Man face

Women go through a lot of effort to look their best. Men, on the other hand, have more free reign. Men are expected to be their natural selves. No makeup, no carefully put-together outfit, and so on. The extent of society’s pressure on men to look good is to be fit, but even then there is a lot of support for the “dad-bod” that means you really only need to maintain a healthy weight. This is freeing, but it isn’t sustainable.

Now it’s no secret that age takes its toll on everyone, and I for one am certainly not getting any younger! In recent years since tipping over the 30 year mark I’ve noticed changes to my body which have meant I need to change how I treat my body. My skin isn’t quite what it used to be and don’t even get me started on the developing beer belly or “cake shelf” as someone at work recently affectionately called it.

This got me thinking about how other guys are managing their own grooming routines – here are a few of my top tips for how to help you look your best, natural self for years to come.

Beauty routines are not just for women

The first misconception you have to throw away is that beauty routines are just for women. This is false. Your skin and looks will benefit from a beauty routine just as much. For example, failing to wash your face before bed will only mean your skin gets soaked and saturated with the sweat, dirt, and pollution that it has been exposed to throughout the day. This will transfer to your pillow, and produce a breeding ground for bacteria. By instead washing and moisturising your face, you can improve your skin and your overall health. Take a look at our men’s grooming section for some tips!

Get active and make exercising fun (and social)

Going to the gym can be a pain, in fact for me the problem isn’t so much being AT the gym but rather the getting TO the gym – once I’m there I have a good time! Thankfully however the gym isn’t the only way you can get exercise. You could try joining a local sports team or make a team with your co-workers so you can get together and do something fun. This way you can get exercise in which will improve your health astronomically, and enjoy a more robust social life.

Keep an eye on your hairline

Hair loss is a common problem in men that affects both a guy’s physical appearance and his well-being. The science bit is that the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the biggest contributing factor to hair loss is! It causes hair to thin, become weak and will lead to your luscious locks becoming  frail and nearly invisible. What it does not mean, however, is that the hair follicle itself is dead. Hair transplants can successfully treat hair loss in men and high profile men have now spoken out about their journey e.g. Wayne Rooney. Thankfully, there are some preventative measures you can take to minimise damage to your hair. It won’t necessarily stop you from balding, but it can certainly reduce the amount of thinning that occurs.

For one, a link has been made between a diet of animal fat and hair loss. Another link has been made between excessive sebum and hair loss. The result? Try eating less meat and washing your hair more often. The less your hair falls out, the less work will be needed during a hair transplant, and therefore the less it will cost!

Reduce stress for better health

Stress can help you reach a deadline or perform better, but chronic stress does nothing but wreak havoc on your health and on your well-being. By focusing on wellness activities at home that help you relax and unwind, you can look better, feel better, and perform better inside and outside of work. The more regularly you de-stress, the better you will look and feel for years to come.

So that’s it, a few short tips and a reminder to all you guys to look after yourselves – both your body and your mental health. Keep fit, keep you skin in good condition, eat well, feel good and look good, a great way to keep looking good for years to come.

By Nick

Nick is the founder of Life of Man with a passion for trying out the latest technology, eating out at the best local restaurants, trying the latest IPAs hitting the craft beer scene travelling the world. As a parent Nick loves to spend time with his family and write about days out as dad blogger.

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