Simplicity, good taste and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money.
– Christian Dior
The importance of grooming is far too often underappreciated by men.
Your clothing may speak for your style. But grooming speaks for how much you value your image.
And a positive self-image does wonders for your confidence and self-esteem.
Most guys could do with making a few changes to their grooming routine.
Simply avoid the following fifteen grooming mistakes and you’ll be a cut above the average Derek.
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Avoiding Manscaping
80% of women prefer their guy to do at least a little downstairs grooming.
Now you don’t have to go nuclear—and in fact, I don’t even recommend it (see grooming mistake #2 below).
Well-groomed body hair shows that you have some interest in keeping up appearances, and it’s also a signal that you’re open to more—how should I put this—experiences.
Manscaping isn’t just about your pubes though. It applies to your pits, chest, and back too. For a full breakdown, you can read our article on how to manscape safely, but I’ll also give you the condensed version here:
- Use a no-knick trimmer (recommendation below)
- Knock the hair back around your groin, but keep it balanced with the rest of your body-hair—that means don’t go bald down below if you still have a carpet of hair on your chest
- Trim up your chest hair if needed, and cut down the length of your armpit hairs, too—these subtle details will actually help you look more muscular, too
I use the Meridian Trimmer for all my manscaping needs. I like it because it’s waterproof and I can leave it in the shower so I never go too long or “let myself go.” This makes it easier to just do a little at a time rather than needing a full marathon to get myself back in shape.
With its ceramic blades, the Meridian Trimmer is sharp, but doesn’t catch your skin or nick you where you really don’t want to be nicked.
So, you want to shave your meat and two veg, but you don't want to end up with mangled scroat. We get it. The Meridian Trimmer's ceramic blades help achieve that lofty objective (i.e. keeping your scroat un-mangled).
Going Bare
To piggy-back on the first grooming mistakes: don’t go for the fully shaven look either, unless your partner specifically asks for that.
But the truth is that most women prefer their man to have at least a little hair. That’s true for the pubic region and your chest.
One of the reasons why I like the Meridian Trimmer is that it features plastic guards, so I can slap on a 6mm guard and go to town without worrying about looking like a Ken-doll at the end of it.
It’s true there are some women who like their men as hairless as a fish, and there are also women who like their men au-natural. But you’re playing in the biggest market if you trim a bit and leave a bit. And if she asks you to switch it up, well, then you know.
Using Too Much Product
If you’re ‘lathering’ styling gel in your hair, ‘covering’ your body in cologne, or ‘plastering’ your beard in oil, you’re probably applying too much.
When the smell of cologne overpowers the people around you or leaves a lasting impression in the room, you’ll want to tone it down a little.
Apply the cologne after getting out of the shower and before you put on your clothes.
Typically, you only need a single spray on your chest and possibly a dab behind the ears.
If you have trouble deciding how much is too much, remember that most things are better in moderation.
Use a single spray of cologne, a small dab of styling gel, or a few drops of beard oil.
Cutting Your Hair with Cheap Clippers
If you’re on the buzz cut wagon, or even maintaining your own taper or fade between barber cuts, don’t skimp on clippers.
You’ll go through 10 sets of cheapo versions and spend a whole lot more money than if you just invested in one quality pair.
You’re also way less likely to get an even cut, and the cheap blades can give you nasty cuts and zaps.
Trust us. Your hair (and your wallet) will thank you for it.
Shaving Against the Grain
Some guys are born lucky.
They have tough skin and can shave against the grain without issue. For a lot of us, this is likely to produce negative results.
Shaving against the grain provides a closer shave. However, it also increases the risk of irritation, ingrown hairs, and razor bumps.
If you do experience such effects from shaving, you always want to shave with the grain.
But if you feel that shaving with the grain isn’t giving you close enough of a shave, consider switching up your razor.
A quality single-blade safety razor can leave your face baby smooth without the damaging aftermath.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the direction your hair grows. Your hair may not grow evenly in the same direction across your face and neck.
If this is the case, you’ll want to shave at a different angle depending on the direction your hair is growing.
Letting Your Beard Go Wild
Sometimes it’s tempting to go full Tom Hanks in Castaway and let your beard blast out and cover the earth.
But didn’t you learn anything from that movie? The guy’s only friend was a volleyball. Had he kept that beard trimmed up, things may have been different.
There are several ways to grow a beard—you can keep it trimmed and neat, or you can go for a more rustic vibe. Either way, it’s best to keep the cheek bones and lower neck cleaned up. You can do this with an electric trimmer or a razor, though I recommend the razor for more precision.
Using a beard oil will keep the hairs soft and can also make it much easier to shape down the road if you’re looking to grow your beard out an inch or more. In any case, it’s a courtesy to oil your beard if you plan on kissing anyone ever again.
With a unique blend of nourishing and soothing oils so you calm your skin while softening your beard at the same time.
Hot, Hot Showers
Do you like your showers hot? Like my skin is turning red hot?
If so, you’re drying out your skin and hair, and you’re not doing yourself any favors.
You don’t need to turn to cold showers, but cranking the heat down a few notches will help you keep your skin moisturized while still giving you a comfortable experience. Hot water will strip your skin of its natural oils, so it’s basically going out in the world without any protection.
Your skin kicks into overdrive and creates more oils faster. That can lead to oily, shiny skin, or even cause acne breakouts.
Using Sunscreen Only On Vacation
OK, even though I’m an expert in these things, even I make grooming mistakes all the time. My biggest repeat offense?
