personalhyg

BASIC ADVICE AND DISCLAIMER

YOUR BODY IS UNIQUE, FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND YOU ALONE!

There is a lot of really good stuff in this thread, but some people have REALLY oily hair. For the love of cookies, wash that shit. Some people just can't shave their body hair because it comes back in so aggressively. Some people have really dry skin and shouldn't put soap on their ass every day. Some people need to take more extreme measures against bad breath than others. Some people are naturally sweaty and need constant anti-perspirant, some are naturally dry and will bleed everywhere if they don't moisturize throughout the day.

Take the advice of others and the advice in this thread as ideas to experiment with. Do not commit any of this to your lifestyle until you confirm that it agrees with your body

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My general rule of thumb when it comes to hygiene: don't believe the hype. Pay attention to your body. Use as few products as you possibly can.

BEDHSHEETS

Wash your bedsheets quite often, you should feel comfortable that your bed is clean. Change your pillowcase even more often.

ORAL CARE

If you have terrible breath, but always brush and floss, check the back of your mouth in a mirror around your tonsils. You may notice a yellowy white ball stuck in the back of your throat. It may be a tonsil stone. Try to get it out with your finger or use a salt water rinse. Smell it afterwards for pleasure.

Brush your tongue when brushing your teeth

Hold your thumb in your fist and squeeze as tight as you can while you brush your tongue. It should suppress the need to gag

SWEATY PALMS

: If I know I will have to shake some hands at a meeting I wash them with cool (not cold, cold can cause the capillaries to dilate and warm your hands even more) water and then I put some unscented antiperspirant on them. My hands stay dry and I think I give a more favorable first impression.

SHITTING

put something under your feet when you take a crap. something that elevates your knees about a foot or two. easiest, cleanest, fastest shits i've ever taken were with my legs slightly elevated.

FLOSS

Reach access flosser for flossing

ASS CARE

Clean your ass. Get in there with some soap and water.

Basically, if you're massaging your prostate, you're doing it wrong. Part those crack cushions and give yourself a good lathery wipe from gooch to tailbone - be thorough now, arse hair can be like a tea-strainer in the worst possible way.

If you have a detachable shower head you can use it to hose your ass off easily while showering and you'll feel cleaner than if you just used your hand.

If you're in a hurry just remember the mantra: crack, sack, pits, and teeth. A flannel, warm water, and a minute of your time are all it takes to avoid being smelly for the day.

WASHING THE BACK

I got a long, rough washcloth. It's about 2 feet long and 8 inches wide, with a very coarse texture. Now I can clean my own back in the shower. It feels great!

FACE CARE WITH HONEY

Wash your face with honey! I got this from another redditor actually and it has done absolute wonders for my skin. I had moderate acne no matter what I tried on my face and as soon as I started doing this, it all but disappeared. My skin is now super soft and blemish-free and all I use is the honey and a moisturizer.

BEARD CARE

If you have a BEARD, wash your BEARD! It is hair on your face and must be shampooed as often as the rest of the hair on your head. No one likes an oily smelly beard.

UNDERARMS

Guys: Buzz your underarm hair regularly. Don't shave it, just buzz it. Less hair = less stink.

Same applies for OTHER HAIRY AREAS, if you catch my crotch.

PENIS CARE

Always dry your penis properly, seriously the drying of it does far more to determine how clean it is than the washing. Pro tip, a really soft towel, like the material a dressing gown is made of, will work the best. Nothing worse than producing a sweaty / clammy, potentially smelly, penis.

so wash foreskin if uncircumcised - make sure to get between the head tissue and skin...

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How exactly do you shave your balls?

Carefully.Or Trim

Once or twice a week, maybe?

Shave in the shower. Get a Mach 3 or similar with a new blade. Use a moisturizing shampoo, I use Dove. Lather it all up, stretch the skin, and take small strokes. Reapply shampoo as necessary. Do small areas at a time, not one long stroke across the whole thing. Rinse the blade often. You'll get more comfortable as you get used to doing it.

Basically you start by pulling both your balls forward. It helps to sort of push your cock in and pull that balls over top. Shave back to front.

side to side, just pull the skin taughtto each side, still somewhat forward and shave what makes sense.

Inflate areas where you didnt get all the hair by positioning the testicle there while tightening the skin again. ie: the flanks of your penis.

Just do it till it looks good and dont use anything with menthol-esque properties in it.

The first time you do it, trim your hair as short as possible. Shave in the shower using lots of lather- I used to use Noxema shaving cream with aloe but found after a while I could use well lathered soap. Go slowly, be careful, and keep lathering. Rinse well with cool water and prepare for it to itch the first few times. As you get better, it gets easier and it will make summer much more enjoyable. Pro tip- I use a woman's triple bladed razor- the wide short handle is perfect for the shower.

just stretch out the skin and shave normally. As long as you use a 5-blade you'll probably never cut yourself.

It's really not as bad as you'd think. After you do it once, you won't even think about it and it'll be like any other routine. Just use a good razor and you'll be fine.

Alcohol-free aftershave (NICE aftershave, check r/wicked_edge) really helps prevent razor burn and ingrown hairs. Mine is from Art of Shaving.

Powder your balls.

