Valentine's Day Grooming Tips

February 9, 2016

Think of Valentine's Day as the Super Bowl of date nights. You'll gain more yards and feel good going in if you're prepared with a smart game plan. In the words of Vince Lombardi, "Confidence is contagious, so is lack of confidence." Plan to give the right gift, get the right reservation and suit up. You'll need to look good, so bring your "A" game by elevating your everyday grooming routine ^[1]. These tips from the grooming pros will help you get the pass off without getting caught in the neutral zone.

Chris Salgardo, author of MANMADE: The Essential Skincare & Grooming Reference For Every Man, and President, Kiehl's USA, literally wrote the grooming playbook. Salgardo says, "Putting their best face forward is something men should think about every day, but occasions like Valentine's Day ^[2] or a job interview ^[3] can often cause them to take another look at their daily routine. To elevate your grooming routine for any special oc casion, simply take your current routine one step further. For example, hopefully, you're already using a cleanser and moisturizer with SPF every day, so add an eye cream, such as Kiehl's Heavy Lifting Eye Repair, to fight dark circles and smooth fine lines. If you already use a moisturizer and eye cream, consider adding facial oil, like Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate, under your moisturizer, to further protect and revitalize your skin. If you have facial hair, make sure you're using a beard oil ^[4] or groomer to keep it soft and looking sharp — I use Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Hopefully, these additions to your routine will become every day, and not just for special occasions.� ��

MVP and AXE Hair Celebrity Groomer Amy Komorowski agrees, "Confidence and feeling good before an event, big or small, is key. When you look good, you feel good and that sets you up for success." A few simple grooming steps make a huge difference on a guy so he can look and feel confident whatever his plans may be:

Plan on getting a haircut or trim a few days before.
Shave or trim up facial and neck hair. It's any easy way to instantly look and feel more polished.
Use at least one hair product. I like to use a paste, cream or pomade to add some texture and a bit of sheen to the hair. This one step instantly steps up your grooming game. Try AXE Signature Shine Pomade for a smooth, sharp look
Don't neglect your skin. Moisturizer, especially in the winter months, adds a healthy glow and makes you look instantly more handsome.

$13.95 at Amazon.com ^[5]

Kevin Baker from Fellow Barber agrees, "To avoid looking cheesy, don't show up to your V-Day date fresh out of the barber shop, as if you just got a haircut for the date. Hair always looks better a few days grown in. If you wear a beard or facial hair, make sure you're not looking like a man living in the woods (at least for this day). If you don't want a full cut (or don't need one), you can always get a clean up or trim from your barber to straighten up the neck, over the ears and sideburns." Baker's advice for you rookies: "If you're not usually a product guy, try a little just for the big day to look that extra polished. For longer styles, try our Fellow Barber Styling Cream, and for shorter cuts use our highly versatile Fellow Barber Texture Paste, or our Fellow Barber Strong Pomade."

$24.99 at Amazon.com ^[6]

Avoid a personal foul by making sure you smell good. "When wearing fragrance ^[7] on a date, you need to be very careful not to take it to 'knock 'em dead' levels. The aim is to be charming and seductive, not change weather patterns," says Nick Gilbert, Penhaligon's Head Fragrance Expert. "I would personally suggest two sprays on each side of the neck, two spritzes on the chest, and two spritzes on each wrist. Wearing fragrance on the wrists is useful as we move our hands when we talk — so those movements will create gentle wafts of scent towards your intended.

The neck and chest create enough warmth for a gentle aura of scent, meaning you can smell the fragrance yourself — but also should the date go well enough that you lean in for a kiss, the scent will be doing its job in aiding seduction." Gilbert suggests "trying warmer, woodier fragrances if the date is on an evening: Endymion, a suave fragrance named for the most handsome man in Ancient Greece, is sure to make your date swoon. Something fresh and crisp if you're going for a stroll and a coffee: Bayolea, a modernization of Penhaligon's traditional Bay Rum, is the perfect 'mmm, you smell great' fragrance for a daytime stroll."

Have a grooming question ^[8] ? Get it answered by AskMen's guyQ ^[9].