Good Hygiene is Attractive

By Candice Gage

Brett and Kate McKay of the Art of Manliness recently posted a column titled “Keep a Regular Grooming and Hygiene Routine.” The post is part of a series that focuses on equipping men to live on their own for the first time. Some of their advice is timeless, though, whether you’re just starting out or have lived on your own for awhile. The article begins:

I know. I know. You’re probably thinking, “Does Brett think all young men are a bunch of uncouth ignoramuses who need an article reminding them to practice basic hygiene?”  No. No, I don’t.

But from my own personal experience and observing the lives of young men heading out on their own for the first time, I do know that keeping up with regular hygiene practices falls to the wayside for many young gents. With the stress of school and work, along with the lack of structure they once had at home, it’s easy to let yourself go.

This post is just a friendly reminder to keep up those regular grooming habits you hopefully formed in your youth. If you haven’t developed these habits yet, now is a good time to start. You’ll feel more alert, have more confidence, and won’t repel the ladies. As an added bonus, maintaining good bodily hygiene can help you become a man of character like Benjamin Franklin: cleanliness was one of his 13 virtues.

Let me be clear. I’m in no way suggesting you become overly fastidious about your personal grooming and hygiene. That sort of preening isn’t attractive in a man, and you probably have better things to be doing than standing in the mirror worrying about blemishes. All I’m encouraging is keeping up with the basic stuff you learned in elementary school health class that will keep you smelling fresh and looking presentable.

The McKays go on to discuss 10 helpful tips:

• Brush and floss every day, morning and night.
• Shower regularly.
• Go easy on the cologne.
• Make friends with Gold Bond Powder.
• Keep your nails trimmed.
• Unless you have extended-wear contacts, take your contacts out every night.
• Shave regularly/keep facial hair groomed.
• Keep your hair trimmed.
• Treat your acne.
• Wash your hands.

Visit the Art of Manliness website to read the full article.

Now — before any Marry Well men become offended, balk at my suggestions, insist that they don’t know any men with poor hygiene, and accuse me of man-bashing, let me explain. I’m a big sister of two young men. I have had many many male friends over the years.

Trust me — hygiene is an issue for some men.

And — right or wrong — poor hygiene is a turn-off for many women.

Thankfully, it’s an easy fix.

For the ladies — because of societal pressures to be attractive physically, we don’t seem to struggle with hygiene the way some men do. Still, if you recognize any gender-neutral tips that you tend to neglect (brushing your teeth, treating your acne, or others), consider adding them to your routine. You won’t regret it.

1. man said the following on August 6, 2012 at 7:23 pm

   

   So back hair is fine then?
2. SilverFire said the following on August 6, 2012 at 7:40 pm

   

   I question the wisdom of targeting articles to the small percentage of men who have habitual hygiene problems. It’s just too easy and stereotypical to generalize from “the icky boys” into some larger population that needs This Advice Now!

   Here’s some jaundiced advice for guys who do have hygiene issues, though — this won’t make you measurably more attractive. Hygiene is just one of about 3004 (my own estimate) things that you must do to even compete in the dating arena.

   Mastering those 3004 things simply gets you into the next arena, where even more difficult challenges await. If you survive that, then there’s another arena, and on and on. All you’re doing is putting yourself out there for women to sift you and discard you. Great way to spend your Saturday nights, right? WoW looks better all the time.

   Lastly, the concept of social pressures making women more attentive to hygiene is drop-dead hilarious. In professional environments, women are some of the worst offenders — think perfume and female issues (I won’t go into details). But hey, guys have no social pressures to be attractive physically, so I guess we come out ahead.

   Stay stinky, my brothers, and game on!
3. pstevens said the following on August 6, 2012 at 9:11 pm

   

   “So back hair is fine then?”

   *insert sarcastic tone*

   Did you even read the whole post? Gosh.
   See point #8 – Keep your hair trimmed.
   So, yes as long as it’s trimmed.

   In all seriousness I have seen some young guys who didn’t seem to know what a comb or shower was. Then again I’ve had more then one comment on how clean my feet and toenails are so that is kind of weird…
4. electricman said the following on August 6, 2012 at 10:22 pm

   

   *quadruple facepalm*
5. Amelius said the following on August 6, 2012 at 10:46 pm

   

   Having four brothers I feel confident enough to post though no ladies have yet. I grew up thinking all guys were just plain gross! I remember my brother Ian (2 years older) coming home for a visit from college and his hair was greasy and smelly…he shared he was having a contest with the other guys to see who could go the longest without showering. He was gross…but he was in college and just being a guy. When he was serious about dating his now wife…I did notice quite the clean up!
   It is quite distracting for either women or men that wear too much perfume/cologne. I do have trouble thinking highly of a guy when he doesn’t take the time to be clean. We all have our rushed days of course but in general I agree that this small bit of practical advice could be useful to some guys that perhaps don’t have a mom, or sister to tell them: “boy you are smelly…take a shower”
6. Psalm67 said the following on August 6, 2012 at 11:49 pm

   

   Sometimes I wonder if the bulk of the readership of The Art of Manliness consists of frustrated single Christian women.
7. Vision146 said the following on August 7, 2012 at 2:07 am

   

   Yes men, follow all these tips (brush and floss every day, morning and night, shower regularly, go easy on the cologne, make friends with Gold Bond Powder, keep your nails trimmed, unless you have extended-wear contacts, take your contacts out every night, shave regularly/keep facial hair groomed, keep your hair trimmed, treat your acne, wash your hands), and you’ll certainly smell better and look better…

   …but I daresay it won’t be WOMEN who will come running to you for a date.
8. FireFly said the following on August 7, 2012 at 2:23 am

   

   Hah! That’s funny… I wonder if you are right.

   Honestly, in defense of the authors of the posts on this site, it’s got to be pretty hard to come up with lots of new material to post on a regular basis… after a certain amount of time you are bound post some topics that only apply to a narrower subset, or repeat things.

   I will say this. While dating a total “Pig-Pen” of a guy would definitely be a turn-off, I do not expect men to care as much about germs or dirt either on themselves or surfaces around them as I do. I just don’t. If I wait for that I will never get married. I figure if a man does not wash his hands enough or clip his nails frequently enough for my tastes, we can probably work through that. Personally, I’m the kind of person who sanitizes my hands before taking communion (one of my girlfriends who sat with me for years tells me she associates the smell of germ-x with the sacrament now!) so I will just carry my hand sanitizer with me to clean up my own fingers before I eat anything on dates, rather than panicking every time a guy does something like scrape old gum off his shoe sole and then hold my hand… live and let live, as they say .
9. FireFly said the following on August 7, 2012 at 2:26 am

   

   Oops… to clarify, the “you” I referred to in first sentence was Psalm67, not Vision146 (although your comment was funny too!)
10. Vision146 said the following on August 7, 2012 at 2:39 am

    

    Hey FireFly. I agree the bloggers on here do a great job and for the most part come up with great topics. Your sigil makes me think you’re a moderator (or something like that) on Marrywell. What about a Lodge feature where members can post questions, anonymously or not, and others can discuss these questions? I know I’ve got a few ideas. I bet others do too!
11. AndreaElena said the following on August 7, 2012 at 11:32 am

    

    Vision146: The “Ice Breaker” section of The Lodge has often come as a question submitted by the MW members. So… please do submit some questions you’d like us to discuss. I’m sure the admins would appreciate additional creative input.
12. FireFly said the following on August 7, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    

    Sorry Vision 146, not a moderator, but I’m sure the real moderators would be happy to hear your ideas!