DATING HAS ALWAYS been weird, but after throwing in modern factors like apps and AI, it’s become a full-blown David Lynch film (RIP). Thanks to Hinge algorithms, social anxiety, and a seemingly never-ending sea of alternatives, if this whole exercise used to require a leap of faith, it now necessitates a reverse somersault into the Hudson River. But hey, you’re still at least considering the prospect of dating if you’re reading this article, so good on you (also the key is to tuck your knees).

Whether this is a first date (ballsy move on Valentine’s Day, respect), something casual, or a 5-year celebration, you’re not going to want to skimp on an appropriate pre-date grooming routine. Because before you get to lighting the candles and turning on Marvin Gaye, you’re going to have to first take care of your hygiene and tend to your hair, everywhere. And believe us, all the best V-Day gifts in the world won’t save the sinking ship if your hygiene is not on point. As such, we’ve put together a short guide of grooming tips to help you look and feel your best, therefore significantly lowering the odds of being ghosted.

This should really go without saying, you need to clean yourself up with a shower. Regardless of where you’re hoping the date goes, you don’t want to show up unkempt or outright stinky. For soaps, I’d recommend Dr. Squatch’s options—our best overall bar soap. These soothing squares pack loads of natural ingredients to have your skin feeling and looking healthy, not to mention the scents—particularly the Birchwood Breeze—are as masculine as they are subtle, so the fragrance won’t clash with your cologne (more on that later).

If you’re more of a body wash guy, go with our best-tested Nivea Men Sensitive Skin Body Wash. It’s perfect for any skin type, even sensitive or acne-prone, so that you can feel confident you won’t have a reaction an hour before the date. Plus, it’s nearly scentless, allowing you to lean into your favorite cologne or fragrance.

Now, depending on your hair type, it might be a good idea to forgo washing your hair prior to a date so its natural oils can help it really shine. However, if this isn’t already in your weekly playbook—or you have fine or oily hair—we’d air on the side of caution. It’s better to spend a few more minutes and a little extra product styling your hair than to risk it looking greasy and unwashed.

Of course, what shampoo you choose should ultimately come down to hair type, but a solid thickening or volumizing shampoo can do wonders for your confidence. Hims Thick Fix and DS Laboratories are both stellar options. And don’t skimp on conditioning either.

Look, we’re not saying you should go hit up your barber and get a fresh cut hours prior to your date. In fact, we’d actively try to steer you away from that for a couple of reasons: A) As anyone who has ever gotten a haircut knows, it’s risky and there’s always a decent chance of it not looking how you imagined it and B) being too done up can come off a little intense, especially if this is early on in the relationship. Of course, none of that means you shouldn’t neaten your hair up at all.

Start with the facial hair, if you have a beard—trim it. Whether you’re working with a prime James Harden beard or barely more than scruff, you’re going to want to neaten it up to look your best. The Panasonic Beard Trimmer is about as versatile as they come (our best overall for a reason), so no matter the shape of your beard it’ll help make it pop.

Then be sure to do some detailing, shaving your neckline and cutting any strays (the Philips Norelco One Blade or Gillette Labs Heated Razor for a clean shave can be immensely useful tools here). This will help your facial hair look better shaped and more intentional, not to mention help you at least appear much more put together. Similarly, take a nose trimmer to your nostrils and ears.

Let’s say everything goes swimmingly, the two of you really hit it off and neither gets food stuck in their teeth—you’re going to want to be prepared in the event things escalate. First things first, manage your body hair, especially around the family jewels. We’re not saying you need to wax or go completely bald, but make sure it’s under control and not untamed to an alarming degree.

It’s a good idea to follow this up with a cleanser specifically designed to handle the area, as well. One of the main reasons you need to use a different soap or cleanser for your face versus body is that facial skin is much more delicate (along with the risk of stripping natural oils or disrupting its pH), and genitals are similarly sensitive and vulnerable. Something like the new Every Man Jack Groin Wash is perfect here, as it’ll remove dirt and minimize odor while providing some needed moisturization thanks to its oat powder and aloe-led ingredients.

