Be Well Groomed

Being well groomed is not reserved for the wealthy or stylish. Anyone can be well groomed if you put in a little extra time to look the part. Self confidence and being well groomed go hand in hand. You and your personal hygiene will benefit from putting in time and intention to your look.

Steps

Staying Kempt on a Daily Basis

  1. Take a shower everyday. A requisite for a well groomed appearance is cleanliness. Start everyday with a shower and the soap of your choice. Do this unless specified otherwise by a medical professional.
    • Certain soaps are healthy for your skin and contain less harmful chemicals.
  2. Use deodorant. After cleaning your body, ensure that your smell stay fresh. Apply deodorant after your shower. Choose a sensitive or aluminum free variety if you suffer from allergies. Spend time to find the smell that is right for you.
  3. Brush your teeth. Brushing twice a day should be a minimum for your routine. Brush once in the morning and once at night, but don’t feel like you can’t brush whenever you have the urge.
    • You should also floss once a day. Even if you could floss twice a week will help. Flossing decreases your bad breath by removing bacteria build up from your mouth.[1]
  4. Shave or groom your hair. Not everyone subscribes to shaving their face, legs or other parts of the body everyday. Only shave your face, legs and armpits if you believe this is necessary. Men can look well groomed with facial hair, but it needs to be controlled and cared for.
    • For ladies it is typically viewed as necessary to shave your legs and armpits to look well groomed. There are many groups challenging this notion because men don’t shave these parts and still look well groomed.
    • Do what is right for you. Half of looking well groomed is the confidence around you.
    • If you have sensitive skin, consider shaving less frequently and find a shaving cream made for sensitive skin.
  5. Carry the essentials. Have a “survival kit” with you at all times to combat a blemish once out of the house. You can use a strong zip lock bag and include items for dry skin, broken nails, or messy hair. Use some of the following for your own kit:
    • Lotion or vaseline
    • Mini comb
    • Mints
    • Mini mirror
    • Pins
    • Hair bands
    • Perfume or cologne
    • Compact towel
    • Miniature sewing kit[2]
  6. Style hair for guys. You can pull off any type of haircut with the proper hair styling technique. Here’s a few products to help for the many hairstyles out there:
    • Pomade can be used effectively for sleek look on short and textured hair.
    • Waxes are great for adding a shine and control to your short hair.
    • Muds and fibers help with the disheveled look for mid length hair.
    • Creams can control frizz and fly-aways for longer hair.
    • Gel can be used for a strong hold and wet look.[3]
  7. Style your hair, ladies. Before styling your hair, you should understand what type of hair you have. You can determine the thickness of your hair by how many times you need to wrap it for a ponytail. One wrap means your hair is thick, 2-3 wraps is medium, and anything more is fine hair. Use a high wattage blow dryer (above 1800 watts) to prevent frizz and create a shiny, smooth finish.
    • Curl your hair. If you plan on curling your hair apply a lightweight mousse while your hair is wet. Then use a ceramic curling iron once it has dried. Keep the curls all day by using a frizz fighting hair spray.
    • Straighten your hair. Choose a hair straightener with ceramic plates and prep your hair before straightening. Use shampoo and conditioners that are meant for smoothing.
    • Add volume to your locks by adding a volumizing gel while your hair’s wet from a shower. Do this at night and put your hair up in a bun before falling asleep. Then let your hair down the next morning for a healthy bounce.[4]
    • When all else fails, wear a hat.

