Yes, Men Need a Self-Care Routine, Too

by Pouch Marketing on Apr 28, 2021 0 comments

Growing up, most men’s “skincare” routines were likely a quick shower, applying deodorant, and brushing their teeth. While those things are important, they truly provide a baseline that any prepubescent boy can accomplish without much oversight from their parents. But what about when a boy becomes a man – what then? Most women have a heavily regimented self-care/skincare routine, and that is something of an expectation. Yet, why is it not also expected for men to practice self-care, especially when it comes to grooming? It should be, because men need self-care, too.

Man applying moisturizer to his face as part of his self-care routine

Because we believe that a man is only as dapper as his self-care routine, here are some friendly pointers (and men’s grooming products) that you can implement into your own self-care routine.

The Basics

We will focus mainly on self-care as it relates to grooming, but that is only a small part of the picture. Self-care goes beyond your physical appearance; it also includes your mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual health. Make sure that you are checking all of the boxes and not simply relying on a well-groomed beard and intoxicating smell profile to win in life. Remember, you must win over yourself before you can win over anyone else.

You may want to start with a personal inventory by which you assess your mental health, spiritual needs, social calendar, intellectual pursuits, and emotional coping mechanisms. Identify where you are strong, what you lack, and how you can do things better. Set goals. Make sure that they are specific and timely, and hold yourself accountable (or find someone who will). Maybe you decide to read a new book each month or set aside time for some morning meditation. Perhaps you plan to go on a lunchtime walk or study Zoroastrianism. It just needs to be something that helps you work toward the best version of yourself.

Before we move on to the grooming aspects of a self-care routine, you should also address the other physical aspects of self-care – this includes: getting restful sleep, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, and eating well-balanced meals. Not only do these things promote overall physical health, but they will also complement your skincare routine. A healthy body is an easier canvas to groom.

A Sample Self-Care Routine

#1: Use Cleanser

Hygiene is an important part of grooming, but it is more than just shampooing your hair and using body wash in the shower. The first thing that you should add to your self-care routine is a quality cleanser.

Of all the men’s grooming products, this one tends to trip up some guys. Cleanser is just soap for your face. Find a cleanser that you like, and then use it – consistently. If you aren’t washing your face, you need to be. This can be done in front of the sink in the morning or something that you do in the shower. Whenever you choose to do it, just do it. Cleansing your face will remove excess oils as well as dirt and grime. It is an essential first step, as almost everything else that you do in your self-care routine requires a clean face.

#2: Moisturize

After you’ve cleansed your face, you will need to moisturize it. Yes, the best skincare routine for men includes a moisturizer. Moisturizer is just lotion for your face. Most companies that sell cleansers also sell moisturizers, so if you’re unsure of which one to buy, you can always get the counterpart to your cleanser. It is different from regular lotion and is specially formulated to be used on your face and other areas of the body with sensitive skin.

#3: Rock the Beard or Shave Clean?

Do you have a beard? Use Johnny Slicks beard oil. Are you clean-shaven? Use Johnny Slicks shave soap. Whatever you do, make sure that you do it right. For men with beards, you’ll want to wash, brush, and apply beard oil to your beard regularly to ensure that it stays healthy, clean, and smells nice. There’s nothing worse than a scraggly, stinky beard. For men without beards, you’ll want to make sure that you get a smooth, even shave and that your skin is well moisturized after each shave.

#4: Care for Your Hair

We consider proper hair care part of a good men’s skincare routine (think about the scalp). Now we don’t just mean to shampoo and go. Remember that teenage version of yourself that we mentioned early on? That’s not who you are anymore. Proper hair care requires more than just a quick shower. Make sure that you find a quality shampoo and conditioner, and no, we don’t mean the kind that is a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash all in one. If you’re lost on where to look, Johnny Slicks carries natural, great-smelling hair care products for you to try.

In addition to shower-related hair care, you will also want to regularly trim your hair so that it not only looks well-groomed but also keeps your hair healthy. Men get split ends, too.

#5: Apply Hand Cream

We told you to moisturize, but sometimes moisturizer doesn’t cut it. For areas of your skin that are tough and dry, try using a quality hand cream. You never want to grab someone’s hand and find out that it is covered in sharp edges. Just to clarify, you don’t have to only use the hand cream on your hands. You can also use it on your feet, elbows, knees, ankles, etc.

#6: Try a Face Mask

We’ve all seen people at the spa on TV with a sheet mask. We don’t know what they’re using, but you can buy face masks that you use at home, which can help to further moisturize, brighten, and help your skin. Walk down the self-care aisle the next time you’re at Target, or do it online. Feel free to try different kinds of sheet or face masks and see which ones you like best. Some you wear overnight, others you leave on for fifteen minutes or less.

Get Started

We’ve given you the first steps to developing a proper men’s skincare routine and overall self-care routine. Try adding those steps to your normal routine, which likely consists of showering, trimming your fingernails, and wearing cologne. Once you’re accustomed to having a self-care routine, feel free to add additional items or grooming products that may be missing. Treat yourself. Men deserve it just as much as women do. It’s time that you gave yourself permission for some self-care.