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For uncircumsized men :

Everytime you shower, you MUST clean your foreskin and penis. Smegma is the worst and most foulest smelling thing on earth and a girl will not suck your dick if it makes her gag and want to kill you. Furthermore, pulling out your dick to fap cuz you're forever alone, only to puke because of the smell is equally horrible.

It is very important to pull back your foreskin completely (for young guys it might hurt a bit because your skin might not have stretched completely. I used to have this problem where my skin was very sensitive and pulling it back literally made it feel like it was going to rip but over time I pulled it further and further until it stopped hurting)

So you need to pull back completely, wash off whatever smegma you have down there, then lather with soap and clean thouroughly. Be careful as soap in the urethra stings like a bitch.

Pro tip: don't forget to clean the parts that you can't see by just looking down

Spray cologne on the ass of your pants before going somewhere fancy. It helps mask the smell if you have to fart.

I was told behind the ears, so at bars with loud music when girls lean in to talk you got them covered.

SHOWERING

Dry off in the shower. When you're done and you shut the water off, stand within the basin as you dry off. It keeps your floor dry and your bathmat from developing that god-awful mildew smell.

PREVENTING CHAFING

There are a lot of different types. Go to a running store and ask around for them. They're really helpful! For Chafestick.com

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BELLY BUTTON CARE

Clean inside your belly button with a Q-tip and wash behind your ears.

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ATHLETE'S FOOT

: To dry the skin between your toes never aggressively rub it dry with a towel, just gently pat it. This avoids smallest injuries that are perfect for athlete's foot to blossom in.

PASSING URINE

Protip: don't push when you pee! It uses your abdominal muscles, and causes muscular atrophy of your bladder muscles, which will eventually cause you to lose bladder control later in life (the fist signs of which are always peeing a little after pulling your drawers back up).

Kegel exercises give a person bladder control. If you have decent bladder control already, it will improve it.

"No matter how you shake or dance, the last few drops end up in your pants."

"the part between the anus and the root of penis should be pressed thrice, with the middle finger of the left hand. Then the thumb is placed on the penis, and the forefinger below it pressing three times up to the point of circumcision, then the front part of the penis should be jerked three times."

It works (the pressing part - you probably don't need to it three times). I am not even Muslim, and I have no idea how I ever heard about this, but there you go.

You know when you clench the muscles in your abs sort of and it makes the pee come out faster? Well i used to do that all the time when I peed and I was starting to get the effect you're talking about.

The urologist said basically that if you do that then you're stopping your bladder-contracting muscle from doing any work and then it atrophies

I remember a urologist on here not too long said to relax your muscles down there. More specifically, the muscles around your sphincter, or some such. Apparently that's what's holding up the line. You almost have to consciously do it, though.

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I'll say this one for everyone. It's perfectly normal for one testicle to hang lower than the other. If they were perfectly evened up, you would rack yourself every time you took a step forward.

Most men hang left. Tailors know this and assume it so they don't have to check.

's just for when they are measuring you up, to avoid the awkwardness of him touching your dick by accident.

It's called "dressing", as in you either "dress left" or "dress right".

If you get a suit tailored to you, you (apparently) get asked if you "dress to the left/right".

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Stretch and squat while showering for minor morning energy exertion to "wake up" more quickly.

-Stretch before bed.

-Use soap on your eye lids (shut obviously) and rub the soap in, it might get in your eyes a bit, but it cleans the lashes and the skin.

-Trim nose hairs, don't pluck.

-Shampoo body hair.

-Learn to shave without a mirror in the shower, do this after all other cleaning so the water heat softens the facial hair. After its all over, splash your face with cold water to shrink your pores and shrink the capillaries (i think thats what they are) in your cheeks so any nicks quit bleeding. Then apply liberal alcohol free lotion. Because alcohol dries your skin, and makes you look old.

Get Babay Wipes

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In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the icepack, I use a deep pore-cleanse lotion.

In the shower, I use a water-activated gel celanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub.Then I apply an herb mint facial masque which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine.

I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and make you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging balm, followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

Take aboove with grain of salt

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In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the icepack, I use a deep pore-cleanse lotion.

In the shower, I use a water-activated gel celanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub.Then I apply an herb mint facial masque which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine.

I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and make you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging balm, followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

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SHAVING BODY PARTS

How I've done this was through trial and error, and this is what works for me. To start off with, there are two major ways to get rid of body hair: shaving and waxing. Shaving is something most men can do without the purchase of extra materials. Waxing is probably left to professionals. It costs more, but waxed areas take longer to grow back so it might actually cost the same if not less (depends). While you can home-wax, I would not recommend if you do not know what you are doing or properly research it. So let's get on to shaving your naughty bits and other misc. body hair.

First, do this in the shower, it's the easiest place to get it done with little to no mess. Hot water helps too.

Required Materials:

Razor

Shaving Cream/Gel (I prefer cream, but gel will probably work just as well)

Water

Shampoo

Optional: Conditioner

Step 1: Use shampoo and lather your bush. Let sit for a minute or so and then wash out

Step 1B: Use conditioner and let sit for a few minutes before washing out

Step 2: Grab a healthy amount of shaving cream/gel, however much is needed for the amount of hair you are planning on shaving.

Now this is where you can take some different approaches to what you're doing down there.

Shaving the Shaft: Pretty easy, just go against the grain and go in the direction of head to base.