Dressing the Part

  1. Wear clean clothing. After cleaning and drying your clothes always fold immediately after to avoid wrinkles. Take any clothing with stains for immediate treatment at a dry cleaner. Make sure there aren't loose threads, the buttons are intact, and the hem is clean.[2]
    • If you take care of yourself, take care your clothing.
    • Use a lint roller on your clothes if it’s needed.
  2. De-pill your clothes. Pilling is the build up of fibers and threads that create little balls on your clothes. You don’t need any special equipment to de-pill your clothes. First clean your clothes then if you notice pilling, shave it off. Take a standard razor you’d use on your skin and shave off the pilling. Use a lint roller afterwards for a clean finish.[5]
    • Be slow and gentle with the razor. It is easy to cut a hole if you aren’t careful.
  3. Wear clothes you love. If you aren’t in love with an article of clothing, ditch it for something that excites you. When you enjoy the clothes you own, you tend to care for their condition more. Dressing in your favorite clothes will make you look great and boost your self-esteem.
    • If you love a coat or pants but they don’t fit well, take them to an alterations store.[2]
  4. Dress in style. Notice the trends around you by noting what someone wears that strikes you as being well groomed. As a general rule, keep it simple. You don’t have to dress up everyday, but you can go a long way by wearing something simple that compliments itself and your body.
    • When you know what works for you, go for it and double up. Don’t hesitate if you know something looks good on you.
    • Embrace your shape. Whatever you’ve got, you can find clothing that accentuates your flattering qualities.
    • Make sure your clothes fit you. Don’t wear anything too loose or tight.
    • Always try clothes on before you purchase and get a second opinion.[6]
  5. Wear clean and polished shoes. Shoes are always the first thing many people look at. They tell a lot about a person. If you’re shoes become dirty due to dirt or salt, clean them that night.[7]
  6. Wear a decent fragrance. Finish off your clothing choice with a quick mist of fragrance. Go for a nicer type of perfume or cologne. Be aware that some people are violently allergic to certain scents. A fragrance should be discovered, not announced.[8]
    • If in doubt find a health and beauty store, and pick out an essential oil based fragrance. Using essential oils can even help elevate your mood, decrease your stress, and smell incredible.
  7. Treat your leather. About twice a year, go through all your leather goods and give them a thorough cleaning. If you’re leather articles are too dry and appear to scab, apply a leather dressing or cream to them. Try to use something recommended by the leather’s makers since all leather is different.[9]
    • Clean dirt smudges with a damp cloth. You can use a leather soap if you want. The trick is to never let your leather get too wet.
    • Never let your leather dry in direct sunlight.

Caring for Your Look

  1. Keep hair cut and styled. Well cut hair allows you to present a confident image. Plan on cutting your hair every four weeks to retain a healthy look. Even if you are trying to grow out your hair, cutting the tips will prevent split ends and promote a healthy growth.
    • Don't be a stranger to your barber or stylist. While you are there, schedule your next appointment to ensure your hair stays well groomed.[3]
  2. Wash hair when needed. People with straight hair may choose to wash their hair daily while others with very curly hair may need to do so less frequently. There is some debate on how daily washing can dry out hair and strip the scalp of important nutrients.
    • When you do shampoo, lather the product on your scalp and don't worry about the rest.
    • For curly hair that becomes very dry, consider conditioning your hair more frequently than shampooing.
    • Use conditioner for your mid length hair and tips. These parts of hair are more vulnerable to becoming dried out.
  3. Trim your nails. Shorter nails look neater. Men should always have trimmed nails. If you have longer nails, keep them in good condition. Never hesitate if you want to take your nails to the nail salon.
    • Do not bite your nails. This doesn’t make your hands look well groomed. Always use clippers or take them to a nail stylist.
  4. Use a mirror. Double check your look in a mirror before leaving the house. Mirrors can help you catch easy to miss blemishes that could ruin your look like:
    • Red patches on your face
    • Wrinkled clothing
    • Untidy hair
    • Weak collars
    • Faded clothing[7]

Tips

  • Washing your face twice a day can help with breakouts.
  • Moisturize your skin immediately after a shower to avoid your skin from drying.
  • Pluck your eyebrows often.

Warnings

  • When you shave, be careful not to cut yourself. Don’t shave against the grain.
  • Use a modest amount of aftershave, cologne or perfume. A little usually goes a long way. Too much can make people wonder what you are hiding.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/teeth_care.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://ask.metafilter.com/211470/The-seven-habits-of-highly-attractive-people
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.groominglounge.com/best-mens-hair-style-guide-tip
  4. ↑ http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/7-hairstyling-tricks/p62492/page12
  5. ↑ http://www.cottonandcurls.com/2013/02/how-to-de-pill-your-clothing/
  6. ↑ http://www.instyle.com/fashion/50-best-fashion-tips-all-time#262279
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.elegantwoman.org/personal-grooming.html
  8. ↑ http://parade.com/228703/janenemascarella/how-to-really-wear-a-fragrance/
  9. ↑ http://www.carryology.com/insights/reflections/5-tips-for-leather-care/
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