Too much body hair in unwanted places, itchy beards, dry skin, hairstyles that won’t stay in place. Being a man can be rough sometimes, right fellas? Actually, let’s face it – grooming challenges are really just minor inconveniences. And fortunately, they’re easy to fix.
Guys who want to take care of themselves can tackle these challenges with a few simple techniques. Male grooming involves some basic hair and skin care, and maybe a little bit of manscaping. Here’s the lowdown on how you can improve your grooming habits with a few easy changes.
Manscaping
These days, proper manscaping doesn’t have to mean shaving your chest as smooth as a dolphin. But you also don’t want to look like Bigfoot walking out of the forest! Recent surveys show that a majority of women prefer that men engage in some level of body hair grooming, but not necessarily total removal.
For the average guy, some tasteful trimming is more than enough to get the job done. The easiest way to achieve this is by using an electric shaver with a #1 or #2 guard to thin out excess hair on the chest, arms, underarms, or below the belt. The result will be neatly trimmed body hair that still looks masculine without being out of control.
Beard and Facial Hair Maintenance
Facial hair length really depends on whatever you (and your partner) prefer. It’s fine to trim your scruff daily, or let your beard grow out if that works for you. Just remember to regularly trim stray hairs on longer beards to avoid the unkempt mountain man look.
You should wash your beard with shampoo in the shower, as opposed to using soap, which can dry out facial hair. It’s also not a bad idea to consider using beard oil to keep facial hair soft rather than scratchy.
Hair Care
Get your hair cut regularly and take some basic steps to maintain it. Use a gentle shampoo, but don’t wash too frequently. Most hair care professionals advise washing only a few times per week to avoid removing necessary oils that are naturally found in the scalp and hair.
If you’ve been sporting the same haircut since high school, don’t be afraid to ask a stylist for ideas for a fresh look! After the cut, consider using a light wax made from natural products to keep hair in place. And remember to do some basic grooming between haircuts, like using a shaver to maintain your neckline.
Skin Care
Guys who want to look their best as they age should wash, moisturize, and exfoliate their skin regularly. Moisturizing twice a day and exfoliating at least twice a week will keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy. Moisturizing is especially useful after manscaping, as the lotion can soften the skin to reduce irritation.
Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells that naturally build up on your skin's surface. If you’ve never made exfoliation part of your grooming routine, check out our men’s skin care guide for more tips on the subject.
Choosing a Men’s Deodorant
Any good male grooming plan needs to touch on deodorant. You’ll want to choose a product that won’t harm the skin, contains no toxic chemicals, and offers a pleasant scent.
It can be tricky to find a deodorant that meets all of these criteria, but we’ve got you covered. Type:A has just introduced two rugged new scents, which are sure to be men’s favorites - The Maverick, which combines red cedarwood, vetiver grass, and eucalyptus into a rich, masculine scent, and The Adventurer, which blends the brisk notes of white cedarwood, fir tree, and peppermint for a refreshing, woodsy scent.
Both products are ideal for guys who want long-lasting protection without the overbearing, artificial smells typical of many men’s deodorants. Like all Type:A products, the new scents are safe and aluminum free.
With The Maverick and The Adventurer joining the Type:A lineup, guys now have a few more great deodorant options to choose from. You’ll look and feel your best when you incorporate any of these products into a male grooming routine involving proper manscaping, skin care and hair care.
Top off your new male grooming ritual with one of our fresh, new aluminum-free deodorants for men.
Written by Scott Shetler