters, he’s deeply concerned about the pressures facing young men today—particularly the rise of the so-called “manosphere.”
Their content’s crap, but they’re getting young men to listen. Now we need to talk to young men, but we need their content to be positive—about positive masculinity, not toxic masculinity.
Gandy argues that traits like competitiveness and ambition are often unfairly labeled as “toxic,” when in fact they’re biological and positive—celebrated in sports but demonized in everyday life.
He advocates for better male role models, more listening (not just talking), and earlier intervention to support young men’s mental health.
Mental Health, Masculinity, and Being a Gentleman
Gandy has been open about experiencing “dark periods” and believes it’s crucial for men to know that mental health struggles affect everyone—regardless of success, wealth, or status.
You could have the most wonderful life in the world—the money, the success, the career, the families, the wives—and they committed suicide.
His own role model was a woman—Sandi Anderson from Select modeling agency—and he credits his parents, especially his mother (a former Samaritan), with teaching him the value of listening without judgment.
Gandy’s mission? To help parents, teachers, and friends recognize the signs of mental health struggles earlier—and to create space for men to be vulnerable without shame.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Wellwear Revolution: Fashion Meets Wellness
Gandy’s latest venture, David Gandy Wellwear, combines apparel with wellness technology—infusing fabrics with aloe vera, antibacterial properties, and anti-odor treatments.
His partnership with Marks & Spencer continues to thrive, with knits and woolens on the horizon for 2027 (yes, fashion moves that far ahead).
Clothes give you confidence—whether that is following a trend or wearing something that feels good or has great quality. It doesn’t matter. It gives you confidence, and that’s the main thing.
For Gandy, style isn’t superficial—it’s deeply connected to how we feel, present ourselves, and move through the world.
And after 25 years in the spotlight, he’s still redefining what it means to be a modern man—one mousse application, spray tan, and ponytail attempt at a time.
