Personal grooming is the term for how people take care of their body and appearance. Habits that are considered personal grooming include bathing, dressing, applying make-up, hair removal, and taking care of one's teeth and skin. A person's personal grooming routine may determine how he or she feels about themselves, and how other people perceive him or her.
One of the most important aspects of personal grooming is bathing regularly. While bathing, a soap product should be used to clean the body. Hair should be cleansed using a shampoo, and a hair conditioner may be applied.
Hair should be kept clean and combed daily. Regular haircuts usually keep hair healthy and in good condition. Hair can be styled in many different ways using a variety of different styling products.
After a bath or shower, many people take care of their skin and teeth. Skin care typically consists of using products designed to clean, exfoliate, moisturize, and improve the appearance of the skin. Taking care of one's teeth generally involves a flossing and brushing the teeth using toothpaste. Mouthwash may also be used. Some people opt to use a toothpaste that has whitening properties in order to brighten the color of the teeth.
Many men and women choose to include body and facial hair removal in their personal grooming routine. Women may shave or wax their legs, underarms, and bikini area. Men often shave their facial hair and may use a trimming tool to remove hair from their ears and nose. Eyebrows can also be groomed by waxing or using a pair of tweezers to pluck out stray hairs.
Cologne, perfume, and deodorant are often used by both men and women. Deodorant is applied to the underarm area in order to control body odor. The type of perfume or cologne selected is a matter of personal taste. Perfume and cologne should be applied in small amounts in order to not produce an overwhelming smell.
Women often apply cosmetics to enhance the features of their face. Make-up products commonly used are face powder, blush, and lipstick. Eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara may also be used on the eyes.
Dressing is also an important part of personal grooming. Clothes should be clean and free of stains, holes, and wrinkles. Properly fitting clothes look best. Wearing clothing that is too big or small in size can make a person look unkempt.
Good personal grooming can make a person look polished and well put together. Looking good usually improves a person's self-esteem and confidence. A person that is well-groomed is often better perceived by others than a person that does not take as much care with his or her appearance.
Defining Personal Grooming
Personal grooming is the self-care routine that people have to care for their bodies and the outward image they present to the world. This process includes bodily maintenance and dressing cues, in addition to other enhancements like styling products, colognes, or make-up applications. Routines may vary from individual to individual but often include similar basic steps.
Determining Grooming Habits
Most everyone has the same basic outline of a personal grooming routine each day to ensure they are clean and presentable to the world.
Hair and Scalp
The hair and scalp are cleansed using a mild shampoo massaged into a lather; it is then rinsed away with any dirt and oils. Next, most people apply a conditioner to add moisture and protection to the scalp and hair as a barrier against heat styling, UV rays, and environmental damage. While some conditioners are rinsed out at the end of bathing, others are left in for more intensive treatment.
Body
The most critical practice is to use a mild cleanser to wash away dirt and oils from your body. Gently using a body brush or washcloth while applying the soap will exfoliate dead skin and generate new cells, helping to lessen dry, flaky, and itchy skin. Once lathered, rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water.
Face
Many people have sensitive facial skin. Some people use prescription medication and face wash to treat skin conditions; this is part of their specific grooming routine. For others, a mild cleanser and washcloth to gently exfoliate the skin on the face are enough.
Ears
To combat water in your ears, allow the soap to rinse away as you wash your hair rather than turning your ear toward the direct stream of water. After you finish bathing, use a cotton swab to dry out the basin of your ear without prodding into the canal. Make a swipe around the opening of the canal with the swab to ensure your ears are clean and dry.
Teeth
While you can generally be complete all other cleaning tasks for personal grooming just once a day, your teeth require more dedicated attention. Every morning when you wake up and in the evening before you go to bed, you should floss and brush your teeth. Flossing is ideal for keeping food particles from becoming cavity-forming plaque between your teeth and around your gums. After flossing, brush your teeth gently but thoroughly for two to three minutes. Once you finish brushing, rinse with mouthwash to remove any remaining bits.
Nails
Keeping nails trimmed and clean is also part of being presentable. It is socially acceptable for most women to have medium-length nails, while it is not yet as acceptable for men to sport longer nails, though it is becoming more fashionable. Regardless of length, be sure that nails are evenly trimmed, clean, and, if painted, are not chipped or scratched.
Skin
Keeping your skin healthy and elastic is ideal for fighting the effects of aging and maintaining your appearance. After bathing, many people apply a full-body moisturizer for softer and more supple skin. Lotions and oils keep your body wrinkle-free for longer. A moisturizer with an SPF helps protect your skin against harmful UV rays.
Clothing
Choose clothing that is specific to the occasion for which you are dressing. If you have no event and you are simply readying for a day around the house, choose a comfortable, well-fitting, and clean outfit that is free of holes, rips, and stains. Even sweatpants and a t-shirt can be becoming house attire when fresh and fitted.
Additional Enhancements by Occasion
Depending on what you have on your schedule, you may need to adjust your routine slightly. While you will likely not take anything away from the essential outline, you may add a few more modifications to enhance the appearance that you want to present to the public. Common personal grooming add-ons include:
- Deodorants
- Cologne or perfume
- Professional manicures and pedicures
- Hair removal
- Styling products
- Make-up
- Special attire
Creating a Daily Routine
You may already have a loose routine in place, or you may have a very detailed step-by-step personal grooming regimen that you follow carefully every morning and night. No matter your process, consider crafting a personal grooming routine that is not too time-consuming but still accomplishes the tasks at hand.
Remember, the time it takes to complete personal grooming should not outweigh the time for the actual occasion you are grooming for, whether it is just daily life or an awards ceremony, job interview, or wedding reception. Keep your personal grooming routine efficient and effective, with room for adjustment as necessary.