Shaving the Balls: This one may seem scary but is not actually all that bad. Make sure you get that cream in there all nice and your balls are lathered up. The easiest way to get all that ball hair is to push your balls up against the sac so it's stretched out and against a relatively firm surface. And gently run your razor across the scrotum, with the grain if needed, but against the grain for a closer shave.

Now the most varied part is the bush. You can do a lot with it, you can either trim it, shave it, or hell even style it if you want.

Trimming the Bush: You will need a pair of scissors or one of those hair trimmers. It's easier with the hair trimmer but a pair of scissors will do just well. With the hair trimmer you just set it at the length you want and run it through your bush. Done. With scissors, just cut until entire bush is at length of choosing.

Shaving the Bush: I personally like this approach, my ex-gf preferred this, but as with all sorts of manscaping it's completely down to preference. You take the same approach to shaving your beard: wash, lather with cream/gel, shave either with or against the grain.

Non-Pubic Hair:

Happy Trail: You can shave this or trim this, depending on your preference.

Armpit Hair: It doesn't seem socially acceptable to shave this off, but you should definitely trim this for hygiene.

Chest Hair: You don't want a bear pelt, but some fur seems to be attractive in some cases. For this, you'll probably want to trim it down a little so you don't look like you have another layer between your shirt and your skin.

Back Hair: If it's an issue, my advice: get it waxed. Again some people find back hair attractive, but if it's something that is a problem just get it waxed.

Butt Hair: This one is tricky without a full length mirror and some flexibility. If at all possible, ask for help from a significant other, or a friend who doesn't mind giving a helping hand. But if you decide to do this one yourself, take the normal pre-shaving steps and just sweep your razor across your buttocks to clean. You could also try it with a hair trimmer. I highly advise against using scissors for this approach. Waxing is probably the easiest way to get it done though.

Post-Shaving Care After you shave, make sure you wash off with cold water to close your pores. You can use any after-shave, lotion or what-have-you to prevent razor-burn. Not necessary down to personal preference and needs. Make sure you let air-dry.

Extra Notes As with all shaving, going against the grain can cause ingrown hairs. I personally don't seem to have a problem with this, but this is something that should be noted.

I hope this helped.

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FLUSHING

flush with the seat down. if you flush with it up, the shit particles in the air will distribute all over your bathroom, on your toothbrush, on your walls, towels, everywhere.

PILLOW

Put a fresh towel over your pillowcase every night to reduce acne/pimples on your face.

SHOWER

James Bond showers. Learn to love them(see art of manliness)

HAIR AND SHAMPOO

Quit doing shit to your hair. I use a pea-sized amount of shampoo once a week. My wife, whose hair is much longer, occasionally uses lime juice in her hair (Google it). That's it. Our hair is awesome and not oily or gross or stinky. Also, I'm sure conditioner is a great product for the 2% of people who actually need it but most people need it because they're abusing their hair by washing it too much. Overmarketed

use a wide-tooth comb to get rid of any tangles

. Hot showers are great, but the heat of the water dries out hair. It's better to use warm or cool water to wash your hair.

hat's why doing a rough towel dry treatment can break your hair. Instead, use a towel to dab your hair dry and get rid of the excess water, then let it finish air drying.

Gel is generally lighter and easier to work through your hair. Look for one that's alcohol-free, since alcohol dries out hair.

If your hair is longer than an inch or two, you'll need to take a few extra steps to make sure it stays in good condition and looks great.

Deep condition if your hair gets frizzy. Buy a deep conditioning product and use it once a week to keep your hair in good shape.

Use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush. Brushes break long hair; remove the tangles with a wide-tooth comb instead.

Consider a hair oil. Using a small amount of oil in your hair while its wet will act as a leave-in conditioner. A little goes a long way.

Use your fingers to rub your scalp in a circular motion in shower for at least 2 minutes, focusing on the areas where your hair is thinning.

Some oils are believed to help further stimulate growth. Try massaging with coconut oil, tea tree oil, or almond oil before you shampoo, then wash out the oil.

Don't handle your hair roughly. Your hair will be more likely to break and fall out if you scrub it with shampoo, use hot water to rinse it and then scrub it again with a towel

Eat proteins, omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin B.

Massage your scalp with your fingertips or the pads of your fingers--not with your fingernails.

Don't be cheap about the styling products. Cheap ones will either dry out your hair or grease it up. Find good quality gel, pomade, mousse, and whichever other products that are best for your hair type. They may be a bit expensive, but you only need to use a little to do a lot.

working the shampoo into the hair and scalp for about two minutes. Don't bother with the "rinse and repeat" part. One good wash should be sufficient.

Exfoliate weekly Once or twice per week, remove dead skin cells and dirt from the scalp with an exfoliating scrub. A scrub made for the face is gentle enough to be used on the scalp.

One each week, massage the scalp with the fingertips using a firm pressure in a circular motion. Place the fingers under the hair to avoid pulling. Perform this exercise for three or four minutes.

