Hey everyone, sorry it took me 3 years (!) to get back on the blog. I know I left a lot of you hanging abruptly, and for that, I offer my sincerest apologies. Without any lame excuses, I'd like to make it up by coming back strong.
So let's begin....
It's 24 hours to Valentine's Day. Do you know where your kill-her date ensemble is?
If not, time's running out for further deliberation and your shopping window is quickly shrinking. This dilemma, however, doesn't give you the license to wing it and blow your chance at making a great impression on that lady friend whose heart you want to win over.
The good news is, you're not out of luck. Anticipating this quandary, I decided to create this post, and the next three, on how to quickly freshen up your look with grooming basics and clothing items that you either already own, or can pick up without too much fuss at most clothing stores during your lunch break.
For today's purpose, I won't cover suitings and more dressy attire because, granted your suit fits well and you pair it with a crisp white shirt, a nice tie, and shoes with a fresh polish, you're pretty much good to go. Besides, there will be plenty of chances to talk about suitings on future posts.
First, let's talk about grooming. I'm going to assume that you already understand, and have fully implemented, a grooming regimen for the special day. This means that, at minimum you did – or will do – the following:
1) Get a fresh haircut.
Ideally, you should have done this about 5 days back before the date. This gives your hair time to adjust to the new cut and give it a slight growth that will blend any sharp lines and make your do a bit more natural. Plus you'll have had ample practice with products and techniques to make your hair look exactly the way you intend it to look – your very best.
2) Neatly trim your facial hair.
Whatever your facial hair preference, just make sure you clean it up. No matter how well-intended, don't do anything drastic, like get a full shave when you normally sport a 5-day beard. This will only cause confusion to your date, especially if you recently started dating. Perhaps your face scruff is what she finds attractive about you, so imagine her disappointment when you show up not looking like the man she was expecting to see. I know that this is very superficial, but if your romance is fairly new, don't botch your chances from the get-go when impressions matter most. I promise that you'll have plenty of chances to fuck it up later.
Having said that, do make sure you get all the other facial hairs in the nose, ears and between the brows under control. I can't think of anyone but your mother who would be marginally okay with those sprouts.
3) The same goes for your body hair.
You know the drill. If you have excess shrub, take the clippers and take it down a notch or two. The only time I would recommend a full wax job is if your back looks like a shag carpet. All other parts of your body should be fine with a quick trim.
4) Clean and clip your nails.
There's nothing grosser than overgrown or chewed up nails with dirt in it. Try to touch her with your paws in that condition and watch her recoil in disgust. Your hands are one of the most expressive parts of your body. Make sure they express themselves appropriately.
5) Wear a scent.
You took the care to work on the above four points – why not add the finishing touch? Used properly, and sparingly, the right scent can be a powerful attractant. Apply with a light hand so that she can only detect it within a few inches from your skin. With the right fragrance, you'll find her moving in a little closer as the night goes on.
Those are the grooming basics – basic in that they're fundamental; fundamental as in don't-even-think-about-leaving-home until you get them down.
Now, let's get on with the clothes. Up next: "Be a Hot Date in 24 Hours" (Part 2 of 4).
