Flip Your Script

Bro code states that men don’t talk to each other about things such as skin care, dieting tips, etc. One….who the heck made up this so-called code?, and two, I’ve actually talked to my male friends about what skin lotions they use, concealers they recommend, etc. Yes boys, we have skin and bodies that need tender loving care as well and it doesn’t make you any less masculine for recognizing that face. Doing something about it is a form of self-care. In more recent years, more spotlight has been put on men taking stock of how they look and being more comfortable with taking care of themselves from a beauty perspective. Even as I type this I can’t believe that I even have to write an entry on how men need to cosmetically invest in themselves but here we are.

Due to stupid things such as bro-code, a lot of men have been left to fend for themselves when it comes to grooming. The average guy isn’t interest in color-coordinating, having a skin care routine and staying healthy/fit for themselves but men are learning. That being said, let’s cover some BASIC grooming tips that all men can utilize to make themselves go from baddy to Zaddy.

Have a skin care regimen.

Thanks to the amount of testosterone in our bodies, as we age our skin tends to become weathered, leathery and ‘scaly’. I always tell people that it’s never too early to moisturize! I turn 40 years old in nine days and the one thing I’ve always prided myself on is that I don’t look my age. However, most of the credit goes to a steady routine of skin care each night before bed and when I get up. The products I use are from Beautycounter and they have a men’s skin care line called ‘Counterman’. If you’re interested, click this link, https://www.beautycounter.com/Beautycounter. The counterman product package includes oil-free face lotion, overnight citrus face mask, charcoal face mask, soothing shave cream and a daily exfoliating cleanser. The bundle of these products is priced around $109, which really isn’t bad considering what is included. I’ve seen great results with each of these products and will continue to use them!

Exfoliating and scraping the dead skin from your body is also a great way to give you skin that natural glow and masculine depth that we all want to have. Having a face and body that looks like it’s been through the desert doesn’t feel good. When your skin is nourished and clean, you feel rejuvenated and ready for the day.

Shaving……such a pain sometimes.

We do it everyday or almost everyday if you’re letting your beard grow or if you’re just being lazy, lol. I have to admit, the sight of unkempt, bushy beards resembling lumberjacks from the 70’s go right through me. It’s 2022 and time to keep with the current style of things. You can still have a full-on beard, still keep it groomed, looking nice and look like a sexy lumbersexual! If you shave daily, it’s important to use high quality, precision trimming/cutting products. This means durable and beard trimmers. Never use the same blade twice to decrease the risk of bacterial infections. To achieve a more youthful appearance, consider coloring your beard with a product like Just for men, available at nearly all drug stores.

If your goal is to get the lumbersexual look going, you are going to need to grow some facial hair. This doesn’t mean you have to have a long, scraggly beast that hangs from your face. But you will need some type of growth. In the modern era, many guys going for the outdoorsy look opt for something short. Try growing out the hair on your face for at least five days and see how it looks.If possible, avoid shaving any of it because you are going to need the full monte for shaping and trimming later. Once you’ve got a decent amount of stubble going, you can then move about the business of styling it however you like.

SMILE!

Men can have a rocky relationship with their dentist or don’t have one at all. Teeth and mouth care are super important and not just for cosmetic reasons, gum inflammation, disease of the mouth and gums are pretty common among those who don’t follow the basics when it comes to our teeth. Remember, the longer you wait to get your teeth looked at or fixed, the worse off you are going to be and there’s nothing worse than mouth pain, take it from someone who knows.

Try to brush after every meal and floss at least once a day at minimum. If your teeth are like mine and have a super high decay rate, keep fluoride rinses on hand to remove excess plaque and germs from your mouth. Also, the fluoride rinse gives you fresh breath and that’s always a plus:) The cost of dental procedures can be astronomical and most problems are 100% preventable with a little elbow grease and monitoring on your part. There are also procedures and fixes for mis-aligned teeth or teeth that have most their whiteness. Things such as veneers which go over the damaged teeth or Invisalign trays, which help to align your teeth without the uncomfortable braces that we all are familiar with have become popular among adults as alternatives to more abrasive procedures as well as costly ones. Worried about the whiteness of your teeth? Invest in some whitening trays or ask your dentist about laser whitening as an option.

