A Men's Grooming Routine That Actually Works: Skin, Shaving, Hair and Hygiene Without the Hype

In this guide

• Why grooming is maintenance, not vanity
• The three-product skin routine
• Sunscreen: the anti-ageing product men skip
• How to shave without destroying your face
• Beard, stubble and body hair
• Hair loss: what actually works
• Teeth: the grooming men forget
• Body odour and gym hygiene
• Tattoos and skin
• What not to waste money on
• My take

In my job, the camera goes everywhere. Close-ups, bright lights, high-definition. Every razor bump, every patch of dry skin and every shortcut shows. That reality taught me something that applies to every man, camera or no camera: grooming is not vanity. It is maintenance, like changing the oil in a car.

The good news is that a good routine is simple and cheap. The beauty industry would like you to believe you need twelve steps and a cabinet full of bottles. You do not.

I am not a dermatologist, and this is not medical advice. If you have a skin condition, a changing mole, hair loss that worries you or a rash that will not clear, see a doctor or a pharmacist. The facts here come from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the NHS and the Mayo Clinic. The opinions are mine.

The three-product skin routine

For most men, three products cover the basics:

1. A gentle cleanser. Morning and night, or at least at night and after training. Harsh, foaming soaps can strip the skin and leave it tight and irritated. Lukewarm water, not hot.
2. A moisturiser. Especially after shaving and in dry or air-conditioned environments. If your skin is oily or prone to spots, look for one labelled non-comedogenic or oil-free.
3. Sunscreen. In the morning, every day you are going outside. More on this below.

The Mayo Clinic’s basic skin care advice for adults is in the same spirit: protect yourself from the sun, do not smoke, treat your skin gently, eat a healthy diet and manage stress (Mayo Clinic: skin care tips). Notice how much of that has nothing to do with products.

If you have acne, the NHS explains which treatments are available from a pharmacist and when to see a GP (NHS: acne). Adult acne is common and treatable. You do not have to just live with it.

Most men do not need more products. They need to use three products every day.

Sunscreen: the anti-ageing product men skip

If I could make men add one habit, it would be this one. Sun exposure is the main cause of visible skin ageing, wrinkles, leathery texture and dark spots, and it is a major risk factor for skin cancer.

The NHS advice is clear: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to protect against UVB and at least 4-star UVA protection, apply enough, reapply frequently, and do not rely on sunscreen alone. Shade and clothing matter too, especially in the middle of the day (NHS: sunscreen and sun safety).

The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher (AAD: how to select a sunscreen). If you sweat a lot, train outdoors or swim, water resistance matters, and reapplying matters even more.

Men who spend time shirtless outdoors, at the pool, at the beach, training in the park, need to think about the shoulders, the back of the neck, the ears and the scalp if the hair is thin. Those are classic sunburn spots. If you do get burnt, the NHS has advice on sunburn.

How to shave without destroying your face

Razor burn and bumps are among the most common grooming complaints men have. The AAD’s dermatologist tips are simple, and they work (AAD: how to shave):

1. Wet your skin and hair first to soften it. Right after a shower is ideal.
2. Apply a shaving cream or gel. If your skin is sensitive, choose one labelled for sensitive skin.
3. Shave in the direction the hair grows. This is the key step for preventing bumps and burns.
4. Rinse after each swipe of the razor.
5. Change your blade or throw away disposable razors after 5 to 7 shaves.
6. Store your razor somewhere dry, not in the shower, so bacteria do not grow on it.

The AAD also warns men with acne to shave lightly, use a sharp blade and never try to shave off spots.

Some men, especially those with tightly curled hair, are prone to a condition called pseudofolliculitis barbae, where shaved hairs curl back and grow into the skin. For them, a close shave against the grain is often the problem. A trimmer or electric razor that leaves a millimetre of stubble can make a big difference. If bumps become painful, infected or scar, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Beard, stubble and body hair

A beard is not a no-maintenance option. It needs washing, conditioning and trimming like the hair on your head, or the skin underneath gets dry, flaky and itchy. A simple routine: wash it a few times a week with a gentle cleanser, use a little beard oil or moisturiser on the skin underneath, and trim the neckline and cheeks regularly so it looks deliberate.

