Mens Trends: 6 Grooming for Grown Ups

1. Body Hair Control

That thick strand of hair sprouting from your nostrils/earholes wasn’t exactly a conscious choice but, hey, it’s happened. If your eyebrows are starting to crawl their way up to your hairline or you can braid your back hair, then it’s time to start managing your follicles. Invest in a micro clipper (such as the one from Wahl or the Hygienic Nose & Ear Clipper by Remington) for your face and a trimmer for your body (see the Braun CruZer 6 or the Philips Norelco Bodygroom). Better yet, book a professional threader/waxer to get the dirty work done for you. 

2. ‘Directional' Haircuts

This includes asymmetrical cuts, faux hawks, ‘ironic’ mullets, bleaching, dreadlocks or whatever it is that Harry Styles has on his head. Even if you still have a full head of luxurious hair (congratulations, by the way), statement haircuts are best left to those without the demands of a day job.

Keep your cut simple, classic and manageable. And hold off on the temptation to empty that entire tube of wet-look gel onto your head. 

3. Damage Control

Some guys can dodge skincare altogether and still look fine in their early 30s. Luckily, guys generally have thick, oily skin that is more resilient to aging. One day, though, this grace period disappears and three decades of dodging the grooming bandwagon catches up with you.

Come 30, an anti-aging moisturizer should be a mandatory part of your routine. An SPF, to prevent the break down of collagen and elastin fibers (the stuff that holds your face up) is also essential. The more you can do to offset existing damage as well as prevent further degradation, the better. Also, now would be a good time to ditch the piercings — what looked great on the pristine skin of a 20-year-old becomes a facial curiosity as wear and tear starts to show. 

4. Shake On It

Grungy may have been your ‘thing’ in your 20s, but unkempt hands are a surefire way to undercut a suit or position of authority. Your hand, after all, is one of the first things everyone — from a potential business partner to a potential life partner — sees when you introduce yourself.

Get a regular manicure or, at the very least, learn how to cut your nails properly rather than butcher them with a pair of clippers. We suggest trimming nails to leave at least one millimeter of growth. Leave your cuticles alone and rub a bit of oil into your nails and hands every day (we’re a fan of almond oil — and it's a major plus that it costs about $4 a pop). It’s that easy. 

5.Gray With Grace

Avoid the telltale ‘shoe polish’ effect of a dodgy dye job (see Berlusconi, among others) and embrace the salt-and-pepper look. Gray is good. In terms of maintenance, you can get the dull, yellow tones out of gray hairs with a neutralizing product like Philip Kingsley’s Pure Silver Shampoo & Conditioner, which contains optical brighteners. Or, if you’re really uncomfortable with those grays, use a semi-permanent ammonia-free colorant to balance everything out (Excell by L’Oreal Men Paris, for example). 

6. Shave Or Grow A Beard

Go for a tapered, groomed beard (i.e. not hipster) or go for a clean shave. One or the other. Now is not the time for questionable facial hairstyles or experimental sideburns. Leave the pimp ‘staches and other designs to Prince — he’s the only man that can make them look cool.

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