We're halfway there. We've reached the middle of the baseball season, with last night's All-Star Game and the night before's Home Run Derby marking the occasion. On hand for the festivities on Monday was pitcher C.J. Wilson from the Angels of Anaheim, a past All-Star participant himself and spokesperson for the official shampoo of Major League Baseball, Head & Shoulders (who knew?). Lady Esquire™ caught up with the renaissance man (who counts photography, car racing and writing among his many off-the-field interests) to talk hair, style, and... Canadian advertising restrictions? Read on to find out what that means.

Esquire.com: So the Home Run Derby was a Monday night — any high points for you?

CJ Wilson: I was actually watching from my hotel room. The last two years I was there on the field with my camera taking photos of all the hitters. You know, all the guys that aren't participating are kind of just hanging out, so it's kind of funny to be a spectator as a guy hits a homer and comes back to the bench and he's got guys from all of the 14 other teams giving him high-fives.

ESQ: Speaking of photography, I hear that's only one of your many off-the-field interests along with travel, racing, and learning other languages — pretty atypical hobbies for a jock.

CJ: Yeah, I've been into photography for years and I do it as often as possible. I'm just trying to develop myself. I take my camera pretty much everywhere and try to get the most diverse photos possible, since I get to travel to all the greatest cities in the country and see iconic architecture and things like that. I also like racing photos — like motorcycles, cars, stuff like that.

ESQ: What about people, or portraits? You're engaged to a model, Lisalla Montenegro. Does she ever pose for you?

CJ: Sometimes, but only to help me out. She's trying to coach me a little bit but my aspiration isn't to be some fashion photographer or anything. I think that's a space that's occupied by people that have a full-time commitment to the industry. You have to really be 100% invested to be successful in that industry.

ESQ: OK, so you're the new spokesperson for Head & Shoulders — a "Mane Man" as they call it. How did that relationship come about? Did they scope you out based on your hairline?

CJ: Well, I'd like to think that I was in the mix because of my awesome hair, but really, they're an official partner of Major League Baseball, so the last couple of years they've been using mostly baseball players. Once the opportunity came my way, I jumped at it because I've seen what they did with [NFL player] Troy Polamalu. I was like, Wow, if I can do anything half as good as that, it would be a good benefit for me and the charity.

ESQ: What's been the response to your TV spots so far? Head & Shoulders is known having a sense of humor about their product and their guy.

CJ: Totally. The response definitely varies but all my friends and a lot of the players think they're great. They think it's funny that I have such immaculate hair in the commercial because that's not usually the case.

ESQ: It does look really good. Definitely not hat-head, like we expect from a ballplayer.

CJ: Exactly. In the real world — unlike in the commercial — I prevent that by taking off my cap between innings.

ESQ: So do you feel pressure to always have a perfect head of hair now?

CJ: Well, I wouldn't say it's pressure, but it's definitely a responsibility. Luckily, whenever I feel the urge to cut it or change it up, I can just call up their on-staff hairstylist Sunny, and she takes care of me. Free haircuts are definitely a nice perk.

ESQ: Indeed. I hear another perk is that it actually smells nice.

CJ: My fiancée loves the way my hair smells now.

ESQ: What's the slogan of the campaign? Something about smelling handsome?

CJ: "You're 100% flake-free while smelling 100% handsome" — though in Canada it's just "flake-free" because you can't say "100%" there. I didn't know that until filmed the commercial and I had to do a Canadian version.

ESQ: How bizarre, I need to Wikipedia that. What about the rest of your grooming routine? Are you at the age where you're starting to think about skincare? You're outside in the sun a lot.

CJ: Oh yeah. I grew up in Southern California so I was always at the beach and outdoors. I remember my dad laying around the pool baking; he was practically George Hamilton. So, I always try to put on sunscreen because I don't want to be all wrinkled. I don't want to look like an old baseball glove when I'm 60. I also shave often to stay looking fresh-faced. I mean, I can't be one of those hipster guys with a beard when I have a hair campaign. I strive to look a little bit more… all-American.

ESQ: You're known for always matching your glove to your jersey when you pitch. It was a blue glove when you were with the Rangers, and now red with the Angels. Is this a style choice? Or, like most things with athletes, is it a ritual of sorts for good luck?

CJ: Oh that's fully for style. Most guys wear a black glove or a brown glove, but a couple of years ago when I was on the Rangers I went to Japan on the off-season and found this sporting goods store where they had all these crazy custom gloves. So I had one made and I brought it back and gave it to the guys at Wilson and asked them to make me one. I'm a pitcher, so the glove is my only accessory. The hitters get to have all the fun. They have batting helmets, the actual bats, gloves, elbow guards — all this cool stuff to wear. And all I get is a glove.

ESQ: What about your off-duty style? Are you more of a jeans and T-shirt guy or do you like dressing up?

CJ: It depends. Definitely both. Like today, it's extremely hot so I'm in a comfortable head-to-toe Lululemon outfit. But I like wearing custom suits and I'm working with this new guy who I'm doing some funky stuff with. If I'm just dressing up for fun or in the off-season, I style it out a little more outrageously, like with camo or other weird details. But for awards shows, or when I'm traveling or representing the team, I stick with something more traditional. Looking good is important. We're our own premium brand as professional athletes, so you want to be thoughtful about presentation and represent yourself and your city and sport as best you can.