And finally, my dudes, if there is one piece of pre-date grooming advice I implore you to follow above all else it’s this: Cut your damn fingernails. When you show up to a date with those witch claws, you not only look disheveled and off-putting, but straight-up immature. It gives off the impression that you’re a preteen who hasn’t yet been fully introduced to the concept of hygiene.

Panasonic ER-GK80-S Body Groomer

Manscaped Shears 2.0

Every Man Jack Below the Belt Foaming Cleanser

A lot of this you should really be doing every day, if we’re being honest, but especially when you want to look your best. Start by washing your face with a cleanser or wash—Oars + Alps has a great charcoal-boosted option—to remove dirt and excess oil that has built up throughout the day. Then prep your skin for moisturizing with a toner—we really ride for The Rock’s fragrance-free Papatui Rejuvenating Facial Toner here.

Finally, of course, use a moisturizer to hydrate your skin and help it look as healthy as possible, not to mention reduce any blemishes. It’s also not a bad idea to sprinkle in an eye cream, as well, to minimize dark circles and help you look more youthful. That’s not to say we should be misleading anyone about our age or overall energy deposits, but few people are going to be super psyched about dating somebody who looks exhausted or underslept—unless they go for the Pete Davidson types, then more power to you.

Tough love time. Gentlemen, your dental game is lacking. It’s not enough to simply see your dentist at regular six-month intervals (which, let’s be real, most of us are lucky to make an appointment once a year). Today, there’s so much great technology to help you bring dentist-level treatment and care into your home, and you have to take advantage. Not only for your overall dental health, but to help you look your best before a big date. Whether you’re planning to propose or just hoping for a kiss, nobody’s going to say yes to a mouth full of 32 yellow Tic-Tacs.

The good news, a lot of this can be corrected by using like three products. A solid teeth-whitening toothpaste, like the great—both in price and quality—Colgate Optic White Advanced (ideally with an electric toothbrush) can go a long way in helping you look far more kissable. If you’re in a hurry, grab one of Duo’s whitening toothpaste tablets. Simply pop in one of these nifty tabs in your mouth, chew it and it’ll form into a hydrating—and whitening—paste for you to brush with. Not to mention, the brand’s Energy option includes a dose of caffeine and vitamin B12 to help boost your mood and overall vigor ahead of the date.

A whitening mouthwash wouldn’t hurt either. Try the Moon Charcoal Rinse, its core ingredient of charcoal works to both attack plaque and freshen breath. Then move on to flossing (I know, but it is as important as they say). For the absolute best results, invest in a Slate Electric Flosser, which is not only more effective than traditional flossing but streamlines the famously tedious process. Top it all off by popping in some whitening strips a couple of hours before the date and, if nothing else, you’ll impress your potential suitor with your shiny smile.

If every cologne ad I’ve ever seen has taught me anything, it’s that the key to being an attractive and seductive man is having the right scent. This is clearly nonsense and there’s much more to human attraction than simply fragrance (see tips one through five, for starters), but it certainly can help. For a date, you want a cologne that’s bold without being overpowering and masculine yet sophisticated. If you like to lean more toward the bold end of the spectrum, without smelling like you’re on your way to a European nightclub, Dior Sauvage Elixir is hard to beat.

For the more sophisticated or reserved types, there is nothing better than Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club, which effectively smells like the coolest and most interesting version of someone who regularly hangs out at cigar lounges (James Bond, more or less). Of course, when putting so much effort into your cologne selection for the night you’ll also want to choose a deodorant whose scent won’t clash with the fragrance. The easiest way to accomplish this is to opt for an unscented deodorant, like the stellar Native Unscented Deodorant.

Now, if you’ve followed every tip we’ve laid out here, there’s a pretty good chance this date will go well. Should things escalate, you’ll want to be prepared by using a dedicated deodorant for your groin (we recommend the Manscaped Crop Preserver), so that everything is fresh for wherever things go. Oh, and don’t forget the gift.

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