7 Grooming Mistakes You're Probably Making (And How To Fix Them)

For a man, It can get complicated knowing what trim, pluck, shave, and scrub.

Grooming is one of those mundane tasks that the everyman tends to neglect, especially as he gets older, even though it gets more important with age as the skin starts to wear and stray hairs pop up in weird places.

Read More: Fashion & Style for the Middle-Aged Man

When I was younger, before I had money to spend on clothing, I focused on grooming to make myself more attractive. I found that if I could stand out underneath the clothing, it would set me apart from those who wore the same stuff. I would be the most attractive guy in my social group.

To me, grooming is essential. A guy can purchase the most fabulous clothing in the world, but if the man underneath doesn't look the part, it's a form of turd polishing.

There are plenty of articles out there that cover the basics of "grooming mistakes," but I've found these are ridiculously common sense...

“Trim your toenails you neanderthal!”

No shit.

The grooming mistakes that follow are more advanced things that you may have overlooked in your pursuit to become a more attractive man. So let's dive in…

Men Wash Their Hair Too Often 

This is one that I overlooked for a long time. I would find a great shampoo and mistakingly use it daily. This ended up making my hair dry and brittle.

When you wash your hair often, you strip it of its natural oils that help lubricate the shaft and follicle, providing it with nutrients. Think of it as Mother Nature's conditioner. Wash too often, and your hair will look frizzy and dull, removing its natural luster.

Women have known this for some time. Ask a girlfriend or significant other if she washes her hair every day; I bet I know the answer. It's time men took note of this.

Instead, wash your hair every other day. Even if you have oily hair, this should be enough of a gap to keep you clean and shiny.

Men Over Exfoliate Or Do Not Exfoliate At All

Many men fall into two camps, which is why I included it in the same topic. You either don't currently exfoliate, or you overly scrub your skin, stripping it of its essential oils and causing micro-abrasions on your face. I bet you can guess which camp I fell into.

Exfoliating your skin is non-negotiable. It removes dead skin cells and reduces the appearance of fine lines on the face. I ALWAYS feel instantly more attractive after I've done some exfoliation.

Now, some people over wash or over-exfoliate their faces. It's the same thing as over-washing your hair. You're stripping your skin of its natural oils and will cause excess irritation of your face. This can result in blotchy skin, redness, and even acne by ridding the skin of its natural barrier and making your skin produce more oil than it needs, resulting in breakouts.

The fix: Exfoliate only once or twice a week. You'll rid your face of its dead skin and look more vibrant while still letting your skin keep its natural level of healthy oil. I've been using a Dermalogica Scrub, a little gentler than other stuff on the market.

Men Use Incorrect Grooming Products

We are all unique. What works for me probably won't work for you, and what works for you probably won't work for the next guy. 

Some of us have thin, dry hair, and others have thick greasy hair. Some have oily skin, some have acne, and some have dry skin. Just because a product may be good doesn't mean it's right for you. 

When I was younger, I would read about a great pomade or something and instantly go out and buy it, not consider my own hair. It took me a lot of trial and error to figure out exactly which products work well for me. 

Before you buy anything, think about what type of hair and skin you have and then find products developed to suit those types. Most good brands have a diverse selection of products. You can most likely find something that's going to work well for you within that brand.

Men Ignore Nose and Ear Hair

While trimming your nails may seem self-evident, ear and nose hairs tend to fly under the radar because they're hard to notice. These little hairs can be one of those things that throw your whole image off.

An attractive, well-dressed man with hairs poking out of his nostrils doesn't sit right. The more attractive you are, the more people will be looking for these small chinks in your armor, so it's essential to keep everything tight.

What you should do is work the trimming of these areas into your weekly grooming routine. Get a grooming tool if you don't already own one and prune those suckers down every week.

Men Don’t Use A Daily Face Moisturizer With SPF

A lot of guys will wash their faces, but many forget to rehydrate with a moisturizer. Adding a good moisturizer to your daily routine will help keep your face from signs of aging and provide your skin with a protective barrier throughout the day. The SPF is just an added layer of defense. 

Apply after washing your face in an upward motion from bottom to top. A moisturizer with SPF 10-30 will do just fine. Here’s one I’m using now.

Not Shaving Below Your Neck/Beard Line

I'm a massive fan of facial hair. It can add an element of masculinity as nothing else can.

That being said, there is a fine line between looking like you forgot to shave and premeditated sexy stubble. The same goes for beards; not cleaning them up makes you look like you're homeless.

Clean up the hair on your neck. If you have a beard, I suggest trimming everything below your Adam's apple. If you have short stubble, you can do the same or go higher up and shave everything underneath your natural jawline. If you need a trimmer, I’ve used this one for years and love it.

While you're down there, go around to the back of your neck and make sure there aren't any random hairs trailing from your head to your shoulders. Your barber always cleans you up back there, but things grow fast. This is one of the best ways to look like you just got a fresh haircut.

Men Use Competing Scents and Fragrances

This is one that is easy to miss. 

You wash your clothes with a "Spring Linen" fragranced detergent, and then use a "Spicy Cinnamon" body wash, afterward applying your "Active Sport" scented deodorant, finally applying cologne to finish things off. 

By now, you smell like a masculine Bath and Body Works store without even noticing it. It may be subtle, but these scents are competing with each other and can mix in a very off-putting way. 

Instead, use unscented detergents, soaps, and deodorants. Your only odor should be coming from your cologne. You'll smell clean with a touch of your signature scent. 

My all-time favorite deodorant is Mitchum unscented. It keeps away body odor and sweat while providing a clean base to apply cologne. Another secondary option is to buy a fragrance set that includes deodorant and body wash with your cologne, so you keep your smell consistent. I don't recommend this as a first option because the body wash and deodorant tends to be sub-par to the other unscented products you can buy.

***

Like this stuff? Cool. You're in the right spot. We can get even more detailed, covering your style from head to toe. I've helped guys navigate all this info for years, and I'd be happy to help you do the same. The first step is this complimentary assessment. I give you expert advice on things you can do to make improvements right away. You'll even get a personalized video where I walk you through it all. Learn more about the Personalized Style & Grooming Assessment here and see if you qualify.