The Best 4 Essentials for Men’s Personal Care: Master Your Daily Hygiene and Skincare for Confidence
On the conversation of personal care, hygiene stands as a fundamental aspect, yet some of us (not me though) overlook how important it is. It’s a subject that, despite its importance, doesn’t always receive the attention it truly deserves. We might assume that the basics of hygiene are universally understood, but fellas there are a few aspect of personal hygiene that are missing, allow me to fill in those gaps.
Today, I want to list 4 hygiene essentials for black men. It’s a conversation that goes beyond the conventional wisdom or anything that you learned from your pops. I don’t only want to talk about products to use, but I want to speak about the importance of how consistency plays a part in everything I am about to say.
Personally, I’ve navigated my way through a journey in skincare. I found myself in a chokehold of 3-in-1 products, only to discover how they have a negative impact on my beautiful chocolate skin. It took the guidance of my wife to lead me towards a skincare routine that is not only consistent but tailored to my specific needs. Allow me to put you all on game on how you should love yourself.
Essential 1: Daily Shower Routine
Man, should I even expand on this topic the way I should? You know what I am, the masses aren’t doing it the right way. Did you go to work today? take a shower. Did you go to the gym today? take a shower. Did you leave your house at 11:30pm last night to indulge in extra curricular activities? man take a shower. Yes, showering daily is important. Not only is it the right thing to do, but there are also bacteria and germs all around us that we interact with on a daily, plus we are still shortly removed form a worldwide pandemic that has impacted us all. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to bring that into my home.
Thoroughly washing specific areas of the body, such as the face, hair, and underarms, is not merely a routine chore but a crucial practice in maintaining overall health and well-being, brother. Each area requires distinct attention, as proper cleansing not only promotes hygiene but also contributes to the health and vitality of the skin, hair, and other essential bodily functions
Now, let me put you all on game. All those 3–1 products on the market that companies push on us? Stop using those brah. Those are not good for us, and they are not what you think they are. They are packed with chemicals that are harmful to our skin and I have found that it dries my skin out more than expected. I have been using Native soap for almost two-years now and I have not been any happier. The body wash runs about $12 USD (it costs to be the boss) and they smell extremely good. The soap is safe for our skin and they have seasonal smells. Native also offers deodorant that is aluminum free — chef’s kiss my guy. Do yourself a favor and love yourself with this product.
Essential 2: Oral Care
Black ass skin with the combination of white teeth? chef’s kiss my guy. Make sure you take care of your oral health. There is nothing more important than ensuring that you have an oral routine that brings out that bright smile. Of course there are dentist appointments that we should attend to at least twice a year, but we must also do the heavy lift when we leave their office chair. Let me help y’all out!
You know brush you teeth for at least 2 minutes — they say sing the happy birthday song while you’re brushing, or you can grab an electric tooth brush that does much of the work for you. Colgate has had me in a chokehold for majority of my life, but to be transparent, I’m still in search of a fluoride free toothpaste that works for me.
Next up. Mouthwash? Brother make sure you grab that and keep it handly. Remember fist impressions are the ones that last — I don’t want you to be that person.
Incorporating flossing into the daily routine is a vital step in oral hygiene that goes beyond the simple act of brushing. Flossing reaches the spaces between teeth where brushes might not effectively clean, preventing the buildup of plaque and reducing the risk of gum disease, ultimately contributing to overall dental health. I’ve never had a cavity and I intend to keep it that way.
Essential 3: Grooming Facial Hair and Haircuts
For black men, beard care and maintenance are not just grooming rituals; they are key components of our self-expression and identity. Embracing a dedicated beard care routine not only enhances appeal but also addresses the unique needs of coarse and curly hair, promoting a healthy, well-nourished beard that reflects pride in one’s personal style and heritage.
As for up top, growing up I was always that kid that sported a low fade and I made sure my waves were tight! This has consistently been my favorite style, a look I continue to embrace in my 30s. Grooming is a reflection of your care and a signal that you aspire to be regarded highly by others.
Being that I have been rocking the fade for as long as I can remember, I can say I may be a pro in picking the right, and wrong wave grease. I know you’re reading this with your durag on and your Sportin’ Wave just plastered on your head, my boy stop using that. The chemicals in those products tend to clog our scalp, becomes a chore of us to clean out, and it weakens our hair texture. If it has petrolatum in the top five of the ingredients, please let it go.
While doing research on alternatives, I found this product in Target called Frederick Benjamin Sleek Water. This is a water-based product that has a medium hold, grease free, and it leaves your hair with a shine that can be scene from a mile away. I also love this product because it is petrolatum free (an ingredient hat most wave products have). A majority of its ingredients is water. I have loved this product ever since I stumbled across it. Use the link attached to this excerpt to purchase it.
Shaving is a routine that I had to learn on my own, I learned on Youtube from this random video (Will be linked; keep reading.) I found and the gentleman breaks down how to shave to its simplest form. Since our skin is sensitive and our hair tends to be coarse and curly we must be conscious about the products we use, how we use them, and a consistent technique that works with our skin type. I have been using the black-owned brand Bevel to clean up my look in between trips to the shop. The product was engineered with black men’s shaving needs in mind.
I recommend learning the wet shave method. It’s the classic shave method that your grandfather used to pull your grandmother so believe me its works. Its such a methodical shave routine that makes me feel like a classic man. Explaining how to do a wet-shave isn’t in the cards right now, but I linked the video that educated me on the method as well as the Bevel system for all of your shaving needs.
Essential 4: Skin Care Routine
Big fella, if you have been reading and everything has just been going across the screen or you have been distracted by an IG model on your feed, do me a favor, come here and listen to this loud and clear. Please develop a skin care routine! This is probably the most important part of my routine that I cherish, this is literally in my mental health/self care day routine that I will link here.
Cleansing and exfoliating for healthier skin is the critical and most essential aspect to healthy facial skin. I have struggled with ingrown hairs and hyper-pigmentation since I started to grow facial hair, and I have battled back and forth with what products I should use to ensure that my skin is healthy, glowing, and it ensures that I look 25 for a long time — I mean that’s what we do it for, right? Tula is a product that I have been using for little under a year now after randomly stumbling into my wife’s bathroom; since then, I have not looked back.
Their facial cleanser and 24/7 hydration cream that keeps my skin feeling moisturized and healthy on a daily basis. The bottle says “Cult Classic” and yes I can agree with that sentiment; the brand has a 4.8 star rating on Sephora’s site so the people are loving the product. I have also begun to use their Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer every other day for dark spots and my skin has been looking right and tight.
Now I am going to be honest, it is on the expensive side and it can be difficult to keep up with the Sephora deals when it goes on sale. But, if you’re crunched for funds, you can also use Cerave which is another line of products that I highly recommend. You can find it at any local drug store, and the prices are more affordable than Tula. Ceraeve offers a facial cleaner quiz where the brand determines the products they recommend for your facial cleansing needs. It isn’t the #1 dermatologist recommend skin brand for nothing.
These four crucial hygiene essentials — daily shower routines, oral care, grooming facial hair and haircuts, and a tailored skin care regimen — stand out as essentials for healthy well-being, particularly for black men. Beyond the surface-level benefits, they embody a profound connection to our cultural identity and personal pride. Consistency and mindfulness in these practices foster a sense of empowerment and confidence. As black men, our unique hair and skin care needs deserve attention, reflecting not only self-respect but a celebration of who the hell we are.
As always — Love yourselves, Kings.
