# Ad summary
This ad features Joe Marler, a well-known rugby player, sharing his personal journey with hair loss and how Manual products helped him regain his confidence and maintain his signature mohawk. He speaks directly to the camera in a podcast-style setting, interspersed with dynamic visuals showcasing his life and the product. The ad blends humor with a serious message about the emotional impact of hair loss on male identity, positioning Manual as the solution.
# Brand positioning
MANUAL is presented as a practical and emotionally supportive solution for men experiencing hair thinning or loss. The brand aims to occupy a space in the consumer's mind as a trusted partner in maintaining and restoring male identity through hair care, especially for those whose hair is a significant part of their self-expression. It aligns with values of authenticity, confidence, and individuality. The brand pushes against the societal norm of simply accepting hair loss by offering effective products as an alternative to shaving it all off. Its positioning is both functional, providing specific hair treatment products, and deeply emotional, connecting hair maintenance to self-confidence and unique identity.
# Product
The ad features three distinct products from the MANUAL brand: 'MANUAL Hair Treatment Spray,' 'MANUAL Hair Oral Treatment' (pills), and 'MANUAL Power Shampoo Revitalise & boost.' These products are presented as a comprehensive system designed to combat hair thinning and promote hair growth, ultimately bringing hair 'back to life.' The products are intended for men who are concerned about hair loss and wish to maintain or restore their hair's vitality and appearance, particularly those with distinct hairstyles like a mohawk. The ad implicitly addresses the purchase barrier of skepticism towards hair restoration products by showcasing a credible, relatable testimonial. The core USP is the ability to restore confidence and maintain personal identity through effective hair restoration.
# Visual style
The ad features a polished yet authentic visual style, blending professional studio shots with more casual, real-life footage and animated graphics. The editing is fast-paced with frequent jump cuts and dynamic transitions (blurs, zooms, wipes), maintaining a high energy level. Production quality is high, resembling a hybrid of a slick social media testimonial and a mini-documentary. Recurring visual motifs include the podcast-style talking head for narrative delivery and varied locations (outdoor field, changing room, home) to illustrate the speaker's life. The pacing is consistently quick, with cuts occurring every 1-3 seconds. Audio-visual sync is strong, with text overlays, sound effects, and visual actions precisely timed to the speaker's words and background music.
# Hooks
Spoken: please. Don't wait till it's gone.
Text overlay: Please, / Think it's too late? (chat bubble) / Sort it now. (arrow)
Visual: Medium shot of a bearded man with a mohawk (Joe Marler), wearing a dark grey t-shirt, seated at a dark desk with a black Shure microphone in front of him. The background is blurred with warm yellow-orange and cool teal-green lighting, suggesting a studio or podcast setting. The camera is stationary, slightly above eye level, providing a direct address. Text overlays appear and disappear with spoken words. He dramatically sings 'please' and then speaks directly to the camera with urgency, advising not to wait.
# Funnel stage
Middle of funnel (Consideration)
# Pain points
The central pain point addressed is hair thinning and the associated emotional distress and loss of confidence. This is expressed through: 'when it started to wane and thin, the panic set in.' and the dilemma 'Is it revivable? Can I get some help with it? Or should I just start Bicing my head and shaving it all off?'
# Value propositions
- Our hair is our identity (Emotional connection and self-expression)
- It is a big part of who we are (Emphasizes importance of hair to self-image)
- fueling my narcissism and my attention seeking, 'cause it's different. No one else has got it. (Highlights uniqueness and confidence derived from hair)
- This is part of who I am. In the same way your fingerprint is part of who you are. It's unique. (Elevates hair to a fundamental aspect of identity and individuality)
- to bring back to life my mohawk that I've loved for so long (Restoration of cherished personal style and history)
# Benefits
- Brought my hair back to life
- Get to a place of confidence with my hair
- Maintenance of normal hair
# Features
- Hair Treatment Spray
- Hair Oral Treatment
- Power Shampoo Revitalise & boost
- Use daily
# Call to action
Join the crew.
# Social proof
- Don't wait till it's gone. Sort it now. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- Our hair is our identity. It is a big part of who we are. Particularly as men. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- My mohawk that I've loved for so long. So many years. Starting off when I was young, I was like, Mowhawk That's my thing. This is fueling my narcissism and my attention seeking, 'cause it's different. No one else has got it. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- When it started to wane and thin, the panic set in. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- I need some help. Is it revivable? Can I get some help with it? Or should I just start Bicing my head and shaving it all off? – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- And then Manual came along and have brought me back to life. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- Without Manual, I don't think I'd have been able to get to a place of confidence with my hair without their help to bring back to life my mohawk that I've loved for so long. – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
- TRY MANUAL (LIKE I DID) – Joe Marler (Creator/Customer)
# Point of view
- Customer 80% – The ad is predominantly a personal testimonial from Joe Marler, sharing his journey, emotions, and direct experience with hair loss and the Manual products.
- Brand 20% – Product shots, the brand name reveal, and the final branding screen present information directly from the Manual brand.
