This is the ultimate grooming routine for every man. Today, I'll be going through everything you need to do, how often you need to do it, and what products to use to be a well-groomed, amazing-smelling man.
Body Care
Starting with our shower routine, yes, there are people that do need this section, and yes, I'm going to teach you guys how to shower properly. For body care, there are three things that you're going to need: a natural body wash, a back scrubber, and some sort of exfoliator. This could be a silicone exfoliator or a loofah, whichever you prefer. When it comes to body wash, I use Native products. Native products are very good, they smell nice, and they're also natural. If you can't handle scents because your skin is very sensitive, I'd recommend getting Castile soap, which is just as good. Obviously, you're going to use this soap with your tools: your back brush for your back and your exfoliator for the rest of your body. Make sure that you're getting in between all those nooks and crannies, up the Grand Canyon, and between the millimeter Peter. You want to make sure you're doing a good job of cleaning these areas.
Hair Care
For your hair, you're going to want two separate products: a conditioner and a shampoo. None of that all-in-one stuff that you can use in your car, in your dishwasher, or in your hair. These need to be separate products. You can use conditioner every single day with cold water. However, you don't want to use shampoo every day; you want to minimize your use of shampoo because it can dry out your scalp and hair. Only use it when your hair is very greasy. After you shower, because you exfoliated and likely used scalding hot water, you're going to want something to bring the moisture back to your skin, as it will be quite stripped and dry. Make sure that you buy a natural moisturizer to apply every single day just after you get out of the shower.
Mouth Hygiene
For mouth hygiene, there are three things you're going to need: an electric toothbrush (not a manual one), some dental floss, and a tongue scraper. You guys know how often to use these and how to use them, so I won't go into detail here.
Body Grooming
For body grooming, you need a trimmer. I personally use the Gillette Intimate Trimmer with a 2 to 3 mm guard. Depending on how hairy you get, you might need to trim more frequently than others. Some people are like Sasquatch within two days, so you'll need to trim every two days. For myself, it's about every five to seven days. There's only one area I need to trim. It's important to use the 2 to 3 mm guard rather than going bald eagle because you will have a ton of irritation and it will be super itchy. Trust me, I've done it plenty of times and regretted it every time. Use a 2 to 3 mm guard. The next area that needs trimming every week is your fingernails and toenails. If you ever want to make some money on the side, there's always a website called Foot Finder. But if you have Wolverine claws, nobody's going to buy them. So, I recommend buying a high-quality manicure set. The one from Mr. Green is super solid and ridiculously sharp—it will cut through any nail on the planet, even if your toenails are made out of vibranium.
Here's a quick tutorial on how to cut your nails:
- Wash your hands.
- Clean out the dirt from underneath your nails.
- Take your nail clipper and do one straight cut across the middle, followed by two diagonal cuts to remove the corners.
- Use a nail file to smooth the edges, moving in one direction.
- Moisturize your hands.
Fragrance
A big part of smelling good is having a good fragrance, which is why today I've partnered with Scentbird. Scentbird is a fragrance subscription service that allows you to test out expensive designer fragrances without draining your bank account on a full-size bottle. For only $17 a month, you get access to over 600 designer brands to choose from. They carry brands like Tom Ford, Parfums de Marly, Prada, Gucci, and Versace. I wanted to try John Varvatos and Rag & Bone Bergamot, both fragrances I've heard good things about. The tester from Scentbird comes with cards that break down the notes of each fragrance. John Varvatos has notes of medjool dates, coriander seeds, and leather, while Rag & Bone Bergamot has notes of bergamot, petitgrain, cedar, orange blossom, and cashmere wood. Both are perfect for this time of year. They come in awesome little containers, perfect for travel. Click the link in the description below to get 55% off your first month at Scentbird, which is only $8.
Facial Grooming
Let's talk about facial grooming, starting with the eyebrows. You need two items: tweezers (which typically come with a manicure set) and a facial razor. With your tweezers, remove any hair from the middle section of your eyebrows if you have a unibrow. Then, go around your eyebrows and remove any stray hairs. Do not overpluck; just clean things up slightly. With your facial razor, line up your eyebrows without doing too much. Aim for a neat look, not an overly done one. Do this about every two weeks, as eyebrow growth is slow.
Skincare
Every guy needs an AM and a PM skincare routine. I believe less is more with skincare, so I'll keep it simple. For your AM routine:
- Cleanser
- Day serum (vitamin C or niacinamide)
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen (you can get a moisturizer with SPF to combine these steps)
For your PM routine:
- Cleanser
- Retinol serum (to reduce fine lines and wrinkles)
- Moisturizer
When buying products, make sure they are suited to your skin type. The label will usually indicate this.
Haircuts
If you want to look good, get haircuts consistently, ideally every three weeks. Go to a proper barber, not a chain like Great Clips, as they can mess up your hair. Spending a little more money will ensure you look good and keep your hair healthy by removing split ends.
Hair Oils and Leave-In Conditioner
Use hair oils like a seven-blend hair oil every night, massaging it into your scalp to improve scalp health, hair growth, and overall hair quality. Use a leave-in conditioner after your shower to keep your hair moisturized and shiny.
While this might seem like a lot of steps, once you get into the routine, it really only takes about 10 to 15 minutes a day. That's a small price to pay to be an absolute stud 24/7.