20 Things Every Man Should Know About Grooming in His 20s

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Look to your left. Now look to your right. At least one of you will leave your 20s with a lot less hair than you entered them with. If the curious social machinations of high school and the subjective grades of college haven’t taught you that life isn’t fair, then the cruel hand of time will surely teach you in your twenties, as the hair that you’ve grown to love is whisked away from your head without warning.

You may start to see clumps of hair in the drain where there were none before. You may find that your preferred shaggy hairdo just isn’t cutting it anymore. If you start losing your hair, don’t fret. Women understand that most guys lose their hair eventually. Hey, we've all seen plenty of chrome-domed dudes with fine ladies hanging off of their arms. As long as you stay confident, you could be one of them. So if you start to lose your hair, take a cue from everyone’s favorite viral Disney anthem and “Let It Go.” Bald can be sexy; a comb over never is. You’ll know when the time is right to take the plunge and go hairless up top. And when you do decide to take a razor to what remains of your mane, the Gillette ProGlide with Flexball Technology will be waiting to assist in your mission.

Not everyone looks good with a beard. If you feel that you are one of the chosen few who can pull off that mountain man look, then more power to you. However, there is one thing that baby faces and flavor savers should be able to agree on: ironic facial hair is never a good look. Spare us the well-curled mustache, the thick muttonchops, and the razor-thin soul patch. If you want to be funny, head to an open mic night. If you’re trying to be cool, let your fashion do the talking. Crimes against your own facial aesthetic simply aren’t worth the laughs you may get from your boys for following through on that handle bar mustache bet.

Some men cultivate a shower rack with dozens of exotic cleansing bottles, yet they continue to dry themselves with the same ratty towels. Some men notice that they are still getting outbreaks of backne well into adulthood, yet sleep on unlaundered sheets night after night. Grooming isn’t just about what body washes and razors you use (though these are important choices); grooming is about everything that touches the body. What’s the point of a good cleansing scrub if you’re going to reapply a layer of dirt when you dry off? Ditch the dingy old towels and keep your sheets clean. Plain and simple. 

The endless march of aging is a cruel one indeed. While you may notice less hair on your head, you will surely notice hair where you never had it before. Your nose and ears might even start growing manes of their own before your 30th birthday. Though this may be a difficult fact to face up to, don’t live in denial of your newfound follicles. Instead, stride up to the mirror, tilt your head slightly up, and confront the problem head-on. Be sure to trim, not pluck. And if possible, use a trimmer; scissors can lead to more trouble than they’re worth. There’s no reason to land in the ER as a result of trying to regain control of your nostrils.

The prevailing sentiment in college is to let your hair grow until breaks between semesters. Once you get into the adult world though, it's time to use some that adult money to tighten the time between trims. Frequent haircuts force you to consider exactly what hairstyle you want, and commit to it. Heading to the barber on the reg will also reinforce the fact that “unkempt” is not actually a style. Even if you are going to let your locks go long, you should still be in control of your hair, and not the other way around.

No one is asking you to get a pedicure after Sunday brunch, but at least consider your surroundings before exposing your gnarly feet and their nasty little piggies to the rest of the world. It is your choice to let your feet resemble those of Frodo Baggins, but if you chose to do so, do the rest of us a favor and keep them covered up. We understand that you are a chill bro, and as such, you must play Dave Matthews Band on the acoustic whenever the opportunity presents itself. We get that. And we won’t take away your right to wear a pooka shell necklace. Nor is it our place to infringe upon your need to wear cargo shorts. But please, cover up those feet unless you put some measure of care into your hooves.

Trimming and shaving of body hair can be a choice or a necessity, depending on how hairy you are. Whether you have a thick natural coat or you’re as smooth as the day you were born, it is important to do some research before you take a razor or a trimmer to a region other than your face. In regards to upper body hair, Celebrity groomer Barbara Guillame recently offered the following tip to GQ: “Trim your chest, going in the direction of the grain, then make sure to go all the way down. No happy trail necessary. Do it dry. And hydrate afterwards with a body lotion to prevent redness." 

There are plenty of tips and tricks available online no matter where you plan on shaving or trimming. So don’t go to battle on foreign terrain without first doing some reconnaissance.  The knowledge that you need is only a click away. The natural look works for some guys, but rashes and razor burns don’t look flattering on very many—if any—male forms. And, or course, make sure you use the right tools. Use high-quality razors like the Gillette Body and your hairy parts will thank you later. If you think that a beard trimming mishap is painful, wait until you screw up while trimming somewhere else. 

Cheap colognes and scented body washes don’t do any favors. We won’t name names, but if it’s a brand that you were putting on after high school gym class, it might be time to leave it behind. In the adult world, nice cologne can go a long way, but you are better off not wearing anything at all than slathering yourself in musky bro-friendly products. If you can’t yet afford to invest in a quality fragrance, then let a quality deodorant do the trick. Bad cologne is way, way worse than no cologne at all.

Men are very good at admiring themselves from the front. It’s where we can best view our pecs and biceps. And inspect our pearly whites and our clean shaves. But make sure you take a look at your back as well. Long after your face clears up, you might find unsightly blemishes around your shoulder blades. Though your chest hair might be under control, your back hair might be a patchy mess. Just as it is far too easy for gym rats to focus on the muscles that they see from the front while ignoring what’s behind them, some of the best-groomed gentlemen don’t pay any attention to their less accessible side. 

