Men’s Grooming Handbook
The Complete Head-to-Toe
Guide
for Looking Your Absolute Best
Advice
Strategies
Checklist
Including
Special Bonus Sections
Men’s Grooming Handbook
The Complete Head-to-Toe
Guide
for Looking Your Absolute Best
By John Simon
Copyright © 2011 by John Simon
Smashwords
Edition
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
The
Basics of Personal Style
CLOTHES
MAKE THE MAN
The
Wardrobe Of A Well Groomed Man
Investment
Dressing
Wardrobe
Building Blocks
Suits
Shirts
Shirt
and Tie Combinations
Belts
Sport
Coats
Dressing
for Casual Fridays…In Any Season
Jewelry
5
Tips For Wardrobe Shopping Success
YOUR
CROWNING GLORY
Haircut
Do’s and Don’ts
Working
With Your Stylist
7
Tips For Choosing a Salon and Stylist…and the “Razor” Test
8
Ways To Keep Your Hair Looking Great
The
No-Hair Look, Natural or By Choice
PERSONAL
GROOMING
Toiletries
You Can’t Live Without
The
Skinny on Skin
Sun
and Shade Report
Tips
For Safe Tanning
6-Step
Shaving Ritual
Ear
and Nose Hair
VERY
PERSONAL GROOMING
Armpits
Hair
On Your Back And Chest
The
Hair “Down There”
Waxing
The
Hands People Want To Shake
A
WELL-GROOMED MOUTH
Reasons
to Smile
Caring
for Your Teeth
Caring
For Your Gums
Caring
For Your Breath
YOUR
FEET
5
Tips For Feet That Will Take You Anywhere
If
the Shoe Fits…Polish It!
Sock
Do’s and Don’ts
BONUS
SECTIONS
Bonus:
8-Step Morning Grooming Regimen
Bonus:
Grooming Gadgets
Bonus:
Basic Etiquette
Bonus:
Get Ready for Your Date Checklist
Hello!
Congratulations! You’re one in a million. Why? Because unlike most guys, you undoubtedly know that how you look is important, very important.
That’s the reason you bought this guide, isn’t it?
Most guys think that ‘grooming’ only matters to Hollywood celebrities or high-profile people like Donald Trump. But it doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO earning six figures, a minimum-wage burger flipper, a recent grad who’s watching every penny, or a midlife career-changer ready to “wow” the work world.
Good grooming is
important for any man…
at any age!
Your clothes and personal grooming habits tell people a lot about the kind of person you are. And the man who really wants to get ahead…personally and professionally…is careful that his grooming is a reflection of his positive self-image and self-worth.
How You Look On The Inside
If you want to look like a million dollars, you need to feel like a million dollars, too. If you’ve got a negative self-image or you’re struggling with low self-esteem, nothing you do for the outside of your body will matter.
Your clothes and grooming may say “Hot Commodity,” but the underlying message you’re sending out is, “On the brink of failure.” Because regardless of the cut of your suit, the shine on your shoes, or the starch in your collar…
If YOU don’t
believe in yourself and in your abilities,
no one else will
either!
But the flip side of the coin is that when you’re confident about your appearance, it makes you much more comfortable in any situation and you exude a positive attitude that will draw people to you.
So, when you project self-assurance and a sense of self-confidence, it makes you very attractive -- and more desirable – in both your business and personal lives. Employers want to hire you and women want to date you.
Sound good? Keep reading! I’ll talk more at the end about the grooming your “inner” man, but for now let’s get back to the “outer” you.
How You Look On The Outside
Clothes are superficial…literally an “outer layer.” But your outer layer creates a first impression. In an instant, people will judge you based on the way you look. You could be rich, but if you're dressed like a bum, you will be perceived as a bum…
…and treated accordingly.
Put on a sharp-looking suit and tie, an expensive pair of Italian loafers, and a designer wristwatch and, of course, the salespeople will greet you as you come in the door. Your clothing is sending out the message “This guy has money to spend” and they’ll be eager to help you to just that!
But it’s not just the suit that delivers the message.
Put on that same suit, with a wrinkled shirt, or a pair of sneakers… Or walk in with a two-day growth of beard and your hair unwashed… and you’re sure to feel the “deep freeze” from salespeople.
They’ve labeled you as “not a serious” buyer,’ so they won’t waste their time on you.