One of the main causes of dry scalp is shampooing with water that is too hot. This can strip essentials oils from the skin and cause dryness. Wash hair in lukewarm water to help retain those essential oils. Excessive blow drying of the hair can also promote a dry scalp. If you notice excessive drying, a good leave-in conditioner can help replenish moisture to the scalp

Towel drying is one of the biggest causes of damage to men's hair. When hair is wet, it is highly susceptible to damage. When the hair is rubbed with a towel, some of the hairs become tangled in the threads of the towel and become stretched to the breaking point, causing damage to the cuticle (the shingle-like outer layer of the hair), frizziness, and split ends. To properly towel dry, shake out the excess water and stroke your hair in the direction it grows, rather than rubbing the hair with the towel. Drying takes a bit longer this way but after a few haircuts, you'll notice the difference in the way your hair looks. Blow drying is also a common cause of damage to the hai

Avoid Chemical Treatments

Don't use a brush on wet hair, when the hair is most vulnerable. When combing through wet hair, use a wide-toothed comb and gently work out any tangles. Avoid heated tools such as blow dryers or irons which can dry and damage hair.

Low moisture and protein in the hair can cause frizz. To minimize this problem, use a good moisturizing conditioner. A slick, smoothing serum can be applied to add shine and give the hair a smoother appearance

Maintain a Healthy Scalp

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Cotton is for panties. Boxers are for sleeping in. Get yourself some high-quality boxer briefs to wear during the day. My best, most comfortable days are the days I wear some high-quality underwear. Socks, too, man. Don't cheap out on your underwear and socks. Personally I prefer synthetics for covering my cash and prizes (stealing that phrase from this thread, so awesome) and a wool or wool-like blend for socks.

Get a Wahl trimmer and TRIM your chest, arms, pubes, whatever, but don't shave 'em. Saves time, no irritation (you're only cutting hair, not dragging a razor across your skin), and you still look like a man. I trim at 3/4" about once a month to keep everything under control.

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FACE/NECK SHAVING OVERVIEW:

Learn what a styptic pencil is, and then buy one.

Safety razor. Do it.

Shaving soap. Learn how to lather. Been on same disc for months and months and months now.

Rinse your blade with cold water while you're shaving. Hot water expands blade, which enlarges imperfections in the blade.

SCENT

9) Use natural, clear, unscented everything that you can possibly find, from laundry soap to deodorant. A lot of the shit people use is to fix/cover-up problems caused by other shit they use.

1) If you wash your face with a product and you feel a clean tingling feeling, don't use it. It is drying out your skin. Use really simple products like oil of olay and skip out on using harsh toners. Or toners at all.

2) Moisturize your skin. You are less likely to get cuts and scrapes if your skin is moisturized. Don't use the same lotion on your face as your body.

3) Drink a lot of water. It will keep your weight down and keeps your teeth and breath fresh.

Rubbing your hands with the back of a spoon will get rid of garlic/onion smell

You shouldn't shampoo everyday because it will remove all the natural oils.

Baby powder your balls after a shower.

In #1 situations: Before entering the urinal, grab some toilet paper or paper towel. When you're done urinating, use that paper to thoroughly clean your penis. Shaking is uneffective, as it only removes excess urine, leaving a moist, rather wet tip.

DON'T CLEAN YOUR EARS .

I can't stress this enough. It's one of the most common misconceptions that earwax is bad and unhygienic and needs to be cleaned daily. In fact, earwax, unless it's an overly excessive amount, is necessary and beneficial to your ears. The inside of your ears are very sensitive and susceptible to bacteria, and the earwax is a naturally made defense against bacteria.

YOU NEED SUNSCREEN, EVEN IN THE WINTER. The sun don't stop shinin'. I use "Neutrogena Oil-Free moisture with SPF 30" on my face every morning. This goes for the guys too.

ACNE

If you have bad acne, mixing Baking Soda with water and scrubbing your face with it once a week works WONDERS.

LIPS

If you have dry lips, seriously just use petroleum jelly. It works well on dry elbows too. Oh, and you can exfloiate your dry lips with a wet toothbrush.

You can make your own Biore pore strips. Just mix a tablespoon of unflavoured gelatine with a tablespoon of milk. Microwave for 10 secs, and brush a thin layer on your nose with an old paintbrush or makeup brush. Wait for it to dry and then peel it off. Works great, but it STINKS. :P

SKIN CARE

Rice makes your skin really soft. Fill a bowl half-way with uncooked organic rice, and then pour water on top until it just covers the rice. Stir it, and then drain the rice water into a container. Rub the rice water on your face with a cotton pad.

Eggs tighten your skin and reduce oil. Beat an egg white, then rub on your face. Rinse it off when it dries.

Don't buy expensive eye makeup remover, Baby Oil from the dollar store works just as well, and is good for your lashes.

Baby Shampoo from the dollar store cleans makeup brushes.

SMELLING YOUR BREATH

heard you can get a "whiff" of your breath by taking a spoon and scraping the top of the tongue from back to front a few times. a film will build up. put it down and wait for it to dry, then smell it.

This is what your breath smells like.

SOCKS

Never skip out on socks, because everyone within a 10 foot radius will smell your feet.

TOOTH CARE

Actually depending on the toothpaste not rinsing your mouth will cause extensive gum damage. "Whitening" toothpastes are even worse they can actually destroy your teeth.

USINGG SAFETY RAZOR.

Stop wasting money over-priced multi-bladed, vibrating, lubricating, instant messaging, dog walking razors from Gillette and the like.

Also, stop torturing your skin with disposable razors that are about as sharp as a butter knife.

Buy a double-edged Safety Razor. You don't have to spend a lot of money on one, you can easily buy the last razor you will ever buy for less than 50 bucks. With it, get yourself a badger-hair brush. No need to go all-out fancy...a 20 dollar one will work perfectly. Finally, a decent shaving soap or cream. I use Geo F. Trumper's sandalwood soap, a bar of it lasts a year once you get good at working up a lather.

After the initial investment, the best blades you can buy cost around 50 cents each. That's 10 blade for 5 bucks. If you buy them in bulk, you can get the cheaper (for the record, these are "Feather" brand DE blades. Sharpest razors you can buy, hands down).

It takes a little practice, but once you get it down, even with the most sensitive skin, it will provide a much better shave than any "modern" razor ever will. I used to need to rub an expensive after-shave balm in just to keep my face from burning...now, a splash of cold water is all it takes. I never feel any discomfort.

It costs much less, my skin looks much better and I actually ENJOY shaving now.

If you're not shaving like this, you're doing it wrong. If you tried and you say it didn't work, you were doing it wrong (it is a skill that you need to get good at to appreciate).

Fuck everything about modern multi-bladed razors, they are pure garbage.

SHOWERING

Before the end of your awesome, warm shower, use coldish water for about one minute. The colder the better, but don't let it ruin your shower, just as cold as you can stand comfortably. The reason for this is during your shower the hot steam opens your pores and you can remove bacteria and oil. Problem is your pores stay open after a shower and get bacteria and oil right back in them. Cool water for about a minute (especially rinsing the face) causes your pores to close back up and stay cleaner. Helps with acne and is also rather comfortable if done correctly

A nice exfoliating scrub every week, then some vitamin-rich lotion on your skin really helps get through the winter months.

Take a toothbrush, and let some water run over the bristles. Use that on your lips to peel off the dead skin without cutting up your lips.

HAIR CARE

Condition and rinse your hair BEFORE you wash your back.

ACNE

Tea and coconut oil mix for a moisturizer/anti fungal back use everywhere clears acne - fudging amazing combo

PUBLIC HYGIENE/MANNERS

lease, for the love of all things holy, use a paper towels/washcloth/tp/anything relatively clean to turn off the water! Numerous studies have shown that faucet handles have the most germs per square inch in the bathroom, far beyond the toilet handle/sweaty

Don't suck your fingers after you eat....please.

Cough/sneeze into the crook of your elbow dammit!

Stop coughing/sneezing into your hands! Its gross!

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WASH YOUR HANDS:

First, turn on warm water (not hot, as this can irritate and actually make you more susceptible to infection).

Second, wet your hands; yes, I realize most people apply soap first, but when you do this, you actually wash most of the soap down the drain.

Third, apply soap and lather vigorously; you should wash for at least 15 seconds (sing Happy Birthday a time or two, depending on your cadence). Make sure to get the backs of hands, between fingers, wrists and under nails. And don't let your hands hit the sink!

Fourth, rinse until clear. Lastly, dry hands and use the paper towel to turn off the water! Yes, it wastes a bit of water, but if you're talented, it really won't be much.

SKIN CARE

My husband puts a little bit of (stick/gel) deodorant/antiperspirant on his hands and then rubs it onto his sack and crack; he swears it keeps him from chafing. Since he's a car salesman who spends the majority of his time outdoors, he'd be a bit of a pro ont he subject, I guess.

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NAIL AND CUTICLE MAINTAINENCNE

HOW TO PUSH BACK YOUR CUTICLES

Prepare a bowl of warm water.

You can also push them back after taking a warm shower, while your hands are still warm and moist.

Soak your fingers for 5-10 minutes in the water. Enjoy the soaking time as part of your manicure session. Add a few drops of essential oil to the water to get the benefits of aromatherapy as you soak your nails

Dry your fingers. Use a clean towel to dry off your fingers, so the cuticle pusher doesn't slip when you start to do the job.

Apply a small amount of moisturizer to your cuticles. Vaseline works too. Rub it in a little, but not completely. For a truly expert touch, use cuticle remover, available for purchase at drugstore

Use an orange stick to gently push back your cuticles. Angle the orange stick so that you gently push the cuticles toward the base of your nails, a little at a time. Don't push too hard or scrape your nails. If you're having trouble pushing the cuticles back, soak them for awhile longer to soften them up.[2]

Never attempt to trim or tear off your cuticles. They are there to protect your fingers from getting infected.

Rinse your hands in warm water to remove the moisturizer residue

Do a touch-up if you see cuticles that still need to be pushed back.

Repeat this once a week. You should also moisturize your cuticles frequently to keep them soft and in good condition.

Don't push too hard with the Orange Stick. This can result in bleeding and damaged cuticles.

The end that is flat is most often used to push the cuticles away from the nail beds of both the fingers and toes and to buff the edge and top surface of the nail itself. The pointed, sharper end can scrape debris from underneath the nail.

NAIL BITING

Zeva No Bite - Stop Nail Biting Formula

purchase special foul-tasting ointments for your nails. They make your fingers taste so bad that you'll think twice before biting again!

CUTICLE CARE

Don't Cut Your Cuticles.

Experts say this simply won't happen, and switching from cuticle clippers to an orange stick is a smart move.

"A good moisturizer for the cuticles is important, just like for dry skin. Any skin moisturizer will work fine for the cuticles. When you put it on your hands and there's some left over, rub it into the cuticles."

Most dermatologists recommend thick moisturizing products, such as ointments or creams, for the best results. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends petroleum jelly (Vaseline) as an inexpensive way to care for the cuticles. But some doctors say that using a thick product like petroleum jelly throughout the day isn't always practical, so there are alternatives to use when you're activ

"Ointments are harder to wear during the day, because they're messy," "You can use them at night when you aren't touching papers in your office. Lotions can be used throughout the day, because the hands don't get as greasy, but lotions aren't as moisturizing as creams and ointments."

If you regularly take are of the cuticles, they won’t become hard or unsightly and there will be no need to trim them.

Keep Your Hands Out of Your Mouth.

For cracked cuticles, massage with an emollient oil or cuticle cream.

Don’t bite hangnails, which can further tear the skin. Cut away hangnails with cuticle clippers and scissors, taking care not to clip and injure the surrounding skin.

Gently push back moistened (never while dry) cuticles ONCE OT TWICE A MONTH with a cuticle stick or orange stick. Do not jab.

Using a towel or washcloth, push back cuticles after taking a shower or bath while cuticles are more pliable.

Soak nails and cuticles in cuticle oil, vitamin E oil, almond oil, olive oil, etc,) for 10 – 15 minutes.

Exfoliate with oil (olive, almond, etc) mixed with a little sugar and massage into cuticles in a circular motion. Rinse, dry, then massage cuticle moisturizer and cream into the cuticles.

Keep cuticles moisturized with a cuticle cream (good ingredients – glycerin, shea butter, safflower seed oil) or use natural oil (vitamin E, almond, olive, flaxseed oil).

Apply lotion, moisturizer or cuticle conditioning oil to cuticles and hands and wear gloves at night.

Wear gloves when washing dishes and cleaning. Before putting on gloves, apply oil or lotion for additional treatment while you work.

The hands, nails, and cuticles can dry out from frequent dish washing and from nail polish remover containing acetone. So, experts recommend wearing gloves for dish duty and using acetone-free nail polish remover."Whether washing clothes or dishes, you really need to wear vinyl gloves," Toombs says. "That's a good time to put the lubricant on.

Protect your hands from cold weather. Cold weather can be very drying to your hands, causing cuticles to crack and peel.

If your cuticles are cracked and painful, use a topical antibacterial ointment. If the skin around your fingernails feels cracked and irritated, you may have a small infection. If this is the case, you will need to clear up the infection before your cuticles can start to heal.

You can do this by applying a generous layer of topical antibacterial ointment (such as Neosporin) to the cuticles.

Once you have applied the antibacterial ointment (which is more effective than the cream version), you should wrap a band-aid around each affected nail.

Leave the band-aid on overnight and in the morning you will find your cuticles looking and feeling a lot better

CARE FOR YOUR NAILS

Clean your hands (and wrists) with soap and warm water.

Use a CLEAN nail brush to clean under your nails.

Wash off all the soap and dry your hands -on a clean, soft towel.

While your nails are soft, cut them

Use a nail file (only use in one direction).

Use a hand lotion/cream

Do this routine every day. (But only cut your nails when necessary, otherwise your nails will be too short).

Massage your nails daily with olive oil or any type of oil that benefits your nails like almond oil,coconut oil etc.

FIX THE SKIN AROUND YOUR NAILS

Get some Blistex Lip Medex, Avon Moisture Therapy Hand Cream, Vaseline, Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream, or anything that will deeply moisturize the skin and put a generous amount of the substance on the tip of your affected finger. Rub it on and around the nail, especially at the cuticle

Make sure it all gets absorbed into your skin, and then repeat!

Get a pair of gloves meant to sleep in and put them on.

Try to stop yourself when you want to bite your nails to keep them looking great!

Always check the ingredients, as some products contain lanolin which many people are sensitive to! If you are sensitive to it, it will make your condition worse.

Check the product you are using. Some products contain Lanthonide, which can cause your skin to become dry, irritated, cracked, or cause it to peel

HOW TO CUT YOUR FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS(IMPORTANT)

Prepare your nails. Soak your nails for a few minutes before you cut them.. This step is especially important for toenails. Those can be pretty tough.

Cut your nails. Cut them straight across until they no longer extend over your finger or toe, so that they don't show any white

Wait for your nails to dry

File your nails. Use a nail file to shape your nails, and to make sure the edges of the nail are smooth.

When filing, always file gently in one long stroke, from the side to the center of the nail. Use the coarse, shaping side first if you need to remove more nail. Then use the finer-grade shaping side to smooth your nails out.

Your nails should be slightly triangle or oval and not pointed, when finished. This will keep them from breaking. Nails can weaken if you file too low into the corners and sides, too

Look them over. Look your nails over to ensure that your nails are all the same length and shape, and also that they're smooth and not jagged or pointy.

The ideal length that suits most hands is just over the fingertip.

Using a cotton swab with a pointed end, clean under your nails - it's gentler than scrubbing with a nail brush.

To keep mud and dirt from getting into nails during gardening or messy work, drag your nails over a bar of soap. The undersides of your nails will fill up with soap, which means dirt won't be able to get in.

