You don’t spend hours primping in the bathroom and come out smelling like some kind of weird tropical fruit because you’re a man, dagnabbit! While this sentiment is certainly understandable, there are still a few basic grooming tasks to which even you, rugged as you are, must submit. Acquire these basic but crucial items and you’ll be ready to emerge from your man cave and take on the world.
The first is a good set of nail clippers. There is nothing attractive about looking like you just clawed your way out of the ground, so keep your fingernails trimmed and clean. Unless you’re a mechanic, dirty fingernails are just utterly gross and completely avoidable.
A good razor and other facial hair removal tools are also important. A high-quality razor gives a much better shave, as does one that uses high quality blades. You only need 1-2 blades and a slight angle. Despite conventional wisdom, you should shave with the grain to avoid painful ingrown hairs. While you’re working on your facial hair, break out a nose hair trimmer as well. Trust me. No one wants to see that.
Hydrating body washes are another important tool in your grooming toolkit. Guys tend to shower often, which can strip the skin of natural oils. With the right body wash, you can walk around smelling irresistibly sexy and manly without constantly feeling itchy and scratching random body parts, which is anything but irresistibly sexy. It is kind of manly, though, in a primal, gross way. Speaking of which, always keep a bottle of powder on hand, especially during the hot summer months. Sprinkling a bit of this on your manliest parts prevents chafing and itching so you won’t feel compelled to scratch certain parts in public. You may think you’re being discrete, but we all know what you’re doing.
Protecting the skin on your face is as important as taking care of the skin on your body, so apply a lightweight sunscreen to your face before heading outdoors. Yes, your friends will likely laugh at you. A lot. But you’ll get the last laugh when they’ve aged prematurely or end up with skin cancer and you still look awesome.
The good news is, all of these products are easy to find. In fact, many of the most essential grooming tools you need are available in kits that include nail clippers and other must-haves all together for easy traveling and storage. You don’t have to spend your life in the bathroom or clutter the counter with products from one end to the other. Both of these jobs are better left to your wife or girlfriend anyway. You should, however, make sure you have the essentials and cover the basics, if only for the benefit of those who must live and work with you when you’re out in society.