# Storyline
- 00:00–00:05 The ad opens with Joe Marler dramatically singing 'please' and then speaking urgently, advising viewers, 'Don't wait till it's gone. Sort it now.' This sets an immediate tone of urgency and highlights the problem of hair loss, urging proactive action. The speaker is Joe Marler, conveying a serious but also slightly humorous and pleading tone from a direct, testimonial perspective.
- 00:05–00:09 Marler transitions to a more serious reflection, stating, 'Our hair is our identity. It is a big part of who we are, particularly as men.' This establishes the deep emotional connection between hair and male identity, framing hair loss as a significant personal issue. The perspective remains Joe Marler's, but the tone shifts to reflective and insightful, making the audience empathize with the emotional weight of the topic.
- 00:09–00:15 He then shares his personal connection, describing his mohawk as something he's 'loved for so long. So many years.' This personalizes the narrative, showing that his 'mohawk' is not just a hairstyle but a long-standing part of his self-image. Marler's tone is nostalgic and proud, inviting the audience to understand his attachment.
- 00:15–00:18 Through a quick visual animation, a bald head transforms into a mohawk as Marler narrates, 'Starting off when I was young, I was like, oh I love that mohawk, that's my thing.' This visualizes the early stages of his identity formation around his hair, adding a humorous and relatable touch to his journey. The perspective is Marler's recounting his past, with a lighthearted tone.
- 00:18–00:23 The ad showcases Marler in various confident poses (on a lawnmower, smiling broadly), as he explains his mohawk is 'fueling my narcissism and my attention seeking, 'cause it's different. No one else has got it.' This reinforces the idea that his unique hair contributes to his confidence and distinctiveness, highlighting the positive impact of his personal style. Joe Marler's tone is confident and self-assured, bordering on boastful, making the audience appreciate the pride he takes in his hair.
- 00:23–00:28 Marler returns to the podcast setting, and an animated graphic illustrates hair thinning, as he explains, 'when it started to wane and thin, the panic set in.' This directly introduces the problem of hair loss and the emotional distress it caused him, contrasting sharply with his earlier confidence. His tone becomes serious and concerned, conveying the sudden shift from pride to anxiety.
- 00:28–00:35 He then articulates the common dilemma of men facing hair loss: 'I need some help. Is it revivable? Can I get some help with it? Or should I just start Bicing my head and shaving it all off?' This expresses a profound pain point and sense of hopelessness, making his struggle highly relatable. Marler's tone is pensive and exasperated, inviting the audience to share in his uncertainty.
- 00:35–00:39 A visual montage introduces the 'MANUAL' products, followed by an animated heart and heartbeat graphic, as Marler states, 'And then Manual came along and have brought me back to life.' This marks the turning point in the narrative, presenting Manual as the hero product that offers a solution to his problem. His tone shifts to one of relief and gratitude, indicating the product's positive impact.
- 00:40–00:43 Marler humorously clarifies, 'Well, brought my hair back to life. Not me. Although, maybe?' This self-correction adds a lighthearted touch, acknowledging that while the product helped his hair, it also had a broader impact on his overall well-being. The humorous tone maintains relatability and reinforces the emotional benefit without being overly dramatic.
- 00:43–00:48 He reflects on a past misconception: 'And I always used to think but as if your hair actually makes a difference to who you are.' He quickly dismisses this thought, leading into the next point about the importance of hair. His tone is reflective, setting up a deeper insight into self-perception.
- 00:48–00:55 Visuals show Marler confidently in rugby attire as he emphatically declares, 'No. This is part of who I am. In the same way your fingerprint is part of who you are. It's unique.' This powerful statement reaffirms the profound link between hair and personal identity, likening it to something as unique and fundamental as a fingerprint. Marler's tone is strong, confident, and assertive, solidifying the emotional value proposition.
- 00:55–01:03 Marler holds up a sign that says 'TRY MANUAL (LIKE I DID)' and asserts, 'Without Manual, I don't think I'd have been able to get to a place of confidence with my hair.' This is a direct, clear testimonial, offering social proof and emphasizing the product's role in his renewed self-assurance. His confident and sincere tone directly endorses the product's effectiveness.
- 01:03–01:10 Close-ups of the Manual products are shown as Marler reiterates, 'without their help to bring back to life my mohawk that I've loved for so long.' This ties the specific products directly to the restoration of his cherished hairstyle, reinforcing their efficacy and personal relevance. The tone is grateful and appreciative.
- 01:10–01:17 In a humorous and memorable close, Marler introduces himself, 'I'm Joe Marler,' then points to his mohawk and names it 'Martin the mohawk,' finally pointing to the products and stating, 'And this is Manual.' This personalized and endearing approach makes the brand and the story even more memorable. His charismatic and humorous tone creates a strong, positive association.
- 01:17–01:18 The ad concludes with Marler extending an invitation: 'Join the crew.' This serves as a direct call to action, fostering a sense of community and inviting others to experience the benefits of Manual. His tone is friendly and inclusive.