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SKIN CARE

Let me just write it here its really easy

First figure out what type of skin you have 1.Oily 2.Dry 3.Combination. (google the definition)

Then there are two parts to a face care routine 1. Cleansing / Exfoliating 2. Hydrating.

Your everyday cleansing routine should be just a normal cream based cleanser L'oreal vitalift is good. Then once a week use a scrub I use neutrogena . But again it depends on your skin . If you're oily you want something which will 'matte' your skin L'oreal has this too. And if you have dry skin I suggest using the face scrub every 10 odd days. I have combination

Once a month use a hydrating pack and once a month use a mud mask the former hydrates the latter deep cleanses. 15 days rotating Dont overuse . Just search on the site you'll see it. Or once a month go get a facial from kaya or a skin clinic. Then you won't need either.

If you're going out or something apply a light non-alcohol moisturiser again clinque has good stuff. - This is after washing your face of course you don't want whiteheads or pimples.

Drink 2 litres of water a day and take your multi vitamins! And don't ever use a lightening cream.

See here for homemade remedy for hydration face pack and mud mask

https://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/11-homemade-yoghurt-face-packs-glowing-healthy-skin-111035965.html

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/at-home-mud-masks/

SUNCSCREEN

You should apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before you head outside, so plan ahead.

Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours or less.

Sunscreen is not waterproof, so if you're going to be in the water, look for the words "water-resistant" on the bottle. If it doesn't say water-resistant, it's going to just float right off your body when you're in the water.

Make sure you look for those word Broad-Spectrum? Sunscreen

***

ORAL HYGIENCE ROUTINE

Floss your teeth thoroughly so that the dental floss passes through all places where your teeth contacts your gums. Pay special attention to the teeth toward the rear of your mouth. You may need to use more than one piece of dental floss for entire mouth.

Gently scrape your tongue with the rounded edge of a tongue scraper 4-5 strokes, moving the tongue cleaner forward each time. This will help in removing the mucus layer which has been protecting the bacteria living on your tongue. (Do not scrape vigorously to the point of bleeding; just firm enough to remove the mucus layer.)

Rinse off the tongue scraper, then apply a small amount of toothpaste to the rounded edge of the tongue scraper and gently scrape another 4-5 strokes. This step applies the toothpaste to the newly exposed surface of your tongue. Reach as far back as possible without gagging. Do not rinse. You can then wash off the tongue scraper after this step. Ideally, you want to allow the toothpaste to stay on the surface of your tongue while you brush normally

Place a normal amount of toothpaste on a dry toothbrush and brush for 2-3 minutes, making sure to brush the inside and outside of the gum line. Besides your teeth, also make sure to include the roof of your mouth and the inside of your cheeks with this brushing. (The bacteria are extremely sticky and end up almost everywhere in your mouth.) You do not have to brush hard, but make sure that you are thorough. When brushing your teeth, remember to angle the brush towards your gum line, feeling the bristles gently sliding under the gum line. Do not rinse with water after this step. You may, however, spit out any excess saliva and toothpaste.

Pour 2 capfuls of oral rinse into a clean glass. Rinse the toothpaste from your mouth with this rinse. While doing so, “swish” the rinse all over your mouth for 60-90 seconds in order to cover all the oral surfaces with the concentrated oxygen. You can drink directly from the bottle, just try not to backwash into the bottle as this could contaminate the rinse.

Take 2 additional fresh capfuls of the rinse, and gargle for 90 seconds, attempting to get the rinse as far back as possible, without gagging. After gargling, spit out the rinse. (Do not eat or drink anything for 20 minutes following this procedure). If some of the rinse is swallowed, do not be alarmed. It is completely safe if digested

Keep the bottle of oral rinse and the toothpaste cap tightly closed and away from the sun when not in use. Never store the mouth rinse in a clear plastic bottle.

***

Brushing your tongue seriously needs it's own time. Also, don't brush more than twice a day, because that can make your gums recede.

HAIRCUT

See this http://www.fashionbeans.com/2013/the-right-haircut-for-your-face-shape/

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PERFUME

HOW TO APPLY PERFUME

Apply at pulse points

Wrist

Behind the ear

Crease of your arm and knee

base of your throat

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Savage: No deodorant

Don't be this guy

Basic: Deodorant

This is what is socially acceptable. Do this and you're good.

Advanced: Unscented deodorant and cologne

You do not want any scents to clash. If you must have a scented deodorant, have one for days where you don't wear cologne, and one unscented for when you do.

Olfactory Mastery: Unscented deodorant, and multiple colognes

Colognes are just like clothes. There are appropriate colognes for any situation and attire. Look on message boards for fragrances. Smell different scents at the store. Get an idea. Look for notes in the smell. If you get good enough at this, you can close your eyes and smell, and then imagine what situation you would be in where it would be appropriate.

Notes of wood, whiskey, and spices can be associated with khakis, brown leather boots, cardigans, and argyle. Think Ivy League fashion.

Notes of citrus and floral, can be associated with more formal occasions.

Notes of fresh laundry, clean, and outdoors can be associated with attire that's more laid back.

When considering fragrances, an easy shortcut is to again, close your eyes and smell the fragrance. Who would wear it? James Bond in a suit with a martini? Ron Swanson paddling a canoe with a paddle he made himself? Joseph Gordon Levitt going to a library and a coffee shop?