Razor burn afflicts men who take a too-fast-too-furious approach to shaving. We know it can be hard to take your time when you’re rushing to get rid of that five o’clock shadow and you’re already ten minutes late, but take your time. “Shave Doctor” Mark Sprosten says, “Men who suffer with razor burn tend to be the ones who shave at 100 mph and who use long, sweeping strokes. So slow things down and shave using short strokes—ideally around 2 cm in length.” Don’t try to save time off on your shave, because that’s no way to save face.

You will be overworked in your twenties. That is just a fact of life. Whether you’re putting in long hours as an intern, working two jobs, or simply enjoying all that post-collegiate life has to offer, you are going to be tired. And unless you have a portrait of Dorian Gray hanging in your closet, you are going to feel the strain. One of the first places where you’ll notice the long hours taking their toll is in your eyes. Dark, baggy circles, veiny red streaks, crow’s feet, and even premature wrinkles may begin to develop as you push through sleep deprivation. Some men choose to fight this with concealers, moisturizers, and the like. If you can deal with the mockery that is sure to come from your boys, then feel free to use product to fight back against Father Time. For those of you who aren’t so bold, there are some simple steps that you can take. A good night’s sleep, hydration, eating your greens, and limiting exposure to smoky bars can keep your eyes looking fresh. Remember, you don’t have to go in for a cucumber facial to keep yourself looking youthful.

You ask your mechanic about your car. You seek out your foodie friends’ opinions about restaurants. Yet, men are often reticent to ask for advice about their bodies—unless it involves bench press form. When you get your haircut don’t just mumble “number two please” as you hop in the chair. Chat up the style experts in your life. Menswear bloggers, stylists, and skin care workers all have valuable perspectives to offer; listen to what they have to say. You may not be the kind of guy that invests a good portion of his income in beauty products, but the people who do will likely have simple, cheap advice to help you step up your grooming game without breaking the bank.

Of course working out is the best way to have a good looking body, but it is also a vital part of good grooming. After all, chiseled jawlines and youthful faces aren’t cultivated by sitting on the couch and chomping on Doritos. Working out slims and tightens every part of your body and will lead to a more youthful neck and face. No matter how much money you spend on grooming products, you can only do so much with the canvas that you have. A solid diet and workout routine will lead to a healthy, younger looking face. Once you’ve achieved that, then you can talk about what kind of tips and tricks you can use to show off your natural good looks. 

Chap stick and lip balm are essential for men and women who have to endure brutal winter climates. Because men are less likely to wear chap stick during the rest of the year, they are more likely to make mistakes when they get around to protecting their lips from harsh winter winds. Biting and licking your lips makes them worse, but you already knew that. Applying too much chap stick or buying flavored lip balms can encourage licking and leave you worse off than how you started. Your best bet is to go with a no-frills lip balm and remain light on the application.

This tip goes beyond hygiene and into your personal health. When you’re living with the ‘rents or are in college, it is easy to keep doctors appointments. Just, you know, go to the doctor. The problem comes when you have neither health insurance nor much free time. Though it might take a hit to your wallet to get your teeth cleaned, and you may have to take a day off from that sorely needed restaurant shift to do it, keep up on those appointments. When older folks see that you’re struggling, poor, and unhappy, they will tell you, “at least you have your health.” Do your best to make sure that this remains true.

In many parts of the country, men are trained to believe that, when it comes to haircuts, the cheaper the better. We are taught to believe that anyone who charges more than eight dollars a cut is trying to put one over on you. As you get older and begin to explore more fashion-forward chop shops, you will likely learn a lesson that you're sure to encounter over and over again in life: you get what you pay for. Ask your friends with the best looking haircuts where they get styled. Odds are that many of them are paying at least $30 a cut, and some might be paying as much as $50. We’re not saying that you have to put your hair in the hands of a true master, but if you want results, you might want to expand your price range.

Before you complain of sticker shock, just be thankful that you don’t have to endure the $200 price tag that comes with lady hair.

Biting your nails, grinding your teeth, and other bodily responses to your daily stresses are not only bad for your mental health, but they also take a toll on the way you look. Find a way to process and release that excess stress in a way that doesn’t involve taking it out on your body. Your teeth, your fingernails, and every other part of your body deserve some respect. If you have to buy a stress ball to get rid of that excess millennial angst, do it. Or better yet, find a way to manage all that the world throws at you with a little more poise.

How many times do we have to tell you? 

Sorry to channel your mom/dentist/elementary school health teacher there, but they spoke the truth—it’s funny. We go out of our way to pursue some of the most exotic and even ridiculous grooming techniques, but when it comes to the single tip that we’ve been given since pre-school, we find any excuse to put it off. Flossing, like so many things that are good for you, sucks. It hurts. It’s time consuming. And it certainly doesn’t look cool. But, if the eyes are the gateway to the soul, then the teeth are the gateway to the bedroom. You always lead with a smile, so you might as well make sure you put your best teeth forward.

Earlier we talked about hair that might grow in strange places. That type that comes as a surprise aside, it is time to pay attention to the hair that has always been there, but has long been ignored. Eyebrow and neck hair is a constant for men of all shapes, sizes, and levels of hairiness. When you are giving yourself a close shave, you may also want to take care of those loose hairs that are growing elsewhere. A few extra minutes a day could lead to a significant grooming upgrade.

After all of this, it might sound strange to say that you shouldn’t go overboard, but this might be the most important advice of all. You are young and probably have a limited budget. Before you fill your bathroom with every lotion, oil, and body wash under the sun, think about what you need. As long as you can give yourself a good shave and you are aren’t the cause of any strange smells, you’re doing what you have to do. As MAC Cosmetics Director Romero Jennings says of male grooming: “There should be some masculinity left.” Pamper yourself as you see fit, and if a rugged look suits you, let it ride.