Not wearing sunscreen.
Sunscreen is probably the easiest way to ensure you don’t get all wrinkly and haggard looking as you age.
Don’t worry, you’re still going to look like a silver fox twenty years down the line.
Let me put it this way: the sun is a series of constant nuclear explosions. When you sit in the park for three hours, you’re basking in the warmth of a billion nukes. So if you could put a little lotion on your face to protect your skin from that, wouldn’t you?
Sunscreen shouldn’t be reserved for sun-heavy days like going to the beach or trekking out in the woods. Aim to find a non-greasy sunscreen that doesn’t whitecast you like to wear every day.
It’s small tweaks like this that add up to make the biggest differences ten years from now.
Don't settle for anything with less than 30 SPF, and Lumin delivers.
Using the Same Razor Blade for 6 Months
I don’t know how many times I’ve had to tell my brother this, but you’re suffering for no reason if you use the same razor for several months in a row.
Now, this is pretty common for guys who use those specialty razors with, like, forty different blades. With each new pack, you get four cartridges and the whole thing costs $30.
For that kind of money, I don’t blame you for never changing your blades.
That’s why I recommend going with a classic safety razor. For one, they’re manly and cool looking. But more importantly, the replacement blades are super cheap (like 20 for $10), but still sharp and high quality.
You can change out your blade every week or two so you’re always getting a smooth shave and you’re subjecting your skin to less razor burn.
Not Dealing with Dandruff
When little flecks of dandruff start appearing on the shoulders, it’s too easy to brush it off and assume the problem will go away on its own.
Trust us guys, it won’t.
Dandruff won’t go away without you making a few changes to your regular routine.
Start by cutting back on the amount of product that you use in your hair. Too much gel or pomade can dry your scalp.
Switching to anti-dandruff shampoo is also recommended. You may not need to use the anti-dandruff shampoo permanently.
However, you may want to use it until you get the dandruff problem under control.
Keratin helps smooth the strands of your hair, giving your mane a fuller, more luxurious look. Think somewhere between Joe Exotic and Fabio.
Not Washing Your Face Before Bed
Throughout the day, your face is exposed to a lot of different stuff.
Even if you work in an office. You’ll probably touch your face occasionally, or Janet in accounts will, or you’ll rub it against something. It happens.
The dirt, grime, and bacteria that reach your skin won’t go anywhere else without a thorough washing. Allowing it to stay on your skin and seep into your pores overnight may lead to bad skin.
No, you don’t need to use a lot of skincare products (although some can work really well if you battle with skin issues).
But at minimum remember to wash your face each night with a damp cloth.
Lumin really shines with their face wash and moisturizer. Their products go on smoothly and don't leave any residues. Most importantly, they work. The brand also carries several spot treatments to help with specific skin care issues.
Using the Same Cologne All Day Every Day
Some guys find a fragrance they like, buy a bottle, and call it a day. And then call it a month. And then their whole entire life.
Switch up your colognes based on different times and places.
Use a fresh zesty cologne for workdays. It’s clean, sophisticated, simple—a perfect non-offensive scent for the office.
But on date night, reach for something a little more sultry, woody, and leathery.
You can expand this idea to seasons, too—what you wear in the summer should be different than what you wear in winter.
Most fragrance houses offer small samples so spend your time trying a little here, a little there. At the minimum, I recommend having two fragrances. But it’s even better to have three or four to suit the temperature and daylight.
By asking the right questions, Hawthorne was able to deliver me custom colognes and bathroom essentials at a solid price point, and while I was hesitant to leave my choice of fragrance up to someone else, Hawthorne won my seal of approval on the first spray.
Allowing Your Toenails to Grow Too Long
We see our hands all day, which makes it easier to remember to trim the fingernails (although even this is still something some guys need to be reminded about). Gents, women notice fingernails.
Yes, your toenails are usually hidden behind your shoes and socks, but your feet are exposed more often than you probably realize.
And when they are, you don’t want them looking like Samwise Gamgee’s probably did by the time he reached Mordor. There’s a good reason why a grooming kit got the nod in our list of 50 things every man should own.
When you’re on the beach, at a pool party, or in the bedroom, you really don’t want your toenails to become a distraction. Or worse, a safety hazard.
Trim them at least every other week and keep the talons to your documentaries.
Avoiding Your Feet Altogether
We all remember to trim our toenails right around the point when you start wearing holes in your socks. But hopefully we just fixed that problem with the rule above.
Nicely trimmed toenails are just part of taking care of your feet.
Do you ever get a buildup of dry skin around your heels? This is a common occurrence for athletes as long active running workouts can cause some skin breakdown.
If you use a scrub (pomace stones work really well for this), you can knock that dry skin back and keep your feet in tip-top shape.
Forgetting to Groom Nose and Ear Hair
We can all agree that long nose and ear hairs are pretty unattractive.
But you see it a lot. In general, men neglect to keep these hairs trimmed.
As you age, the hairs in your nostrils and around the ears tend to grow quickly and require occasional trimming.
Don’t shave too much, or else you might struggle a bit with allergies as your nose hairs play an important role. But keeping them knocked back a bit is also going to play an important role in making you look like a champ.
No need to go full Nigel Thornberry on everyone. Keep your nose hairs at bay, and work on the ear hairs while you're at it.
There you have it.
As you can see, a little goes a long way when it comes to maintaining a good grooming routine.
But grooming aside, there are other things we can do to put our best self forward.
Check out these posts to continue your mission for self-improvement across style, mind, and body:
