How to get your guy to groom | male grooming

Has your man missed the metrosexual boat?

13 Dec 2011 13:07 PM | Posted by bh'sLeanne

According to an industry report into Cosmetic and Toiletry Retailing in Australia, the “male grooming market is now worth between $150 million and $200 million per year.”

The male population is becoming increasingly image-conscious, spending more on male grooming products and taking more pride in personal aesthetics. Team this with the term ‘metrosexual’, which has been bandied about over the last few years to describe the ‘urban’ guy who spends time and money enhancing his appearance through fashion and skin care purchases, and you may be left wondering if your man might be overtaking you in the grooming department.

From my own experience, I’ve enjoyed seeing the rise of the metrosexual male and the myriad male skin care brands that have appeared on the retail shelves next to my own skin care favourites but I haven’t really seen this phenomenon rub off on my fella.

So if your guy is more Alex-the-boy-next-door than Alex Perry it might be time to take action and help bring out his beautiful side. (No, I’m not talking about rubbing anti-wrinkle cream on his face while he’s sleeping!). Here’s some tried-and-tested advice on how to get your regular Joe to embrace some great male grooming habits.

Banish the word beauty
As soon as you start talking about ‘beauty’ products most guys tune out so keep it relevant to him and instead use the word ‘grooming’. It’ll make him feel more masculine!

Keep it simple
Don’t all of a sudden stock your bathroom cabinet with a whole heap of ‘male grooming’ buys. He’s likely to run a mile. Keep it simple and introduce one product at a time (remember, baby steps!). Maybe start with a facial cleanser that he can use in the shower or a cleansing bar that won’t strip his skin.

Multi-tasking makes it manageable
Men like minimum effort so multi-purpose grooming products are just perfect. He’ll definitely see the sense in a face wash that doubles as a body wash. Genius.

Make a fuss of him
I’d like to say invite him to join you in a pamper session but the word pamper is likely to see him heading to the front door, so instead tell him you want to treat him to a relaxing face massage (with a face wash followed by a foaming cleanser). He’ll be left feeling clean, invigorated and convinced he wants to become a metrosexual!

Try:
Men+Care Clean Comfort Self-Foaming Facial Cleanser
Men+Care Deep Clean Body and Face Bar
Men+Care Clean Comfort Face and Body wash

prize giveaway

What ingenious ways do you encourage your man to up his grooming anti?

Competition closes midnight Tuesday 3rd January, 2012.

Member Comments (38)

Posted by: jpandkt08 (Australia)

I'm all for the well groomed metro sexual male... just please dont go all Shane Warne on me! Honestly that look is just a little too well kept for my liking. My husband is a tradie so tends to not want to use products to care for his skin. I get around this by making it a little romantic/sensual moment. I shave his face in the shower for him every second day or so, and when I'm done I give it a cleanse with my own Garnier face wash. He cant protest since he's already relaxed :-)

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 5:13am)

Posted by: Nda (Australia)

I must admit that nothing is more offputting to me than a man who pays too much attention to his appearance! Obviously I want a man who showers and does all the necessary things but aside from that, I really wouldn't expect him to do too much grooming; I like men as they are!

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 9:30am)

Posted by: Platinum Ms (Australia)

I feel with so much media/ mens magazines men are naturally progressing into looking after their health and wellbeing which includes skincare.
Being a beauty junkie I leave my hair, lotion and potions around and it tends to rub off on them, especially when I do the shopping I gradually add certain male products to our bathroom, so he has to try them..

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 10:31am)

Posted by: Nimbus (Australia)

I am pretty proud of getting my boyfriend to use a nose strip. He had absolutly HORRIBLE blackheads on his nose that were getting to look like freckles. So one day, i brought round a box and said 'lets try these together'. He said okay and I put it on him and myself, we sat giggling for 10minutes over how funny we both looked then we took them off. He was absolutly amazed at how much crap came out of his nose and said 'I thought it was supposed to look like that', and has been using them religiously ever since.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 10:32am)

Posted by: Noobie (Australia)

Hands and Feet up for well groomed man! Did nothing but nagging to my hubby on how bad his dark circles are. He then went to buy an eye cream and have been doing it daily to stop me from nagging! Not sure how much it works but he is being diligent.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 11:41am)

Posted by: RetroD11 (Australia)

I usually use the "I like it when you..." or "I'd like it if you..." tricks. It works sometimes because he wants to impress me. Sometimes it doesn't work and I never force him because really, I love him just the way he is.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 11:48am)

Posted by: Tinaaa (Australia)

I love it when a guy is well groomed but not to the point where he is obsessed with his looks. I think every man needs to take some time to 'make himself look better'. I encourage my man to regularly get his hair cut, to shave everyday, to use blackhead strips and a glycolic cleanser!

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 11:50am)

Posted by: Stensen (Australia)

It's nice to see men (or everybody for that matter) to take care and love themselves but it will lose it's appeal if he spends more time looking in a mirror than I do.

I introduced him to use an exfoliant by disguising it as part of a shaving routine. I gave him shaving cream, aftershave and an exfoliant and I told him would help him get a smoother shave, but that it can be used even if he doesn't want to shave to maintain the smoothness (he's often said that shaving is such a chore because it doesn't stay smooth for long so why do it at all?).

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 12:19pm)

Posted by: OnAWhim (Australia)

My 3yo seems to have 'inherited' a dislike for whiskers, recently greeting Pop with, "Merry Christmas Pop" and without stopping to draw breathe, "you forgot to shave!" - ah, from the mouths of babes!

I simply tell hubby, "you too could look like that (Pat Rafter) if you use this (Dove)!"

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 2:06pm)

Posted by: Green_Jaguar (Australia)

I totally leave all grooming issues my partner has to him. My partner is reasonably well groomed and I think he would feel offended if I started telling that I think he should use this or that. If he asks me for advice......well that is ok, I would make a suggestion and he can either use it or not. He usually makes good choices anyway.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 3:28pm)

Posted by: softness (Member since 2007, Australia)

He's always liked receiving men's aftershave and men's colognes so theres no encouragement needed in the smell-great department but I have purchased a i-trim gadget to help him perfect his 3-day growth look and to keep his hair neat and tidy which he now loves. So I suppose that could be called ingenious?! He's certainly improved on his grooming habits since we got married 15 years ago this 4th of Jan.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 3:53pm)

Posted by: Crystaltipps (Australia)

With two sons and a husband I'm lucky if I can get into the bathroom myself. Although its mostly my own fault as I like to buy them good quality grooming products and always comment on how nice they look and smell. I was lucky that my daddy always took great care in his appearance so I expected my husband to do the same and he does.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 4:11pm)

Posted by: Jenniqua (Australia)

The only thing that I can get my man to do is use Loreal for men moisturiser, cause I told him that it slows his regrowth after shaving. Yep that is right I have to disguise it as something else, but it works.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 4:36pm)

Posted by: Chicklet (Member since 2008, Australia)

I still haven't found a way!

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 6:38pm)

Posted by: Rewalize (Australia)

EASY ACCESS!!! If it's too hard to get to, too difficult to open or too much work to apply he won't bother! So I usually buy 'KID PROOF' products! Pump bottles are a winner as he doesn't need to fuss with any lids etc, just PUMP n GO! I also leave his products out in, 'IN YOUR FACE' locations ... ie: ensuite basin, his wardrobe shelves next to his clothes etc.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 7:33pm)

Posted by: SMP-kitten (Member since 2008, Australia)

I got him to use the Dove mens products when I received the trial team pack for him and her!
I said it was a favour for me :) Now he uses the body wash!

I also got him some little tester moisturisers to try... I find that if it's not that expensive they're more than willing to try it if you put it in front of them. Considering my guy is a big hairy arrogant italian I think I've done well! LOL

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 7:54pm)

Posted by: gogirly (Member since 2008, Australia)

my man enjoys looking after himself without my encouragement. He probably spends more time in front of the bathroom mirror than I do, gotta love him for that.

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 8:07pm)

Posted by: Neilrawson (Australia)

I tell my partner that the beauty items such as Biore Pore Strips and toner, Bio-Oil, Nivea lotion, Dove soap and cleanser and Vaseline Intensive care are all uni-sex items that are too be shared between us. He has no problem using products that will benefit his appearance. Whether they are made for male or female use, it does not matter.
###Sandra

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 8:51pm)

Posted by: Mzluvinkhim (Australia)

Because my husband is a tradie he really does not like to take care of his skin. I really like him to use some sort of moisturiser with sunscreen as well as normal sunscreen seeing he is outside all day. after so many years of nagging him I finally found a way to get him to use sunscreen and a night moisturiser. All I had to do was tell him the reason that he gets dark spots on his skin is because of the sun and not enough hydration in his skin. sometimes facts work like a charm!

Posted on: December 30, 2011 (Dec 30, 2011 10:21pm)

Posted by: Pixiealso (Australia)

I think a lot of younger guys look after their appearance as a matter of course - I've never had to nag a boyfriend about appearance/smell etc.! Although some guys get sucked in by dodgy cologne ad campaigns! I had to (I felt) tell a close male friend that he was wearing so much cheap cologne it was offputting & NOT a deoderant...

Posted on: December 31, 2011 (Dec 31, 2011 1:26pm)

Posted by: Michelle Sweetheart (United States)

I have to do the shopping and research on products but once I make them available, he uses them.

Posted on: December 31, 2011 (Dec 31, 2011 2:36pm)

Posted by: Hayley_Shortie_22 (Australia)

I've found that making compliments on how his skin looks an feels after him using products has really helped him keep using them!

Posted on: December 31, 2011 (Dec 31, 2011 10:50pm)

Posted by: Discomilk (Australia)

I compliment him and tell him he's hot :) Usually works because he likes me taking notice of him!

Posted on: January 01, 2012 (Jan 1, 2012 9:29am)

Posted by: Li (Australia)

I like well groomed men, but there are those who take it to the extremes and that's not good.

Posted on: January 01, 2012 (Jan 1, 2012 11:33am)

Posted by: Fashionista8P (Member since 2008, Australia)

My man is fairly good in that department, I mean he always smells good and his hair is brushed. But when I won the Glosscars I gave him all the male-grooming products and he has never looked better. So the way I encourage him is to convince him that I have to spend time on beautyheaven to benefit the both of us!!! :)

Posted on: January 01, 2012 (Jan 1, 2012 11:50am)