Too many guys bend the basic hygiene rules.
According to a 2010 study by the American Cleaning Institute, most men don’t wash their hands even after handling arduous tasks like petting an animal or handling food. Poor personal hygiene habits can have far-reaching consequences.
For instance, studies have shown that many foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Habits like washing hands, brushing, and bathing may look monotonous and boring but can help keep you free from bacteria, viruses, and illnesses. In this article, we’ll share the five golden hygiene routines that every man should follow.
1. Oral Hygiene Routines
When it comes to men’s health, oral hygiene may seem like the easy part of the equation. However, as most men will tell you, the most basic tasks are often the hardest to do.
Between sleeping late watching football and waking up late for work, morning routines like brushing and flossing can become very irregular. Oral hygiene is critical because disease-causing pathogens usually enter our bodies through the mouth.
So, how do you ensure proper oral hygiene?
Spend at least 5 minutes each day taking care of your dental hygiene. Brush twice a day (in the morning and evening), floss once, and brush your tongue. Make sure to use a decent electric toothbrush, and if possible, invest in a tongue scraper as well.
2. Beard Hygiene Routines
Growing a beard is manly and makes one look sexy.
But with a great beard comes great responsibility. You have to trim your beard regularly and keep it clean and well-maintained. Why? The oil and sweat build up around the beard can become a residence for unwanted germs and bacteria.
For better hygiene, make sure you’re washing your beard with a beard shampoo and then nourishing it with beard oil products.
If your beard is longer than a ½ inch, wash it with a beard conditioner. Doing so will give your beard extra softness while preventing it from getting too wiry. If your beard is well-groomed, you’re going to grab a lot of eyeballs.
Also, beard butters have a transformative effect on the health, feel, and appearance of your beard. The natural and organic ingredients give you deep conditioning and make your beard soft and touchable.
3. Intimate Hygiene Routines
Your intimate regions are no exception to the personal hygiene rules. Nether regions are usually dark, moist, and warm—all great for bacteria to breed.
The presence of bacteria down there can cause skin infection and foul odor. So, make a habit of trimming and washing the area regularly. Many intimate hygiene products exist that you use to keep it clean and dry down there.
From flushable wet pipes to antifungal dusting powder, there are many products you can use to groom the intimate region. For example, using flushable DUDE Wipes can make it easy for you to stay clean and dry down there, even when on the road.
4. Nail Hygiene Routines
Unless you’re a rock guitarist, keep your nails short. Don’t chew them, as nail-biting can damage the skin around the nail and increase the risk of infection. Besides, gnawed nails are not attractive and give some people the heebie-jeebies.
Trim your nails once a week, and with the right tool—a simple nail clipper can do the job. Trimming your nails is an important step in preventing painful ingrown toenails. Moreover, short and well-manicured nails are less likely to harbor dirt and bacteria.
5. Overall Body Hygiene
Men usually have those occasional days when they are too busy to take a shower. Don’t let your shower-less-ness go on for more than three days.
According to a recent Harvard Medical School article, showering every day might not be that good for your health. But if you experience yellow sweat spots on your clothes or a strong sweat odor that keeps your friends away, make a habit of showering every day.
It’s also recommended to wear a deodorant after a shower to eliminate the odor caused by sweating. To get more health benefits from your shower, switch to a cold shower.
