Gone are the days when men are to look like they have just come back from an expedition to Kilimanjaro or an African safari. Men need to look the part if they want to be successful.
Unfortunately, men are men and even the biggest metrosexual sometimes need some grooming tips. Here is a list of the top nine grooming mistakes men make.
1. Unkempt beards and moustaches
Not looking after your facial hair is the quickest way to look like you should be on the most wanted list. Trim the edges of your beard and moustache into shape on a daily basis.
If you want to go for the perpetual scruff, you can keep your mane tame without looking like a criminal. Shave just up to the jaw line to create a look that is neat yet effortless.
There’s sad news for some men: if it takes too much of your time to maintain a five o’clock shadow, a beard probably isn’t for you.
2. Using too much fragrance
A quality scent will make a statement for you. You don’t need to use more to make sure you are noticed. The rule is two to three sprays in the right places. Targeting pulse points on the wrists and behind the ears should be enough to keep you going all day (and night).
3. Ignoring nose and ear hair
Almost everything you do in life, from careers to dating, requires you to sell your face. And the most distracting thing to look at is overgrown nose and ear hair. It takes literally 30 seconds with a trimmer to remove this incredibly unsightly element from your face.
The general rule of thumb for both nose and ear hair is straightforward: the ends shouldn’t be visible. Use a small grooming scissor to keep the crowd at bay.
4. Sporting a hairy neck
The only men who can carry off hairy necks are ones with long hair. The rest of us have to shave our necks. The rule is to shave from the point where your haircut ends all the way under your shirt collar.
Any man can shave his neck at home with trimmers. However, necks are funny, sensitive things. They also have the unfortunate problem of having shirt collars rubbing on them which irritates dry indelicately shaven skin even more. They seem to catch the sun in the summer and when they get burnt, dried out or sore, they make you uncomfortable.
5. Having dirty, uncut nails
Nails should always be clipped short but never so short as to expose the nail bed, which can be an incredibly painful experience. And get over any reservations you may have about manicures and pedicures. Forgoing regular nail care by a professional can lead to uneven nail growth and unsightly fungal infections. It’s essential to treat yourself once every four to six weeks in order to get your nails clipped and filed properly and, most importantly, have your cuticles trimmed down.
A man with well-groomed nails sends a sure sign there are not many germs lurking under his nails.
6. Using too much hair gel
The only thing worse than using no product at all, is piling on enough to turn your head into a helmet. Hair products for men are a bit like makeup for women. It is better to go with less than to go overboard.
Use only a small blob of styling product and work it through damp hair, from roots to ends. This gives more even product distribution and keeps your hair touchable and moveable.
7. Letting toe nails get too long
One of the most repulsive grooming mistakes a man can make is to have long, dirty toenails. Not taking care of your feet doesn’t punish just partners − it can create unpleasant complications for men.
Trimming your toenails may seem simple enough, but it isn’t something to be done carelessly. It is important that toenails are cut the right way to avoid ingrown toenails or infection. Men often cut their toenails in a rounded shape, cutting off the corners with their clippers. The best way to avoid this problem is to groom toenails straight across without digging into the corners.
8. Skimping on sunscreen
Only half of men use sun-protection products on a regular basis. This is a major misstep when you consider that skin cancer is the number one cancer among men and sun damage is the leading cause of premature aging.
For adequate protection, apply sunscreen to exposed skin, including your eyelids and the top of your head. Sunscreen application must be part of your everyday routine, like shaving and brushing your teeth.
9. Not using moisturiser
Moisturising may sound like a lady move, but there’s nothing attractive about flaky skin. Plus, dry skin prevents your razor from gliding smoothly across your face, which leaves you prone to nicks and bumps. Moisturising your face will help you to look and feel younger, you will have softer, more elastic skin and it will keep your skin hydrated. All of these things are important if you want to make sure to look as young as you can in the years to come.
In order to get into the habit of moisturising, you should do it at the same time every day, such as after you shower, or after you shave. These are ideal times to use moisturiser as your skin will still be wet. This moisture will help pull the lotion in more easily.
Many men do not have the time or interest to spend their days at the salon maintaining their polished look. However, with the proper men’s grooming regime, any man can look as if he just stepped out of an expensive day spa.
Sources
http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/7-grooming-mistakes/
http://au.askmen.com/grooming/appearance/top-10-common-grooming-mistakes.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/men-grooming-mistakes_n_4115165.html