I've seen some people go crazy with fragrances, but in reality, you need no more than 4 or 5 at the most to be prepared for any situation.

A good way to start is a fragrance sample pack from Sephora for men. It offers free trial sizes of fragrances, a book with a description, and details about each one. Once you have tested them all, a coupon can be redeemed for a full size bottle of your favorite.

Ive grown to dispise scented deodorant. Its usually low quality and gets obnoxious when my body temp rises. It serves no fuction when you wear perfume/cologne. So I only wear neutral anti-transpirant.

Wearing a strong, musky woods scent can be overpowering in hot, summer weather and scents consisting of marine or aqua notes are too weak in a cold winter.

There are three categories that break this answer down. They are age, event and season

SCENT

This is what personally lead me to always using some form of aftershave instead of cologne. Aftershaves have a weaker scent, and they tend to blend in with your natural body scent over the course of the day, essentially leaving with you a "refreshed, but still natural, body scent." The same goes with deodorant as well -- I only use "spray" deodorants now because they are weaker and still allow for your natural body scent to blend in with it over the course of the day.

**

Learn about perfume

http://www.nstperfume.com/2008/11/14/new-to-perfume-and-want-to-learn-more/

http://www.nstperfume.com/2007/11/27/perfumista-tip-how-to-apply-perfume/

http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/12/28/building-a-fragrance-library-five-must-have-books-for-beginners/

http://www.nstperfume.com/2006/07/19/building-a-fragrance-library-five-suggestions-for-advanced-readers/

http://boisdejasmin.com/2012/10/how-to-make-perfume-hobby-affordable-and-more-fun.html

fragrantica.com

basenotes.net

***

To store perfume properly, keep it away from heat and light. A dark closet or a covered box is best. Also avoid direct exposure to air. Splash bottles, which expose the fragrance to air every time they are opened, are problematic. Consider decanting into a smaller atomizer for regular use. If you apply perfume directly from a bottle stopper, wipe the stopper with a clean, lint free cloth before replacing it in the bottle.

***

I like targeting sprays of perfume. I mostly wear dresses and skirts, so I tend to spray once behind each knee. The scent then warms and rises so that it leaves a quiet trail. If the fragrance is subtle, or if I’m especially in love with it, I’ll spray once between my breasts, too, so that the scent is closer to my nose.

I do scent my wrists sometimes so that I can lift my wrist to my nose and get to know a perfume better. Another place I like to dab scent if I’m testing it is on the fleshy part of the back of my hand, between my thumb and index finger.

Caron sprays its customer’s scarves so they can live with a perfume before deciding to buy it. Diaghilev sprayed his curtains with Guerlain Mitsouko. I spray my sheets with scent and haven’t stained them yet. Why not scent your scarf or woolen gloves if you feel like it?

I always let my perfume dry without rubbing my wrists together because I like how it smells when it’s sprayed rather than dabbed, and to me rubbing it on skin is too much like dabbing it

Now I turn the bottle upside down to moisten the stopper, dab perfume on my skin with the stopper, then wipe the stopper on a handy cloth (usually my blouse or the skirt of my dress).

In fact, colognes and eau de toilette should be stored in the refrigerator to increase their shelf lives.

***

Perfume should be sprayed about 20cm from the body

Try this and take this with a bit of caution:

I spray my cologne on my chest. One long spray across the chest for a normal day, and one spray on both sides of my chest if I want to smell stronger. I don't spray cologne on my bare skin because it's a bit sensitive. Any more than a couple sprays and you're going to smell like you bathed in it. The trick is to give yourself a good and subtle scent that will make people feel invited to be closer to you.

For most colognes, two sprays will suffice, sometimes just one with strong stuff. One of each side of your chest, where your shoulder and chest meet. Any more is way too much.

Some people like the neck/wrists, and that's fine. Do one spray on your neck/chest, and one spray on wrists. Then wipe your wrists on your body to evenly distribute the smell.

There is such a thing as too much. You should subtly smell good.

***

You want something citrusy that blows Aqua di Gio out of the water? Dior Higher Energy[1] . This is hands down my favorite spring/summer daytime fragrance. Want to add some musk to that and bring it into the evening time? Chanel Allure Homme (holy crap this is now $125 a bottle), perfect for the fall. Then when winter rolls around and EDTs don't stick and you want someting rich and frgrant that wafts delicious when you take your coat off? Dior Homme Intense[2] (This bottle lasts FOREVER, 2 sprays all day.. I can smell if coming off in the shower the next day). There's a reason why french cologne makers make more than one fragrance, and it's not to sell to different demographics like US colognes (looking at you Calvin Klein).. it's for the same demographic to wear on different occassions. I've seen that trend with Chanel, Gucci, and Dior.. which are hands down three of the best perfumiers in the world

**

THINGS TO HAVE WHILE TRAVELLING

• Deodorant

• Soap and shampoo (if you’re not staying at a hotel)

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

• Shaving supplies: razor, brush and cream

• Nail clippers

• Lip balm

• Band-Aids

• Safety pins

• Aspirin

• Antidiarrheal medicine

• Lint roller

• Twenty-dollar bill

• Extra pair of contact lenses

• Comb

• Q-tips

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Also see Peter Post's book