Another warm spring, another impending summer. This is the time of year we start looking at our closets (and maybe ourselves?) and figuring out what we need to do to get ready for showing a little more skin. While taking inventory of your shorts and polos, take a few minutes to assess the state of your body–what needs a bit of a tune-up? Check out these tips for getting summer-ready.
#1. Clip your toenails w/ consistency
There isn’t a consensus here, or anywhere, on whether or not men should wear sandals. Some folks think there’s nothing grosser than a man’s foot, and some folks think 80 degrees is too hot to not have some air flow on those dogs. If you’re in the latter camp and you’re sporting sandals in the summer, more power to you. But clip those toenails regularly, make sure there aren’t any ragged edges, and that they look as smooth and even as possible. Ignoring them between pool parties and letting them grow too long between clippings risks damage, thickening, and trauma that will be much harder to fix. Keep up on those lil’ piggies guys.
#2. Avoid a farmers tan
If you wear the same style of shirt, the same length of shorts, and the same pair of shoes everyday while being exposed to the sun…it’s no secret, you’re going to develop some pretty wacky tan lines. Take care to rotate what you wear while working in the yard or going for a run. And perhaps most importantly…
#3. Develop a positive relationship with Sunscreen.
The best way to avoid that aforementioned tan? Sunscreen! True, it’s hard to avoid total sun exposure, but you can greatly mitigate funky tan lines, and protect your skin from cancer and premature aging. PC4Men Daytime Protect SPF 30 ($24) is a nice daily sunscreen for the face, and I’m a big fan of the Jason Natural line, which makes an SPF 45 ($10.95) for the body. And while I’ve never tried Thinksport ($10.74), they get a lot of kudos for a less-chemical-laden product that isn’t greasy. Don’t be the “Sunscreen? I should… but whatever…” guy.
#4. Be Grease- and Funk-free
Summer can be a sticky, sweaty, oily, smelly affair for your body. If this sounds like you come July, be proactive and use products that will keep it all under control. It’s good to switch up your grooming products from season to season anyway. Bring an oil-controlling shampoo into the rotation every couple days to sop up some of that excess oil. Use a face wash made especially for oily skin. Try a new deodorant–using the same one for years may make your body resistant to the particular formula of that brand.
#5. Alter your normal grooming routine: Less is More
Summer is a time to adopt a less is more attitude when it comes to anything you might put on your body. Hair product enthusiast? Use less in the summer–hair that doesn’t budge in a breeze is kind of creepy. Plus, you’ll have more natural oil in your hair from sweating and humidity so you really don’t need as much from a product. Cologne wearer? Spray less in the summer (and in fact, pick a lighter, fresher, more natural scent for summer).
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