Let’s slap those nicely manicured hands together and warmly welcome guest bloggers Trend Him to our LOVElife blog! Sharing words of wisdom (and a soapy, slightly spicy aroma that left our pulses racing, frankly) they offering tips on how to make those all important first impressions count…
So, the relatively easy part is over, you’ve managed to secure a date with that dream girl on Lovestruck. You’ve exchanged numbers, arranged a date, a time and a place and the nerves are beginning to kick in.
As shallow as it sounds, first impressions really matter. Apparently, we only get just 7 seconds to make a first impression – your date will spend the majority of those first few seconds taking in your appearance as you walk across the bar to meet them or you introduce yourself.
Don’t let this scare you, there are a few quick and easy ways to make sure you give the best first impression possible. After all, you spent all that time picking out the perfect profile picture that represents the best version of you, so why not put the same effort into the real-life version!
To shave or not to shave?
Beards are everywhere. An extra facial layer in winter and no more dreaded shaving rash! Apparently though, your degree of bearded-ness can have an effect on whether a woman sees you as a one-night stand or a potential serious partner. Men’s Fitness recently reported on a study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology (serious stuff) that claimed that for women searching for long-term relationships, a full beard was the most attractive facial hair style. However, stubble was the most attractive option for all the women questioned, especially for those looking for flings. Whichever option you end up going for, there a few things you can do to make sure your facial hair looks neat and tidy. A man who has clearly put effort into his appearance for the date is appreciated by all!
Beard care
Unfortunately, the beard of your dreams is not grown overnight. It actually requires some hard work and maintenance. If you’re a committed beard grower looking for length and thickness, then you might want to consider getting a special beard shampoo, conditioner and a brush. The shampoo will give it a deep clean, the conditioner will leave it soft and the beard will encourage the hairs to grown downward over time – all resulting in a luscious beard! No matter the length of your beard, one thing is key – keep it trimmed. A great time to do this is a couple of hours before the date – trim it around the edges to make it look sharp and trim the ends to stop it looking scraggly. Just be sure to collect those trimmed hairs somehow, you don’t want a shower of hair sprinkling into your soup.
Shaving
The last thing you want before a date is to mess up the shave and be left with cuts and an angry shaving rash. A great way to avoid this happening is to make sure you are using a shaving cream that creates a good lather and also to use a really sharp razor. After finishing your shave, wash your face with some warm water to get rid of the excess lather and hairs and then splash your face with cold water. This cold hit will close your pores and stop any bacteria from getting into the skin which is a cause of irritation.
Other grooming tasks
So, your face is looking pristine, but now what about the other finishing touches for that winning first impression? Aside from your face, one area of your body that is guaranteed to be on show is your hands, and if you begin the night with a handshake, they will be the first part of the body that she feels.
Three easy ways to make sure your hands are in the best condition before the date is to trim your nails, get rid of any dirt and grime lurking underneath and also apply a little hand cream. With the latter, make sure you’re not applying it right before you are about to meet as it could leave your hands feeling a little greasy for 5 minutes or so.
The next thing you might want to do, especially if you have dark hairs, is to pluck your eyebrows. Now, I know this has all sounded a little girly so far and this is pushing it, but getting rid of stray hairs is quick and easy. Eyebrows are a really important facial feature, a slight change in them can alter your whole appearance and really frame your face.
The main area to focus on is the area between the two eyebrows but you might also want to tackle the area below the eyebrows if you have a lot of hair. Don’t be afraid of plucking – tweezers are cheap and easy to use. To avoid the slight pain, stretch out your skin with your free hand and pluck as close to the root of the hair as possible. If your pain threshold is really low, you can also try numbing the area with some ice before. If you have no idea where to begin, then make an appointment to get them seen to by a professional – don’t worry, lots of men do it! Good luck!
OK, let’s have a look. Yup, smelling good, looking buff…so er…what you doing tonight?
For a great selection of beard care and shaving items, head to Trend Him
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