You take pride in your work, your car, and maybe even your home. But for too many men, the temptation to let a few things slide with your grooming routine becomes a habit. Whether you’re trying to save time, money, or you just don’t feel like being one of those guys who actually has a grooming routine, perhaps you know there are a few things you’ve been neglecting.
This doesn’t have to be the hour-long production your significant other has — nobody’s asking you for that. But there are a few common shaving and grooming mistakes men make in their daily lives that only take a few minutes to fix, and make a world of difference. The special someone in your life will appreciate it, and if you’re still looking for “the one,” you’ll increase your odds of finding that person.
We promise these tricks won’t change your routine that much. They will, however, make subtle differences that you’re sure to notice. Check out these five mistakes, and see how many you can take out of your repertoire.
1. Dry shaving
Watch out for these shaving and grooming mistakes | Source: iStock
Come on. This one is common sense, and pretty much everyone knows dry shaving is bad for your razor and your skin. The real issue here is razor burn. According to men-u, taking a shower first is idea. If this isn’t a possibility, at least rinse your face.
If you’re looking to save a buck on shaving cream, try saving that money elsewhere. (OK, so it’s actually $2.37 at your local CVS. But really, you can find that laying around in change.) If it’s a time crunch you’re up against, Marinello suggests using a trimmer until you have the time for a full shave. And next time someone’s checking you out, you won’t have to worry about the razor burn on the sides of your face.
2. Not using moisturizer
A man applying moisturizer | Source: iStock
Nothing says “I know how to take care of myself” quite like dry, flaky skin. If you’re shaving regularly, you should also be incorporating moisturizer into your daily routine. It’s not just for girls, and while using it will reduce the chances of premature wrinkles, you don’t have to use your grandmother’s anti-wrinkle cream to benefit your skin.
You might have to try a product or two to find one that works well for you, but this small addition will make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. The Art of Shaving suggests moisturizing right after washing your face in the morning and before you go to bed, and choosing a moisturizer that has more natural ingredients that are likely to work well with your body’s natural oils and functions.
3. Using too much cologne
Cologne | Source: iStock
A subtle spritz or two of your favorite scent is a good call — people will start to associate that cologne with you if you wear it regularly. But going overboard on cologne is one of the easiest mistakes to make, and also one of the most offensive, especially if the people you’re around are particularly sensitive to colognes and perfumes. To avoid giving everyone around you a headache — or just being known as the guy who bathes in the stuff, take precautions when applying. Of Iron & Oak advises applying a little bit to your chest at the base of your neck right after a shower, when your pores are still open and will absorb the scent best. If you have a more oily complexion, less is more, because the scent will stick around longer.
We all have friends who don’t notice their house smells like dog, which goes to show how we can all become nose blind over time. The same is true with cologne. This means your brain starts blocking the smell of your own cologne, because it has too many other scents to pay attention to. After about two inhalations of the cologne, the receptors in your brain sort of switch off, explains Pamela Dalton, a cognitive psychologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center. In other words, you might want to spritz a little extra cologne on before a big date, because you can’t seem to smell it very much. Your date will be able to smell it, so resist the temptation to over-apply. If you seem to keep scaring people away with the amount you put on, try one of these great alternatives to wearing cologne.
4. Using too much hair product
A man with slicked back hair | Source: iStock
The Jersey Shore fascination is long over, so you don’t have to attempt to look like “The Situation” to be cool anymore. (Trust us, it wasn’t actually ever that cool.) Lose the extra hair products that make it look like an oil slick, and you’ll be in much better shape. In almost every case, less is more. “One of the biggest mistakes men make when it comes to hair styling is using too much product,” says barber Lachlan Watson, from the Covent Garden branch of Murdock in London.
5. Ignoring ear and nose hair
A close up of a nose | Source: iStock
It’s a fact of life that nose and ear hair exists, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. And you should acknowledge it, because the hair’s only going to keep growing, and will start to become little clumps as you grow older. Nice, right? This means you have to take care of it before it gets out of control.
Details Style Syndicate advises against using a tweezers because it can cause inflammation, especially inside the ears. The hairs in both places protect against outside contaminants, so you want to keep some — just not the ones you can see on the outside. Trimming with a small pair of grooming scissors is Details’ go-to advice, though shaving is also an option. (Regular razors are a big no-no, though. If this is the route you want to take, invest in a nasal trimmer or an attachment for your electric razor.) Grooming Lounge suggests taking care of unwanted follicles once a week.
Whether you love or hate shaving, our top shaving tips will help you get a closer, more comfortable shave each time you put that razor against your skin.
1. Shower before you shave
A warm shower will open up your pores and follicles, allowing your hair to protrude as much as possible. The more your hair is protruding out of the skin, the cleaner the shave will be.
2. Use a face wash made for men before you shave
The most important step of shaving comes even before you shave. If your skin is not clean and prepared, you will get a terrible shave, no matter how great your blade or cream is. Use a men’s face wash on your skin and neck before you shave to cleanse away any dead skin cells, oil, or grime that may impair the razor from getting as close as possible to your skin. We highly recommend using a face scrub for men 2 – 3x a week before you shave to further remove dead skin cells. Simply put, the less friction a blade has to deal with, the closer your shave will be.
3. Use a single blade
Sure, the thought of a razor with 11 blades sounds really cool, but in reality, your skin hates it. Your face is not meant to have a blade of steel rub against it, let alone 2 or 3 blades. Start using a single blade dispensable razor or even better, a safety razor.
4. Stop using lathering shave cream
A big, frothy lather can be cool, but not if it’s killing your skin. The chemicals used to make lather are incredibly irritating and toxic to the skin. Use a non-foaming or non-lathering natural shave cream on your skin to get a closer shave. Once you get used it, you won’t go back.
5. Keep skin hydrated post shave
Aftershave or some type of men’s facial moisturizer is necessity post shave to prevent in-grown hairs and irritation. It can take up to 48 hours for your skin to heal after a shave and keeping it hydrated during that 48 hour period is the best defense to prevent late to the party irritation from showing up.
