Men, from the cave-dwelling days, relent in their grooming practices, keeping them limited to haircuts, shaving, and facial hair trims. But things have changed now; we don’t live in caves anymore, and men have upgraded their grooming.
Men’s grooming has moved beyond the head, face, and neck these days. Modern self-care for men means taking care from head to toe, and everything in between. What does that entail, you ask? We’ll tell you.
Explore the ultimate guide to men’s grooming: top tips and trends, as we share what it takes to amp up the man in you. Because how you look is how you feel. Read on!
The Science Behind Looking Good
When we’re telling you that looking good is feeling good, we’re not just telling you that without reason. It’s science! It’s a simple mind-body connection, where looking good triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, reducing anxiety and boosting confidence. This phenomenon is further enhanced by psychological, physiological, and sociological factors, refining self-esteem, better social interactions, and self-expression.
You already know that eating the right diet, drinking lots of water, sleeping 7-8 hours, and exercising regularly can improve how you look and feel. But grooming goes beyond that. Yes, those are important, but the external upkeep is just as essential as the internal.
So the next time you’re debating whether you should go and get that haircut or indulge in the facial package, do it. You’re not just imagining that you’re exuding more confidence after a nice mani-pedi session; you actually are. Reward yourself with deserving grooming rituals, and if you need some pointers, read below for that guide we promised you.
Started From The Top: It’s All About Hair
Your hair is the crown you never take off, and you want to preserve that crown that grows out of your scalp. The first thing you want to do is ensure your hair-washing routine is solid with a good shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, or oil, and/or hair spray (optional).
Despite what your mom may have preached when you refused to get your hair wet after a tiring day at school, washing your hair every day may not be the best approach for your hair. Depending on your hair type, you’re better off washing every 2-3 days.
- Oily/ Easily Greasy Hair: If your hair gets greasy or oily easily, you might want to move up wash days to 2-3 days at most. For this type of hair, use a clarifying shampoo that focuses on removing build-up and dirt from the scalp. If you have dandruff, you’ll want to use a dandruff shampoo that has ingredients such as ketoconazole or salicylic acid.
- Dry Hair: If you have dry hair that’s frizzy, you could go more days without shampooing. For this type of hair, dandruff is a common issue, so a dandruff shampoo is ideal. Besides, a hydrating shampoo and condition duo can also help bring life back to the hair.
- For Normal Hair: If you have normal hair, that’s neither dry nor oily, you can go either way, wash every 2-3 days, or extend it to 5 days. This type of hair thrives under any hydrating shampoo and conditioner formula.
Pro Tip: Double-shampooing your hair can not only ensure your hair is fully clean, but also add some hydration back after you’ve stripped hydration off the first time. Oiling your hair before shampooing can immensely improve hair and scalp health.
Invest in monthly haircuts and treatments at the salon for extra TLC, where you indulge in luxurious hair spa, scalp massages, and personalised care to change your hair game.
Moving On Down: Face and Facial Hair
Now you’ve got your skin and facial hair. For the face, you want to make sure you’re consistent with three things: cleansing, moisturising, and sun protection. Whether you want to incorporate other steps or not, these three are non-negotiable.
Depending on your skin type, you want to use skincare that supports and strengthens your skin, even if it’s just in three simple steps.
If you’re an oily skin-guy and acne-prone, your cleanser should be simple but effective. It could have some active ingredients such as salicylic acid that is oil-loving and pore-clearing. For moisturiser, a lightweight gel cream is best, as it won’t clog pores through the night.
For dry skin dudes, a hydrating cleanser with hyaluronic acid is best to start with. You can add a serum to add the hydration back into your skin, and for a moisturiser, a thicker cream is best to coat the surface and keep it moist throughout the night.
For the normal skin guys, any option works, as long as it doesn’t exacerbate your skin type, and as for sensitive skin, you want to use products that have the least amount of active ingredients, a simple cleanser, toner or serum, and a moisturiser trio without irritating ingredients does the job perfectly.
Getting customised facials at a salon allows for a deeper level of care, specifically designed to address the unique needs of men’s skin.
Pro Tip: Consider double-cleansing, first with an oil cleanser, then with a water or gel-based cleaner. You could also build a proper skincare routine and add serums or treatments according to your concerns.
Facial Hair
You already know what it takes to maintain your facial hair, and might even priortise than more than the skin on your face. Here are some pointers you can follow to make sure your facial hair is always on point.
- Use a beard shampoo to make sure the hair on your face is just as clean as the hair on your head. You can even use regular shampoo.
- Comb out your beard and moustache with a separate beard comb; you don’t want the debris in the hair on your head to mingle with the one on your face.
- Use a beard oil or balm to moisturise and hydrate those strands, and keep them looking and feeling healthy and soft.
- Regular trims and shapes help maintain your facial hair to be defined and precise.
Pro Tip: Always soften and wet your face with a warm towel before you shave, sanitise shaving tools, and use a hydrating after-shave and moisturise your freshly shaved skin.
Body Care: More Than Just Building
You take showers? Great. You work out? Wonderful? You barely rub some lotion on your chest and arms in the crack of winter? Not enough. Your body care goes beyond just building and washing it. Consider putting some more time into your body after the gym, fresh out of the shower, and before you head out for the day.
- After you’re out of the shower, while your skin is still wet, apply a generous amount of lotion all over your body for moisturised and soft skin. You might also want to go over with a non-sticky body oil, especially during winter, for that extra plumpness.
- In the shower, exfoliate the skin with soap or scrub. Use a physical body scrub or exfoliating body gloves with chemical scrubs to prevent clogged pores, body acne, keratosis pilaris, and irritation from workout and daily life stress and sweat.
- Invest in massages for much-needed monthly relief, to reset your body from all the hard work and toil of the month, and recharge it for the next.
Pro Tip: Therapeutic massages truly help your body bounce back from strains and soreness. Consider getting at-salon scrubs for rejuvenated and refreshed skin.
Hand and Foot: The Hardest Workers of The Man
You’re on your feet most of the time, and work with your hands almost the whole day. Wouldn’t it be a travesty if you didn’t show some love to them? This is why hand and foot care remains vital, because washing your hands and rubbing your feet on top of each other during the shower can only do so much.
- Wash your hands and feet thoroughly in the shower. If you’re using body scrubs and gloves, diligently scrub your feet and then your hands and around the nails gently. Using warm water and mildly-scented soap can also do the trick.
- Using coconut oil on hands and feet, especially during the winter, can keep them sufficiently moisturised. You can also keep a separate hand cream at your desk, and apply a nice amount to coat the hands before bed.
- Regular manicures and pedicures can keep the hands and feet moisturised and soft. When the hands and feet look good, you feel more confident and compelled to take care of them.
Grooming For The Greater Good
We sincerely hope this guide served you well and gave you some practical and useful tips to elevate your grooming habits. Whether you choose to get a haircut, a facial, or a mani-pedi, you deserve it. Grooming shouldn’t only be limited to special occasions; it should be a way of life.
Choose a trusted salon that takes care of your grooming needs, even if you have fallen back on them a bit yourself. Remember, you look good, you feel good.
