Essential Grooming Tips Every Guy Should Know
The easiest way to enhance one’s appearance is with basic, everyday maintenance. (Photo: Getty Images)
Many new beauty products claim to be the latest miracle, from serums to save your skin to treatments for whiter teeth. And while it’s fun to try exciting new treatments, it turns out the easiest way to enhance one’s appearance is with basic, everyday maintenance. Just like changing oil in your car, it’s about regular habits, not necessarily fancy products. I’ve asked four industry experts to reveal the routines every well-groomed man should be practicing.
Hair
Great barbers will ask questions, but if not, make sure you take a direct approach — it’s your hair. “It’s easy to make sure your haircut is impeccable every time. What’s required is a little dose of planning and a few facts to remember to tell your barber,” says Matthew Smith a New York based barber.
The next time your barber asks what you would like, be direct about how you want your hair to look and feel. Tell them how long it has been since your last haircut. And finally, tell your barber about you and your lifestyle.
Skin Care
“The sun is great for plants but not so great for humans,” says Dr. Furqan Tejani, an adjunct associate professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Men who want to look as good for as long as possible, remember to protect your skin from sun damage on a daily basis using sunscreen. The importance of using both UVB and UVA protection cannot be emphasized enough. “As we age, the SPF number should be higher and this is just to be safe, as skin cancer is not an easy disease to live with, and there are many types of sun protection, you decide the ones that are the most reputable,” says Tejani. A quick swipe of sunscreen after the shower is an easy step that takes little time and in the long run, could be lifesaving. Opt for a daily moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15.
Flossing
When you break it down, flossing is not hard. It’s one of the best (and easiest) ways to maintain no only the health of your gums and teeth, but also your smile — yet we are all too lazy to do it. The American Academy of Periodontology says that over a third of Americans would rather clean a toilet than floss. Clean a toilet. As men, we have to get our priorities straight.
“Flossing is like showering — not something you avoid at all costs or indulge in only, say, once a week,” says Dr. Michael Cote, a New York based dentist. “As a stylish, reasonable, educated guy, you put a lot of effort into taking care of your health and appearance.” However, men consistently rank oral care low on their priority lists and we need to change this. “Firstly, make sure you’re brushing twice daily. Floss at night, but if you’re doing it once every day, the timing matters less. It isn’t a sexy activity, but getting it done is what’s really important,” says Cote.
Fragrance
Fragrances have a shelf life on the skin of several hours, so you want to select yours carefully. “Fragrances have a language and as a man your mission is to find a scent that speaks for you. In other words, a scent that extends who you are without you speaking a word,” says Luis Cavallo of Creed Boutique. Cavallo
For a guy in his 20s who is trying to figure out his path in life, Cavallo recommends a clean and trendy fragrance. Try something like YSL L’Homme ($54). “The gentlemen in his 30’s are masters of their universe, so they think and a fragrance that is bolder than what you find in a magazine strip is required,” he says. His pick? Creed Aventus ($380). And for the gent in his 40s? Cavallo says to look for something refined, established and secure like Chanel Pour Monsieur ($88), Creed Green Irish Tweed ($370), or Guerlain Vetiver ($74).
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