Life, Love, and the Workplace
The same thing holds true in the workplace. At an interview or every day on the job, you don’t want to get labeled “sloppy.” Why? Because in the minds of your fellow professionals, if your grooming is sloppy, your work is probably sloppy, too.
And when it comes to finding Ms. Right (or Ms. Right Now), forget about attracting the woman of your dreams if you look like you don’t take care of yourself. It’s a warning sign of low self-esteem, if nothing else.
Looking good translates into
Feeling
good
Making more money
Achieving more success
Finding love.
It Pays To Look Good – Literally!
The ugly truth, according to economics professors Daniel Hamermesh of the University of Texas and Jeff Biddle of Michigan State University, is that how you look can impact your salary by up to 18%!
• Attractive students get more attention and higher evaluations from their teachers
• Attractive patients get more personalized care from their doctors
• Attractive criminals receive lighter sentences than less attractive defendants
But just what does the word “attractive” mean. It can be used to refer to someone who’s handsome or pretty, but it also used to describe people when they are well dressed and well groomed.
Your Plan of Attack
The key to being attractive and enjoying all the benefits that come with being perceived as “appealing,” isn’t about how smart you are or how much money you earn. Good grooming isn’t rocket science, and you don’t need NASA’s million-dollar budget to skyrocket yourself to the top of the Best-Dressed list.
All you do need is a battle plan… a guide to the things that are important and a strategy that will help you achieve them.
That’s what this book is all about.
The Golden Rule of Personal Style is this:
The better you
feel about the way you look,
the better you feel about yourself.
Achieving your ‘personal best’ in grooming doesn’t mean you have to become a clothes nut and exercise fiend with 6-pack abs! (Although if that’s your goal, more power to you.)
Being a well groomed man means that you’ve developed a distinctive personal style and a healthy approach to caring for your body.
A healthy eating plan and some exercise should be at the top of your to-do list. The best clothes in the world won’t disguise the fact that you’re living an unhealthy lifestyle.
Before you worry about what to put on your body, you need to get your body in the best shape it can be for you.
The basics of grooming – including skincare, hair removal, personal hygiene, etc. are an integral part of your six-figure image. Like your self-image, they’re part of the foundation of looking good. And also like your self-image, they’re things you need to work on regularly.
But before we get down to the bare naked truths of grooming, let’s start about what’s on top of your skin.
Your wardrobe
What
A Well-Groomed Man Knows:
Being “who you are”
is the most attractive thing you can be.
The Wardrobe Of A Well Groomed Man
Before you ever open your mouth, your appearance makes a first impression. It's the way you are groomed…from the top of your head to the tip of your shoes…that offer strangers a clue into who you are.
In an ideal world, we’d all be judged on our own merits…”what’s on the inside.” But you live in the real world where what’s on the outside is what you use to attract people to your insides. Good grooming and dressing well help you
Project outwardly the qualities you possess on the inside.
Your goal isn’t to try and fool people into thinking your something you’re not. Quite the contrary! The goal of good grooming is to let people see exactly who you are, without a gravy stain on your tie getting in the way!
The components of style are:
• Skin care
• Hair care
• Nail care
• Body fitness and posture
• Clothing
• Scent
Once you master the “basic elements” of good grooming -- hair, nails, skin, physical conditioning, and personal style – you can “set” your style and maintain it easily for the rest of your life.
You’ve Got What It Takes
You’ve got to build your image from the tip of your well-shined shoes to the top of your well-groomed hair. And you’ve got to support that image from the inside out. You’ve got to be committed body and soul to looking and feeling your best…
Not just for today’s job interview or tomorrow’s appointment with a potential million-dollar client. No! You’re in this for the long run.
You need to be clear in your mind that looking and feeling your best is your new baseline. Anything less is unacceptable.
So you also need to be clear…and committed…to do whatever it takes to keep yourself in top form. Once you get that concept, you’re set.
Unlike you, the man who doesn't “get it,” usually has what he considers valid reasons. He's too busy to work with a coach, can't afford to see a stylist, doesn't want to be bothered refurbishing his wardrobe. Or, the most common ‘reason’ of all: “I don’t know where to start.”
Those aren’t reasons, you know. They’re excuses and you don’t need them.
Any man who wants to create a handsome, masculine image and reach his personal best can do so. Because the key to looking your best is already in your possession.
You don’t have to buy it, earn it, or steal. You already have it.
It’s your desire!