Our hands tell a weathered story…..

Men are very hands-on creatures, we use our hands in numerous projects, careers, etc. The condition of the skin on our hands is extremely important because we use them every minute of everyday. So keeping them soft and supple helps with things like grasp and grip with certain objects. On the romantic side of things, your partner doesn’t want to be felt up with something that feels like sandpaper, which is why lotions are a definite must daily. Consider getting a manicure once a month to get your nails professionally clipped and give your hands a pampering as well. Oh, it feels great too! Men’s hands tend to get dry and weathered, especially if they work outdoors a lot or utilize their hands to carry lumber, work with metal and harder elements. Consider washing your hands in warm water and olive oil for ten minutes to give your hands a rejuvenation and soften your skin. Wear gloves whenever appropriate too to avoid calluses and getting cuts and bruises. Use an a sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher. This cuts down on sunspots and wrinkling over time. No guy wants their hands to look like they belong in a casket so taking these simple tricks and putting them into practice will help keep your hands looking alive and vital.

Body care and upkeep.

Let’s not forget to not neglect the skin that’s below the neck, that needs self-care as well. Manscaping has become a thing in the past two decades or so and striping our bodies of that unwanted or excessive body hair is popular among a lot of men. Hair removal can be annoying and difficult depending on the area and what method you are using. One way that isn’t time consuming but a pain in the a** (literally!) is waxing. I hate back hair so getting my back waxed for the first time was surprising but not painful. I have a high pain tolerance so I was able to withstand the tearing off of the hair quite well. For those that don’t want to go the waxing route, there’s always body trimmers that can do the job just as well for a fraction of the price. Depending on how hairy you are, this may be time-consuming and the clean up won’t be easy! Regardless, once the hair is removed from said area, always use lotion to help reduce irritation from the skin in the shaved area.

Your twig and berries.

It’s quite odd to be including care of your penis in a cosmetic way but it makes total sense. It’s a very important part of our bodies and we need to make sure that it stays functioning how it’s supposed to. One way we can help that along is to care for it just as you would any other spot on your body. Ask most men and they’ll tell you they don’t moisturize their penis because it doesn’t need it or doesn’t make sense to. WRONG! When you shower, wash you penis with a moisturizing cleanser and after you finish your shower and dry off, apply a moisturizer directly to the skin of the penis. If you are uncircumcised, be sure to moisturize underneath the foreskin as well.

As for your testicles, a lot of men have taken to shaving or trimming the hair there as well. I, however, wouldn’t recommend an ordinary razor though unless you have a very skilled hand, lol. Instead, there are ‘ball trimmers’ on the market that work wonders without any of the nicks and cuts that a traditional razor gives you. Also, when you’re done pruning the weeds so to speak, gently coat your boys in moisturizer as well to keep them feeling cool and smooth.

Don’t forget your feet!

One word, pedicure. Pedis are to die for! Most most don’t really pay attention to the nails on their feet until they grow out of hand and get gangly, long and discolored. A professional pedicure alleviates all of that and you can relax while having your feet tended to. There’s also treatments such as parafin wax, to reduce swelling, help with circulation and give your feet a smoother feel. Men tend to have a hardened skin on the bottom of our feet and this helps with that as well.

Let’s talk Final Thoughts!

Simple tasks such as grooming yourself before heading out to work, a night on the town shouldn’t become a chore to do. Instead, it should be something that you look forward to doing. I work in an industry that can be very superficial and the one thing that I hear form every client is that they want to look attractive to people. Following these tips will definitely give you an edge and a head above the rest.

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John J. Schessler is a Men’s Wellness Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer with specializations in Sports Injury and Orthopedics and has over 10 years experience with various populations. He is also an actor, writer, Men’s Life Coach, owner of Flip Your Script Fitness and host of the podcast, “ManAlive!”, available on Apple Podcasts. If you would like to be a guest on the ManAlive Podcast, inquiring about training/life coaching services or just want to say hello, email me at: j.schessler@pghwellnesscoach.com.