Image via Complex Original
You hear a lot of rumors about men's grooming. One of the fastest-growing businesses, there many more products marked "for men" than ever before. Hell, guys like Diddy have been up on maintaining a grooming regimen for years in order to, and we quote, "moisturize their situation and preserve their sexy." We sorted through the BS and the realness to cut down on all the confusion. Here are 10 Men's Grooming Myths Exposed.
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Use more shaving cream for a better shave.
True Or False?: FALSE
Doing this will only result in more lather... and less shaving cream faster. This myth was probably perpetuated by some shaving cream company in a ploy to get people to cop more faster. Don't fall for it.
Men's and women's products are the same.
True Or False?: FALSE
Bet you didn't know that generally, men's skin is up to 20% thicker than women's. It's much oilier and ages differently too, so it needs different vitamins and minerals, which means different products. So that "for men" on the label isn't just a marketing gimmick.
Bad breath comes from your tongue
True Or False?: TRUE
Tongues are gross. Billions of bacteria live on it, and it the case of bad breath, 90% of halitosis is related to dirty tongues. When your mom told you to brush your tongue as a kid, she knew what she was talking about. Breath mints and gum are only a temporary solution, while strong mouthwashes like Listerine actually do a decent job of fighting the funk.
Washing your face with regular soap is fine.
True Or False?: FALSE
Come on son. Invest in that face wash. Hand soap dries out skin and can lead to rashes and skin flakes, and it's pretty gross to use the same soap for your the cheeks on your face as you do the cheeks on your ass. You don't have to spring for the fancy stuff, but a good face wash will do wonders for your mug.
Brush your teeth after every meal
True Or False?: FALSE
Dental hygiene is a must, as are regular visits to the dentist. But brushing your teeth immediately after every meal is of no good. You must wait half an hour after every meal before you rush off to brush your teeth. In case you don't find the time to brush, gurgling after meals works just fine too.
Teabags cure tired eyes.
True Or False?: TRUE
Strange enough, this works. The caffeine and anti-oxidants in used tea bags can solve the puffiness and fluid retention common in tired eyes. Eye products work just as well, but in a pinch, these do the trick too. Just don't tell anyone you teabag yourself.
Shaving makes hair grow back faster and thicker.
True Or False?: FALSE
While stubble can seem darker and thicker following a close shave, the truth is, if dad wasn't a Grizzly Adams, chances are you won't be either. That's right, quality beards are hereditary, so no matter how much you try to shave in order to make it grow back, you're only fooling yourself.
Eating chocolate leads to zits.
True Or False?: FALSE
There is zero relation between what you eat and zits. Genetics, hormones (sup, high school?), and stress all factor into breakouts, so go ahead and eat that Toblerone. But don't go overboard: it won't give you zits, but you can still get fat.
Stress causes gray hair.
True Or False?: FALSE
Genetics plays more of a part in determining whether you'll go gray, but stress can actually result in hair loss. So while you may not go gray... you might just go bald.
Shaving after a shower is better.
True Or False?: TRUE
Shower steam opens up your pores for a closer, cleaner shave. Not to mention, there's no better feeling than when a razor easily glides across your face after a nice shower.