For body hair, many men now trim or remove chest, back or other body hair, especially if they train and wear little in the summer. A good body trimmer with a guard is the safest, lowest-irritation option. Shaving large areas of body hair often causes more ingrown hairs and itching than trimming. Whatever you remove, go slowly, use clean tools and moisturise afterwards.

Hair loss: what actually works

Male pattern baldness is extremely common and mostly genetic. It is also a huge market for products that do not work.

The NHS says finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness. They do not work for everyone, and any regrowth usually stops or reverses when you stop using them. Not all treatments are available on the NHS, and no treatment is 100% effective (NHS: hair loss).

Finasteride is a prescription medicine. Like any medicine, it can have side effects, and some men report sexual side effects, so this is a conversation to have honestly with a doctor, not a pill to order from a random website. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp and is available from pharmacies.

What does not count as treatment: most shampoos, “hair growth” gummies and magical oils. If you are losing hair suddenly, in patches, or with other symptoms, see a GP, because that can have other causes.

Teeth: the grooming men forget

Nothing ruins a good first impression faster than bad breath or neglected teeth. The NHS basics (NHS: how to keep your teeth clean):

• Brush twice a day for about two minutes, including last thing at night.
• Use a toothpaste with at least 1,350 ppm fluoride.
• Spit after brushing, but do not rinse, so the fluoride stays on your teeth longer.
• Clean between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes.
• See a dentist regularly.

Smoking stains teeth, damages gums and, as I explained in smoking, vaping and erections, does a lot of damage below the belt too.

Body odour and gym hygiene

If you train, you sweat. That is good. What you do afterwards decides whether people want to stand next to you.

The NHS advice on body odour (NHS: body odour):

• Wash your armpits, groin and feet regularly with soap, the NHS says at least twice a day, and dry thoroughly.
• Use antiperspirants and deodorants.
• Change and wash your clothes regularly.
• Choose natural fabrics like cotton, wool and silk, and avoid tight synthetic clothes.
• Do not overdo strong-smelling food or alcohol.

A pharmacist can advise on stronger antiperspirants. See a GP if your body odour suddenly changes, you start sweating much more than usual, or it affects your self-esteem.

Gym-specific habits: shower soon after training, never put sweaty kit back in the bag for tomorrow, wash gloves and wraps if you box, use your own towel and wear flip-flops in shared showers to avoid fungal infections.

Tattoos and skin

I have a lot of tattoos, so I care about this one. Sun fades tattoos and damages the skin underneath, which is another reason to use sunscreen or cover up. Moisturised skin also makes tattoos look sharper. If a new tattoo becomes very red, hot, swollen or painful, or you feel unwell, get it checked, because infections do happen.

What not to waste money on

• Twelve-step routines. More products mean more chances of irritation.
• “Testosterone” grooming products. Marketing, not science.
• Expensive razors you never replace. A cheap blade changed often beats an expensive one used for months.
• Miracle hair growth supplements. See above.

Put the money into sunscreen, a decent trimmer and fresh blades. And put real effort into the things that show on your face more than any cream: sleep, diet, alcohol and training. I wrote about those in how much sleep men really need and how much protein you need to build muscle.

My take

Grooming is one of the easiest ways to look and feel better, and one of the cheapest. Clean skin, a moisturiser, sunscreen every morning, a proper shave or a well-kept beard, clean teeth, fresh clothes. None of that is complicated. It just has to happen every day.

Confidence is not only about how you look, but looking after yourself sends a message, to other people and to yourself, that you take your life seriously. If you are working on confidence with women, my columns in the Meeting Women section of House of Maximo go further.

For the human stories of the women in this industry, read my columns on House of Maximo. Follow my work at maximogarciaworld.com, and for the 18+ side, fuckingpornstars.net.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair removal: how to shave.
2. American Academy of Dermatology. How to select a sunscreen.
3. NHS. Sunscreen and sun safety.
4. NHS. Hair loss.
5. NHS. How to keep your teeth clean.
6. NHS. Body odour (BO).
7. NHS. Acne.
8. NHS. Sunburn.
9. Mayo Clinic. Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin.