Even if you have a grooming routine in place, we bet most of you don’t know about these tips and hacks that can save you time, effort, and a whole lot of money. Read on to know how you can make the best of the products that you already have and what are the alternatives when you don’t have any. It’s time to elevate yourself from a basic boy to a gentleman. 

Avoid wetting your hair without shampoo  

Most men wet their unruly morning hair every day to be able to style it better but doing so without shampoo can lead to hair breakage. Plain water isn’t enough to clean the scalp of dirt and product build, instead it makes hair drier and prone to breakage. It can also cause dandruff and hair fall.  

Use an eye cream on your lips 

One of the best hacks, if you ask me. Under-eye creams are formulated for a sensitive area and to target pigmentation and prevent under-eye dryness. Now read it again, you’ll realise that these facts stand true even for lips–lip area is sensitive, often pigmented, and dry, and an eye cream can work well. 

Hand cream for hair 

Before telling you this hack, I’m assuming that you already carry a hand-cream with you. Now if this is a big ask, skip this hack and come back to it when you start carrying a mini tube with you. If you are outside and your hair has gone out of control, hand cream can save the day. Take a pea-sized amount and apply it on hair to put it back in place. 

Use a leave-in conditioner for thin hair 

If you’re suffering from hair thinning, or have fine hair, one way to make it look fuller and voluminous is by using a leave-in conditioner. This helps keep the hair hydrated, in place, and conditioned to prevent further thinning. 

Lip balm for face cuts 

Alcohol swabs and antiseptic solution are ideal, but you know what else works like magic on a cut? A lip balm; its wax-like texture will seal the cut preventing bleeding. However, make sure you’re using a fragrance and tint-free lip balm. 

Icing a hungover face 

You might have seen women doing it before applying make-up, and as you know, women don’t do anything for no reason. Icing the face de-puffs it, closes open pores and gives refreshed skin–all you need to look fresh after a raging night which resulted in a hangover. Dunk your face in a bowl of ice-cold water and you’re ready to start your day without a hangover. 

Use a conditioner for shaving 

Not an ideal pick, sure. But on days when there’s no shaving cream in vicinity, here’s a shaving hack that won’t disappoint. What does a conditioner do? It softens the hair, and that’s exactly why you use shaving cream. A rich conditioner can get a better shaving job done but like we say, one product cannot serve all purposes so save this for a bad day. 

There is a way to use sunscreen 

FYI, rubbing your face with it is not the way to apply sunscreen. You must apply a two-finger rule–that’s the amount of sunscreen you need, dot the face with it, bonus points for not skipping ears and neck, and remember to reapply after every 2-3 hours. 

You need products according to your skin type 

You cannot use anything off the shelf just because your partner is generous enough to share it with you. Choose products according to your skin type and concern, and one product from head to toe is NOT the solution. 

You need to exfoliate your scalp 

If you style your hair regularly or have a greasy scalp, you need to add weekly scalp exfoliation to your hair care routine. Greasy scalp and product build can cause forehead acne along with scalp infections and that’s what we are trying to prevent. 

You’re shaving the wrong way 

If you have acne in and around the beard area, you probably are making common shaving mistakes. Not changing the blade every time you shave or shaving against the direction of hair can lead to acne on cheeks, chin and jawline.  

Sunscreen is not a replacement for moisturiser 

Gentlemen, stop skipping moisturiser because sunscreen has been added to your skincare routine. You cannot replace either of the two, unless you have oily skin, and your sunscreen is hydrating enough. Check with a dermatologist before taking such decisions. 

Forehead pimples indicate gut problem 

Either you’re using a heavy hair product that’s causing bumps and acne on your forehead, or your gut health is compromised. If you get forehead acne often, you need to regulate your diet. 

Change your socks and go for pedicures 

If you ask a dermat, one of the most common issues that men seek treatment for is fungal infection in feet. DO NOT wear the same socks throughout the week even if you are in a cold region. Change it every day and make a regular pedicure appointment to keep feet health in check.  

Shave while in or after the shower 

Most men jump to shaving right after brushing in the morning. However, shaving in or after a shower is advisable as it makes the hair follicles soft and gives better results without any cuts and bumps. 

Blast your razor with hair dryer 

Before tossing the razor back on the shelf, make sure to clean it. Save water and your sanity with this hack where you blast the blades with a hair dryer and get rid of the hair, any product, or any dead skin cells that might be stuck in between blades. This will help increase its lifespan and prevent rusting. 

Carry a soap bar in your gym bag 

There’s no better way of saying it but your gym bag stinks. While it’s a long process to fix your glands and body odour, here’s an easy fix for the bag. Toss a mini soap bar in it, a long-lasting solution.  

There’s A Way to Use Setting Spray 

If you enjoy setting your hair with a spray, don’t use it directly on your hair. This might seem like a difficult version of doing the same thing but believe us, this would make the style last longer. Spray it on a hairbrush and use it to set the hair; you’ll realise the hair doesn’t get crispy and the style looks natural and stays longer. 

Make Fragrances last longer 

Don’t spray your scent right on your clothes, it can stain clothes, especially if you are wearing a light colour. Take a bit of petroleum jelly, rub it on your pulse points and spray your perfume there to make it last longer. 

Frequency of hair washes in a week 

We know men are most confused about this but here’s the answer–washing your once in two weeks is quite gross and doing it every day is taking it too far as it may strip the scalp off its natural oil. So, ideally, you should reach out for your shampoo every third day if you can manage, however, avoid wetting it without shampooing. The frequency of hair washes during the week depends on multiple factors like age, lifestyle, hair length and type. There’s no one-solution-fits-all approach but on average, the third day washing is a charm.