Real estate, diamonds and gold coins were once considered good investments. Today, however, one of the most important business investments you can make is in your professional wardrobe, what stylists refer to as “investment dressing.”
Smart business professionals will spend a great deal of money on classic pieces in timeless cuts and styles – suits, blazers, slacks. But they update them with moderately priced fashion accessories to add flair, variety, and an up-to-the-minute look.
Standing Out From The Crowd, But Not Too Much
Today’s man has a dual challenge. You need to make an appropriate business presentation, but you also need to make an individual statement.
It’s important to show creativity and imagination, and a well-dressed man can turn even the most non-descript, office “drab” outfit into an incredible look.
Driven by a “get it done attitude,” too many man make their clothing decisions quickly, and they purchase things that are not appropriate for them…and live to regret those choices.
Don’t fall prey to this! You don’t want to buy something that you don’t wear. That’s not investment dressing. That’s throwing money down the drain.
Remember, you’re building a wardrobe to last a lifetime. You won’t be able to purchase it all in one afternoon! Add pieces slowly, when you need them and when the time is right…
…And there’s no better time than a sale!
You can score great investment wardrobe pieces at just about throwaway prices if you wait for end of season sales. The beauty of this strategy is that men’s fashion style tends to be relatively stable. That means you don’t need to worry that something will go out of fashion favor before you have a chance to wear it.
Ultimately your goal is to have a wardrobe with…
• A suit (navy or gray) - This is the ‘signature’ piece of any investment wardrobe. Even if you only need a suit a couple of times a year, you're glad to have it on hand when those occasions arise.
Navy suits are classic and neutral and can be dressed up or down a little more easily than a black suit. You can use the pieces individually. Wear a navy jacket with khakis or jeans to get more bang for your wardrobe buck.
• Black shoes and belt – A coordinated shoe/belt combo is essential. Black accessories are perfect with khakis, jeans and your blue suit, too. You’ll get more mileage out of black shoes and a black belt because they make the transition from casual wear to formal or evening functions.
Brown accessories are considered sporty and casual.
• White dress shirt - White dress shirts are appropriate all day and all night. They look great on almost any man and are extremely versatile.
A white shirt with the shirt tail out over a pair of good-looking jeans with brown loafers is a classic men’s wear look.
• Solid tie - Solid ties are easy and can be worn with solids, stripes, checks, and other patterns. If you think solid is just too boring, select a classic diagonal stripe in your favorite color combination as your investment piece.
Ties are important for personal style and to give your wardrobe variety. Having several tie patterns and colors (stripes, polka dots, solids, novelty patterns) will ensure you and your wardrobe are prepared for work and play.
• Navy blue blazer - A blue blazer coordinates well with most men’s wear basics. Less formal than a suit coat and perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans, a navy blazer is sporty, but professional.
• Basic jeans - Jeans have been a staple of the American man’s wardrobe for generations. And why not? They’re sturdy and easy to care for. They come in a huge variety of styles, so it’s easy to find the fit that’s right for you.
• Khakis - Their neutral color makes them perfect to mix and match with other wardrobe basics. They’re great for casual Fridays, weekend wear, and look nice and professional when paired with a sport coat.
• Top Coat – You don’t need to choose a full-length coat as if that’s not your style. A 3/4-length…also known as car coat length…is also appropriate.
Beige camel hair is considered a classic because of its neutral color and medium weight fabric that is comfortable through several seasons. This item really finishes an outfit and can be worn with everything including jeans.
• Athletic wear – You’re not a “captain of industry” every day, so you need (and deserve) some truly casual duds. Comfortableand easy to care for, sweats and other sports gear are the perfect choice for lazing around on a Sunday or dashing to the convenience store at wee hours of the morning for some midnight munchies.
• Casual shirt - A knit polo or a button-down with an interesting pattern is perfect for pairing with jeans or other casual pants. Hawaiian shirts, though casual and fun, don’t count as your “wardrobe basic” because they’re not appropriate to an office setting. (They do, however, look great at Tiki parties!)
You may not be a tailor yourself, but you should know how a good suit is constructed. These are the special extras and details that distinguish the average man from a well-groomed man…like you!
Fabric
Worsted wools are your best bet for a suit. Worsted wools wear well so they’re a good “investment dressing” fabric. These include gabardines or mid-weight corded wools.
Suit Jacket
Just because a suit jacket is your ‘size,’ doesn’t mean it will fit correctly. Try it on and go through the following checklist for fit and fashion: